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Bob Rasmus takes pride in the Lions

FROM THE EDITOR: If you’ve attended a Lynn Valley community event any time in the past two decades, chances are you’ve crossed paths with a Lion – a certain Lynn Valley Lion, that is.

Bob Rasmus is known to many as the former owner of RJR Contruction Management, a company he and his wife Peggy ran for many years before his retirement in 2010. But he’s probably met even more people through his role in the Lynn Valley Lions, the community service club he joined in 1990.

It all started when he built a house for a client over in Vancouver. When Bob presented his bill, the client told him “I’ll pay it as long as you join the Lions Club.” Bob took up the challenge, and – having moved to Lynn Valley in 1976 – joined the club in our neighbourhood.

Payment of invoices aside, Bob says “One of the reasons I joined is because I was making my living from the community, and I wanted to give back to the community. I think a lot of people feel that way.”

Many people may feel that way, but we suspect Bob may have given back more than most. Currently the secretary of the 31-member club, and zone chairman for the larger community of local Lions Clubs, Bob has been president of the Lynn Valley Lions three times, most recently last year. As of writing, he is working 10-hour days organizing the 100th Lynn Valley Days celebration on May 25/26 – but that didn’t stop him or his fellow Lions from setting up their infamous Cook Shack for Lynn Valley Village’s Easter weekend festivities. (For more about the Lynn Valley Lions and their role in the community, click here!)

Bob’s history of volunteering pre-dates his Lynn Valley Lions days; father of two, he was a baseball coach and Scoutmaster, and a participant in the YMCA’s “Indian Princess” program for fathers and daughters.

It was a circuitous path that brought Bob to our neighbourhood; born in Portage La Prairie, he left there for Mission when he was two, then moved to Vancouver in 1966 and to Lynn Valley a decade later, where he lives on Alderlynn Road.

Since arriving, Bob and his fellow club members have done a great deal to improve our community. We can only imagine he’d love to issue the same challenge to our male readers as he received all those years ago – “Join the Lions Club!” Even without the motivation of an outstanding invoice (!), we hope you consider taking him up on it.

– Peggy Trendell-Jensen

April 9, 2012 in Blog, Getting Involved, Notable Neighbours

Start weekend with Easter breakfast

Planning your Easter weekend? It looks like we’ll have a mixed bag, weather-wise, but either way we’re encouraging you to get out and support some of our local events.

Start your Saturday with a pancake breakfast put on by the Lynn Valley Lions as part of the festivities being offered from 10 a.m. to 12:30 at Lynn Valley Village. The 10 a.m. feast promises to be delicious, and it has been scientifically proven that pancakes contain no calories when being consumed for a good cause.

And what a cause! The LV Lions – numbering just over 30 members – fundraise all year ’round and give back about $70,000 each year to organizations and individuals within our community. Wow … the least we can do to help is bring the family down for a Cook Shack breakfast!

There will be all sorts of activities in the Village that day, including a bunny hunt, and over at the mall there will be a magic show at 11:30 a.m., and Easter Bunny visits throughout the day.

Get out and enjoy … and if you’re not convinced that the pancakes come without calories, you can always burn a few off at the Team Finn Family Cycle up at the Seymour Demo Forest, also on Saturday!

 

 

April 5, 2012 in Blog, Community Events, Current News, Merchant Mentions

New programs starting in LV Community Room

Spring has sprung, along with a new round of rec commission programs in the Lynn Valley Community Room in Lynn Valley Village.

Whether it’s walking, dancing, martial arts, skipping or talks on street sense and nutrition, there’s something for all interest groups.

First classes in some programs start April 11, so register soon! Check out details, here.

 

 

April 2, 2012 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved

LV realtor featured in fractional real estate story

We were delighted here at LynnValleyLife when local writer Gail Johnson asked our sponsoring realtor Jim Lanctot to share his experience in fractional real estate ownership.

Her article was recently published in Yahoo! Canada‘s Finance section, and gives insight into the possibilities – and pitfalls – presented by the shared ownership of recreational real estate.

Here in our Lynn Valley residential market, Jim draws on his extensive experience with alternative ownership structures to find solutions that work for homeowners wanting to upsize, downsize, or trade homes.

“I enjoy finding solutions for people who have a real estate dream they think is impossible,” he says. “It’s amazing what can happen when you get different people talking together and looking for win-win solutions.”

 

Gail Johnson is an editor at the Georgia Straight newspaper and award-winning journalist who writes for Yahoo! Canada, the Globe and Mail, alive magazine, and other publications. She’s a mom of two young boys and loves living in Lynn Valley. We look forward to reading more of her work!

April 1, 2012 in Blog, Real Estate News

Finn’s friends have formed landmark charity

From Lynn O’Malley: There aren’t many of us who can claim our lives have had the same immediate impact as that of a little boy named Finn.

Finn Sullivan was a Lynn Valley lad – brother to Sarah and Baird, son of Patrick and Samantha – who was diagnosed with cancer at 21 months and succumbed to his illness when he was three years old. We can all imagine the hole he left behind.

But – holy smoke! – that sure wasn’t the end of his story. That was the beginning of “Team Finn’s” determination to honour his life by raising funds to help alleviate the suffering of other families experiencing pediatric cancers, and ultimately to help fund a cure.

Since his passing in October 2008, Team Finn has raised over $1,000,000 for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. Yes, you read those zeros right – that’s one million dollars, raised via ongoing charitable adventures such as the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Children’s Hospital’s ChildRun.

Coming up are two great events for local supporters who might not be up to cycling across Western Canada (as Finn’s dad, Patrick, did last year!)

A Team Finn Wine Tasting Festival at Seymour’s Pub takes place on Wednesday, April 4 from 6 to 9 p.m., where you can enjoy 19 different wins, great appies and a super silent auction. The $35 tickets must be purchased in advance, and all details are on this poster.

On Saturday, April 7, Escape Adventures will host a Team Finn Family Day and take families for a cycle tour of the Seymour Demonstration Forest. The $25 fee covers a family of four for the 90-minute expedition. Registration details are here.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to have the support of our Lynn Valley community and think these events are a wonderful opportunity to continue to support Team Finn,” says his mom, Samantha Mason.

Well, we at LynnValleyLife think our community is pretty lucky to be home to special families like this one. We look forward to hearing more about the amazing achievements of Team Finn and its many supporters.

For more information, visit www.teamfinn.com.

 

 

March 30, 2012 in Blog, Community Events, Current News, Notable Neighbours

Lego-lovers invited to ‘camp’

If you have a Lego enthusiast at home, they’ll want to know about a special Lego Camp happening at Upper Lynn Elementary this spring.

Starting April 5 and running every Thursday afternoon until May 10, the camp will have intermediate Lego crafters building new skills in construction and robotics. Details are as follows – sign up soon so you don’t miss out!

April 5 – May 10
Thursdays 3:30-5:00
for ages 8 + (six sessions); $75/child.
Upper Lynn School, 1540 Coleman St.
For questions or to register email Julie [email protected]

This Intermediate camp is for children who have some experience building with Lego Technic. Imagine the fun your child will have building complex machines and motorized mechanisms such as a dragster, a working grandfather clock, robotic animals, a power generating wind turbine, a Ferris wheel and a pneumatic claw.  This camp includes an introduction to the Lego Mindstorms robotics system.

 Instructor Zakary Molls has been teaching in the Coquitlam school district for the last 15 years. During that time he has taught students from grades K to 12 and he is currently teaching Digital Media, Computer Programming, and Robotics at Dr. Charles Best Secondary.  Zakary also works as an instructor at Capilano University where he runs the Lego Robotics programs for the Serious Fun Summer and Spring Break camps.

March 27, 2012 in Blog, Current News

New yoga and arts program for families

Families wanting to experience movement, creativity, music and yoga with their children will have the opportunity to try a new class offered in the program room adjacent to the kids’ section in Lynn Valley Library.

Megan Johnson of One Soul Yoga is offering a six-week Yoga and Arts programs for parents and tots and/or older children. Classes begin on Saturday, March 31 and run until May 5. Details are as follows:

10:15-10:45 a.m.: Parent and Tot yoga and arts, ages 2-4 (five years permitted especially if you have two children i.e. 3 and 5).

11 a.m.- noon: Family Yoga, ages (5)6-12.

1-2 p.m.: Family Yoga and Arts, ages (5) 6-12.

Pre-registration suggested to ensure a spot.
Cost is $75 for parent and tot, $100 for parent and older child. Drop-in tots are $15; a drop-in family is $20. $5 extra per class for each additional child.

For questions or to register, contact [email protected].

March 22, 2012 in Blog, Current News, Getting Involved

Tuesdays with Morrie: live-theatre treat comes to Lynn Valley!

Lynn Valley United Church is thrilled to announce a special one-night performance of the critically acclaimed play by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher, “Tuesdays with Morrie,”  on Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m.

Featuring the multi award-winning actor Antony Holland and local rising talent Joel Grinke, this story speaks of connection, loss and renewal, and is offered as part of the church’s “real stories of Easter” Holy Week experience.

Tickets are $20 ($5 discount for students), and are available at the church office or at the door on the night of the performance. Proceeds from the performance will go towards repaying the government resettlement fees of the refugee family the church has been helping to support over the past 11 months.

Tuesdays with Morrie is based on the true story about the relationship between a sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz (played by Antony Holland), and his student, Mitch Albom (played by Joel Grinke). The two bond through mentorship, with Mitch graduating and promising to keep in touch…a promise he forgets almost immediately.

Mitch abandons his creative passions and chooses a fast-paced career as a sports columnist that makes him extremely successful, but also a workoholic.  Morrie, on the other hand, has since been diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and forced to retire.  News of Morrie reaches busy Mitch, who hops on a plane in hopes of clearing his conscience.

With that one visit, and Morrie’s playful manipulation, sixteen years are erased and Mitch finds himself, once again, Morrie’s student; only this time, the lessons are far more important.

For information or to reserve tickets, call the church at 604-987-2114; their website is www.lynnvalleychurch.com.

 

March 20, 2012 in Blog, Community Events, Current News

LV artist exhibits work at district hall

 

Local artist lives a colourful life

Lynn Valley artist Ishrat Khan has experienced a rich life, including immigrating to Canada from his native India in 1965. Yet another highlight will be the exhibition of his work in the District Foyer of North Vancouver District Hall, beginning with a reception on April 4 and continuing through to May 29.

We wanted to learn more about this artistic Lynn Valley resident, so asked Ishrat a few questions about his craft, and his life since moving to this community in 1996.

How would describe the type of art you create?  
Contemporary; semi-abstract.

What’s your ‘artistic journey’ been to date? Have you always painted, or have you worked in different genres? 
It’s been great to be able to express feelings through painting; I have been painting since my high school years. It’s a wonderful pastime; it’s very fulfilling and keeps me out of trouble.

Do you work alone, or take part in some sort of artists’ community?
As far as painting goes, I have always worked alone, except for shows where I have displayed works with others.

What inspires you to create works of art?
Inspiration comes from people, surroundings in Canada and through my travels in Asia. Vancouver’s West End and Stanley Park have always inspired me to paint.

What do you do with your finished pieces?
Usually sell them.

Can you tell us about one or two of your favourite pieces?
The Kayakers, Mountain Highway, Brick Crushers Bangladesh.

What are some of your other hobbies?
Mostly tennis – I play on the Boulevard and at the Grant Connell Tennis Center in North Van, and at the Stanley Park Tennis Courts.

Can you tell us a bit about your ‘day job’?
Looking after the cat!

How can people see or learn more about your work?
The best way is to visit my website: www.ishratkhan.com

March 19, 2012 in Blog, Current News, Notable Neighbours

Quiz: Who’s the patron saint of real estate?

If you answered Joseph, father of Jesus and husband to Mary, you’re right. Here at LynnValleyLife, we discovered that today (March 19) is the traditional feast day of Joseph so thought we should mark the occasion with some interesting information (which may even help you sell your home!)

Though it isn’t officially sanctioned by the Catholic church, many people have adopted the long-standing habit of burying a small statue of St. Joseph in the yard of the home they are trying to sell. The practice has become so widespread that it is now catered to by retailers who stock purpose-made plastic statues for realtors and homeowners. (Fortunately, a more eco-friendly alternative made of clay is now available as well!)

An article on this curious practice was written by Ontario realtor Brian Madigan, who notes:

Prudent realtors also recommend the following advice in addition to burying Joe: “For this practice to be fully effective, the seller must, of course, first do such practical yet all important chores as completing all necessary fix-up, properly staging the home and finally, adjusting the price so as to exactly reflect market value.” 

We would concur – and, of course, recommend the services of good real estate agents who are willing and able to put in a great deal of earthly toil to make your heavenly homeowner dreams come true!

 

March 19, 2012 in Blog, Real Estate News