COMMUNITY NEWS RenfrewCollingwoodCommunityNews.com

November 2014

Continued on page 15

Lest We Forget - Collingwood Branch #48 by Paul Reid

Affordable exercise Page 13Windermere students on homeslessness Pages 2-3

Eating Out: Wally’s Burgers Page 5

Grads’ historic reunion Page 8

Lest we forget: One hundred years ago the Great War was just beginning in Europe. Over 17 million died in the First World War. Loretta Houben’s great uncle, William J. Williams, lost his life on February 22, 1917, at the age of 19, in Salonika, Greece. Photo by Loretta Houben

As in years past around Remembrance Day, I have written a catching up with Collingwood Branch #48. This time around, however, I found that Branch #48 can scarcely be found. Except for the “Closed” sign on their Facebook page, there is nothing. It would appear that after nearly one century of existence, likely Collingwood’s oldest organization, Branch #48, is about to officially hit the extinction list, possibly as soon as the end of this year.

For about the past six or so years, after being forced to leave their long-time location here in Collingwood, Branch #48 have been existing over on Fraser Street. This move severely fractured the membership. Many spread out to other clubs, while the senior members moved to Carleton Scout Hall.

The membership continued to dwindle and the Branch could not make ends meet. The branch decided that part of the problem was the location. So they sold the Fraser location (for a profit), and are now in the process of looking for a new location. Until that time, the branch assets have all been put into a trusteeship by the BC/Yukon Command. The Branch has been given 12 to 15 months to find a new location. It appears that 12 of those months are all ready up.

There was apparently some promise in having the Legion move into the old Jaguar’s Pub location at Kingsway and Tyne. The city is currently trying lease out this pub area, formerly in The Mr. Sport Hotel and Quality Inn and now a low-income housing complex.

Not deemed affordable enough in the beginning, the City had dropped the original asking price by 50 percent to help get the Legion in. Still too high. Then the city rented out the kitchen/restaurant portion of the area in question (slated to open near the end of October). The lease price would have dropped again, but

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 20142

Windermere students reveal the many sides of homelessness Homelessness in Vancouver

Homelessness isn’t just the concept of having no place to live, but it’s also not having an affordable, permanent place to call home sweet home. I don’t know about you but the thought of being homeless scares me. I believe that with the full cooperation of the government, we can solve the homelessness problem in Vancouver.

The way we are dealing with homelessness right now is not cheap. According to a 2001 study done by the B.C Ministry of Community, provincial taxpayers approximately spend $40,000 annually per homeless person in B.C. In other words, it takes $40,000 to temporarily keep one person off the street.

Many people assume that homelessness is only caused by the individual’s unwillingness to work. Those people are what I like to call wrong. In all seriousness, the two main reasons for homelessness is inadequate income and the high cost for housing. Sadly, we live in a city where most people spend most of their earnings to pay for the place they live in.

This is where groups like the Greater Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH) comes in. This committee (which includes the three levels of government, homeless facility workers, community networks) established a new 10-year regional homelessness plan for Metro Vancouver. Their goal is to provide those who are homeless, and even those who are at the risk of homelessness, a stable home. Once this is met, RSCH will move on and will start to help them out of being homeless. One way they will complete this is through employment training, which can truly prepare them in the outside world.

Everyone can help out by supporting groups that has sustainable strategies in effectively solving the homelessness problem.

―Charlton Alvarez, grade 12 Windermere Secondary student

Canada’s National Housing Strategy? There are approximately 300,000 homeless people in Canada. The average life expectancy of a homeless person is 39 years old, whereas an average Canadian’s life expectancy is 81 years old. Now these statistics may not seem like your problem. However, these are our fellow Canadians and it’s up to us to help decrease the amount of people living on the streets.

Now what is the government doing about this? Clearly we can all see that this is an issue. Unlike the other G8 countries Canada does not have a national housing plan.

The city of Vancouver is opening more shelters, and is trying to make available more low-cost or free housing centres. The provincial government has written a housing strategy called Housing Matters BC. This was released in 2006. In this report the province wishes to create 6,000 new housing units. The federal government has wishes to renew the Homelessness Partnering Strategy outlined in the Economic Action Plan 2013. This means providing homes for people who need them and then helping them secure their lives for the future.

Having a housing first strategy is a good plan, however, the government should focus on the causes of homelessness rather than trying to bandage the problem. There needs to be more programs to help people enter the work force and keep their jobs. This can be done by providing low-cost or free post-secondary classes so people can earn diplomas and degrees that can be used to gain jobs in the future. There should be more shelters put up in locations that have a high homeless population. People need to be educated and given hope that life on the streets isn’t the life they have to live forever.

When you see a homeless person don’t automatically assume the worst. Know that they’re people who had the misfortune of landing where they are now. Being homeless doesn’t make you any less of a human being and it’s definitely possible to bounce back, all they need is a little help.

―Kirnjit Rai

3RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS November 2014

Anti-poverty plans are the way to go

What is homelessness, you may ask? To simply put it, homelessness is the absence of a place to live. The idea of homelessness is truly a controversial issue in modern society. However, with the aid and attention of the government, hopefully we can come to some kind of possible solution.

There is an extreme imbalance of distribution of wealth in BC. The difference between the rich and the poor is staggering. Poverty is costing the province billions of dollars. In fact, BC has the highest poverty rate in Canada, as reported by Statistics Canada, and is one of the last provinces without an adequate poverty reduction plan.

In the city of Vancouver, Mayor Gregor Robertson’s proposal to end homelessness has become a difficult task to accomplish. Robertson has frequently made it an obligation to end homelessness. However, statistics show otherwise.

Too big a problem to ignore

Homelessness is something that we have seen throughout our whole lives. It is something that we have become so immune to that we forgot how big of a problem it really is.

We should care about homelessness because what most people don’t know is that it’s cheaper to put people in homes rather than to leave them on the street. Also there are 1,000 people in Vancouver that are homeless for more than a year; this affects us because this is our city that people are homeless in and that number is only bound to get bigger because of how expensive it is to live in Vancouver.

We as a nation need to come up with a solution to homelessness because as we know Canada is the only country out of the G8

not to have a national housing strategy. A good strategy that I think could work for our nation is the one Australia uses. It’s called the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA), which aims to ensure that all people have access to affordable, safe and sustainable housing. NAHA provided $6.2 billion of housing assistance to low- and middle-income people in the first five years.

Homelessness isn’t something that you could just fix overnight. It’ll take time, but this is too big of a problem to just ignore and I think if the federal, provincial and municipal governments could come together and agree on a strategy, homelessness could be reduced by a lot and hopefully one day be something of the past and homelessness would no longer exist.

―Ravi Basra

Homelessness Action Week, October 12-18 by Mark Manangan

Imagine yourself living on the streets on a cold and snowy day. You don’t have proper clothing for the weather and you don’t have a shelter to live in. You are shivering from the cold but have no money at all to buy yourself something warm. You haven’t eaten in days and you are starving. You are crunched up on the sidewalk because your stomach hurts too much to move. People run away from you. You are not welcomed and no one wants you here.

What causes homelessness? Well according to British Columbia’s housing system, the main causes for homelessness are the lack of affordable housing in Vancouver, inadequate income, addictions, abuse/conflict and the lack of support services. Vancouver is an expensive place to live in especially how high the prices are for houses. But the two main causes of homelessness would be extreme poverty and extreme isolation, according to Peter Greenwell, who coordinates the Homeless Program at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Homelessness shows up like an iceberg. We only see half of the iceberg, which means we only see a bit of what is actually out there. There are three levels of homelessness. Starting at the tip of the ice berg would be absolute homelessness. Then hidden homelessness, which would be sea level and, finally, relative homelessness, which is under sea level.

Absolute homelessness is the worst one; people are on the street and live in shelters. Those who suffer from hidden homelessness have a house, but they rely on others. Lastly, relative homelessness is not as bad as hidden homelessness because people are housed but are in trouble because they are using their income to pay for their housing.

A survey was done recently on why people chose to become homeless. One quarter – 25 percent – said

income problems, 19 percent said house, 17 percent said addiction and 10 percent said abuse/conflict. Help for the homeless There are many great things out there that are helping homeless people. There is an Emergency Shelter (ESP), Homeless Outreach (HOP) and Aboriginal Homeless Outreach (AHOP). These are charities/organizations that help homeless people. There is a program at Collingwood Neighbourhood House called the Morning Star Program, where the homeless are provided with the basic necessities such as toiletries, food and clothing.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, the government bought hotels for the athletes, and after the games it would be given to people who needed it the most. The provincial government also built 800,000 housing units in the last 10 years.

The G8 countries (the top eight countries that are thriving), including France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, United States, Canada and Russia, hold an annual meeting to talk about global issues, global security, energy and terrorism. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), Canada is the only G8 country without a national housing strategy. It is estimated that about 300,000 Canadians are homeless and about 1.7 million Canadians have trouble affording their housing. If we all put a little effort into this, great things could happen and we all can live in peace and harmony.

Mark Manangan is in Grade 12 attending Windermere Secondary School. He is in the Leadership program there. As part of his Leadership 12 project he tends the garden and orchard in the school. Mark loves learning about all the issues around him and the issues that could affect youth in the future.

A survey done for the metro area has indicated that the number of homeless people have increased to a significance of 14 percent, from 1,581 to 1,798.

The use of residential housing is an excellent step forward in conquering homelessness. For starters, the B.C. government can help by establishing sustainable facilities within Greater Vancouver as opposed to investing hundreds of millions of dollars on shelters in Vancouver, considering the costly and overpriced real estate the city has to offer. Jobs should be created. In addition, the inhabitants should be educated by way of learning how to budget their incomes.

In essence, solutions to end the problem of homeless are affordable housing, support services, and a sufficient income.

―Calvin Ha

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The mission of this non-profit publication is to provide the residents, businesses and organizations of Renfrew/Collingwood with a medium for community communication.

Paul Reid: staff writer and layout coordinatorLisa Symons: sales and distribution coordinatorJulie Cheng: editorial coordinator

Contributors: Charlton Alvarez, Ravi Basra, Crecien Bencio, Cari Chan, Calvin Ha, Mark Manangan, Kirnjit Rai, Paul Reid

Yes, You! Send comments, community events, press releases by regular post, fax or e-mail. Suggestions for improving the paper are welcome. We welcome appropriate, unsolicited editorial submissions if accompanied by the author’s real name, address and telephone number. The author should retain the original as we cannot return submissions without prior agreement nor does submis-sion guarantee publication. We reserve the right to make editorial changes.

Contact the RCCNews

Phone: 604-435-0323 extension 261Fax: 604-451-1191

Editorial: rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.caAdvertising: Phone Lisa Symons at 604.435.0323 email: rccnews-sales@cnh.bc.ca

Renfrew/Collingwood Community NewsCollingwood Neighbourhood House5288 Joyce StreetVancouver, BC V5R 6C9

The Renfrew/Collingwood Community News is an initiative of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH).

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RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 2014

Family tree tips for using a perpetual calendar

 

Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society is seeking loving and dedicated foster parents who are willing to share their homes and provide foster care for Aboriginal babies, children, and youth in the Greater Vancouver area. We invite Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal applicants.

Information Sessions are held on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 6:45pm in our office at 3284 East Broadway, Vancouver. For more information, please email foster@vacfss.com or call 604-216-7447.

by Loretta Houben Have you ever wanted to know which day of the week you were born on? Or have you ever wished you could know the day on which one of your ancestors was married? Years ago when the BC Telephone Company (now known as Telus) sent out large paper phone books to each Vancouver household, I discovered a perpetual calendar at the back, nestled in with all the other important information such as government addresses and numbers. I was fascinated as it listed dates from 1800 to 2050. I still have it. The calendar has come in handy for many things. It shows an index on one side with a list of the years and a number beside each year. There are 14 small boxes with a number above each one. I was born in 1960 so if I wish to know the actual day of my birth, I look up 1960, find the number (in this case 13) and check the appropriate calendar. My date of birth reveals that I was born on a Wednesday. The calendar we use today is the Gregorian calendar, named for Pope Gregory XIII. Our ancestors kept track of time by moon phases, but of course this wasn’t adequate and a method to document days, months and years was invented. Before the Gregorian calendar, the Julian calendar was in use, invented by the Romans and named after Julius Caesar. But due to the Roman’s superstitious beliefs, the calendar had only odd numbered days and wasn’t reliable. However, when the Catholic church instituted the Gregorian calendar in 1582 many of the

Protestant churches refused to adapt. It wasn’t until 1700 that Germany and the Netherlands changed to the Gregorian calendar, and not until 1752 for the rest of the Protestant countries to begin using it, except for Russia who changed over in 1918. China changed in 1949. Even so, it isn’t 100 percent accurate either, due to leap years and other things, but it’s the best we have for now! You can find perpetual calendars online. Here is a good link with everything you wished to know about calendars, including a list of leap years all the way to 2400: http://vpcalendar.net/

Loretta Houben is a member of the British Columbia Genealogy Society and enjoys looking up old dates in history.

Please check the society’s website at www.bcgs.ca for free meet-ups once a month.

The perpetual calendar comes in handy for many things. Photo by Loretta Houben

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Eating Out in RC: Wally’s Burgers by Paul Reid

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSRENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS November 2014

Two locations2582 Commercial Drive 604-707-66692889 Grandview Hwy 604-568-6121

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Come together right now with Freshslice Pizza

Any extra large pizza with three toppings:

*Pick Up Only *Redeemable with coupon *Grandview and Commercial locations

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EYE CARE CENTRETake me back, back to the shack. That would be Wally’s Burgers, this community’s most infamous burger shack that ever was or will be.

What could have been an awful death is living on thanks to a real Collingwood Saint, Gord Bemister. Yes, he came in when the ashes were still just cooling on Wally’s Kingsway location, and brought her back to life. The new location: 49th and Elliot, in the plaza there. And not just back to her 1990’s fairly mediocre, resting on her laurels, type of existance, but back to her prime.

We’re talking all of the original ingredients the way they used to be (researched in depth by Gord himelf) who treated this like he was Rick from Rick’s Restorations. The buns, the sauces, the recipes, the techniques – all dead-on authentico!

I’ve darkened Wally’s doorway many a time, and on this occasion, accompliceless, I ordered up an old classic combo – a Chuckwagon (loaded), those oh so thick and perfect onion rings (yes, there’s only five or so – but each one is the size of a donut, mind you), and a thick and delicious chocolate shake. I went old school with the chocolate, but there is a long list of crazy flavours.

Like the original Wally’s, the food was quickly dispatched. Quickly in relation to the amount of goodness that goes into such a fine meal. Surely, you might be able to get a sub rolled up

In addition to the same old awesome food, the new Wally’s Burgers at 49th and Elliot contains a lot of cool art featuring the old Wally’s location.

for you a wee bit faster, but let’s face it, under 10 minutes for such goodness is a feat. In that time, you will hardly have time to take in the fine wall of Wally’s art and such. A pinball machine might be in order - only Gord, because the original did have one (and pinball rocks!). On a sidenote, but still food related, I did have a dream when I was about to open up Paul’s Pizza and Pinball Palace, something I still might just do.

Back to the shack, that Wally’s Burger shack. It is so awesome and delicious that we can still, within the hood*, go and get ourselves, and our

loved ones, some good old fashioned quality awesome food.

Fun for the whole family. Who doesn’t like burgers and hot dogs and chicken and shakes and fries and rings and ice cream.

Yes Gord, you did a mighty fine thing. You, Gord, are now going down in history as the saint who saved Wally’s.

*49th was historically Collingwood up until the 1960’s let’s not forget

6 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

London Square Dental Centre #220 3340 Kingsway Ph: 604.435.4545

Collingwood Insurance 5750 Tyne Street Ph: 604.438.9888

E.41st Ave.

E.33rd Ave.

Kingsway

North Jo

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Boundary Rd.Nan

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Grandview Hwy.

The Tipper Restaurant 2066 Kingsway Ph: 604.873.1010

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Joyce Hair Design 5156 Joyce St. Ph: 604.451.7680

Papa John’s Pizza #300-3340 Kingsway Ph: 604.310.PAPA

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Sushi Miga 4441 Boundary Rd Ph:604.563.0722Open Seven Days A Week 11:30 am-9:30 pm

First Avenue Dental #116 - 2800 E1st Ave. 604.254.5040

Support your local businesses in Renfrew-Collingwood

J.E.’s Alteration and Dry Cleaning Drop Off #4 3490 Kingswsay Ph:604.434.9677

Don Davies M.P. Kingsway Office 2951 Kingsway Ph:604.775.6263

Happy 50th RPCC 2929 East 22 AvenuePhone: 604.257.8388

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7RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSRENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

Papa John’s Pizza #300-3340 Kingsway Ph: 604.310.PAPA

November 2014

Collingwood Branch Library 2985 Kingsway at Rupert 604-665-3953

Children’s Programs

Songs and stories for children up to 5 years of age (and their caregivers):

Baby StorytimeThursdays, 11:30 am–12:00 pm Nov.6–Dec.11Free; drop-in

Family StorytimeThursdays, 10:30 am–11:00amNov.6 – Dec.11Free; drop-in

New! Family Storytime on Saturdays!Saturdays, 10:30–11:00 amOct.4 – Nov.22Free; drop-in

Fun for children 6-12 years of age. (Please note that children under 9 must be accompanied by a guardian.)

Lego Block PartyWednesdays, 3:30 pmNov.19, Dec. 17Free; drop-in

Crazy Cartoons: Art on the iPadSaturday, November 22, 2:30 pmFree; registration required

Holiday Fun for Tweens (crafts, treats and more!)Saturday, December 13, 2:30pmFree; registration required

“A book is a dream that you hold in your hand” –Neil GaimanAdult Programs Internet Basics in Cantonese - 互聯網入門粵語班:Wednesday, November 12, 10:30 am–12:00 noonLearn about what’s available on the Internet and how to find it. We’ll talk about browsers, navigation and basic searching through Chinese websites. It also includes reading Chinese newspapers through VPL websites. Free! Call Collingwood Branch (查詢及報名請電) 604-665-3953 to register.

Email Basics in Cantonese - 電子郵件入門粵語班Friday, Nov 21, 10:30 am–12:00 noonDo you need help: • setting up an email account? • learning how to send, forward or delete an email? • to send photos or other attachments?Free! Call Collingwood Branch (查詢及報名請電) 604-665-3953 to register.

ESL Book ClubTuesday, November 25, 7:00–8:30 pmEnjoy practising your English conversation and reading skills in a supportive environment while learning about culture and meeting new people. This program is most suitable for intermediate speakers.Registration is required. To register please contact the Collingwood Branch at 604-665-3953.

One to One Computer TrainingEvery weekWant to learn how to use a computer? How to send an email? Or maybe you would like to learn more about VPL’s online collections, eBooks?

Please call the library at 604-665-3953 and book a 45 minutes private lesson tailored to your needs!

Renfrew Branch Library, 2969 East 22nd Avenue at Nootka, 604-257-8705

Fall Storytimes

Babytime (Infant–18 months), Wednesdays, 11:15 am, Nov. 5–Dec. 10Toddler Storytime (18 months–3 years), Wednesdays, 10:15 am, Nov. 5–Dec. 10Family Storytime (all ages)Mondays, 2:00 pm, Nov. 3–Dec. 15& Saturdays, 11:15 am, Nov. 8–Dec. 13

**New program! Vietnamese Storytime for all ages, Saturdays at 10:15 am, Oct. 25–Nov. 29Rhymes, songs, and stories in Vietnamese, suitable for children and all ages and abilities to enjoy and learn together with their parents and caregivers.

* Chương trinh kê chuyên cho beCa hat, va nghe kê chuyên băng tiêng Viêt. • Thich hơp cho tre em ơ moi lưa tuôi. Tao điêu kiên cho be va cha me hay ngươi giư tre cung nhau thương thưc va hoc cach ca hat va kê chuyên vơi nhau.• Thư Bay vao luc 10:15 AM; Băt đâu tư 25 thang 10 đên 29 thang 11

Coming in December: Parents’ Night Out: Apps for your Little One, Thursday, December 11, 6:30–8:30 pmFor parents and caregivers for children ages 2–5. Learn about sharing iPad apps with your young child while supporting early literacy skills. Adults only, please. Registration required; call branch for details.

School-Age Programs• After-School Drop-In program for ages 8–12, Wednesdays at 3:30 pm, Sept. 17-Nov. 19• Film Screening: THE LEGO MOVIE for ages 5–12, Monday, November 10 (Pro-D Day), 2:30–4:30 pm• Lego Block Party for ages 5-12, Friday, November 28 (Pro-D Day), 2:00–4:00 pm

Teen ProgramsInternational Games Day. Saturday, November 15, 2:00–4”00 pm. Challenge other teens and show off your skills at International Games Day. Hosted by the Vancouver Public Library and the Renfrew Teen Advisory Group. Free! Food! Fun! Prizes! Hunger Games and Minecraft week: November 8–15. Renfrew Branch Library is looking for two “tributes” to compete in a Hunger Games/Minecraft challenge. Compete with other “districts” and live to tell the tale.

Contact teen services librarian Lindsey Pagnucco at Lindsey.Pagnucco@vpl.ca or 604-999-5189 for more details. Adult Programs

Credit Cards and Prepaid Cards: Costs and Obligations: a partnership event with Vancity. Thursday, November 6, 2014, 7:00–8:30 pmLearn about the advantages and disadvantages of credit cards and prepaid cards. You’ll learn about credit card features, fees, and the cost of credit. Registration required; contact branch to register.

What’s happening at your local library Get InvolvedArtisan’s call for Collingwood Village Artisans’ MarketThe Collingwood Village Artisans’ Market will be Sunday, December 7 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Artisans and crafters who live in the Renfrew-Collingwood area are welcome to book a table – cost: $30. Table bookings start November 1. More info: Crecien rcmancraftfair@gmail.com

Kickstart presents an Expressive Arts Workshop with Janis HarperWednesday, November 5, 2014Doors open at 7:00 pm, workshop begins at 7:30 pmSlocan Hall2750 East 29th Avenue, Vancouver near the 29th Avenue Skytrain StationAdmission sliding scale $3 to $10We do expressive arts to feel better – emotionally, physically – and to engage our senses and get out of our heads. To play and free our creative selves! As part of Kickstarts Fine Line Project, Janis Harper will lead participants in sound and collaborative poetry.This workshop is designed for those with limited physical mobility, but all are welcome. No experience required.

Il Mercato Farmers Market at Italian Cultural CentreFriday, November 213:00pm–7:00pm3075 Slocan St, Vancouver near Grandview Highway

The Italian Culture Centre’s Il Mercato, a Farmer and Italian Night Market, continues the third Friday of the month – November 21. Bring home a taste of Italy from the next market on October 17! Come shop and stay for live Italian music and children’s activities. More info at http://italianculturalcentre.ca/blog/il-mercato-italian-night-market/

New winter farmers market at the PNE

There’s something exciting coming to Hastings Park and it’s not a thrill ride or a horse race – it’s a farmers market! Sundays, until December 7, 10am - 2pmEnter at Gate 2. 40+ vendors, produce, food trucks, treats, crafts, music and more!

Stay tuned to the Vancouver Farmers Market Twitter account at twitter.com/VanMarkets for updates!

Windermere Secondary School’s first graduating class celebrates 50th anniversary

8 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 2014

The original Grade 10s celebrated the 50th anniversary of Windermere’s first graduating class in 1964 on October 18, 2014, at the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver.

Tributes poured in for these “1964 Originals” on this historic occasion.

Windermere has a rich tradition of excellence that has evolved into a compassionate community where our current students take a great deal of pride in service and volunteerism both at school and in the broader community. We thank all of our alumni for the contributions they have made in helping to build our current community.―Rick Mesich, Principal

Windermere Secondary has played an instrumental role in our community for decades. It has not only educated thousands of students – it has enriched the social, cultural and economic fabric of our country … Windermere Secondary School continues to be an institution of educational excellence, and I am proud to represent an area encompassing so much history and talent. ―Don Davies, MP Vancouver Kingsway

The 1964 class and the alumni of 1965, 1966 and 1967 … were true trailblazers – you set the tone for a school that has done so much for our community through to the present day … Today’s students and staff are remarkable – Windermere is recognized for the achievements of its students and its connection to the community … All of that started, of course, with its first graduating class.―Adrian Dix, MLA Vancouver Kingsway

As Mayor, I am proud of our diverse and high quality educational system. The achievement by Windermere alumni, both during their studies and in their subsequent careers, is a glowing example of the contribution the school has made to the City of Vancouver and beyond. As students, parents and the school’s teachers prepare to set the foundation for the next 50 years, they can be very satisfied with the legacy they have created. ―Gregor Robertson, Mayor, City of Vancouver

Schools are a focal point for the community and a source of some our most vivid memories … We proudly acknowledge the achievements of Windermere Secondary School and its students through the years.―Patti Bacchus, Chair,

Rosemary (Sawkins) Mason, 1965, and Ken Woods, 1964

Rosemary Mason, 1965, and Peder Gulbranson, 1966

High school track meet at Empire Stadium, 1965

50th anniversary cake

Former Windermere student Jeff Hyslop is the upside down Lion’s Cub that performed at BC Lions football games at Empire Stadium in the 1960s. Jeff went on to a musical career , first performing here in Vancouver with Theatre under the Stars and then on to an exceptional career with Broadway shows in New York.

Windermere alumni’s fine group of ladies

Some of the finest young poster boys – from the ’60s – Allen McLeod, Ed Wong, Don Hubbard and Bruce White.

9RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS November 2014RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

Starting a new job? Tips to get you started and stay aheadCongratulations! The job interview went well and you have been offered a job! As you breathe a sigh of relief after landing new job, it’s important to start to think about a plan that will guarantee success in your new role. You will want to continue making that good impression you did during the interview process as keeping a job is as important as getting it. Below are some tips to prepare you for your first day, assist in maintaining your job as well as how to advance your career.

Checklist when starting your job• Have your social insurance number (SIN) card handy so that you can fill out the necessary forms• Know the transportation routes and times• Follow the appropriate dress code• Confirm lunch and coffee breaks• Follow company procedures and policies

Keeping your job • Be on time or early, and check your work schedule frequently if you are working part time• Call the employer ASAP if you cannot go into work• Ask questions and follow directions• Maintain the same standard of quality as the employer• Be open to putting in extra time or effort as required

Attitude, personality and ethics• Be positive, motivated and supportive• Leave all personal problems at home• Be proactive, express your thoughts and ideas and be open to the suggestions of others• Respect company time, property, equipment and privacy

To get ahead• Do more than what is expected of you• Show enthusiasm, support and interest• Take the initiative to apply for related vacancies within the company• Enhance your existing skill-set by taking courses related to your current position

�s �e Season to PartyCollingwoodWINTER CARNIVAL

Saturday.November 29, 2014.4pm to 8pm.(Music, Santa Arrival & Tree lighting @ 5pm)

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604.639.4403Info@shopcollingwood.ca

FREE Holiday Treats ❉ Santa Photos ❉ Magic Show ❉ Movie ❉ Balloon Artist ❉

Carollers & More!

Bring food bank donation and win prizes!

This job search tip has been brought to you by the Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Centre located at Commercial and Broadway. For more job search tips and information about their services please contact 604-708-9300 or visit www.employmentworks.ca

10 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 2014

Read On! A news section for Renfrew-Collingwood learners

Read On! has a web page. You can:

Read the articles

Print worksheets

http://renfrewcollingwood communitynews.com/category/ read-on/

Reading levels on this page

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Poppies Everywhere

Starting early in November you may see poppy flowers pinned to jackets and shirts around town by people of all ages and backgrounds. By November 11th it seems like the poppies are everywhere! You probably know that the poppy flower is a symbol worn for Remembrance Day on November 11th, but do you know why?

In Flanders Fields

On Remembrance Day we remember all of the people who died in wars. The poppy became the symbol of Remembrance Day because of the popular poem In Flanders Fields by Major John McCrae. The poem was written in 1915 during World War I. It is told from the perspective of soldiers who have just died. They see their graves (the crosses) in the field where poppies grow. They want the living to continue to fight for what they were fighting for.

Here is the poem:

In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

Remembrance Day in Vancouver There are several Remembrance Day events in Vancouver. Most of them start around 10:00 or 10:30 am. Every year at 11:00 am on November 11th (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month) there is a moment of silence for two minutes to remember all of those who died and suffered in war.

The largest Remembrance Day ceremony is at Victory Square at West Hastings and Cambie in downtown Vancouver. Closer to the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood is the South Memorial Park Remembrance Day ceremony. It begins with a parade starting at John Oliver Secondary School (41st Avenue and Knight Street) at 10:00 am. The memorial service at South Memorial Park starts at 10:30 (41st and Windsor).

Remembrance Day

G P C K K C I P T W Q X M L L R R P H B R Q P D Y A E P O A Y E A E M O D P P P M R O B L F T I V R S W B T O R B J M R A K J D E S S W R B A W X Y O M E O P L K P I R I W C Q S Y A S W A R O A E O A P J B W C Y L Z K E L S M C T L F P X Q L M V M M P J I P T F S A U R D J K W E Q K C U I I G C E X Y D L C M V L R E D K V W B R B F E T B Q H L A W I O E H L I E Z T E H D X H L L U U X G H N O A R V J S M F P O P P Y Y N O M E R E C B G J W A Z P

CEREMONY CROSS FIELD FLOWER GRAVE LARK MEMORIAL PERSPECTIVE POEM POPPY REMEMBER SOLDIER SYMBOL WAR

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

*This page is sponsored by the Collingwood Business Improvement Association

CBIA UPDATESComing Events:

November 29th Yellow Pages Shop the Neighbourhood

Sign up your business with a “special offer”. Yellow Pages will take care of the promotions businesses only need to provide a “deal”. This promotion will take place in several BIA areas in Vancouver as well as nationwide.

Shop the Neighbourhood is a free national initiative of Yellow pages which supports small businesses and reminds Canadians how local shopping makes a difference in all our lives.

Go to www.shoptheneighbourhood.ca to participate and find out more about the event. Once you sign up contact our office and you will receive a window decal to notify the public you are participating and have a special offer for the event.

SIGN UP IT’S FREE! #shopthehood

Named for the ancient and divine symbol for the virtues of purity, the Lotus Seed Vegetarian Restaurant has blossomed in our community, right in the southeast corner where Boundary meets Kingsway. Behind this divine blossoming are Amy and Van Loc Nguyen, who says, “I had an epiphany in my life where I wanted to make better choices for myself and my family. Better choices starting with food.”

It’s the perfect location really – next to the legendary Bikram’s Yoga Metrotown, where Van Loc gets his five times a week yoga fix. Yes, healthy food and yoga do go along well together. As does meditation, something Van does for an hour in the morning and one at night. If you ask him about it, you will find out that he follows the Vipasanna method, one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. Yoga, meditation, good healthy food, it’s no wonder that Van Loc and Amy and the Lotus Seed Restaurant have this wonderful aura of serenity and love.

Yes, love. And you CAN taste this love in the food. From the Mango Salad (mango, cucumber, pepper, cashew, pumpkin seeds, spinach with balsamic oil, dill and avocado) to the Spicy Thai Green Curry with tofu, mushrooms, potatoes, cauliflower, pineapple, green pepper, carrots, chick peas, green beans, garlic and onion with coconut. Everything you

find at Lotus Seed includes fresh organic ingredients and a healthy dose of love. “Our goal is to sprout awareness of healthy choices for food, our bodies, our community and our planet.”

Van Loc is the chef and from a young age he has had a serious passion for good food and cooking. He has been cooking officially since the age of 12 when he told his mom that he could do it better. “Remember that feeling you have when your mom made your favourite meal. How warm and satisfied you felt. That’s the kind of food I make. Food that makes you feel good, and satisfied and healthy.”

Although this is by far not their first restaurant venture, this is their first vegetarian one. Van Loc has been a vegetarian for about five years now.

Amy hails from Hong Kong and Van Loc from Saigon, South Vietnam. They met in Hamilton in 1984 while going to college there. Van was studying to be a machinist and Amy was studying business administration. They eventually moved to Vancouver and opened up a pizza restaurant, the first of two. That was followed by a Vietnamese restaurant and now Lotus Seed.

Amy and Van haverecently opened Lotus Seed VegetarianRestaurant

November 29th Winter Carnival and Community Tree Lighting 4 – 8 pmAfter you have SHOP THE HOOD, come by the big tent located on the corner of Tyne and Kingsway in the Safeway parking lot for our annual Winter Carnival and Tree Lighting. Bring in a donations for the Food Bank and be entered into a draw. Itinerary for the Winter Carnival4:00 pm - Children’s activities, hot chocolate and coffee provided by Starbucks Boundary Plaza and cookies by Safeway. Raffle Prizes.4:00 – 7:00 pm – Balloon Twisting by Bent Air Balloons4:30 – 5:00 pm – St. Mary’s School Choir5:00 pm Official Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree5:00 – 7:00 pm Photo’s with Santa $3.00 or two for $5.00. All proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank.5:30 – 6:15 pm Christmas Magic Show by Zany Zack Voted 2013 Children’s Entertainer of the Year.7:15 pm - Classic Holiday movie and popcorn brought to you by the Collingwood Community Policing Centre

Contact Facebook: facebook.com/shopcollingwoodvancouver Twitter: @shopcollingwood

Shop Collingwood! It’s good for business!

12 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 2014

Intercultural Physical Activity Guide to get neighbours moving and learning from each other

                                                                                   

DAYTIME ACTIVITIES 日间娱乐活动 Collingwood Neighbourhood House ● Nov. 2014  

We are located on 5288 Joyce St. in Vancouver. Please call us at 604-435-0323 if you have any questions or want to find out more about our many seniors recreation and social programs. _______________________________________________________________________  Karaoke at Collingwood! On Thursday November 6th ‐ from 10:30 ‐ 11:45 have fun singing your favourite songs with a microphone and a musical track. We provide your music, you provide the voice!  Everyone is welcome to attend!   

MONDAY WELLNESS GROUP: 星期一健康组织 Monday Nov. 3, 1:15‐3:00pm: Birthdays and Bingo! Tell us if your Birthday is in November! Bring a small prize or $2.00. Coffee and cake will be served.  Monday Nov. 10 1:15‐3:00pm ‐ Zumba Sit or Stand: Dance at your own pace to the rhythmic sounds of Latin, World, and Vintage Groove music plus, enjoy some old familiar songs in this easy to follow movement class for sitting or standing. Coffee and snacks will be served. $2.50  Monday Nov. 20, 1:15‐3:00pm: ‐ Driving Motorized Mobile Scooters:  Curious about motorized mobile scooters? Then test drive one today! The Collingwood Community Policing Centre will provide safety tips and guide drivers around a simple indoor obstacle course. Coffee and snacks will be served. $2.50   Monday Nov. 24, 1:15-3:00pm: ‐ Live Holiday Music Celebration:  Get ready for the holidays! Let's have a Carol Sing a Long with Pianist and Entertainer, Lorraine Smith! Coffee and snacks will be served. $2.50   Renfrew Collingwood Better at Home Seniors Shuttle: Are you struggling to get to your medical appointments? Do you need help getting your heavy groceries home? Are you finding it challenging to take public transit?  Did you know that there is a door‐to‐door shuttle service in the neighbourhood that helps seniors go to where they need to in the community? The Renfrew‐Collingwood Better at Home Program runs an affordable shuttle service that can help people above the age of 55 who live in Renfrew Collingwood, fees are on a sliding scale based on income. Subsidies are available for those on a lower income. For more info, please call Better at Home at 604‐435‐0375.    

A team of professionals from Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), Renfrew Park Community Centre, Windermere Family of Schools, University of British Columbia (UBC), and Action Schools! BC is developing an Intercultural Physical Activity Guide, which aims to increase intercultural understanding using physical activity as a tool. The activities in this guide will be pilot-tested through community organizations in Renfrew-Collingwood this fall, and provincial-wide promotions of the published guide is scheduled to begin next year. This guide is one of the several projects launched through Renfrew-Collingwood INTERactive, a community initiative that encourages local residents to connect with neighbours through physical activities.

At 43-pages, the Intercultural Physical Activity Guide is a launching pad for any group to explore interculturalism or physical activity. It’s geared toward individuals in leadership capacities, but the activities, though originally planned for school-aged children, can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age. The guide

includes over seven categories of activities ranging from handball to skipping and jumping, and within each category are often cultural variations of activities. In Target and Accuracy Games, for instance, there are games from Sierra Leone, First Nations groups (Sahtu and Chipewyan), Greece and Ethiopia. There’s even a category teaching readers how they or their participants can create their own activities. Each category has a series of intercultural discussion questions, activity co-creating suggestions and physical activity outcomes.

“We focused on the three themes: relationship building, learning from each other and sharing, and co-creating,” said Vive Wong, CNH’s prevention education coordinator, who also stressed that the games were not focused on competition, but fun-filled participant engagement.

Wong and UBC graduate student Donna Lee researched and drafted the document from February to September.

Both women are experienced in planning activities and have studied with Dr. Wendy Frisby, a co-founder of RC INTERactive and former UBC School of Kinesiology professor. They gathered suggestions from RC INTERactive community partners and Dr. Frisby’s UBC undergraduate students, and evaluated resources from Action Schools! BC and the UBC Library, as well as materials provided by Michael McLenaghen, the director of community services at CNH.

“We had to research the history of the activity, consider how we were going to include physical literacy (or skills the activities develop), think of how can we use the activity to promote interculturalism, and how participants would interact with each other,” said Wong. “These couldn’t be activities you did yourself.”

The result blew the organizing committee away. “Most of the activities, I’ve never heard about.“ said Dr. Frisby. “Vive and Donna did a great job researching, [and] exploring possibilities.”

Gavin Clark, the community schools oordinator for the Windermere Family of Schools, is excited about the guide, too, saying, “It may prompt dialogue and hopefully, [prompt] people to develop new ways of thinking and being within an intercultural context.”

The idea for the Intercultural Physical Activity Guide was conceived during discussions between UBC Kinesiology undergraduate students and teachers and principals from the Windermere Family of Schools. The students discovered that the educators were enthusiastic about the idea of interculturalism, but neither have the time nor resources to effectively create and implement intercultural physical activities in classrooms. Paula Carr, an RC INTERactive

co-founder and intercultural specialist, and Nancy Reynolds, a facilitator for RC INTERactive, responded by gathering a team from RC INTERactive to develop a guide. Action Schools! BC was later brought on because of their extensive experience creating and distributing physical activity resources across elementary schools.

Now that the draft is completed, the Intercultural Physical Activity Guide moves toward the next phase: testing. Supported by a Healthy Living grant from Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, RC INTERactive will coordinate Train the Trainer workshops this fall and winter in the Renfrew-Collingwood area for recreation practitioners, teachers, student leaders, parents and any other interested individuals. For more information or to sign up for a workshop, contact Paula Carr at pcarr@cnh.bc.ca. Once finalized, the guide will be available for free download from www.actionschoolsbc.ca and distributed to the roughly 1,600 elementary and middle schools in BC through Action Schools! BC workshops.

The Intercultural Physical Activity Guide is an example of how a project started in Renfrew-Collingwood can make a significant contribution to a wider community to further prevent social isolation and promote health. “This is a concrete tool for a variety of groups to use,” says Carr, who adds, “and we hope it will get people more active, aware of diversity and willing to ‘create something new with someone not like you.’ ”

Dance walking is one of the many non-competitive and fun activities that a group can do to learn about others who are “not like you.”

The following is a paid advertisement by Adrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver/Kingsway

13RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS November 2014

The Seniors Connection Dear Neighbours:

Congratulations, BC Arts Council Scholarship Winners!

I am so pleased to congratulate the winners of the BC Arts Council Scholarships. Congratulations to our local academic superstars: Liel Amdour, Tuedon Ariri, Theo Duff-Grant, Ashley Tsang, Ian Barbour, & Ben Brown. I look forward to seeing their continued contribution to the arts in British Columbia.

Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival and Harvest Fair

This year’s Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival was again a wonderful success. We were lucky to have great weather! It is always one of my favorite fall events, and I would like to sincerely thank all of the organizers and volunteers. And congratulations again to all of our Fall Harvest Fair winners!

Remembrance Day: November 11th

November 11th is Remembrance Day, set aside for all of us to take time to recognize the sacrifice of those who fought and died for their country in battle, and to remember how important it is to work for peace so we may never again face the tragedies of wartime.

Please join me on Sunday, November 11 at the Memorial Park Cenotaph, located at 41st Ave and Windsor St, to recognize the sacrifice that so many have made across the world. There will be a parade assembling at the west parking lot of John Oliver High School at 41st Ave and Fraser St at 9:45am – the service at the cenotaph will commence at 10:30am. If you are unable to attend a service, you may observe the traditional moment of silence at 11am.

New Office Open Hours – Back to regular hours on Monday

Our office will again be open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday. In the New Year we will conduct a review and select another evening to open the office during. We apologize if this creates any difficulty.

Free Public Access Computer

A reminder to those seeking computer access for social assistance applications, BC Housing files, resume creation or housing and job searches: I have set up a public computer in my constituency office with quick links to Ministry websites, government services, and community resources. All constituents are welcome to drop by during our office hours (Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm, and on Friday by appointment). My Constituency Assistants are happy to help with any difficulty.

Affordable exercise this fall at Collingwood Neighbourhood Houseby Crecien Bencio

Here at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) we are settling into the fall season. But even though the weather is getting colder, our seniors are out and about in Renfrew-Collingwood, strolling, chatting and making new friends. It can be hard to find affordable programs in our neighbourhood that will help you stay active, but CNH has two free programs, the Walking Club and the Friday Morning Exercise Group. They are both fun and affordable options to help seniors stay fit and healthy in autumn and winter. A long-time walking club participant and cultural connector, Lydia Lagadi proposed that the walking club should visit the local parks in the neighbourhood. In November, the walking club will be visiting Renfrew Ravine Park, Collingwood Park and Aberdeen Park. Lydia believes that by visiting local parks we can connect with more seniors in the community who are also looking to socialize and exercise with others. The walking club is part of the Renfrew-Collingwood Better at Home Program at CNH. The club meets every Monday and Wednesday at 10:30 am in the lobby of CNH. This is a free program, but we ask participants to purchase a CNH membership. Virgie Cruz, who is also a cultural connector, has organized special events with the Friday morning exercise group this past summer with the help of a Neighbourhood Small Grant from the Vancouver Foundation. This senior-led group participates in stretching and gentle exercise, and everyone is welcome to participate. The Friday morning exercise group meets every Friday at 9:30 am at CNH. Virgie has

worked hard in the last few months to promote this free exercise program. She hopes that she will see new and returning seniors visit the program this fall.

Both Virgie and Lydia know the importance of promoting health and wellness with seniors in Renfrew-Collingwood. They hope that they will meet new seniors this fall who are enthusiastic in staying healthy and connecting more with their community.

For more information about recreation programs at Collingwood Neighbourhood House, call reception at 604-435-0323 or visit us in person at 5288 Joyce Street in Vancouver and speak to Crecien Bencio, the seniors outreach worker.

Cultural connectors Lydia and Virgie bring together the Friday Morning Exercise Group and the Walking Club to take a stroll down to Collingwood Gardens.

14

This page is sponsored by the Collingwood Neighbourhood House

Collingwood Neighbourhood HouseH I G H L I G H T S

COMMUNITY LUNCH

Collingwood Neighbourhood House invites you to lunch every Tuesday and Thursday. Please note that seniors are served at 12 noon; others are served at 12:10 pm. Full meal prices are $6.25 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for students and $3.25 for children under 12. Items can be purchased a la carte or “to go.”

November Lunch menu

Tues 4Tomato soup Tuna OR grilled cheese sandwichSalad, Chocolate cake Thurs 6Chicken a la king on rice Salad, Mango pudding

Tues 11Minestrone soupSmoked salmon OR vegetable pie Salad, Lemon cake

Thurs 13Shepherd’s pie (beef or veggie option) Salad, Cream puff

Tues 18Corn chowder Chicken macaroni and cheese Salad, Persimmon chocolate mousse

Thurs 20Salmon or veggie burger Salad, Yoghurt parfait

Tues 25Potato and leek soupRoast beef OR roasted vegetable sandwich Salad, Almond tart

Thurs 27Spaghetti with meat balls or vegetable sauce Salad and garlic breadBrownie with pumpkin spice icing

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 2014

LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnh.bc.ca

FOLLOW us on Twitter: @collingwoodnh

United Way Fundraiser is a huge success Last month Collingwood Neighbourhood House held a week-long series of fundraising initiatives for United Way. The events helped raise money for the work that United Way does in supporting vulnerable children and seniors living in isolation or poverty.

The fundraiser was huge success and featured special events held by the child care programs, a raffle draw, zubma classes, and a hot lunch fundraiser and bake sale. Red Days were held at Collingwood Neighbourhood House and its child care centers, while donations were made by CNH staff and other community members.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, staff and community members who participated in the events and helped raise funds for United Way.

Want to stay up to date with new activities, programs and events at CNH? Follow us on Facebook or check out our Twitter feed. postings about new events and opportunities to get involved.

Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition of Canada, visited the Terry Tayler Early Learning and Care Centre in October to meet with Collingwood Neighbourhood House childcare parents and staff and CNH Child and Family Development Services Director Sharon Gregson to discuss childcare affordability issues. Mulcair explained some of the details of the NDP’s $15-a-day childcare plan and heard about the impacts of childcare issues locally. Pictured left to right: CNH Executive Director Jennifer Gray-Grant, CNH Child and Family Development Services Director Sharon Gregson, Thomas Mulcair and Terry Tayler, founding president of CNH and the person for whom the Terry Tayler Centre is named.

Follow us

15RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS November 2014RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

For our full listing of programs check out our website or drop by and pick up a brochure. GST included. Registration has now started. Register early so you don’t miss out.

Crystal Ball (55+yrs) There will be a live band, door prizes and light lunch will be served. Get your ticket early to make sure you have your place at this event. Sat 1:15-3:45pm Nov 8 $8/person November Winds Luncheon (55+yrs) There will be a full meal with entertainment and door prizes. Wed 12:00-2:30pm Nov 26 $9/person Craft Fair Get a head start on your Christmas shopping at our Craft Fair. It's a great place to find unique gifts. If you are the crafty sort, come and sell your own handmade items. Sat 10:00am-3:00pm Nov 29 $28/table CRAFT FAIR ADMISSION IS FREE Breakfast with Santa (2-10yrs) Join us with your family and friends for a pancake breakfast. Fun crafts after breakfast to complete your visit. All participants 2+yrs and adults must pay and register for this event Sa Dec 13 $5/person

Mini Cuisine (5-7yrs) Renee Lin Learn how to make delicious and healthy snacks and lunch in our kitchen and eat your creations. Sun 11:30am-12:30pm Nov 2-Dec 7 $60/6 sess Junior Iron Chefs (7-10yrs) Renee Lin Simple cooking can become yummy snacks! Learn how to make tasteful snacks with healthy food. No program Oct 13. Mon 4:00-5:00pm Nov 3-Dec 8 $60/6 sess

Wibit Inflatable Day Saturday, November 15, 2014 3:00pm–5:00pm Come and join in the fun! *Regular admission rates apply

NEW

Sushi-Mania (7-10yrs) Renee Lin Crazy for sushi? There's so much to know about sushi! Join us in making different types of sushi. No program Oct 13. Mon 5:15-6:15pm Nov 3-Dec 8 $60/6 sess Hatha Yoga - Beginner II (19+yrs) Hisae McMichael $11/Adults, $10/Seniors - drop-in if space. Thu 7:15-8:30pm Nov 6-Dec 18 $64.75/7 sess Sat 9:15-10:30am Nov 1-Dec 13 $64.75/7 sess Weight Loss and Healthy Living (19+yrs) Alicia Meek We will cover dieting, calorie counting, exercise, habits, and lifestyle. Also what to expect when you’ve lost the weight and how to stop it from coming back! On the first night we will create your personalized plan. On night two, we will cook and tie infor-mation from the first night. Wed 8:00-9:30pm Nov 19-26 $45/2 sess

Pool Fitness Centre Centre Area

1:00pm-5:00pm 1:00pm-5:00pm

Closed

For our full listing of programs check out our website or drop by

and pick up a brochure. GST included. Registration Starts On-line Registration Mon, November 17 Register in person Tue, November 18 Register by phone (604 257-8388, ext 3) Wed, November 19

Don DaviesM.P. for Vancouver Kingsway

2951 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5J4 DonDavies.caTel: 604-775-6263 Fax: 604-775-6284 Email: Don.Davies@parl.gc.ca

Honouring those who sacrificed...Working for a peaceful future.

Best wishes this Remembrance Day.

Continued from page 1

at this time a deal can still not be reached.

Will there be time? Will a new location come available, or can a deal be reached with the old Jaguar’s?

“It would take a miracle,” thinks one Branch #48 member who was trying to get the deal to happen. The Collingwood Branch #48 who was an institution in this community for nearly a century. Before there was Collingwood Neighbourhood House, there were places like the Royal Canadian Legion. Hosting meetings and local clubs and get-togethers for our community, giving out scholarships to local students. Supporting our vets and allow the vets to volunteer and raise money for our neighbourhoods. In talking with Inga Kruse at BC/Yukon Command, they are very hopeful that the branch cansomehow get it together in time to find a new location. They would need a business plan and the members would need to vote on it democratically. “If you can help put the word out, who knows, maybe a business person or someone knows how to help.”

And that is our hope with this column here. We did with the Firehall 15 and we did it with the Carleton School.

Let’s now face our next great feat: to save our Collingwood Legion from an early demise. Let’s at least see that this historic branch makes it to 100 years. Is that too much?

Can we make this some sort of co-op deal? What if the CBIA, Collingwood NeighbourhoodHouse, Renfrew Park Community Association and prominent local business owners come together and pitch in on this. Then the rest of you, all you have to do is go there once in awhile and have fun.

For the RCC News’ part, I am sure we can manage to give some free publicity as part to keep this community in touch with all that goes on there.

The Collingwood Neighbourhood House too supports Branch #48, as executive director Jennifer Gray-Grant states, “It would be wonderful to see the Collingwood Legion relocate back into Collingwood. The Legion has been an important organization in the neighbourhood for so many years it would be great to work with others to ensure it remains locally based.”

I spoke with Don Davies MP and he, a member of Branch #48, says he has been working closely with the branch for the past few years to help them turn it around. “Of course, many of

the branches are currently finding it difficult to make ends meet. It’s not like the old days. Now there is more competition, membership is down, the remaining members are aging and not getting out so much. I think that the Legion as a whole needs to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and start fresh, drawing out a new plan of how the Legion will go forward, crunching the numbers to make sure it works financially. As for Branch #48 relocating to Collingwood, I am behind them 100%.”

As we approach Remembrance Day, Let’s just take a moment now to remember again the peoplewho have defended us. Who made

it possible for you today to go about your way. These are the people who need our help now to help keep the flame alive.

If you have resources or ideas that you could donate to help keep Collingwood Branch #48 alive, please send an email to the attention of Paul Reid to rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca. And remember, time is running out. We will be running follow-up articles in the months to come to keep RC informed on this issue. Stay tuned.

16 RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWSNovember 2014

Vancouver Park Board

All-Candidates Meeting

Vancouver votes November 15 Thursday, November 6Renfrew Park Community Centre22nd Avenue and RenfrewRoom 1107:00–9:30 pm. Doors open at 6:00 Who are you voting for? Vancouver’s municipal election takes place Saturday, November 15.

Come meet the candidates and learn about the election issues at the all-candidates meeting at Renfrew Park Community Centre. Here is your chance to ask questions on topics that are important to you and decide who to vote for!

Chinese translation is available.

Artisan’s call for Collingwood Village Artisans’ Market

The Collingwood Village Artisans’ Market will be Sunday, December 7 from 11:00 am to 4:00

pm at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Artisans and crafters who live in the Renfrew-

Collingwood area are welcome to book a table – cost: $30. Table bookings start November 1. More info: Crecien rcmancraftfair@gmail.com