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MOVments: So Close and So Far
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on June 18, 2013 at 6:56 am
 
This week in MOVments we look at the ideas of proximity and distance in relation to transportation, services, tourist attractions, and more. We explore some stats on how Vancouverites are getting from point A to point B, funding community-specific services in the DTES, how a beach is benefiting from being close to the MOV, and a venue that at least one person feels is a little too close to its neighbours. 
 
Getting There. A recent report to City Council revealed a dramatic increase in walking and cycling as modes of transportation in the city, with driving trips on a slight decline. Significantly, the proportion of women and girls walking and biking has also grown, which is "seen to be an indicator of the quality and safety of a city’s infrastructure." All of this is so good that some think we should actually be doing a little more bragging. And speaking of sustainable transportation, check out these neat side-by-side videos of the same Skytrain route: one from today and one from 1986.
 
DTES Services. Two organizations that work closely with the DTES community are receiving funding from the City for continuing and expanded services. WISH will receive a grant for expanded work with survival sex trade workers and the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS) will receive money for their ongoing Residential Tenancy Branch. 
 
Kits Beach Hits the Big Time. Kitsilano Beach made it on to Reuters Top 10 City Beaches Around the World list. One of its selling points? Its proximity to this museum and other cultural attractions; the listing recommends hitting the beach as a stop on a jam-packed day of Vancouver sightseeing. 
 
Keep the WISE Alive. East Vancouver's WISE Hall has received a number of noise complaints in the past few months. While the complaints seem to be coming from one newcomer to the neighbourhood, Metro News reports that the event and live music venue is not taking any chances and has started a campaign to raise funds for additional soundproofing of the building. 
 
At the MOVeum:

June 19 - From Here to There: Stories of Food, Energy, and Transitioning to Resilient Communities
June 26 - Upcycled Urbanism Volunteer Orientation night
July 6 - Curator’s Talk & Tour Foncie's Fotos w/ Joan Seidl
July 13 - Upcycled Urbanism: A Design+Build Project for Everyone - Granville Street Build Day

[Image: Kits Beach, 1920s. Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 770-92]

Tags
cycling, kitsilano, Downtown Eastside, venue, East Vancouver, beach, SkyTrain, MOVments
MOVments: A Bump in the Road (and the Bike Path, and the Bridge...)
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on June 11, 2013 at 7:02 am
This week Gordon Price's post about the worst streets in BC (that's right, Vancouver's own BC Parkway bike path comes in second on the list) got us thinking about bumpy roads more figuratively. From uneven law enforcement when it comes to jaywalking, to a bridge that's on its last legs, to a neighbourhood that could use a bit of a shake up, we're exploring the cracks and rough edges in our rugged city. 
 
The High Price of Crossing the Street in the DTES. The Vancouver Police Department is getting flack from DTES advocacy groups who are calling them out for seemingly discriminatory policing practices around jaywalking. Pivot Legal Society and Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users point to the fact that over 2,000 tickets have been handed out over the last four years in the DTES, compared to zero over the same period in Kerrisdale and Dunbar. 
 
How to Solve a Problem like the Pattullo. So the Pattullo Bridge that connects New West to Surrey is getting old. Like 75 years old to be exact. And lately it's become a bit of a hazard. Options being shopped around for its replacement range from a pedestrian/cyclist-only route, to an 8-lane bridge, to just getting rid of it all together. 
 
A Neighbourhood Less Travelled. So, while foreign investment driving up housing prices may be a myth, the fact remains that a number of condos in Coal Harbour (and other areas) are occupied by part-time residents. What does this mean for the culture of the neighbourhood? Well, quieter streets, but also less lively streets and less opportunity for local business. More on 'Cold Harbour' here.
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Pattullo Bridge, 1938. Courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 260-884]
Tags
Downtown Eastside, Vancouver Police Department, Surrey, streetscape, neighbourhoods, MOVments
MOVments: Meatless Mondays, Honouring Advocacy, and Highrise Woes
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on June 4, 2013 at 11:41 pm
This week we explore traditions in the city: one that is just emerging, one that marks an end of an era, and one that is only just now being imagined. From a new annual tradition centered around not eating meat, to the legacy left behind by homeless advocate Judy Graves, to the potential impact and influence of high-rises at Oakridge, we're taking a step back for a broader view of a few current issues and events.
 
M.M. 2013. Vegetarians, you have a new holiday: the City has announced that June 10th will be Meatless Monday this year. But why go meat-free? As the Vancouver Food Policy Council explains, the day is connected to the city's commitment to its Greenest City Action Plan. By promoting a more moderate intake of meat the initiative is helping to advocate "for food systems that protect global resources and contribute to planetary health."
 
Judy Graves Honoured. There is no doubt that recently-retired advocate for the homeless, Judy Graves, left her mark on the minds and hearts of those who she worked for and with. Co-workers, politicians, and activists alike shared kind words and sweet memories at her recent retirement party. However, it is unclear whether Graves' legacy will continue with the hiring of a new homeless advocate by the City. 
 
Density Comes to Oakridge? Perhaps in the form of a 45-storey building? Some are all for it, arguing that the proposed rezoning and redevelopment of Oakridge Centre will revitalize the area. Others are wary of the lasting legacy of high-rises in their 'hood. Read this Georgia Straight piece for a fuller picture. 
 
Environmental Legacies. And finally, does BC's official opposition to the Enbridge pipeline mean that we can expect continued commitment to high environmental standards in the future? We sure hope so.  
 
At the MOVeum:


June 5 - Foncie's Fotos Opening Reception (for an in-depth look at the exhibit check out our post on VIA)

June 5 - MOV Annual General Meeting 

June 6 - Foncie's Fotos: Curator Talk & Tour w/Joan Seidl

June 19 - From Here to There: Stories of Food, Energy, and Transitioning to Resilient Communities 

 
[Image: Apartment buildings in Oakridge, 1978. Courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 780-276]
Tags
enbridge pipeline, homelessness, Greenest City, density, MOVments
MOVments: Surviving the City, Reality TV, and E-Commerce
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on May 29, 2013 at 6:50 am

This week we look at the economic realities and struggles of big business, small business, and "anti-business." From the uncertain fate of the The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, to the changing landscape of independent bookstores in the city, and the meta-reality of the DTES anti-gentrification conflicts, we're exploring what it means to survive and succeed in Vancouver's economic wilderness.
 
Saving The Centre. Many in Vancouver's arts and culture scene are looking to the City to step in to save The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. The Centre is set to be sold to the Westside Church after struggling with economically viable programming as a large-scale venue. Will The Centre survive as an art space? We'll have to wait to find out.
 
Struggling to Sell Books. Francis Bula explores the economic ups and downs of Vancouver's best-loved independent bookstores of the past and present in this recent article. Some of the culprits behind slumping sales are easy to identify - the rise of e-commerce to name one - but others are more surprising (and more Vancouver-specific). She also examines stores like Kidsbooks and Pulpfiction Books that are surviving and thriving against some pretty bleak odds.
 
Reality TV Gets Real. Did the reality presented in the television show Gastown Gamble contribute to the current anti-gentrification protests in the DTES? Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones of The Atlantic Cities seems to think so. The show follows Mark Brand's journey as the socially-conscious owner of Save on Meats. As Hinkes-Jones says, "For many of the at-risk locals whom Brand has hired, he's a legitimate hero. But there's also little doubt the show's subject — the renovation of a historic Downtown Eastside business to make it more appealing to upscale customers — is exactly the sort of effort that's caused much of the distrust among the protesters."
 
And On a Not Entirely Related Note...it's Bike to Work Week! Check out this neat initiative co-produced by Vancouver is Awesome with Penny Smash funds. Definitely some of the most fun you'll have getting to work in the morning.
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Shelves at Pulpfiction on Main. Photo by Richard Erirksson via Flickr]
Tags
gentrification, protests, cycling, bike lanes, local businesses, performance venues, MOVments
MOVments: Sunshine, Get Togethers, and Outdoor Fun
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on May 23, 2013 at 5:04 pm
 
In celebration of the coming fine weather (it's coming, we promise. See?) we are offering a pared down round up for the week, leaving you ample time to see some buskers (or not), sit down at a cafe, and perhaps visit with your new co-housing neighbours.
 
Busker Idol. A new regulation has instituted a rigorous audition process for buskers wanting to perform on Granville Island. Some people are (understandably) upset.
 
Cafe Culture. This neat exploration of the socio-economic factors surrounding the placement of Vancouver's independent cafes will get you thinking about what it means to sip coffee in your own neighbourhood and beyond.
 
Living Together. Vancouver City Council recently gave the go ahead to Vancouver's first co-housing project. The residential units featuring shared kitchens and common rooms will go up on East 33rd near Victoria Avenue.
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Granville Island busker. Photo by Stephen Rees via Flickr]
Tags
local businesses, affordable housing, housing, busking, MOVments
MOVments: The (In)Congruous City
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on May 15, 2013 at 11:44 am

Proposed high rises in the downtown core have us thinking about Vancouver's rapidly changing skyline. Will new buildings blend in with the existing architecture or will they quite literally stand out? And more generally, what does it mean to 'fit in' and conversely, to be conspicuous in the city? 
 
This week we're looking at a trendy digital marketing conference that found its match in Vancouver, a church's possible move to an unlikely building, and an opinion piece from two urbanists who would like the provincial government to try a distinctive approach to urban development. Which reminds us: love it or hate it the BC Election results are in. Some of us were surprised, but should we have been? Some insightful discussion here.
 
Hyping Hyper Island. The Swedish company Hyper Island has announced it will be holding its buzz-worthy, three-day education institute in Vancouver this December. With presentations and collaborative workshops exploring digital media's influence on the marketing world, the event draws some of the best and brightest execs, creatives, and strategists from around the world. What made Vancouver a natural fit for the event? We're already on board with forward-looking, digital action plans as illustrated by the recent unveiling of our digital strategy.
 
Westside Church at the Centre. Westside Church is looking into the possibility of moving into the current home of the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. So far, Westside Church has raised one third of the funds necessary for the purchase and move. It would also need to apply to the city for changing the use of the property. But would the church fit into the new neighbourhood? Given the area's emergence as a cultural district, the answer is, well, complicated. As Brent Toderian points out to the Georgia Straight, the church could be considered a cultural institution, but it is unclear what kinds of events would take place in the space and if it would bring the same kind of vitality to the neighbourhood as other occupants.
 
Getting Our Priorities Straight. Finally, Anne McMullin and Michael Ferreira voice their opinion about the direction they'd like to see the province go in the coming years. Their number one priority? "...A clear vision for the province’s economic future and sustainable growth" with specific attention paid to urban development. Sounds pretty good, but what exactly would that look like? For starters, they want to see a centralized decision-making process surrounding infrastructure projects like rapid transit on the Broadway corridor and Surrey's proposed light rail. As they say, "Given the importance of such strategic investments to the province, and to the next government’s policy interests and fiscal planning, it is imperative that the decision-making authority for these projects lie with a responsible provincial minister — and those decisions be linked with cabinet’s budgetary process."
 
At the MOVeum:
 
May 31 - Libido Liberation: Sex Talk After Dark
June 5 - Foncie's Fotos Opening Reception
 
[Image: Inside the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. Photo by Garry Zeweniuk via Flickr]
Tags
election, performance venues, advertising, transit, MOVments
MOVments: Behind the City Scenes
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on May 7, 2013 at 7:42 am

Behind every public event, social interaction, and prominent building in Vancouver there are quieter discussions that shape and direct how we engage with the city. This week we look at the whispers, rumours, and insider gossip around TED Talks' big move to Vancouver, the politics of tipping (or not tipping), and the recognition of some of our oldest neighbourhoods and buildings. 
 
Behind TED's Big Move. Wonder why Vancouver got the prestigious honour of hosting the 2013 TED Conference?Vancouver Magazine interviewed TED owner Chris Anderson and got the goods. One of the qualities that makes us uniquely positioned to host the talks according to Anderson: spectacular natural beauty side by side with plentiful hotels. 
 
Tipping Points. Ever withhold a tip to protest bad service at a restaurant? You're not alone, but as restaurant owner Mark Taylor points out to the Vancouver Observer, you might not be communicating your message as clearly as you think. There are in fact, plenty of other reasons why people don't tip. Check out the article for the ins and outs of tipping and its relationship to minimum wage in Vancouver's service industry.
 
Heritage Talks. Heritage Vancouver's 2013 Top 10 Endangered Sites list is out and once again it's shining a light on the civic manoeuvring and development talks surrounding some of the city's most iconic buildings. But while you might be familiar with the controversies around the Waldorf or the Main Post Office, there are other lesser known sites on the list like Delamont Park and a threatened stretch of Granville Street. On a similar note, people were chattering before, during, and after the Jane's Walks that happened all over the city this weekend. Tours featured multiple perspectives on topics like gentrification and alternative transportation.
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Main Post Office, 1961. Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives 2011-068.04]
Tags
heritage buildings, Heritage Vancouver, MOVments, restaurants
MOVments: Making Friends in the Surly City
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on May 2, 2013 at 4:48 pm

This week we're exploring the spaces where Vancouverites are making connections, collaborating, and becoming better acquainted. Ideas like the VPL's new public garden or an award for Vancouver's 'greenest' family are complicating the perception of Vancouver as an unfriendly city. Sure, there are still places that make us uncomfortable and standoffish (namely, public transit) but as you'll see, there are people in the city working on how to make these friendlier too.
 
Garden in the Sky. Chances you aren't one of the very few people who have visited the VPL's rooftop garden. But that's about to change because the original design dream team that includes architect Moshe Safdie and landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander has reassembled to work on a new public green space at the central library. In 2015, the newly renovated top floors and roof will be opened to the public, complete with a grand reading room, outdoor terraces, and new rooftop garden. Sounds like a perfect place to meet new friends to us.
 
A Family that Recycles Together...A very "Vancouver" competition put on by SPUD Vancouver and Vancouver Mom came to a close on Monday: the city has voted for its greenest family. The five finalists wowed voters with their collaborative environmental achievements ranging from energy efficient renovations in their homes to air drying clothes instead of using a dryer. Read all about them here and congratulations to the McEacherns for taking home the big prize!
 
Getting Friendly on the Bus. Buses might not be known as the friendliest places in the city but one bus driver has taken it upon himself to change that. While most people try to remain as anonymous as possible on public transit, Brian Revel sees buses as temporary "micro-communities" where people can have positive interactions. So how does he get people talking? By simply encouraging passengers to say "hi" to each other. Pretty inspirational. Check out his Facebook page here.
 
Special Shout Outs. The MOV's community partner (and friend) Vancouver Mini Maker Faire, i.e. the city's biggest show and tell, is holding their third annual faire at the PNE Forum on June 1 and 2. Come out and get to know over 100 Vancouver makers demonstrating skills such as puppetry, electronics, computer hacking, music-making, quilting, farming and virtual reality. Advance tickets here. 
 
And finally a special shout out to our own curatorial team for the new Visible City virtual exhibit and free mobile app (download it through iTunes or Google Play) that allow you to explore Vancouver's neon neighbourhoods. Check it out!
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Crowded Vancouver bus. Photo by Michael Kalus via Flickr]
Tags
green roofs, VPL, public space, Vancouver Public Library, MOVments
MOVments: Knowing Your Neighbourhood
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on April 24, 2013 at 6:54 am

This new series from Inside Vancouver inventorying Vancouver neighbourhoods got us thinking about what it means to live in a city with distinct, geographically and socially defined communities. But as this week's stories reveal, our neighbourhoods are also fluid, permeable, shared spaces. Read on for a look at close-quarter living in Surrey's new micro-lofts, the new neighbours being brought together at the revitalized Chinatown Night Market, and a potentially major shift to a very central neighbourhood: the VAG's possible move from Robson to Cambie. 
 
Micro Communities. Micro-suites that are being called "Canada's smallest ever condominums" are now up for sale in Surrey. The smallest units are 297 square feet and can include space-saving features such as murphy beds and built-in storage units for an extra cost. Speaking to the Province, Charan Sethi of Tien Sher developers, highlighted their shifting model for apartment living: "We have to start thinking about what the next generation wants...[They want] a pad of their own that they can call their home. They don’t entertain at home ... their dining room is actually restaurants.” Just how these tiny condos might affect the ways we interact with each other, inside and outside of them, remains to be seen.
 
Mixing it Up at the Night Market. Tannis Ling of Bao Bei restaurant and current managing director of the Chinatown Night Market has a new vision for the long-standing cultural institution. She hopes that by incorporating vintage clothing booths, Rain City Chronicle storytellers, hip hop karaoke, and other acts and vendors the summer market will attract a "wider demographic": “Chinatown is Chinese, but there’s so many different neighbourhoods in the area. There’s no reason why we should appeal to strictly a Chinese audience where there’s all those other kinds of people around.”
 
New Neighbours for the VAG? City Council is meeting with members of the public today regarding the potential move of the Vancouver Art Gallery to the corner of Cambie and Georgia, currently the site of a parking lot. There has been ongoing debate surrounding the move with critics skeptical of the gallery's ability to raise funds for the move and operation of the new building. For more information on the issue check out the complete recommendation report here. Whatever the outcome, using the site as anything other than a parking lot makes sense to us.
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Chinatown Night Market, 2010. Photo by claydevoute via Flickr]
Tags
Chinatown, local businesses, Vancouver Art Gallery, density, micro-loft
MOVments: Budding Relationships and Blossoming Civic Systems
Posted by: Anna Wilkinson on April 17, 2013 at 6:57 am

Over at the MOV, we've been excitedly welcoming the cherry blossoms all over the city (seriously, so excited). And with the arrival of these new buds, there are a whole host of other fresh starts and new beginnings in Vancouver. This week check in with Vancouver's new proposed digital strategy, the start of greener garbage collection, and something that seems like an end, but what we hope will blossom as a new future possibility: the retirement of advocate for the homeless, Judy Graves.

Born Digital. On April 9, City Council met to discuss Vancouver's first ever digital strategy that, if adopted, would mean a huge shift in how the city processes licenses and permits as well as a significant expansion in the availability of free wi-fi. Sounds pretty good, but are there any concerns? Of course. Nikolas Badminton over at the Huffington Post blog suggests the strategy doesn't do enough: "I feel it is a safe governmental play that drags us to be where we should be right now in 2013, but with full implementation not until 2016. At that point we'll be four years behind."

Hello, Green Garbage. Starting in May, the City will be implementing a new garbage pick up system that aims to reduce materials being sent to the landfill. Food scraps will be picked up once a week and garbage only once every two weeks. As the Globe and Mail reports, "It’s part of a push to recycle all organics in Metro Vancouver by 2015, a move that is supposed to result in 70 per cent of the region’s garbage being recycled." The next step will be sorting out all the food waste storage dilemas for those of us in small apartments, but we know we're up for the challenge.
 
End of an Advocacy Era? And just as these two new systems are beginning, a vital position serving Vancouver's homeless community appears to be coming to and end. Judy Graves, the City's only full-time advocate for the homeless, will be retiring this May with no word on if she will be replaced. Here's hoping that her legacy will help make advocacy work a priority in the future. As Judy told The Tyee: "I think it's important to have an informed advocate within the system who can speak truth to power. It's very easy for government to start believing its own spin."
 
At the MOVeum:
 
 
[Image: Cherry blossoms. Photo by Geoffery Kehrig via Flickr]
Tags
homelessness, garbage, Downtown Eastside, MOVments

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