GWAC AGM Today

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The 2023 AGM of the Grandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) is scheduled for this evening, 6th May, at 6:00pm.

It is a hybrid meeting, taking place in person upstairs at the Canucks Room of the Family Centre by Grandview Park, and online via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86540230936?pwd=QXIzQmJXdzlNdEM4QmZFUEVHelNEQT09

The guest speak is Patrick Condon, the UBC James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Liveable Environments, with his presentation:

 It’s all about the Dirt! Why new density is a good thing, but unfortunately won’t lower prices

If you’d like to get involved with GWAC or join the Board of Directors, please contact GWAC for more info at: INFO@gwac.ca

East Vancouver Garden Tour

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Mark your calendar and get your tickets early — the 2023 edition of the East Vancouver Garden Tour will take place on June 18th. As described by the Grandview Garden Club and Britannia Neighbours:

“It’s our one fundraiser for Britannia Neighbours, and the proceeds go to maintaining the Napier Square Greenway (at Napier and Commercial). We use the money we raise to buy plants and supplies and to pay people to water and pick up litter in the Greenway. We’re lucky that we had a bit of cash in the bank as a cushion when Covid struck, so we managed to survive …

Like other years, this year’s tour will be walkable (but won’t be walking distance from Figaro’s). The tour is near Main Street at the western edge of East Van. We are lining up about a dozen delightful gardens for your touring pleasure!

The tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but this is not necessarily an event you need to come to right on time. We often get a big rush of people right at 10:00, but there’s no need to hurry. You can come and go as you please. You’ll see exactly the same gardens if you get started at 11:00 or noon or 1:00 or even as late as 2:00! (Do, however, make sure you leave yourself enough time to see all the gardens! We don’t recommend starting the tour after 2:00.)”

Ticket availability and lots more information is available from their website at: http://eastsidegardentour.blogspot.com/

GWAC AGM This Saturday

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The 2023 AGM of the Grandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) is scheduled for this coming Saturday, 6th May, at 6:00pm.

It is a hybrid meeting, taking place in person upstairs at the Canucks Room of the Family Centre by Grandview Park, and online via ZOOM at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86540230936?pwd=QXIzQmJXdzlNdEM4QmZFUEVHelNEQT09

The guest speak is Patrick Condon, the UBC James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Liveable Environments, with his presentation:

 It’s all about the Dirt! Why new density is a good thing, but unfortunately won’t lower prices

If you’d like to get involved with GWAC or join the Board of Directors, please contact GWAC for more info at: INFO@gwac.ca

Social Justice Day: Mark Your Calendar

April 30, Grandview Park

“May Day is an opportunity to come together and  send a powerful message of social justice solidarity. May Day Social Justice Fair, since 2015, is an attempt to bring social justice organizations into closer communication in the hope of building  a larger solidarity network. This needs to be done to build a sustainable future and a just society. 

All social justice organizations are encouraged to participate. Join May Day Social Justice Fair 2023, 1200 block Commercial Drive/Grandview Park.  Bring your own table and chairs and information; talk to people, it is that simple.  See you there. Everyone is welcome.”

For further information see: http://yvrmayday.org/

Parks and Greenspace in Grandview Woodland

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The next regular meeting of the Grandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) is at 7:00pm on Monday, 3rd April. The subject is parks and greenspace in our neighbourhood. As they note in their notice of meeting:

“With a growing population in Grandview, we have no new plans for parks or greenspace on the horizon. Join us for a conversation with UBC Landscape Architect Daniel Roehr and our Vancouver Park Board Commissioners.

Come share with us what you need from greenspace – play, calm, sport, relief from the heat. How should new greenspace take shape in Grandview Woodland?”

It will be a ZOOM meeting and the address is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89991400541?pwd=bmNleEpMVVduVGRmOXRJZEVDeU44QT09

Transportation on The Drive

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A reminder of the GWAC meeting at 7:0pm tomorrow (Monday) that will discuss proposals for transportation changes on Commercial Drive.

Join via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82881854985?pwd=MGxEazVkUytLM2xrVFBtaitGa2NMUT09

Special GWAC Meeting About Transportation on the Drive

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GWAC and the Missing Middle Housing

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Italian Day Is Back!

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Great news! Our Italian Day, taking up the entire Commercial Drive from Venables to Broadway, will be back this year on June 11th, after being derailed for a few years by the pandemic. Once again it will be a car-free festival of fun, food, and everything Italian!

Mark the day on your calendar and make sure to come down and enjoy the party.

GWAC Tonight: Schools of the Future

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89374158835?

GWAC: Schools of the Future

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89374158835?

Farewell to Santa Barbara Market!

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Today was the last day of business for the hugely popular Santa Barbara Market at 1320 Commercial Drive. The current owners are retiring, and the business closes after 42 years of wonderful service.

A couple of hundred fans, organized by Penny Street and supported by much of the Carnival Band, held a thank you celebration outside the store at lunch time today. It was an emotional affair, with songs written for the occasion, lots of dancing, flowers for the staff, a quick history lesson from me, and memories galore.

Santa Barbara has been an integral part of the Drive experience for so long, and the community came out to show just how important that has been.

We understand that new owners will be taking over the business, probably with a new name. However, I know that for me, like many others, it will be very strange walking that block tomorrow without Santa Barbara Market being there.

Commercial Drive as a Pedestrian-First Street?

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The next meeting of the Grandview Woodland Area Council — tonight — should be of great interest to everyone:

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This will be an important debate on the future of our favourite street — the very heart of our neighbourhood. Join us on ZOOM to add your voice to this vital discussion.

Commercial Drive as a Pedestrian-First Street?

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The next meeting of the Grandview Woodland Area Council should be of great interest to everyone:

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This will be an important debate on the future of our favourite street — the very heart of our neighbourhood. Join us on ZOOM to add your voice to this vital discussion.

Gilles Hebert Sculpture

Readers may recall that Gilles Hebert was assaulted and killed in Grandview Park two years ago. A long-time resident of the Drive, Gilles was also an artist and I am glad to see his work on exhibition at Britannia.

GWAC: School and Park Board

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Council Candidates’ Forum

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Car Free Day on The Drive

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Not quite as packed as events prior to covid, but it was still great to see so many people enjoying the Drive today.

It was also good to see Sean Nardi, James Buckshom, and Tricia Barker dealing with the crowds at the TEAM tent.

Car Free Day 2022

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After a two-year break due to covid, the annual Car Free Day on the Drive is back this Saturday! It takes place from noon until 7pm.

In the same way that Italian Day this year was restricted in scope to Grandview Park, Car Free Day is limited this year from Grandview Highway north to 1st Avenue.

Along with all the usual fun, games, local businesses, music, and food, there will be an interesting exhibit on the history of local transit by the Transit Museum.

I look forward to seeing the usual crowds!

Italian Day 2022

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With the last two years’ festivities cancelled due to covid, it was great to celebrate Italian Day once again on Commercial Drive.

This year’s event did not close the street as usual, and everything was confined to Grandview Park. It was not quite the same, but enjoyable nonetheless — and the weather was perfect. The music was great, the food was great, and the crowds came out.

Well done to the organizers!