canada-post-operations-to-resume-on-tuesday,-company-says-–-vancouver-is-awesome
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Canada Post operations to resume on Tuesday, company says.

Bymichael

OTTAWA — While mail is set to begin moving again on Tuesday as Canada Post employees return to work, key “structural issues” at the centre of the month-long strike remain outstanding heading into the next phase of negotiations. OTTAWA — While mail is set to begin moving again on Tuesday as Canada Post employees return to work, key “structural issues” at the centre of the month-long strike remain outstanding heading into the next phase of negotiations. The federal government pushed to end the work stoppage last week, when Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the 55,000 picketing employees back to work within days if it determined a deal isn’t doable before the end of the year. Canada Post said Sunday night that after two days of hearings over the weekend, an impasse was declared by the board. It said union members have been ordered back to work under their existing contracts, which have been extended until May to allow the bargaining process to resume. MacKinnon said Friday that negotiations had been “going in the wrong direction” in the weeks after the strike began on Nov. 15. MacKinnon said he would appoint an industrial inquiry commission to look into the bargaining issues and come up with recommendations by May 15 on how a new agreement can be reached. “The inquiry will have a broad scope, as it will examine the entire structure of Canada Post from both a customer and business model standpoint, considering the challenging business environment now facing Canada Post,” he said. In the meantime, Canada Post said it agreed with the union to implement a five per cent wage increase, retroactive to the day after the collective agreements expired. Key issues in the dispute include the size of wage increases and a push by Canada Post to expand delivery to the weekend. The two sides have been at odds over how to staff the expansion. Business groups had been calling on the government to intervene as companies and individuals scrambled to find alternative modes of delivery with the holiday shopping season in full swing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024. The Canadian Press

everything-you-need-to-know-if-you-are-travelling-to-vancouver-for-taylor-swift’s-eras-tour-–-vancouver-is-awesome
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Everything you need to know if you are travelling to Vancouver for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

Bymichael

Get tips on making your trip smoother…however you come to the city. Travellers headed to Vancouver for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour may want to plan for delays – regardless of how they are arriving.  The American star will perform at three sold-out shows at BC Place on Dec. 6, 7, and 8, and thousands of people will be travelling to the city from other parts of the province, country, and around the world. BC Place can hold a whopping 54,500 people nightly so there will be a tremendous influx of people staying in hotels, driving on the roads, flying into airports, sailing on ferries, and taking public transportation in the Lower Mainland. Have a look at everything travellers headed to Vancouver should know about planning their trip to see the “You Belong to Me” singer’s final three shows of her massive world tour. Arriving and departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Concert-goers flying into the city for one (or more) of the shows should brace for possible delays. Many travellers will also travel to the YVR on the same dates, increasing congestion.  Travellers with friends in the city who can pick them up can enjoy 30-minute free parkade use. Once they’ve gotten through security, they can contact their friends to pick them up. While it might be tempting to do this the moment they land, parade stays extending over 30 minutes cost significantly more than they used to.  Pick up from the parkade YVR implemented new rates for its parkade on Nov. 13, increasing costs for each additional 30 minutes from $5.50 to $14.  Travellers have several other options to get from the airport to a hotel or another location in Metro Vancouver. Flate rate taxi fares to Vancouver and Richmond Taxi fares on flat rates to various areas across Vancouver and Richmond have also increased heading from the airport. The taxi stands are located on Level 2 of the Domestic and International Arrivals Area at YVR. Taxis can also take you to addresses in other Metro Vancouver areas, like Surrey, Delta, North Vancouver, or Burnaby.  Related: Map: Here’s how much it costs to taxi home from YVR following price hikes If you’re headed straight to one of the shows from the airport – or if you’re simply feeling fancy – you can also book a luxury sedan, stretch SUV, or limo. Ride App Services at YVR Lyft, Uber, and KABU are authorized providers of Ride App services at YVR. You must download the app of any of the providers to request a ride. You can get picked up at one of the following designated pickup spots:  International Arrivals, Level 2 Domestic Arrivals, Level 2 South Terminal   Unlike taxis, ride app services do not use a flat rate or even a metered rate. They are based on the availability of drivers in the area and may vary dramatically as a result. Public transportation The Canada Line SkyTrain serves Vancouver’s YVR Airport in Richmond, and will get travellers to the city centre. Fans can use the Canada Line and exit at Vancouver City Centre or Yaletown-Roundhouse to walk to BC Place stadium on show nights. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. Vancouverites can travel from the heart of downtown to the airport on the Canada Line in under half an hour. There are 16 stops along the way and the train takes passengers right to the airport.  The elevator from the train brings travellers right between the International and Domestic Terminals. From there, you can turn left for flights within Canada and right for everything else.  All transit users travelling on the Canada Line leaving YVR are subject to a $5 Canada Line YVR AddFare, in addition to the regular zone fare. AddFare is automatically added when a user purchases a fare ticket. Travellers may also wish to rent a car.  How to navigate Vancouver International Airport  Save time with  Advance Declaration The CBSA advises travellers to save time passing through customs by making an advance declaration in the ArriveCan app. The advance declaration is admissible at the following airports: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City, Ottawa, Billy Bishop, Calgary and Edmonton. Using the ArriveCan app cuts a traveller’s time at a kiosk or eGate by up to 50 per cent, according to CBSA data. Travellers should also check in with their airline before heading to the airport. This will speed up the process of checking in once they arrive.  Pack smart Follow the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) baggage requirements. Remember: liquids, gels and aerosols still need to be in containers that are less than 100 millilitres, and be packaged into one transparent, closed, and resealable plastic bag under one litre. Avoid wrapping holiday gifts since contents may need to be inspected during the screening process for carry-on and checked baggage. Use YVR’s ‘Journeys’ tool  YVR offers a tool that allows passengers to view a step-by-step guide through the airport based on their specific flight information.  Use your smartphone to speed up your time in line Locals who plan to fly to the U.S. from Canada can submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone before they leave for a trip. It’s called the U.S. Customer Customs Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app. YVR also offers several tips to help travellers save time at the airport. Arriving and departing from Abbotsford International Airport (YXX)  The  Valley Airporter Shuttle  provides service to and from the airport to anywhere within a 120km radius, including locations in Downtown Vancouver.  The Abbotsford Airport Shuttle through Ace Charters offers transportation between the airport and King George Station in Surrey as well

a-lot-of-bureaucracy:-kitsilano-homeowner-blames-city-for-renovation-delays-–-global-news-toronto
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A lot of bureaucracy Kitsilano homeowner blames city for renovation delays

Bymichael

A Kitsilano homeowner, criticized for allowing a garage at the back of his home to collapse, says he has wanted to do a massive renovation but the slow pace of Vancouver’s City Hall is frustrating matters. The house is located on Arbutus Street, valued just under $4 million and across from Kitsilano Beach. Aaron Chan, who currently lives in Taiwan, grew up in Vancouver, got his MBA in New York, then worked in Hong Kong and India before Taipei. But Vancouver has always been home. “We still have a lot of family in Vancouver and we typically bring our kids to to Vancouver in the summertime, you know, except for the pandemic years,” Chan told Global News. He and his wife purchased the house in 2021. Chan said the house is 100 years old and they always planned to renovate it. Story continues below advertisement They started communicating with the City of Vancouver in early 2022 and Chan said they hired an architect. “We were given a list of things that we need to do,” he said. “And we were very patient and we tried to be cooperative and comply with whatever the city wanted. And every time we submitted what was requested and we always ask the question, ‘Is this the list? Is that it?’ And I think the reply has always been, ‘Yes, this is if you do ABCD, this is what we need from you.’” Chan said that despite following what the city requested, they would continue to get emails asking them to do more. 1:33 Buckled garage across from Kitsilano Beach creates safety hazard “I have been doing skyscrapers in New York, in Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo,” Chan said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. “You know, I’m comparing (this) to some developed country, some major city in the world. And so I thought to myself, if I could handle doing major development in those cities, and the codes and regulations are very, very stringent, this is a wooden structure, this is a house, a small house, actually. I thought I could easily handle that, but I guess I was very wrong about it.” Story continues below advertisement Chan said they only received the demolition permit for the garage this week from the City of Vancouver — two years after starting the process. “This is a house in dire need of some loving and caring,” he said. “And I’m an experienced real estate developer. We’re talking about a three-storey wooden structure. I never expected this to be this difficult by any global standards.” Chan said they still don’t have the permits in place to fix the house. ‘When we started that process, there were still a lot of COVID protocols,” he said. “The responses were not quick. You know, the hurdle that we had to go through was a lot. So, yeah, we’re happy to respond to any request from the city. But there is simply a lot of bureaucracy.” 0:34 Collapsing garage at multi-million dollar home in Vancouver’s Kitsilano In a statement to Global News, the City of Vancouver said that in 2022 the homeowner for the house submitted a pre-submittal application for proposed interior and exterior alterations. Story continues below advertisement The development permit application was submitted on Dec. 7, 2023, according to the city, with fees paid on Dec. 19, 2023. Once the fees were paid, the city initiated the review process. “On April 16, 2024, City staff issued a deficiency list to the applicant, outlining required revisions and providing comments from our Building Review Branch (BRB),” the city said. Trending Now “These revisions are necessary to meet the City’s requirements. Since then, staff have been in regular communication with the applicant to provide support and answer questions. However, the applicant has not yet submitted the revised plans addressing the identified deficiencies.” The city said the delays in this case appear to be related to incomplete revisions and outstanding requirements on the part of the applicant. In June 2023, the City of Vancouver adopted the 3-3-3-1 permit approval framework to fast-track applications. Targets include three days to approve home renovation permits, three weeks to approve single-family home and townhouse permits, three months to approve permits for professionally designed multi-family and mid-rise projects where existing zoning is in place and one year to approve permits for a high-rise or large-scale project. “As you know, this is a big organization and it takes a little bit of time,” Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said on Thursday. Story continues below advertisement “What I can tell you is we have amazing people and they have been working diligently, so we have a lot of anecdotal evidence of our permitting process being sped up.” Sim said while there is more work to do, the program has been successful. 2:21 City of Vancouver to crack down on illegal Hastings street market Chan said he understands his house is 100 years old but his experience has been far from successful. “I wish I was given a list of things that we need to comply and do,” he said. “And when we were given that list, it could be given to us in one request rather than piecemeal.” Chan said it does not stop his family’s desire to move to Vancouver. “However, when

hundreds-rally-at-vancouver-city-hall-calling-for-‘pause’-to-broadway-plan-–-ctv-news-vancouver
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Hundreds rally at Vancouver city hall calling for ‘pause’ to Broadway Plan

Bymichael

Hundreds of Vancouver residents gathered at city hall Saturday afternoon to urge councillors to “pause and rethink” the Broadway Plan. Adopted in 2022, the policy governs development along the Broadway corridor, aiming to create high-density homes for 50,000 more people along the under-construction Broadway Subway extension. A petition touted by the organizers of Saturday’s event has received more than 2,800 signatures. It describes the plan as “playing out in a way many residents never imagined,” with rezoning signs “popping up like mushrooms” and “18- and 20-storey tower proposals on quiet residential streets some distance from rapid transit.”  Towers were on the minds of protesters CTV News spoke to at the rally, including Gordon Yusko, who said one is under construction behind his Fairview apartment building. “The Broadway plan allows too many high-density towers in too small of an area and it’s going to make neighbourhoods unlivable,” Yusko said. Roni Jones said she’s been a renter in Kitsilano for decades, and has seen people lose their affordable homes in her neighbourhood so that new towers can be built. “For instance, across the street from me was a rental of all seniors, and they’ve all been evicted,” she said. The Broadway Plan includes protections for renters who are displaced by redevelopment. Developers must offer them units in the new building for the same rent they were paying, and displaced renters “may choose to receive a temporary rent top-up,” according to the city.  The forced relocation is still disruptive, however, and market rents are generally hundreds, if not thousands of dollars higher than what long-term tenants are used to paying. “I’m really concerned about that,” said Jones. “I’m concerned about, ‘Where do all these people go?'” Both Jones and Yusko insisted they’re not against increasing the density of the Broadway corridor, but argued that the Broadway Plan as it’s currently being implemented is not the right way to add density to the area. “Density is important,” said Yusko. “I’m not opposed to density, but it has to be livable density, like, six to eight storeys, maximum.” “Yes, density has to happen, but it can happen within consultation with the neighbourhoods to not lose that character,” said Jones.

bear-killed-after-attacking-man-walking-with-dog-on-metro-vancouver-trail-–-cbc.ca
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Bear killed after attacking man walking with dog on Metro Vancouver trail

Bymichael

British Columbia Bear killed after attacking man walking with dog on Metro Vancouver trail B.C. conservation officers say a man was injured earlier this week when he was attacked by a black bear while he was walking his dog on a Metro Vancouver trail. The bear died in the encounter. Conservation service says people should remain vigilant during cold months, as some bears remain active CBC News · Posted: Nov 23, 2024 8:26 PM EST | Last Updated: 11 hours ago The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a man was injured earlier this week when he was attacked by a black bear while he was walking his dog on a Metro Vancouver trail. (Robson Fletcher/CBC) A man walking his dog on a Lower Mainland trail was injured earlier this week in a black bear attack, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says.  The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon along an off-leash dog trail near 240th Street in Maple Ridge, according to a Saturday Facebook post by the service.  Conservation officer Jordan Ferguson told CBC News the man heard a commotion behind him and turned to see his dog confronting the bear.  “He tried to grab his dog and retreat from the area, and the bear then turned his attention on him,” Ferguson said. The man then “fought with the bear,” according to the service’s Facebook post. A group of nearby anglers came to his aid and the incident ended with the man injured and the black bear dead.  How exactly the bear was killed is still being determined, but Ferguson said an examination of the scene has shown them that it was done out of self-defence and that there will be no enforcement action against anyone involved.  He said the man was treated for minor injuries and has since been released from hospital, while the dog was unscathed. The bear is undergoing a necropsy at an Abbotsford lab to determine if it was dealing with anything that would have affected its behaviour and decision to attack.  Ferguson emphasized the importance of safety precautions while exploring the outdoors, pointing out that bears in the Lower Mainland don’t “fully hibernate” due to mild winters and food availability. “When you’re going out into these natural areas, you have to be prepared to run into bears all times a year down here,” he said.  “If you’re put in the situation, the best thing you can do is try to leave the area … make yourself look big and back out.” The B.C. Conservation Foundation says people can better prevent encounters with black bears by talking and singing to avoid surprising an animal, managing attractants such as garbage, keeping pets leashed and carrying bear spray. According to the the foundation, black bears account for up to 25,000 calls to provincial conservation officers every year and “can become more assertive or destructive when they have learned to associate humans and their activities with food.” B.C. has among the highest population of black bears in the world, with the foundation estimating up to 150,000 animals live in the province. With files from CBC’s Shaurya Kshatri and The Canadian Press

another-storm-approaches-vancouver-island-as-crews-finish-restoring-power-to-thousands-–-cbc.ca
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Another storm approaches Vancouver Island as crews finish restoring power to thousands

Bymichael

British Columbia Around 15,000 properties were still without power on Vancouver Island on Thursday evening, as B.C. Hydro crews continued to repair the damage from the recent “bomb cyclone.” Environment Canada is now warning that another storm is approaching southwestern B.C. B.C. Hydro says new storm could hamper cleanup Isaac Phan Nay · CBC News · Posted: Nov 21, 2024 11:02 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours ago Waves crash into the breakwater in Victoria on Wednesday as high winds continued to hit Vancouver Island. Winds are expected to pick up again on Friday as another storm nears southwestern B.C. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press) A new storm is approaching Vancouver Island just as residents finish recovering from a “bomb cyclone” that began battering the region late Tuesday. At the peak of the storm, as many as 300,000 B.C. Hydro customers were without power, more than half of them on Vancouver Island, as gusts of wind of up to 170 km/h were recorded just off the island’s north coast, and hurricane-force gusts brought down trees and damaged infrastructure across the B.C. coast. Environment Canada is warning of another storm approaching southwestern British Columbia and issued a fresh round of weather statements for Friday covering Vancouver Island, the Sunshine and Central coasts, and Howe Sound with predicted winds of up to 90 km/h. While less intense than the previous storm, officials say the incoming system still has the potential to cause damage and disruption and slow down cleanup efforts. WATCH | Driver recounts trees falling on vehicle during storm:  Vancouver Island driver suffers scary ordeal after trees fall onto truck during storm Jesse Seniunas had a tree fall on his pickup truck as he was exiting Port Alberni, B.C., on Tuesday. It came after a “bomb cyclone” system brought wind gusts in excess of 150 km/h to the Island. Power still out in some areas By Thursday morning, B.C. Hydro said it had restored power to more than 90 per cent of customers affected, but more than 15,000 were still without power as of 6 p.m. PT with the power provider warning that some areas with “significant damage” may still face another night in the dark. WATCH | ‘Bomb cyclone’ and other weather terms explained:  Does jargon like ‘bomb cyclone’ help or hinder understanding of weather? B.C. is no stranger to extreme weather — from the atmospheric river over the weekend to heat domes. You might have also heard phrases like polar vortex and bomb cyclone being used by the experts. But why and when did we start using these sorts of descriptions — and when did we stop simply calling it “a cold spell?” Our science and climate specialist, Darius Mahdavi, explains what’s going on. B.C. Hydro spokesperson Kevin Aquino-Bravo said storm damage was making it difficult for crews to reach all affected areas. “Crews have been working around the clock to restore power,” he said. “But there is some heavy debris on roads and highways and that definitely impacts our access into certain areas.” Aquino-Bravo said the utility had deployed crews to the north of Vancouver Island ahead of the storm to ensure crews could reach the area before ferries were cancelled. The areas hardest hit by the storm include Nanaimo, Victoria and Qualicum Beach, he said.  Next incoming storm Environment Canada says an area of low pressure will deepen off the coast of Washington state Thursday evening before moving north, causing southeasterly winds to increase through Friday on Vancouver Island and the B.C. coast. Winds are expected to reach a peak Friday afternoon and evening. WATCH | Octopus clings on during bomb cyclone:  Watch an octopus cling to cover during B.C.’s bomb cyclone Footage captured by Ocean Networks Canada at the University of Victoria shows a giant Pacific octopus as it gets knocked around by waves on the morning of Nov. 20 as a ‘bomb cyclone’ hit B.C.’s coast. Oceans Network Canada says the footage was captured at Folger Passage near Bamfield, where instruments measured waves 10 metres high, compared to the usual one metre, and vertical currents three times stronger than normal. The forecaster also issued a wind warning early Thursday for southern Howe Sound and Bowen Island, saying outflow winds will pick up overnight and peak Friday morning with gusts up to 90 km/h.  It says further damage, power outages and falling trees may occur and warns drivers could see dangerous driving conditions on highways due to strong cross winds.  Meanwhile, snowfall warnings were issued in the province’s southeast, where as much as 25 centimetres is expected in the areas around Creston and Fernie by the late Thursday morning. A resident clears snow off their vehicle in Cranbrook, B.C., on Thursday morning. (Corey Bullock/CBC) More snow in the region is expected on Friday and into the weekend, forecasters say. It’s the latest in a string of powerful fall storms, including an atmospheric river weather system in mid-October that caused flash flooding and dumped almost 300 millimetres of rain on parts of the province. Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the series of storms is a product of a sustained upper trough of low-pressure high in the atmosphere. He says that while such a pattern is “pretty typical” at this time of year, it doesn’t always last so long. “We are dealing with an overall upper trough pattern offshore in the last two months, since mid to late September, and so that’s been a persistent stormy pattern if you will,” Castellan said, adding that “sometimes we

surrey-tree-lighting,-coquitlam-lights-and-lots-of-holiday-markets-happening-in-metro-vancouver-this-weekend-–-ctv-news-vancouver
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Surrey tree lighting, Coquitlam lights and lots of holiday markets happening in Metro Vancouver this weekend

Bymichael

Don’t look now, but Christmas is less than five weeks away, and holiday festivities are ramping up across Metro Vancouver. Here are some events to check out this weekend. Surrey’s Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market Surrey’s holiday tradition returns for its 14th year this weekend and – like last year – it will be a two-day affair. The free festival will take over Surrey Civic Plaza from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with the titular lighting of the city’s 60-foot Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m. Surrounding the marquee event will be four stages of live entertainment, a holiday market, amusement rides and light displays. A full schedule of events and lots more information can be found on the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival website.  Lights at Lafarge Coquitlam’s signature winter event also kicks off this weekend with the return of Lights at Lafarge. Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display features a 1.2-kilometre pathway with more lights and “reimagined elements,” according to the city. The lights will be on from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily beginning Friday night, and this year the display will continue into February. The city is hosting an opening ceremony event with live entertainment and food trucks from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.  Canyon Lights Another holiday light display kicking off this weekend is Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. From Friday through Jan. 19, visitors to the suspension bridge will find it illuminated from end to end with a changing multicolour display. There will also be live music and other lights displayed throughout the park. Canyon Lights is included with the price of park admission, but tickets must be purchased online in advance and a limited number are available during peak times, according to the attraction.  Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Head to the Burnaby Village Museum in Deer Lake Park starting Saturday for “Heritage Christmas.” The 10-acre open-air site will be decorated with lights and classic decor, and guests will be treated to seasonal activities and roving entertainers. Admission to Heritage Christmas is free and the festivities run through Jan. 3. However, it is closed on Mondays, as well as on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. More information can be found on the Burnaby Village Museum website.  ‘Soar with Santa’ In Vancouver, this weekend marks the return of “Soar with Santa,” the annual Christmas version of Flyover Canada at Canada Place. From Thursday through Jan. 1, the attraction says it will be celebrating with “special activities and surprises” to get guests into the holiday spirit. Flyover Canada is open daily and tickets can be booked online.  Holiday markets, craft fairs and art sales Numerous holiday markets and craft fairs are scheduled around the region in the coming weeks. Here’s a roundup of some of the ones happening this weekend. Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair : More than 140 local artisans will gather at Dunbar Community Centre in Vancouver from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Children 12 and under get in free.  North Shore Artists Winter Art Sale : North Shore artists will be selling their work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School on West Keith Road in North Vancouver.  Emily Carr Indigenous Winter Market : The Aboriginal Gathering Place on the Emily Carr University campus will host an Indigenous Winter Market as part of the university’s Student Art Sale. The Indigenous market will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.  Got Craft Holiday Market : Got Craft is hosting its holiday market at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the door. 

vancouver-would-save-$70m-if-park-board-dissolved,-city-report-suggests-–-yahoo-news-canada
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Vancouver would save $70M if park board dissolved, city report suggests

Bymichael

A new report from the City of Vancouver says it could save millions of dollars if the city’s park board is dissolved, and suggests more parkland could be made permanent under the city’s direct management. Nearly one year ago, city council passed a motion asking the province to dissolve the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, which oversees 250 parks and beaches in the city, along with community centres, pools, sports fields and other recreational services. Those responsibilities would instead be transferred to the city, Mayor Ken Sim said. On Thursday, the city’s Park Board Transition Working Group released its final report outlining the benefits of dissolving the park board, which has existed since 1888. According to the report, the city would save $7 million per year for the next 10 years. It also says it would be able to designate 89 acres of permanent parkland under the city’s management. It says without the added layer of governance, the city would break down inefficiencies that lead to “costly delays.” The working group’s recommendations and conclusions come after several months of surveys and meetings with stakeholders, it says. It also did an interjurisdictional review of city parks and recreation governance, the report says. “This is about more than just governance — it’s about building a Vancouver that works better for everyone,” Sim said in a news release accompanying the report’s findings. “By streamlining decision-making and eliminating inefficiencies, we’re creating a system that prioritizes what matters most: protecting and enhancing our cherished parks and recreational spaces.” Park board commissioner Laura Christensen said she wonders if the park board’s planned dissolution is distracting from the 2025 budget, which was just released. Speaking to CBC’s The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn before the release of the report Thursday morning, Christensen listed a number of tax hikes Sim has made since he became mayor. Yet at the same time, she said, the park board has been asking for three years for $900,000 to improve janitorial services in park facilities — which, as she puts it, would bring the janitorial budget to a “moderately dingey level” — but the city has not provided it. LISTEN | Park board commissioner raises concerns about transition:  Christensen said “it wouldn’t totally surprise” her if the park board was being starved for cash to make the case against the park board’s existence. “I hope it’s not that intentional, because that would be really, really disappointing,” she said. ‘Unlikely’ transition would be priority, premier says For the transition to happen, the province has to sign off on amendments to the Vancouver Charter. CBC News has requested more information on this from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs. During an all-candidates meeting in Kitsilano-Point Grey on Oct. 12, Premier David Eby said he has both good and bad feelings toward Vancouver’s park board. He added that the city still has a lot to work out if it intends to make this change. “It’s very unlikely this would be a priority for the province before the next municipal election,” he said. The next municipal election is scheduled for 2026.

this-prefab-north-vancouver-laneway-home-is-a-prototype-for-sustainable,-stylish-small-space-living-–-vancouver-sun
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Prefab North Vancouver laneway home is a prototype for sustainable, stylish small-space living

Bymichael

1,,000-square-foot home showcases modern esthetic and eco-friendly features Published Nov 20, 2024  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  4 minute read True to its name, this Modcube laneway home by Synthesis Design takes the shape of a modified cube, clad in a mix of sustainable and non-combustible cement panelling – juxtaposed with cedar siding – giving it a modern yet organic feel. An EV charger off the sidewall is another thoughtful touch aimed at greener living. Photo by Dave Sutherland There are two schools of thought on laneway-home design: mimic the style of the main house or do something completely different. These days, Curtis Krahn leans to the second. “We don’t need to create a little mini-me,” says Krahn, founding principal of Synthesis Design. Bylaws, lot sizes and existing architecture create constraints, he says – and you risk forcing a style that doesn’t make sense for the space if you go that route. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account or Article content His company’s East 4th laneway project in North Vancouver is a case study in the opposite: a minimalist modern structure sharing a lot with a character home. The laneway house was the first built of the company’s now-signature prefabricated home product, the Modcube. “It’s quite modern, quite simple and complements a variety of styles, rather than competing,” says Krahn. Adding to the abundance of natural light in the home, a mudded-in LED strip in the ceiling crisscrosses the main living space – a detail inspired by commercial spaces and hotels. Photo by Dave Sutherland An open-concept living space on the home’s main floor creates the illusion of a larger space, along with details such as glass panelling at the base of the stairs. Photo by Tina Kulic Though several have now been built, Modcube was a long time coming. When Krahn founded his firm back in 1994, he fully intended to focus on modular and innovative housing. But demand for this type of offering wasn’t there, at least not yet. So, he went on to create a successful custom home and residential renovation business. Over time, the market caught up, and Synthesis launched the Modcube concept in 2019, aiming to fill a growing niche of affordable, pre-fabricated laneway structures. By this point, the company had already designed a slew of custom laneway and small homes – and started seeing common threads. “We thought, rather than doing all of these custom, since we know exactly what everybody wants, we’re going to design the perfect floor plan and prefab it,” Krahn says. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Article content Article content They started with one model, now known as Plan’ A.’ Since then, iterations have multiplied up to ‘G,’ adding flexibility in footprint, esthetic, square footage, floor plan and other customizable traits. But all have one thing in common: they can be built mostly offsite and speedily snapped together on the ground. This reduces not only building costs, but waste and emissions as well, while cutting construction time by around 30 per cent. A dining table tucks into the corner of the kitchen island, for additional seating and surface space. Photo by Tina Kulic Skipping a galley-style kitchen, senior interior designer Julie Lepper and her team opted for an L-shaped layout with an island in the same shape. Two-tone cabinetry in white and rift-cut white oak interplays with a hexagonal-tile porcelain backsplash (Ontario Series by Olympia Tile & Stone). Photo by Tina Kulic “We’re not locked into any one specific prefab company,” adds Krahn. Nor does the contractor need special skills to build a Modcube: “They can do the prep work, dig the hole and put the foundation in, and while they’re doing that, the prefabrication is happening offsite.” By the time the foundation is done, the structure is usually ready to

buyer-of-whistler-home,-stuck-with-$127,000-vacancy-tax-bill,-sues-us.-sellers-–-vancouver-sun
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Buyer of Whistler home, stuck with $127,000 vacancy tax bill, sues U.S. sellers

Bymichael

Mark and Shauna Trieb, travel bloggers who live in Texas, sold the property to Wilson Weizin (Weixing) Cui through a contract signed on Sept. 5, 2022 Published Nov 20, 2024  •  Last updated 4 hours ago  •  2 minute read Texas couple didn’t pay federal vacancy tax bill, case filed in B.C. Supreme Court alleges Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG An American couple is facing a lawsuit after they sold their $17 million house in Whistler without paying their federal vacancy tax bill for 2022, the first year the tax became law, according to a lawsuit. Mark and Shauna Trieb, travel bloggers who live in Dallas, Texas, sold the property to Wilson Weizin (Weixing) Cui through a contract signed on Sept. 5, 2022, according to a case filed in B.C. Supreme Court. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account or Article content The sale completed on Jan. 18, 2023, with Cui’s purchase of all of the shares of a holding company through which the Triebs owned the property, according to documents filed in court. They were sole directors and shareholders of the company, it said. The sale contract included a warranty that the Triebs’ holding company had paid all taxes, but Cui said it hadn’t, leaving him to pay $127,910 under the federal government’s underused housing tax for non-resident owners, it said. The tax came into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and requires paying one per cent of the value of a vacation home, unless the owners are exempted, according to Canada.ca. Foreign owners are exempted, for instance, if the property is their primary residence and they live there for more than six months a year. The Triebs’ travel blog says they built the house on Trail’s End Lane in Whistler in 2017, but it’s not known how much time they spent there in 2022. There are also exemptions or lower occupancy requirements dependent on where the housing is located, based on whether the area is habitable year-round, for instance. The Canada.ca website said the owner or spouse may need to spend only 28 days a year to be exempt from paying the tax. That exemption applied in the Trial’s End Lane’s postal code. Article content Cui’s lawsuit said there was a tax assessed against the property for 2022 and the couple breached their sales contract because they failed to pay the tax or to reimburse Cui, the case alleges. “The (Triebs’) representation that the holding company had filed all tax returns and paid all tax liabilities was untrue, inaccurate and/or misleading,” according to Cui’s claim. Individual Canadians are usually exempt from the tax, as are owners of publicly traded Canadian corporations, certain trusts, registered charities, co-operative housing corporations, municipal organizations and other public institutions, government bodies, and Indigenous governing bodies. All non-resident owners and some Canadians still have to file a vacancy tax return, even if they qualify for and exemption, it said. A message left on the Triebs’ travel blog wasn’t returned. None of the allegations has been proven in court. Recommended from Editorial Co-owner of $3M Vancouver home says living there is ‘unbearable,’ wants court to order sale B.C. couple’s plan to raise a child in same house without romance doesn’t end well, winds up in court Article content