one-of-bc-ferries-busiest-vessels-taken-out-of-service-for-6-months
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One of BC Ferries busiest vessels taken out of service for 6 months

ByEmma Crawford

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The Queen of New Westminster, one of BC Ferries’ busiest vessels, will be out of service for approximately six months, the company says.

The vessel services the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay sailing — BC Ferries’ busiest route.

Earlier this week, the company announced the 60-year-old vessel was being pulled due to mechanical vessels after one of its propellers was sheared off, leading to the cancellation of all the ship’s sailings for the rest of the month.

“A preliminary visual inspection seems to indicate the fracture of the propeller shaft could be related to structural fatigue,” BC Ferries said.

“The required repairs are anticipated to be significant and include work on both the port and starboard propeller systems before the vessel can be returned to service.”

The affected parts need to replaced by specially manufactured systems. Return to service will be reliant on “global parts availability and manufacturing timelines.”

“This situation highlights the clear need for resiliency in our fleet to meet customer expectations, and it’s why we will be seeking approval from the Ferry Commissioner to build and add a net new vessel to our major routes,” said BC Ferries president and CEO Nicolas Jimenez.

“If we had a backup vessel available, this incident would have had minimal impact on service. It underscores the importance of our fleet renewal strategy to ensure we have the capacity and resilience to manage unexpected issues and vessel repairs.”

Recovery of the 10,000-pound propeller, which was found half-submerged in the seabed, took two days.

BC Ferries says it is still assessing the impact this will have on its sailing schedule. It says it is looking to see if it can add sailings by using other vessels and adjusting its refitting schedule.

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$35m-in-bc-funding-for-burnaby-heights-social-housing-and-childcare-project
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$35M in BC funding for Burnaby Heights social housing and childcare project

Bymichael

A long-planned social housing and childcare project in the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood is going ahead with the financial support of the Government of British Columbia. This will be a redevelopment of the vacant city block property of 3838 East Hastings Street at the southeast corner of the intersection of Esmond Avenue and East Hastings Street — just east of Boundary Road. In 2017, the City of Burnaby selected SUCCESS Affordable Housing Society to build and operate the new complex on the City-owned site. The project is going forward following today’s funding announcement. There will be two six-storey buildings containing 161 social housing units, with rents geared to income where residents will pay 30% of their income for rent, market rates, or deep-subsidy rates for people on income assistance. The unit size mix is 26 studios, 85 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, and 20 three-bedroom units. Site of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Site of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (Google Maps) Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Ground-level uses entail 10,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant spaces to help activate the building’s long East Hastings Street frontage and a childcare facility for up to 75 kids operated by the YMCA of Greater Vancouver. Two underground levels will contain 139 vehicle parking stalls and 224 bike parking spaces. DYS Architecture is the project’s design firm. Both buildings are interlinked within the upper levels by enclosed skybridges. “Providing affordable housing is now a growing part of our work at SUCCESS. We are grateful for the partnership with the provincial government and City of Burnaby to make this project possible,” said Queenie Choo, the CEO of SUCCESS Affordable Housing Society, in a statement. Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Mike Hurley, the Mayor of Burnaby, added, “This project represents a significant step forward for our community as it addresses two of the most urgent needs in Burnaby — affordable housing and more child care spaces. By providing land for projects like this and working with our partners at the provincial level, we’re taking a bold approach to addressing the affordability crisis in our community.” The provincial government is providing SUCCESS with $28 million in non-repayable funding for the social housing component, including $11 million for a cost pressure grant to help cover inflationary construction prices. The childcare component also separately received nearly $7 million in provincial funding. It is also noted that the City-owned property is worth about $27 million, with the municipal government providing $3 million in grant funding and $112,000 in waived development fees. Metro Vancouver Regional District is also waiving $425,000 in development fees. Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) Artistic rendering of 3838 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. (DYS Architecture/SUCCESS) If all goes as planned, construction on the project will reach completion in 2026. “We are taking action to help families who have struggled to find affordable housing and child care and provide them with the supports they need to thrive in their community,” said Ravi Kahlon, BC Minister of Housing. “Our government is proud to lead the way to help people across the province have healthy, vibrant neighbourhoods with the quality care and homes they deserve.”

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bc.-sets-up-a-panel-on-bear-deaths,-will-review-conservation-officer-training
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B.C. sets up a panel on bear deaths, will review conservation officer training

ByNews Staff

Posted September 9, 2024 3:13 pm. Last Updated September 9, 2024 7:37 pm. The British Columbia government is partnering with a bear welfare group to reduce the number of bears being euthanized in the province. Nicholas Scapillati, executive director of Grizzly Bear Foundation, said Monday that it comes after months-long discussions with the province on how to protect bears, with the goal to give the animals a “better and second chance at life in the wild.” Scapillati said what’s exciting about the project is that the government is open to working with outside experts and the public. “So, they’ll be working through Indigenous knowledge and scientific understanding, bringing in the latest techniques and training expertise from leading experts,” he said in an interview. He tells 1130 NewsRadio that this is a tremendous opportunity to advance the well-being and stewardship of bears in B.C. “It takes essential staff in addressing the calls that First Nations have made, conservation organizations and the public to address the number of bear deaths in their communities, enhance the care and handling of bears when they are (in) adverse conditions or relocated, and to deepen the public understanding of how we can support coexistence with bears,” he said. B.C. government data show conservation officers destroyed 603 black bears and 23 grizzly bears in 2023, while 154 black bears were killed by officers in the first six months of this year. Scapillati said the group will publish a report with recommendations by next spring, while an independent oversight committee will be set up to review all bear encounters with conservation officers to provide advice to the government. “We’ll be looking to bring together the bear rehab people, hunters, conservation organizations, first nations that are working with the COS,” he told 1130 NewsRadio. “We’re also going to lean on some of the World Meeting experts, not only from here, British Columbia, but across Canada, the United States, to give us advice on how we can advance our care and handling better policies and procedures, training…to improve the COS and hopefully reduce their deaths and improve the welfare of bears when they’re being handled right.” Environment Minister George Heyman said in a statement that they are looking for new ways to ensure conservation officers “have the trust of the communities they serve,” and the panel will make recommendations to enhance officer training and improve policies. Lesley Fox, with the wildlife protection group The Fur-Bearers, said they’ve been calling for such a committee for decades. “This move demonstrates the government is listening,” said Fox. “I suspect, because of the impending election, their listening skills are potentially a little sharper than they normally are.” Fox said the partnership came from “a place of long frustration” as provincial conservation officers kill more than 500 black bears every year on average, and the public is “no longer tolerating this kind of approach.” “I think that the conservation officer service and the B.C. government are aware they need to change, and certainly the public has been asking for it,” said Fox. Fox said there’s a lot of optimism about the new partnership, but, as with any government, there will likely be a lot of red tape to get through. “I think speed is going to be important, whether or not the committee has the ability to make change and make change relatively quickly without having to study an issue to death, ” said Fox.

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B.C. ended fiscal year with $5B deficit, as wildfires, lower revenue bite into budget

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Posted August 22, 2024 1:11 pm. Last Updated August 22, 2024 2:13 pm. British Columbia has ended the fiscal year with a deficit of about $5 billion, some $900 million lower than the most recent forecast, but higher than last year’s budget had called for. The last official look at the province’s finances before the October election says higher revenues from vehicle insurer ICBC were offset by lower revenues from natural resources. The final $5.035 billion deficit for the year ending March 31 is lower than the $5.9 billion forecast last quarter, but higher than the $4.2 billion originally predicted in the 2023 budget. A statement from the Finance Ministry says the public accounts show the province spent a record $1.1 billion on wildfire management, exceeding the budgeted amount by $401 million. It says increased spending on “priority services” including health, education and housing also contributed to the deficit exceeding the budget figure. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy says it’s the “wrong approach” to respond to fiscal challenges with deep cuts to services. She says the NDP refuses to “balance the books on the backs of people.” “With a slower world economy and a growing population, we cannot afford to have a deficit of services,” Conroy said in the statement. “People face challenges, we take action with smart targeted investments to ease people’s burdens and make sure services are there to support people in B.C., through the year and into the future.” The public accounts show B.C.’s economic growth was 1.6 per cent, which the ministry says outpaced the national average. “B.C. continues to have one of the best credit ratings and one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios among provinces,” the provincial statement says. The deficit is forecast to increase to $7.9 billion in the current fiscal year.

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You can get free parking at Cypress Mountain this ski season

ByBeth Rochester

Now that summer has ended, we’re getting excited about what the upcoming cold weather means. That’s right, it means ski season is approaching. While we might be a few months away from hitting the slopes, it’s always good to be prepared. In this case, being prepared could get you free parking at Cypress Mountain Resort this winter. The resort announced two weeks ago that it will expand its pay parking to include all lots except 3B and the Nordic area access road. It will cost $10 per day. However, in an email sent to pass holders, the resort shared that season pass holders and individuals with three-, four-, or five-day lift tickets will qualify for free parking. The resort also says that skiers who purchased a one- or two-day Sky Card before the pay parking announcement will also be able to qualify for free parking. Pass holders and those with an already purchased multi-day lift ticket will receive a link to the resort’s parking management portal to upload their licence plate information before October 9. Season pass holders will be able to register up to two licence plates, but only one can be used per day. So, if you plan skiing at Cypress Mountain this winter, it might be worth getting season passes early so you can park for free. The resort shared that it is implementing the pay parking to “improve the parking and arrival experience for guests.” “During peak times, demand for parking exceeds the available spaces. People wait and circle lots, and heavy traffic volume causes long line ups on Cypress Bowl Road,” reads the email to pass holders. In addition to free parking for pass holders, the resort revealed that it is releasing a carpool app that will offset the costs of paid parking for those who use it. Information about the pay parking and its exemptions can be found here.

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The formula for calculating condo strata fees can vary

ByTony Gioventu

Richmond condo is concerned about how their strata fees are calculated Published Aug 07, 2024  •  Last updated 2 days ago  •  2 minute read A condo owner is concerned by unequal share of common costs and lack of transparency in strata fee calculations. Photo by echoevg Getty Images Dear Tony: We bought a condo in Richmond last fall. We have been disputing how the strata fees and a special levy have been calculated, as there is a fairness issue. In our townhouse complex created in 2008, everything is based on an equal share. Everyone pays 1/78th of all common costs. Some units are almost twice the size of others, and have families, while smaller units are occupied by single owners. In essence, the smaller units are subsidizing the larger units. 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. Sign In or Create an Account or Article content At the time of purchase, we noticed that only the monthly strata fee was disclosed on the Form B. Buyers don’t see the formula that is applied by the strata corporation to the calculation of strata fees or special levies for common costs. How is this fair? — J.B.K., Richmond Dear J.B.K.: Every strata corporation has a filed schedule of unit entitlement, or amendments, in the Land Title Registry. I encourage all buyers to access a copy of the schedule before they purchase, to understand what their share of the common costs and liabilities will be. A common schedule for bare land strata corporations generally applies for equal share, as the strata lot is the land, not the homes, which are not shown on the strata plan. Depending on the time period when the strata plan was filed, you may also find townhouse communities and apartment-style buildings were identified with the same equal

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over-900-homes-in-towers-up-to-39-storeys-for-downtown-eastside
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Over 900 homes in towers up to 39 storeys for Downtown Eastside

ByKenneth Chan

This three-tower project could fulfill roughly 10% of the Government of British Columbia’s total target of catalyzing affordable homes for middle-income households through the new BC Builds program. In the process, it would also revitalize the easternmost end of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, bringing new life to an area specifically named the East Village. The significant project would be the first of a number of major housing redevelopments envisioned for this segment of East Hastings Street towards Commercial Drive. The three properties for this particular project are located on an approximate one-city block stretch of East Hastings Street between Glen Drive and Vernon Drive. Tower 1 will be a 373-ft-tall, 38-storey building at 1030-1070 East Hastings Street, which is a vacant site immediately adjacent to the CN railway at the southwest corner of the intersection of Glen Drive and East Hastings Street. This site is the westernmost site of the three properties. 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Old, low-storey commercial buildings currently occupy this site. Tower 2 is envisioned as the tallest and largest of the three towers, at 390 feet and 39 storeys. Tower 2 will contain 383 secured purpose-built market rental homes, with a unit size mix of 165 studio units, 123 one-bedroom units, 77 two-bedroom units, and 20 three-bedroom units. There will also be nearly 8,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant space, primarily at ground level, to activate the building’s frontages with East Hastings Street and Glen Drive. Tower 1; Concept for the East Village on East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. (ZGF Architects/Westbank/Promerita/BC Housing) Tower 2; Concept for the East Village on East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. (ZGF Architects/Westbank/Promerita/BC Housing) Tower 2 (left) and Tower 1 (right); Concept for the East Village on East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. (ZGF Architects/Westbank/Promerita/BC Housing) While Tower 1 and Tower 2 are highly similar in uses and size, Tower 3 will be markedly different, with a shorter height of 195 ft and 19 storeys. Tower 3’s site of 1168-1180 East Hastings Street is the easternmost parcel of the three-site project, situated immediately east of Pink Peal Chinese Restaurant. Two low-storey structures currently occupy the site, including the 1905-built, three-storey Vernon Apartments SRO with 36 units. Tower 3 will contain 157 social housing units dedicated to seniors, with a unit size mix of 42 studio units, 79 one-bedroom units, and 36 larger one-for-one replacement SRO studio units. There will be higher levels of affordability with these homes rented at shelter, Housing Income Limits, and Low-and-Moderate Income Limit rates. There will also be a 2,300 sq ft social enterprise space fronting East Hastings Street. Tower 3; Concept for the East Village on East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. (ZGF Architects/Westbank/Promerita/BC Housing) Tower 3; Concept for the East Village on East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. (ZGF Architects/Westbank/Promerita/BC Housing) All three towers will feature a combined total of 924 homes, including 767 secured purpose-built market rental homes for middle-income households in Tower 1 and Tower 2 and 157 units of social housing for seniors, which is purposefully equivalent to over 20% of the project’s market rental homes as a public benefit. Overall, about 80% of the homes across all three buildings will be considered affordable for households with incomes below $80,000. These three towers in the East Village are a joint partnership between local developer Westbank, local investment firm Promerita, and the provincial government through BC Housing. Westbank and Promerita will own and operate Tower 1 and Tower 2, and they have already transferred ownership of the Tower 3 social housing site to BC Housing for a nominal fee. Westbank will be the lead developer responsible for the rezoning, development, and construction process of all three towers. ZGF Architects is the project’s design firm. Each tower represents a different rezoning application, but they will be considered together. All three applications have been submitted, and the review process is now set to enter formal public consultation. “BC Housing, through BC Builds, is very interested in participating in the proposed creation of new rental housing at the East Village with Promerita, Westbank, and a future non-profit operator, however, BC Housing’s final participation is further contingent on City Council rezoning approval as well as settlement of the final negotiated business terms amongst the parties,” reads a letter of support written to the City by Mike Pistrin, the vice president of development and asset strategies for BC Housing. “One of these milestones have been achieved and BC Housing has certainty regarding the inclusion of affordable rental units being approved, final project approval by our executive committee and associated boards will

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