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RSVP for tickets to David Eby’s Emergency Town Hall on Housing Issues here: https://ebyemergencyhousingtownhall.eventbrite.ca What: Emergency housing affordability meeting Who: Everyone who believes there is a problem in Metro Vancouver’s real estate market When: Wednesday March 16, 2016 at 7 p.m. Where: St. James Community Square, 3214 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver Join MLA David Eby and local experts for an Emergency Housing Town Hall This meeting is to discuss the causes of, and solutions to, an out-of-control real estate market in the Lower Mainland that has little or no connection to average household income. Issues of international speculation in our housing market, shadow flipping, real estate agent accountability, and other concerns will be addressed. Bring your stories, questions and concerns. The media, along with MLAs from both sides of the legislature, both BC Liberal and BC NDP, will be invited. This is a meeting to hear stories, demand answers, and send a message to the Premier and the government to start to value the people of Metro Vancouver who make the communities we call home possible. Wednesday March 16 from 7-9pm at St James Community Square. Doors at 6:30pm.

Cased photograph is a term used to describe a class of photographs popularized in the mid-19th century that includes daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes. The ‘case’ refers to the small wooden hinged case that houses these photographs. The photographic plate is typically enclosed in a sealed package, consisting of a sheet of cover glass, a brass mat, and a metal foil preserver. The protective wooden case can be highly decorative, covered in tooled leather, paper, cloth, or early molded thermoplastic (see Union case). Examples of ornate cases: (Left) Tooled leather covering on a wooden case from the Rogers Family fonds (AM1368). (Right) A Union case from the Thomas Wicks fonds (AM236). Photo: Dorcas Tong. Illustration of the different components in a cased photograph. Image source: MediaWiki. “PMG Cased Photographs.” 2011. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/PMG_Cased_Photographs . Aside from their shared presentation format, these photographs are uniquely different photographic processes. A daguerreotype is a direct positive photograph on a copper plate coated with a polished layer of metallic silver. Daguerreotypes are characteristically identified by their highly reflective mirror-like surface and their ability to appear as both a positive and a negative simultaneously, depending on the angle they are viewed at. An ambrotype is a wet-collodion negative on a glass plate that appears as a positive due to the presence of a dark background, either in the form of paint (lacquer), fabric or paper. A tintype is a wet-collodion direct positive on a lacquered iron plate. Characteristic mirror-like surface of a daguerreotype from the Rogers Family fonds (AM1368). Photos: Dorcas Tong. Finding a cased photograph in most archival collections can range from an uncommon to a rare occurrence. Given the rarity of this form of record, we decided to prioritize the conservation treatment and digitization of the daguerreotypes (and a few ambrotypes) in our holdings during the latest round of annual digitization cleanup. Conservation Issues with Cased Photographs The overall treatment objective is to address three common issues found in cased photographs: The accumulation of heavy surface grime and accretions from years of handling and from inappropriate storage environment. Broken seal on the packaged plate resulting in the introduction of atmospheric pollutants, which causes corrosion on the brass mats and tarnishing on the image silver on the daguerreotypes. Physical damage, usually as partially or fully broken hinge in the case, often leading to the loss of the cover or the case entirely. Unlike other types of records commonly found in archives, where the original enclosure may hold little informational value to the item, the ornate housing for cased photographs play an integral part to their overall aesthetics. Not only do they provide period-appropriate framing for the image, but the case is instrumental in protecting these photographs against various mechanical and chemical deterioration mechanisms. Therefore, addressing the conservation issues for the case is equally as important as stabilizing the condition of the photographs themselves. Conservation Treatment A total of six case photographs from the Rogers family fonds were treated, each with its own set of conservation issues. Two 1840s-era daguerreotypes, “Portrait of an unidentified woman” and “John and Isabella Fairweather,” and their cases will be focused here to highlight the key steps in the treatment. Each packaged daguerreotype was carefully separated from its tray case with a microspatula, taking care not to touch the delicate image silver, as it is very susceptible to scratches. Although disassembly is not normally recommended for sealed daguerreotypes, it was clear by the remnants of old sealing tape that the original seals were broken long before their arrival at the Archives. Therefore, disassembly was justified as it allowed for cleaning that will benefit the long-term preservation of these photographs and produce digitized images with a higher clarity. A daguerreotype is separated from its tray case with a microspatula (left), revealing the tarnished image silver caused by the brass mat. The remnants of old sealing tape are visible on the back of a packaged plate (right). Photos: Dorcas Tong. After disassembly, each component of the plate package was cleaned, the remnants of the old tape removed to allow for better adhesion to the new sealing tape. The heavy accumulation of surface grime on the cover glass, brass mat and preserver were cleaned with a solvent solution. Although the dark corrosion products on the brass mat are disfiguring, they were left in-situ. Since the treated daguerreotypes will be rehoused in a controlled environmental climate in the Archives’ storage, the corrosion products will not pose an immediate risk to the stability of the object. Larger accretions trapped in the recessed features of the brass preserver were gently dislodged. A thin layer of microcrystalline wax was applied and buffed on the metal-foil preserver to deter future oxidation. The surface dirt on the image silver was very gently removed using a soft bristled brush. The loose accretions and dust trapped in the fabric lining of the cases were brushed and vacuumed away. Heavy surface soil on the cover glass removed with solvent cleaning. Photo: Dorcas Tong. After all the components of the daguerreotype packages were cleaned, they were reassembled in their original orientation and sealed with an archival quality pressure-sensitive tape. An unbuffered, ‘4-flap’ paper enclosure was added to the verso of the plate package to prevent direct contact between the acrylic-based sealing tape and the daguerreotype. An unbuffered, ‘4-flap’ paper enclosure in a daguerreotype package (left) and a plate package being sealed with archival quality pressure-sensitive tape

After a scenic ride through El Poblenou and along the Barcelona waterfront, we approached the Sant Antoni market from the south, via Carrer del Comte Borrell, stopping at the Superilla Peatonal Sant Antoni intersection. This spot mirrored Poblenou’s with its low-cost public interventions and small-scale changes. However, Sant Antoni Market played a more pivotal role, serving as both a conceptual and physical gateway. It marked where the Superilla experiment transitioned from its “tactical” phase to the more “structural” stage of its evolution. North of the beautiful building, the interventions along Carrer del Comte Borrell showed a greater degree of investment. Carrer de Tamarit, north of the Market was redesigned as a “car light” through with new paving and a pedestrian plaza at its intersection with Carrer del Comte Borrell . Street furniture and planting were carefully integrated as a part of the new design. As these changes unfolded, discussions arose about scaling the Superilla model to magnify its positive impacts. The nine-block cluster approach worked well as a pilot, but wasn’t practical on a city-wide scale—it would be impossible to transform streets in 3×3 clusters everywhere. In 2019, the visionary Eixample Green Axes map was introduced, shifting the focus from an “oasis” strategy to a city-wide network. This plan committed Barcelona to spread the benefits of the Superilla concept to all citizens by connecting the cities’ neighbourhoods with these new green axes. The “green axes” are streets redesigned to reduce or eliminate car traffic, replacing vehicle-heavy roads with green spaces, wider pedestrian paths, and bike lanes. These streets reconnect neighbourhoods by creating a network of pedestrian-friendly streets that encourage walking, cycling, and outdoor activities. Complementing the green axes are public squares at major intersections, providing residents with open spaces for leisure and socializing. Filled with trees, benches, playgrounds, and shaded areas, these squares are crucial for increasing green spaces and improving air quality. Given the people-first mentality, the social function of these intersections cannot be understated, transforming former car-dominated zones into vibrant community hubs. Together, the evolved Superilla expansion plans to create 21 green axes and 21 squares in the Eixample, greening over 33% of its streets and turning them into pedestrian corridors and green spaces. This new environmental infrastructure aims to ensure that every resident in the Eixample is within 200 meters of a green axis. Last year marked a key moment for the Superilla initiative, with the City defining new design criteria for the green axes and outlining five principles in their new guidelines, as shown within the cross-section in the headline image. This ambitious project is ongoing, with several sections already completed, the most notable being Carrer Consell de Cent. Spanning over three and a half kilometers, this street transformation covers nearly the full width of the Eixample. For context, the transformed section of Carrer Consell de Cent is about one-third longer than Vancouver’s downtown peninsula. It would be the local equivalent of converting a major thoroughfare like 12th Avenue from Main Street to Burrard Street. Since Barcelona’s Eixample has the same 66 ft. street widths as Vancouver, their template can easily be replicated locally.   The Carrer del Comte Borrell—the street that Honey-Roses , Martos, and Matilla guided us— holds special significance . Not only is it a green axis, but the stretch between Sant Antoni Market and Carrer Consell de Cent allowed us to experience the evolution of their urban transformation, step by step. As we walked, Matilla shared lessons learned from each iteration, block by block. For instance, the City experimented with various paving patterns to encourage people to walk in the middle of the street. Not all designs were successful—changing paving alone wasn’t enough. Subtle visual and texture cues were needed to subconsciously invite pedestrians to walk in the center of the street. Carrer del Comte Borrell demonstrated this clearly, allowing us to see behavioral shifts from one side of the street to the other. These detailed efforts were part of a broader evidence-based approach, where data was gathered and analyzed from both design-oriented observations and larger-scale metrics. For example, the City tracked the impact of street closures on city-wide traffic patterns. Initially, traffic on other streets increased, but after a year and a half, it declined, supporting the idea that pedestrian-focused interventions can change auto-based behaviours. Our journey through Barcelona’s street transformations culminated at Carrer Consell de Cent, where we walked its length, exploring several unique squares designed to foster community. Walking down the middle of the street, Matilla explained the decision-making process in detail. This included policies that might seem surprising, such as limiting the number of restaurants allowed on this pedestrian axis to preserve essential community services. People first. A Masterclass, indeed. The session concluded with a warm aperitif with our gracious hosts, where our local planners eagerly asked more questions. Looking ahead, Barcelona plans to complete the remaining green axes and squares, serving as a global model for cities aiming to prioritize people, community, and the environment over cars and congestion. At the core of this transformation is a simple yet powerful motive—one shared with affordability policies discussed earlier in the series and rooted in centuries of evolution: enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Throughout this process, citizens remain the focus, forming the foundation of every decision, from the abstract to the physical, from the small scale to the large. We have covered a lot of ground. Let’s

Here’s my yearly roundup of the best books released by local authors and publishers this year, just in time for your last-minute literary gift shopping. Let us rejoice in the glory of our regionally written words! Cascadia Cookbook (Said The Whale Music) Vancouver band Said the Whale has been filling our ears with their West Coast-flavoured indie rock for over a decade. Now, as a tasty compliment to their 2019 album Cascadia, the band fills our stomachs with the release of Casadia Cookbook. In this beautifully designed, 80-page feast, you’ll find Pacific Northwest-inspired recipes paired to each song on the album, for dishes such as salal berry pie or “Buckaroo Spuds.” The book was designed by Said the Whale keyboardist/band chef/skilled baker Jaceyln Brown, with mouth-watering photography by Lindsey Blane. A perfect addition for any West Coast kitchen. Cougar Companions by Judith Williams (Harbour Publishing) Sink your claws into this incredible and untold true story from B.C.’s coast. This is the wild tale of the Schnarr family: single father August, a trapper, logger, and skilled amateur photographer, and his three young daughters, all trying to make a go of it in remote Bute Inlet. The Schnarr family was infamous in the 1930s for their collection of fully grown pet cougars. Cortes Island author Judith Williams passionately unfolds this adventure with the help of August Schnarr’s lifetime of incredible photographs. Finding Callidora by Stella Leventoyannis Harvey (Signature Editions) If you enjoy exciting historical fiction, you must escape into this epic novel by Whistler author Stella Leventoyannis Harvey. Inside, you’ll enter into a bloody family saga that spans generations, continents and two world wars. Driven by actual headlines of the eras, this is a fast read convincingly set on remote Greek islands, Egyptian streets, rugged Turkish landscapes and, finally, Canada, as a scattered family tries to piece together a tragic past. I Saw Three Ships: West End Stories by Bill Richardson (Talonbooks) A smart and hilarious collection of fictional short stories set in Vancouver’s most densely populated neighbourhood, penned by the great humourist, author, broadcaster and longtime West End resident Bill Richardson. All eight of the finely tuned stories within are linked by West End characters from various walks of life, set amongst the garishly decorated apartment lobbies of Christmastime west of Burrard. (Bonus tip: I think the Paper Hound on Pender Street has signed copies.) Major Misconduct: the Human Cost of Fighting In Hockey by Jeremy Allingham (Arsenal Pulp Press) In his debut book, author and CBC Vancouver journalist Jeremy Allingham has provided a potential knockout blow to hockey fights, as well as the toxic culture that surrounds it. And timing is everything. As if predicting the sea change that may finally be cracking up our frozen game, less than a month after this book came out, several notable figures in hockey’s leadership circles have been fired or put on leave. A very revealing read for any fan, especially those who think fighting should still be part of hockey on any level. Vancouver After Dark by Aaron Chapman (Arsenal Pulp Press) Whether it’s saucy stories of Oil Can Harry’s, the Cave, Retinal Circus or (my personal favourite) the Starfish Room, Aaron Chapman’s latest outing nattily steps into a century of Vancouver’s nightlife with crisp detail and refreshing research. Like a cold Kokanee upon entrance at the Town Pump, consider this book essential consumption for any Vancouverite (from any era) who has ever experienced our city’s notorious and colourful nightclubs. All of these best of 2019 books are available at Vancouver’s independent booksellers, including the newly opened Iron Dog Books at 2761 East Hastings. Happy holidays, and happy reading! Grant Lawrence is the author of three award-winning nonfiction books, most of which are at least partially set in Vancouver.

The 8th Vancouver Foodster Curry Challenge was a success featuring unique curry creations at restaurants around greater Vancouver. Each restaurant featured their creation on their menu from October 4-27, 2024 and their customers voted for their favourites daily throughout the challenge. The Winners are: 1st Place (tie): {110 points} Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine Southern Thai Curry with Betel leaves Price: $20 Created by: Chef A Thares  Description: Gang Graa-Ti Tai Bai-Cha-Plue – The flavourful Southern style curry with coconut milk, betel leaves and prawns served with rice noodles and fresh cilantro and ground peanut. Ingredients: Coconut milk, in-house made yellow curry paste, Chaplue leaves, Sweet chard, cilantro, palm sugar, Fish sauce, Prawns, Ground Peanut, Red pepper, green leaf, fine rice vermicelli, garlic fried and onion fried Offered: lunch and dinner Available: take out and delivery Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine 20395 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge Tel:(604) 459-8000 Web:https://banchokdee.com/ Instagram @banchokdeethai and @BCDThai   1st Place (tie): {110 points} Kerala Kitchen Chicken Stew and Appam Price: $18.99 Created by: Chef Sujith Raj Description: Chicken stew and appam is a delicious combination popular in South Indian cuisine, particularly in Kerala. The chicken stew is typically made with tender chicken pieces, cooked in a fragrant coconut milk base with spices like ginger, garlic, and green chilies. The stew is mild yet flavorful.Appam, on the other hand, is a type of fermented rice pancake with a soft center and crispy edges, perfect for soaking up the rich stew. Together, they create a comforting and satisfying meal. Ingredients for Chicken Stew: Chicken , Ginger, curry leaf , chilli, carrot, potato, whole gram masala, coconut milk ( gluten free , dairy free dish.) Ingredients for Appam: Coconut milk , rice flour , sugar, salt. Yeast Offered: all the time Available: for dine-in Kerala Kitchen 9386 120th Street, unit 103, Surrey Tel:  (604) 498-6919 Web:https://keralakitchen.ca/ Instagram @keralakitchensurrey 2nd Place: {104 points} Dhaliwal’s Lounge Malabar Fish & Prawn Curry  Price:$23.95 Created by: The team Description: Malabar Fish and Prawn Curry is a rich, coastal delight featuring tender fish and succulent prawns simmered in a coconut-based sauce infused with tangy tamarind, fiery green chilies, and a fragrant blend of traditional Kerala spices. This vibrant curry offers the perfect balance of heat and flavor, best enjoyed with steamed rice or flaky parathas. Ingredients: Coconut oil, Mustard seed, Fenugreek seed, Cumin seed, Curry leaves, Ginger, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Lemon slices, Chilli powder, Turmeric powder, Coriander powder, Coconut milk, Salt and Tamarind. Offered: dine-in Available: all the time Dhaliwal’s Lounge #112 – 7938 128 Street, Surrey Tel:(604) 543-2222 Web:https://dhaliwalslounge.com/ Instagram @dhaliwalslounge 3rd Place: {102 points} Thai Ni Yom Restaurant Khao Soi Nhua Price: $24 Created by: the team Description: Authentic Northern Thailand, a rich northen Thai curry served with flat egg noodles, braising beef brisket and topped with pickles, shallots, lime cilantro and crispy noodles. Ingredients: Offered: dine-in Available: all the time Thai Ni Yom Restaurant 2953 West 4th avenue, unit 2, Vancouver Tel:(604) 736-5474 Web:https://www.thainiyom.ca/ Instagram @thainiyom.vancouver In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Curry creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge. The Winners are: 1st Place People’s Choice: Kerala Kitchen Chicken Stew and Appam Price: $18.99 Created by: Chef Sujith Raj Description: Chicken stew and appam is a delicious combination popular in South Indian cuisine, particularly in Kerala. The chicken stew is typically made with tender chicken pieces, cooked in a fragrant coconut milk base with spices like ginger, garlic, and green chilies. The stew is mild yet flavorful.Appam, on the other hand, is a type of fermented rice pancake with a soft center and crispy edges, perfect for soaking up the rich stew. Together, they create a comforting and satisfying meal. Ingredients for Chicken Stew: Chicken , Ginger, curry leaf , chilli, carrot, potato, whole gram masala, coconut milk ( gluten free , dairy free dish.) Ingredients for Appam: Coconut milk , rice flour , sugar, salt. Yeast Offered: all the time Available: for dine-in Kerala Kitchen 9386 120th Street, unit 103, Surrey Tel:  (604) 498-6919 Web:https://keralakitchen.ca/ Instagram @keralakitchensurrey 2nd Place People’s Choice: Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine Southern Thai Curry with Betel leaves Price: $20 Created by: Chef A Thares  Description: Gang Graa-Ti Tai Bai-Cha-Plue – The flavourful Southern style curry with coconut milk, betel leaves and prawns served with rice noodles and fresh cilantro and ground peanut. Ingredients: Coconut milk, in-house made yellow curry paste, Chaplue leaves, Sweet chard, cilantro, palm sugar, Fish sauce, Prawns, Ground Peanut, Red pepper, green leaf, fine rice vermicelli, garlic fried and onion fried Offered: lunch and dinner Available: take out and delivery Ban Chok Dee Thai Cuisine 20395 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge Tel:(604) 459-8000 Web:https://banchokdee.com/ Instagram @banchokdeethai and @BCDThai   3rd Place People’s Choice: Thai Ni Yom Restaurant Khao Soi Nhua Price: $24 Created by: the team Description: Authentic Northern Thailand, a rich northen Thai curry served with flat egg noodles, braising beef brisket and topped with pickles, shallots, lime cilantro and crispy noodles. Ingredients: Offered: dine-in Available: all the time Thai Ni Yom Restaurant 2953 West 4th avenue, unit 2, Vancouver Tel:(604) 736-5474 Web:https://www.thainiyom.ca/ Instagram @thainiyom.vancouver Our Media judges for this challenge were: Corey Lee, David Grange and Yuki No. Each media judge will have scored the creation with a maximum of 40 points as follows: Overall Taste 20 points, Originality and Uniqueness 10 points, Presentation and Appearance 10 points). The total number of points a pasta creation could earn is 120 points. Thank you to the chefs and restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured their curry on the menu for

Larry as usual provides the numbers. Detached MOI = 6.9 Attached =  5.6 Condo = 6.1 These MOI are in the ‘balanced’ range. However they are a LOT lower than last August. Is this demand pulled in because of the interest rate and CMHC changes or is the Bull back? Some higher sales have skewed the numbers. Lots of local and HAM big buys in August in the Multimillion range have pulled the numbers up. Is HAM buying drying up? Not yet. There are some signs that emerging markets are under some financial stress with the Fed TALK (only talk so far) of pulling back on ponzi monetary policy. However the Chinese PMI number has come in above expectations and that may bring more hot money to our shores. As I have said recently, we SHOULD have seen the top with everything stacked against RE. However there could be some new dynamic that I have not taken into account which will ignite further buying and if so, then it is time to move on. We will know very soon if this is the case.