sick-of-storms?-the-sun-is-forecast-to-shine-on-vancouver-again-soon
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Sick of storms? The sun is forecast to shine on Vancouver again soon

ByAmir Ali

Vancouver and other parts of BC have experienced a seeming parade of storms over the past couple of weeks, but there’s good news in the forecast in the form of the autumn sun. According to the forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the sun returns for three consecutive days after another wet weekend and a shower-filled start to next week on Monday. Despite the return of sunshine, temperatures will continue to drop to near freezing by Wednesday next week, with overnight lows as chilly as 1˚C. Over the past couple of weeks, it has been wet and windy across the province, including the recent bomb cyclone that left hundreds of thousands temporarily without power. There are still some gusty conditions in the forecast, as wind speeds could hit 70 km/h on Friday, lowering to highs of 50 km/h on Saturday. Beginning Tuesday, the sun returns as the forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 7˚C. It’s the same for Wednesday and Thursday, just slightly cooler. ECCC Vancouver was hit with another small storm last night, which will mostly taper off today. ECCC also warns that some areas could see flooding. “Minor coastal flooding is possible near low-lying shorelines adjacent to the Strait of Georgia near high tide in the morning. Potential impacts include seawater across low-lying roadways and trails.” You should also note that if you plan to travel on the Coquihalla highway this weekend, including today, you could see a hefty amount of snow on your drive. ECCC has issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Summit between Hope and Merritt. Up to 15 cm of snow is forecast for that area, which ECCC warns could lead to hazardous driving conditions. If you’ve felt a bit cold in Vancouver over the past week without the sun, maybe seeing Calgary’s forecast will make you feel a bit better: ECCC Click here to see the full Vancouver forecast. And if you’re wondering what winter might look like in Vancouver, click here.

income-needed-to-purchase-a-home-in-canada-drops-in-major-cities
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Income needed to purchase a home in Canada drops in major cities

ByNational Trending Staff

If your home ownership dreams have been put on hold, there may be hope on the horizon as Canada’s falling interest rates are impacting how much income is needed to purchase a property. But depending on where you live, it still requires a hefty paycheque to enter the market. According to a new report from Ratehub.ca, the income needed to afford a home has fallen in 12 of 13 cities across the country. This comes after the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced a massive interest rate cut in October. The BoC dropped the rate by 50 basis points, bringing it from 4.25% to 3.75%, which many referred to as a “jumbo-sized” drop. This was the fourth announcement of 2024, and such a low rate hasn’t been seen since December 2022. According to Ratehub.ca’s Penelope Graham, “affordability conditions have been improving since June, when the Bank of Canada first started cutting its benchmark interest rate, easing mortgage costs and the pricing of other borrowing products.” RateHub Vancouver and Toronto, Canada’s most expensive cities, saw the most significant drops in the income needed to purchase a home between September and October 2024. “While both of these cities saw a robust increase in sales activity in October, they remain well supplied, which has helped keep a lid on price growth,” notes the report. Still, prospective buyers in these cities need to take home significant paycheques to get into the housing market. The income required to purchase the average home in Vancouver now stands at $214,000 annually. In Toronto, it’s slightly lower at $195,420. Moreover, Canada’s smaller cities haven’t experienced the softer prices of their larger counterparts. A drop in supply and an increase in buyer activity have resulted in prices going up, as six out of 13 markets across the country saw month-over-month price hikes. Fredericton was the only market where affordability deteriorated between September and October as home prices increased by $16,100, meaning buyers would need $1,890 more income to purchase an average property. Ratehub.ca provided an optimistic outlook for prospective buyers over the next few months as mortgage rates are expected to drop further. The overnight lending rate is predicted to drop by another 25 basis points, bringing the benchmark interest rate to 3.5%. Rates are expected to drop further in 2025. However, lower rates will likely lead to an uptick in prices as more buyers could enter the market. “The national average home price is expected to end the year largely flat at $683,200 – just a 0.9% increase – before rising 4.4% next year to $713,375,” concluded Ratehub.ca.

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

15-fun-things-to-do-in-vancouver-this-weekend:-november-22-to-24
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15 fun things to do in Vancouver this weekend: November 22 to 24

ByDaniel Chai

Enjoy the suite life this fall with Delta Hotels by Marriott Vancouver Downtown Suites! Make the most of your Vancouver stay with spacious suites, central downtown location, and unique restaurant & bar, Stock & Supply. So much to do, so little time! Vancouver is packed with great events this weekend! Here are 15 exciting events to check out around town from November 22 to 24. Find stunning holiday lights, hilarious comedy shows, and more! Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town. And to stay up to date on everything happening in Metro Vancouver, BC, and beyond, sign up for our newsletters! Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park What: Cross the world-famous bridge, lit end-to-end with a changing multi-colour display, and sway high above the illuminated Capilano River. Journey into a glittering rainforest and walk high above the forest floor on a transformed Treetops Adventure. Finally, walk along the sparkling cliffside pathway of Cliffwalk.  Don’t forget to snap an Instagram-worthy photo, sip a decadent hot chocolate to the sound of live festive tunes and get in on all the festive fun of the many kids activities around the Park. Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased in advance online. There are limited tickets available during peak event times, and visits are scheduled in 30-minute arrival increments. When: November 22, 2024, until January 19, 2025 (closed on December 25) Time: 11 am to 9 pm daily. Guests are allowed to stay in the park up to an hour after closing. Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, with annual passes (included with admission) available for BC residents. Purchase online Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market What: Holiday festivities are just around the corner and one of our favourite events is helping to kick things off in a big way in the City of Surrey. The 14th annual Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market, presented by Concord Pacific, will be held on November 23 and 24 at Surrey Civic Plaza. The outdoor event will offer plenty of free activities and entertainment for all ages, including live music and dance, food trucks, amusement rides, and more. When: November 23 and 24, 2024 Time: Noon to 8 pm Where: Surrey Civic Plaza – 13450 104th Avenue, Surrey Cost: Free Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week What: Indigenous fashion designers from across Turtle Island (North America) are coming to Vancouver this week for a huge celebration of artistry and resilience. Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from November 20 to 23. The highly anticipated third edition of VIFW will feature a Red Dress Event, an Indigenous artisan marketplace, and dozens of Indigenous designers with new collections on the runway. When: Now until November 23, 2024 Time: Various times Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre — 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, purchase online Got Craft Holiday Market Got Craft What: Vancouver can’t get enough of holiday markets, and Got Craft is back to help festive shoppers find the perfect gifts this season. The 17th annual Got Craft Holiday Market takes over the Croatian Cultural Centre on Commercial Drive on November 23 and 24. With 100 makers to discover, it’s one of BC’s largest curated markets of creatives, designers, and small shops. It’s the perfect way to shop locally for everyone on your list. When: November 23 and 24, 2024 Time: 10 am to 5 pm Where:: Croatian Cultural Centre – 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Admission: $5 online and at the door. Children 12 and under are free Zoe Si – OKAY art show What: Pulitzer-nominated cartoonist, illustrator, and writer Zoe Si is hosting a new art show at Lucky’s Books and Comics titled OKAY. The Vancouver-born creator will bring a mix of existing and new comics and paintings, both original art and prints, to the East Vancouver comic shop starting on November 23 and remaining available to view throughout the holidays. When: Opens November 23 and runs throughout the holidays Time: Store Hours 11 am to 6 pm (Monday to Thursday, Saturday), 11 am to 7 pm (Friday), 11 am to 5 pm (Sunday) Where: 3128 Main Street, Vancouver Admission: Free Les jolies choses (The Pretty Things) by Compagnie Catherine Gaudet (Montreal) What: DanceHouse and Compagnie Catherine Gaudet are teaming up for Les jolies chooses (The Pretty Things). Montreal choreographer Catherine Gaudet explores the power of endurance and exhaustion, of bodies sodden with effort, but somehow continuing. Be prepared to experience the synchronized, metronomic rhythms that offer no means of respite, but soon the mechanistic rituals become something new. Come before the performance for a pre-show talk, or stay after for a post-show social on Friday. When: November 22 and 23, 2024 Time: 8 pm Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Tickets: Starts at $40.75, purchase online Merry/Happy/Jolly at The Improv Centre The Improv Centre (Chelsey Stuyt/Submitted) What: The holiday season can be a stressful time for a variety of reasons. That’s why the funny folks at The Improv Centre (TIC) on Granville Island are helping chase away the winter blues with its new seasonal show, Merry/Happy/Jolly. Audiences will help the improvisers create a brand-new show each night during the “choose-your-own-adventure” performance. When: Fridays and Saturdays from November 22 until December 23, with an opening night performance on November 21 and matinee performances on December 15, 22, and 24. Time: 7:30 pm Where: The Improv Centre — 1502

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.

bc.-mayors-greet-changes-to-municipal-affairs-portfolio-with-caution-and-optimism
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B.C. mayors greet changes to Municipal Affairs portfolio with caution and optimism

ByAlec Lazenby

Local government leaders are speaking out about their hopes for improved relations with the province on housing, infrastructure Published Nov 21, 2024  •  Last updated 46 minutes ago  •  4 minute read “My initial concern is that, will the premier have the necessary time, while being the premier, to also be the minister of municipal affairs when it comes to co-ordinating with cities?” says Langford Township Mayor Eric Woodward. Photo by Francis Georgian /PNG B.C. mayors will no longer have a single point of contact in the provincial government after the cabinet shuffle split the old Ministry of Municipal Affairs between the Office of the Premier and the new Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, led by Ravi Kahlon. Several local government leaders said Wednesday they were optimistic the changes signal a restart in municipal-provincial relations after two years of having policies, particularly around housing, dictated to them from Victoria. 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 Others are cautious, wondering whether Premier David Eby will have the time to deal directly with municipal officials and wondering what role Brittny Anderson, the new minister of state for local governments and rural communities, will have. According to the province, the premier’s office will be in charge of “strategic relations and consultations with local governments, local government organizations and others.” Kahlon has been given the rest of the portfolio, including financial and other support to local governments, management of cross-government programs related to local governments, and consultation with ministries, agencies, other governments, First Nations and other interested parties. This means municipalities will have an additional avenue for outreach directly to the premier’s office through Anderson, particularly on rural issues. Money provided to municipalities and across-government work involving local governments will be under Kahlon’s purview. Langley Township Mayor Eric Woodward said it is clear the election demonstrated a desire among voters for change, particularly in the Fraser Valley where the NDP were mostly shut out by John Rustad’s Conservatives. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Article content Article content He sees the shifts to how the province handles municipal affairs as a potentially positive step in the right direction, but warns that there are still few details about how Eby, Kahlon and Anderson will work together. “It remains to be seen what that’s going to look like, until the mandate letters come out, how that’s going to be structured. I mean, my initial concern is that, will the premier have the necessary time, while being the premier, to also be the minister of municipal affairs when it comes to co-ordinating with cities?” said Woodward. As for the new Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Woodward was more pessimistic, saying it sends “a clear message that they stand by their approach to housing” and adding he expects the province to continue imposing housing targets on municipalities, even those already feeling stress from population growth. Not all mayors agree with Woodward’s criticism of the province’s housing policies. New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone saying he understands the status quo around housing development was not working. Johnstone also believes that combining municipal affairs with housing makes sense, given it remains one of the key issues for local governments. But he said there is still a long way to go when it comes to other priorities such as schools. Article content “It’s all kind of good to build housing, but schools across B.C. are overcrowded, and unless we see some big, massive investment in those types of infrastructure, we’re just not rebuilding local communities,” he said. “So a municipal affairs minister has to have a strong voice in cabinet for a lot of the other things that cities need as well.” Kahlon said the entire point of his new role is to help municipalities build some of those needed amenities

cost-of-living-pushing-seniors-back-into-workforce,-bc.-non-profit-says
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Cost of living pushing seniors back into workforce, B.C.

BySimon Little

Posted November 19, 2024 7:32 pm Updated November 19, 2024 8:35 pm 1 min read 2:06 Surge in B.C. seniors wanting back into workforce Another sign of more and more people having trouble making ends meet. A Vancouver non-profit group says it’s seeing a surge in seniors asking for help to get back into the workforce. Travis Prasad reports. Vancouver’s surging cost of living is having yet another unintended consequence — a growing number of seniors looking to get back into the workforce. Vancouver non-profit Mission Possible, which helps connect people in precarious life situations with stable employment, says it’s seen a 55-per cent jump in the number of seniors looking for work compared to last year. The organization says some are coming out of retirement, while others are putting off retirement because they can’t make ends meet without a paycheque. 2:07 Red-hot inflation leaves working Montreal senior with ‘nothing to save’ Edward Boe, 66, told Global News he’s working 20 hours a week at Mission Possible to keep a roof over his head. Story continues below advertisement “I’m making $1,540 on my pensions, old age and CPP. I’ve got rent of $800, expenses of $400. That would’ve left me with $200 a month,” he explained. Trending Now 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. “I’d probably be living down here in the Downtown Eastside in an SRO, which thank God I’m not.” Matthew Smedley, Mission Possible’s executive director and CEO, said that while many seniors are looking to work, they often find fewer opportunities than other job seekers. “It can be extremely difficult for seniors to find work, there can be technological barriers, health barriers, maybe some extra flexibility needed for some folks and that can be challenging to make them feel like they’re able to get back into work,” he said. Smedley said seniors aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure. Mission Possible has seen a 165-per cent increase in people seeking help to get a job over last year. The organization is calling on the province to increase services that help people get back into the workforce. &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Sponsored content

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

im-abandoned:-seniors-trapped-by-broken-elevator-in-vancouvers-west-end
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Seniors trapped by broken elevator in Vancouvers West End

BySimon Little

Seniors living in an apartment building in Vancouver’s West End say they’ve had no elevator service for over a month, leaving many of them stranded. Some residents of the 12-storey building at 1254 Pendrell St., like Nicholas Lebessis, say they’ve essentially been trapped in their apartments because they can’t use the steep stairway. “I can’t live like this. I can’t even go down one stair. I have a reconstructed knee,” Lebessis said. Lebessis, who lives on the top floor of the building, hasn’t left his apartment in a month. “I can’t go out of here, I can’t get any exercise,” he said. “It is frustrating of course. I can’t go out for a little walk around the block, I can’t go out for groceries.” 1:49 Locals offer help as West End seniors’ struggle with broken apartment elevator The elevator stopped working after October’s atmospheric river. During the storm, some residents said they saw water pouring down the elevator shaft. Story continues below advertisement The building houses seniors, some with mobility issues, and neighbours and volunteers have since stepped up to help by delivering groceries, medications and other supplies to residents who can’t get off their floors. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Lebessis said he’s been paying university students to do his laundry for him. “It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it,” he said. “A man cannot live without clean underwear.” Residents say they’ve been told repairs to the elevator could take more than a year, and that there doesn’t seem to be any urgency on the part of the building’s operators to get the job done. They’re also raising safety concerns in the event of an emergency. “This is totally unacceptable,” Lebessis said. “I don’t want to have them to carry me down 12 flights of stairs.” Trending Now 2:01 Vancouver seniors stuck with no elevator The building is operated by the Pendrellis Society, with funding through BC Housing. Story continues below advertisement Freshly re-appointed Housing Minister Ravi Kahon said the province is providing emergency funding. “Seven brand new units opened up on the ground floor for those that have accessibility issues, and we’ve also offered them additional supports for fixing the elevators,” Kahlon said. “They haven’t taken us up on it. They said they’ve got a plan to do that.” The society’s plan remains unclear: the organization listed no contact information on its website, and Global News was unable to reach the operators. Lebessis said he just wants his independence back. “It’s ridiculous. They’re not working on it,” he said. “I’m feeling let down … I’m abandoned.”