Click here for entire newsletter
As I write this the weather has finally cooled off and we’re back to more seasonal temperatures. The “heat dome” is a reminder why we need to take climate change seriously, and why our government has made the commitments we have to expand electrification, capture methane from landfills, reduce emissions from buildings, and increase uptake of electric vehicles – among other important reforms – to bend the curve on B.C.’s emissions and hit our 2050 targets. To learn more about our Clean BC plan, click here: https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/
It’s the Canada Day weekend, the end of June and the start of July, which in our neighbourhoods usually includes a string of gatherings to celebrate culture, art and music. We will be missing Greek Day, Khatsalano, and Point Grey Fiesta celebrations this year, but below please check out the virtual Folk Festival, some fun recipes from the virtual Greek Heritage Month, and the in person outdoors Brock House Fair and West Fourth Plaza opening event coming up soon!
The good news is that we’ll be moving to Stage 3 of our re- opening plan, with COVID case numbers and hospitalizations continuing to drop while vaccination rates continue to increase. I hope I see you around the neighbourhood supporting local businesses or at one of our new neighbourhood parklets, including one right on Bayswater near my office as well as the 4th and Maple plaza. Stage 3 brings with it larger group gatherings indoors and outdoors, meaning we can eat with friends and neighbours again and enjoy everything Vancouver has to offer. We can also travel across the province, which means good news for getting out of town and supporting struggling tourist service providers across B.C.
Given the context of our national reckoning with the recent discovery of mass graves at residential schools in our province and Saskatchewan, Canada Day has taken on a different tone this year, with people making pledges to take on a part of our shared responsibility to reconciliation – whether that’s learning about local First Nations, the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, or thinking about how your workplace, volunteer efforts, or community could support reconciliation through meaningful actions.
The Tk’emlups Chief, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, has encouraged all British Columbians not to cancel Canada Day, but instead to use it as a learning opportunity: “The best way to honour our country, and the diversity of its citizens, and, particularly this year, our future generations, is to understand our real collective history.” I hope you enjoy your summer celebrations and learning this year.
A couple of important community items:
- Given the recent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes across the country, and particularly in the Lower Mainland, this backgrounder from Resilience BC about how to report incidents of hate is helpful information: https://www.resiliencebc.ca/report-support/report-a-hate-crime/. Let’s fight racism and make everyone feel welcome in the diverse communities that make up our neighbourhoods.
- After the scary bush fire we had at Wreck Beach this week, please remember that fires are banned on our beaches for good reason. If you feel safe doing so, please let people know about the fire ban if you see someone building a campfire on our beaches.
Yours truly,
|
The popular Brock House Summer Fair is back on July 10. Come and enjoy the day at Jericho Beach from 10 to 3. There’ll be lots for sale: gifts & games, art & art supplies, gently used books, treasures, yarns & needlecrafts, jewellery, porcelain painting, woodworking, and good & beverages. Also, there will be live music. There’s a free shuttle bus from 4th and Highbury. Everyone is welcome: grandparents, parents and kids.
Come celebrate the new plaza! 4th & Maple. Rock painting with Kits House July 8: 12-5pm, plaza kickoff party at 6PM. Enjoy your take out at the new plaza #kitscommon at 4th & Maple.Programming all summer, follow @shopwest4th for schedule.
The creativity of COVID-safe Greek Heritage Month activities is much appreciated. Here’s a great chance to learn more about Greek cooking, thanks to our friends at the Parthenon!
Stay tuned for VFMF @ Home, July 16 to 18.
Although we can’t meet at the beach this year, we hold out hope for the future. In the meantime, we are gathering together a selection of special artists to keep those folk fires burning in our hearts. We will be releasing details on our free online Festival in the coming weeks, so sign up for our Newsletter to keep up-to-date with the latest news.
Public engagement is open until August 12, 2021 at 4pm (PDT)
All people in B.C., from individuals to businesses, Indigenous communities and local governments to associations and non-governmental organizations can provide feedback on the proposed actions for 2022-25 in the strategy as well as the draft guiding principles. Input will be used to finalize actions and inform the implementation plan for the next phase of the strategy starting in 2022.
To share your thoughts please email your comments to ClimateReadyBC@gov.bc.ca. Organizations please review the written submission criteria before submitting.
The strategy was developed together with people, Indigenous Nations, local governments and organizations throughout B.C., and builds on the significant climate adaptation work already done to date. The strategy is also based on the draft guiding principles that help ensure we are taking into consideration existing social conditions and challenges as we prepare for climate change.
View summaries of previous engagements that led to the development of the strategy.
To learn more, visit the B.C. Climate Preparedness and Adaptation website.
