Arbutus Corridor Souvenirs

As the debate about the city’s possible purchase of the Arbutus corridor is ongoing, I realized there might be little time left to walk or bike along the trail, a trip that was on my Vancouver ‘to do’ list for a few years.

Though we still haven’t managed the bike trip, my family and I went for a nice walk along three routes of the corridor a few weeks ago. Some parts of the walk are probably less familiar to the general audience than the popular route along 6th Avenue between Fir and Maple streets. In the following photo essay, you’ll find some impressions of the trip. Please note the trip was taken spontaneously and most photos taken by my iPhone.

Michael Kluckner hits nostalgia nerve at Marpole Historical Society

Artist and author Michael Kluckner explains the architectural changes in old and new Vancouver in a presentation for the Marpole Historical Society on March 9, 2013.

A plethora of collective “ahs” filled St. Augustine’s Parish Hall last Saturday, when Michael Kluckner, an expert on Vancouver history, showed slides of the former White Spot on Granville and 67^th Ave.

Most of the nearly 100 seniors who attended Kluckner’s presentation about old and new South Vancouver, spent a big chunk of their spare time and money at one of the city’s top social centres of the era.

A new taste: Goat curry Marpole style

When you follow advice from the Twitter crowd, you don’t always know what you’re getting into. You might end up eating something you had never contemplated before. Like fresh goat meat in a bowl of spicy curry sauce.

When I decided to attend an afternoon presentation at the Marpole Historical Society last Saturday, I asked my Twitter followers for restaurant suggestions in the area. The Marpole Business Improvement Association recommended an Indian restaurant called Mirchi on Granville and 64^th Ave. I love Indian food, so I decided to give it a try.

Mirchi Indian restaurant on Granville and 64th Ave. in Marpole

I arrived at 4 p.m. and found the restaurant entirely to myself. I was seated in a sunny place at the window.

Although I am an omnivore, my diet is 80 per cent vegetarian. I am a reasonable cook, but I perform poorly at most meat dishes, which is why I always want to learn from my rare restaurant outings.

Marpole Historical Society presents Michael Kluckner’s view on Vancouver’s vanishing history

Whenever Michael Kluckner reads “opportunities for builders” on real estate listings, he knows it’s time to pack his watercolour set and document another Vancouver house that is about to vanish.

Rezoning is big business in Vancouver in and March, the city is particularly abuzz with information sessions and public hearings about architectural changes such as high rises, laneway houses and townhouse complexes.

Vancouver’s first children’s hospital, built 1921, at Hudson Str. and 67th Ave. in Marpole. Painted in 1989 by Michael Kluckner for the book Vanishing Vancouver

“Laneway housing isn’t a bad idea, but you cannot call it affordable,” said author and artist Michael Kluckner, who wrote several books about Vancouver’s vanishing architecture, and the lifestyle that came with it.

Christy Clark at Point Grey Secondary, KOM policing at Langara College for Pink Shirt Day

Today’s Pink Shirt Day was busy for the Kerrisdale Oakridge Marpole policing centre, as members were present at two simultaneous events.

Tony Bulic (left), coordinator at Kerrisdale Oakridge Marpole community policing centre and volunteer Haley Luk are visiting Langara College’s anti-bullying fair on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013.

KOM communications liaison Jeremy Sally was present as Premier Christy Clark visited students at Point Grey secondary around 2 p.m. and KOM coordinator Tony Bulic attended the anti-bullying fair at Langara College together with volunteers and Kerrisdale’s neighbourhood police officer, Cst. Ryan Hooper.

ParkBoard meets with community centre associations and Vancouverites

The Vancouver Park Board is meeting with the community centre associations and Vancouverites at a public meeting in the Westend Community Centre tonight.

On the agenda: the Park Board’s new proposal from Feb. 4, 2013.

Kerrisdale Community Centre

The 30-page presentation states that 27 per cent of Vancouver’s population falls below the Low Income Cut‐Off (LICO).

High-income communities such as Dunbar still have an 18 per cent of its population below the LICO. Kerrisdale is named as a middle-income community with 22 18 per cent of its population below the LICO. According to the proposal, Marpole serves a low income community with 40 per cent of its population below the LICO.

Great expectations for Pearson Dogwood expansion plans

Patricia McClarty has lived in Marpole’s Pearson Centre since two years.

Patricia McClarty’s left hand carefully manoeuvred her wheelchair through the crowd, as she distributed information cards to other visitors of the Pearson Dogwood open house in Marpole on Saturday.

McClarty is one of dozens of residents and neighbours who showed up on Saturday, Feb. 2 to have a closer look at the proposals and to have their voices heard. The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health started the public hearing process this week. The George Pearson Centre is a home for adults with a range of disabilities, and the neighbouring Dogwood Lodge houses seniors who require complex care. The plan is to demolish the existing buildings and create an entirely new complex on the block between Cambie and Heather streets and West 57^th till 59^th Ave.

Hello southwest Vancouver residents!

Work is ongoing at the Milltown Marina construction site in Marpole on January 12, 2013

Hello readers,
this blog will cover issues and events in and around the southwest Vancouver neighbourhoods of Dunbar-Southlands, Kerrisdale, Oakridge and Marpole.
The site is currently under construction.
Meanwhile, feel free to suggest any issues you think are worth reporting.
Looking forward to your ideas!

Katja