Village Vancouver
Newsletter and Upcoming Events
February 2014
Welcome to the February 2014 edition of the Village Vancouver monthly newsletter and Upcoming Events.
 |
| An example of Vancouver placemaking at the Gather Round park. (Photo from http://vancouvertoollibrary.com/?page_id=32&paged=3) |
On February 25th, Village Vancouver and the UBC Sustainability Initiative are co-sponsoring an evening with Richard Heinberg at UBC. Stay tuned - details are still being finalized for this event. And be sure not to miss the 13th Just Film Fest (formerly the World Community Film Festival), BC's largest social and environmental justice film festival, now co-partnered by CoDev, Langara College, Amnesty International, and Village Vancouver.
In This Newsletter:
- An Example of Placemaking in Vancouver: The 'Gather Round' Park
- Mark Lakeman, talk on Placemaking - Feb 7
- Village Vancouver launches 9-month Placemaking course with Mark Lakeman - Feb 8
- Richard Heinberg in Vancouver - Feb 25
- Collaborative Consumption and The Sharing Economy, talk by April Rinne - Feb 13
- Just Film Festival - Feb 28 to Mar 2
- Business Showcase: The Thyme of Your Life
- East Van Grub Crawl - Mar 2
- Food Scrap Drop Spots - Tuesdays and Saturdays
- Winter Cultivating Food, Cultivating Community Workshop Series - Gardening & Biking
- West End Neighbourhood Food Seed Saving Workshop and Potluck - Feb 23
- Neighbourhood Small Grants Program - Coming up this Spring!
- Volunteer Positions with Village Vancouver
- Paul Stamets: Mycellium Running: A Presentation & Book Signing - Mar 16
- Salon d'Elan Vital: A Walk on the the Wild Side, a slide show on 5-month hike - Feb 1
- UBC Farm Symposium - Feb 7
- Organic Landscape Management Courses at Langara College
- Additional events: workshops, courses, and potlucks!
Enjoy!
Your February newsletter team,
Rhiannon, Jordan and Ross
Join the Village Vancouver community by joining our website! We hope you'll also become a member of the Village Vancouver Transition Society. Your annual membership will make our movement even stronger! It's easy to join - just click here!
Become a Member Today!
An Example of Placemaking in Vancouver
 | |
| The Sunday neighbourhood coffee in the Gather Round traffic circle park. (Photo from https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Gather-Round/331747476897333) |
 |
| Street mural painting at Gather Round park. (Photo provided by 2014 Lakeman event organizers.) |
You too can be a part of this movement! See the details of the upcoming course below!
Village Vancouver
launches 9-month Placemaking course with Mark Lakeman!
- Intro class with Mark February 8th, all day, location TBA, register here, and
- Public talk on Friday, February 7th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts Simon Fraser University, 149 W Hastings St, tickets here.
 |
| (Photo submitted by event organizer.) |
Placemaking pioneer Mark Lakeman returns to Vancouver
to anchor and guide a 9-month placemaking course hosted by Village Vancouver in
partnership with City Commons and Living the New Economy Vancouver! The 2014 Vancouver City Commons Placemaking
Course is designed to empower and facilitate community leaders in creatively
reimagining the way space can be used in urban environments, building community
and actively engaging citizens in the evolution of their neighbourhoods.
Learn more and register for this unique
course at www.citycommonsvancouver.ca.
The course begins with an intensive introduction to
placemaking with Mark Lakeman and local Permaculture educator Sara Dent on
Saturday, February 8th. To kick things off the evening before, Mark will
deliver a public talk on Friday, February 7th entitled “Cracks in the Pavement: Placemaking and the remaking of the modern City”
at the Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
(SFU Woodwards). Buy your early bird tickets today!
Placemaking, the creative reclamation of public space was
the brainchild of Mark, an urban designer, and his neighbours in 1996 when they
transformed their own intersection into a place for community gatherings and
interaction - starting a mini revolution in Portland, OR that has spread
throughout the city and inspired the creation of City Repair,
an organization that engages citizens in transforming spaces into places.
“Repaired” (place-made) streets and intersections often
serve as community gathering places for events such as block parties or even
more spontaneous, year-round gathering such as at the Gather Round roundabout
at St George Street and 10th Ave in Vancouver, which has been transformed into
a “micropark” complete with lawn chairs. Community bookshelves and info kiosks
serve as neighbourhood “water coolers” where conversations are struck among
strangers and residents stay in touch with what is happening in their
neighbourhood. Community gardens cultivate deeper connections with one’s neighbours
and with the Earth itself.
The Vancouver City Commons Placemaking Course will guide and
support participants with all the skills, tools and assistance they need in
order to lead placemaking projects in their own neighbourhood this summer
during the 2nd annual City Commons placemaking convergence. The first City
Commons event in July 2013 was an initiative by the Vancouver Tool Library,
leaving a legacy at 5 sites throughout Vancouver. Village Vancouver hopes that
this course will help dramatically increase the number of projects that can be
completed in 2014.
Also, the City Commons Placemaking Course is looking for great project mentors! Do you have experience with undertaking community projects that you would like to share with an emerging Placemaker? Let us know! The organizers of this course are hoping to match each participant with a mentor to whom they can turn for advice as they navigate the sometimes complex business of engaging their neighbours in group projects. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please write to jordan@villagevancouver.ca for more information.
Please join us for Mark Lakeman’s public talk on February
7th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, and for the Placemaking intro class with Mark and Sara on February 8th! Let’s make
place for community!
.png) |
| (Photo submitted by event organizer.) |
Richard Heinberg Returns to Vancouver!
Collaborative Consumption and The Sharing Economy: Opportunities for Cities, Organizations, and Well-Being
- Feb 25, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
- CIRS Main Lecture Hall, UBC
Village Vancouver and the UBC Sustainability Initiative are
co-sponsoring an event with Richard Heinberg in late February. More details
shortly on the VV website!
Collaborative Consumption and The Sharing Economy: Opportunities for Cities, Organizations, and Well-Being
- Thursday, February 13, 2014, 5:30pm - 7:30 pm
- Followed by a reception, register here.
- Location: The HiVE - 128 W. Hastings St. #201, Vancouver
Featuring:
April Rinne, Chief Strategy Officer, The Collaborative Lab
(45 min presentation)
 |
| (Photo submitted by event organizer.) |
Sadhu Johnston, Deputy City Manager, City of Vancouver
Chris Diplock, Co-Founder, Vancouver Tool Library, Lead Researcher, The Sharing Project
Hilary Henegar, Marketing Director, Modo - The Car Co-op
To create the sustainable future we all want, we will have
to alter how we live, work, produce and learn. It can be done. April Rinne, Chief Strategy of Collaborative
Lab, will illustrate how the collaborative economy (or the "sharing
economy") has the potential to transform the way we design products and
services, create sustainable and "shareable" cities, re-imagine
public services, reduce waste and connect communities. Using a wide array of
innovative examples from around the world -- from transportation to office
space to food to education – she will show us how we can use technology and
human ingenuity to unlock the wealth that exists in people, places and
resources to develop scalable solutions to many of our pressing challenges and
to improve social outcomes.
Just Film Festival
February 28 – March 2, 2014 at Langara College
 | ||
| (Image from http://hospitalandoutreach.wordpress.com/) |
Formerly the Vancouver World Community Film Festival, this
year CoDev is partnering with Amnesty International, Langara College and
Village Vancouver to bring you the annual global issues documentary film
festival that has become a “must see” for film buffs and solidarity activists
alike. Sign up for our e-bulletin and stay tuned for updates. For current information, see the 2014 Just Film Festival website!
Business Showcase – The Thyme of Your Life
 |
|
(Photo from
http://www.thethymeofyourlife.com) |
The transition movement includes supporting a vibrant local
economy. Business Showcase introduces a
local business each month that is a part of creating stronger communities and a
resilient, sustainable future. If your
business fits this theme, please send a short description to newletter@villagevancouver.ca.
East Van Grub Crawl
Regular Neighbourhood Potlucks, starting March 2, 2014
Come break bread with your neighbours, get to know the
people who live around you and help build stronger communities in Vancouver! This is a roving potluck (or GrubCrawl) where
everyone enjoys one dish at each different person's house, traveling between
stops
together. The delightful surprise
is that you won't know who your dinner companions will be until you all arrive
at the first home! We’re starting with
East Vancouver first off, but we'd love to see the concept spread across the
city.
 |
| (Photo from http://blogs.momaha.com/2012/09/23512/) |
Herewithforth, the first Sunday of every month (starting
March 2nd, 2014) shall be known as GrubCrawl day! (The one in East Van is open to residents
living between Hastings and 12th Ave & Rupert and Clark, but you can sign
up your other neighbourhood on the website.)
We only need 3 to 5 homes to sign up in your area for a given Sunday for your GrubCrawl to be a ‘go’ and you'll receive an email notice 5-6 days before the meal to confirm. The email will list the other addresses you'll be visiting, the order you'll be making the stops, and how many people to expect. The first house should make an appetizer, the last, dessert and in between you'll figure it out!
The site is now open and accepting registrations for our
first round of meals, and what better way to beat the winter bleahs than with
great food and new friends. Head on over
to GrubCrawl.ca to get yourself on the list or check out the FAQ for more info.
Think this sounds fun but don't live in East Van? We can set up the website for your
neighbourhood! Contact
eastvangrubcrawl@yahoo.ca!
Food Scrap Drop Spots - Ongoing
- Tuesdays 6 - 7:30 pm, Gordon Neighbourhood House, 1019 Broughton St.
- Saturdays 10 - noon, Gordon Neighbourhood House, 1019 Broughton St.
- Saturdays 10 - noon, West End Community Center, 870 Denman St
Organized by West End Neighbourhood Food Network, Recycling
Alternative and Village Vancouver.
Every Tuesday and Saturday our volunteers receive food
scraps from hundreds of the 45,000 residents in the West End. The take since
June 2012 now totals over 40 tonnes of food scraps for composting to be
recycled back into growing, also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Upcoming Tuesday evenings Jan 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, 25
Upcoming Saturday mornings at both locations Feb 1, 8,
15, 22Village Vancouver
Winter Cultivating Food, Cultivating Community Series
Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer St., Vancouver
Pre-Registration required: 604.713.1838 or in person at
Strathcona Community Centre. Subsidies are available to low income
residents of Vancouver with a Leisure Access Card.
Balcony and Container
Gardening
Thurs Feb 6, 7 - 9 pm, cost: $25
Want to grow food but you live in an apartment? In this
course we will cover the techniques and
challenges specific to gardening indoors and on balconies in containers.
We'll look at soil, fertilizing organically, watering, containers, different
sun orientations and what to grow. Instructor: Grant Watson.
Introduction to
Organic Food Gardening
Thurs Feb 13, 7 to 9 pm, cost: $25 
This course covers the basics of planning, preparing and
starting a food garden. You’ll learn some simple techniques for starting plants
indoors and in the garden, where to get supplies and how to do it all without
the use of artificial additives. Instructor: Grant Watson.
Sat Feb 22, 10 - 11:30 am, free
Making 86% of trips by walking, cycling and transit has been
identified as number one among the 'Top 5' biggest potential Ecological
Footprint-reducing contributions being used by the Greenest City Lighter
Footprint "Feet to the Fire" Committee as a baseline.Free Bike Security Basics Workshop
This free workshop is designed to take a look at basic bike
security. Topics covered will include how to secure your bike, choosing a lock,
how to inscribe ID on your bike, and other security measures you can take to
protect your bicycle. Led by Paul Wong from
workshop co-sponsor Bikes for All.
West End
Neighbourhood Food Network
Free Seed Saving Workshop and Potluck
Free Seed Saving Workshop
Sun Feb 23, 2 - 4 pm
West End Community Centre, Bidwell Room, 870 Denman Street
RSVP to WENFN (ross.wenfn@gmail.com) or register with WECC (604.257.8333 or vancouver.ca/westendrec or in person)
West End Community Centre, Bidwell Room, 870 Denman Street
RSVP to WENFN (ross.wenfn@gmail.com) or register with WECC (604.257.8333 or vancouver.ca/westendrec or in person)
You'll learn about the different strategies that plants use
to reproduce and how to use this information to effectively select, harvest,
and store your own seeds. The emphasis is in on annual food crops. Instructor:
Grant Watson
A Village Vancouver Seed Library will be on hand and free
seeds will be available. Help keep the library going - please bring seeds to
swap and donate to the library if you're able to.
A Village Vancouver Potluck precedes the workshop from 12:45
– 2 pm (see below).
Village Vancouver
Potluck
Sun Feb 23, 12:45 - 2pmWest End Community Centre, Bidwell Room, 870 Denman Street
Register on VV website or email Ross at
ross@villagevancouver.ca or register with West End Community Centre (604.257.8333
or vancouver.ca/westendrec or in person)
Share some good food and conversation with neighbours. Bring
something yummy to share and a cup, bowl, spoon, etc. if you're able to, and
find out the latest with Village Vancouver. Everyone welcome!
Sharing Webpage for
Village Vancouver
at Neighborgoods.com
Need a lawnmower?
Does your wheelbarrow sit unused 355 days a year? Going traveling and need someone to care for
your bike?
A Village Vancouver lending
circle has just been created on the Neighborgoods.com sharing website. The more people using it, the more people we
have to lend to and borrow from! You list
the things you want to borrow, the things you have available to lend, and your
wish list in case someone has what you’re looking for at http://neighborgoods.net/groups/village-vancouver-lending-circle. So sign up now!
Neighbourhood
Small Grants Program:
Coming up
this Spring!
Created by the Vancouver Foundation in 1999, the
Neighbourhood Small Grants Program supports ideas that connect and engage
residents in their community to strengthen their own neighbourhood. Past projects have included neighbourhood
block parties, a portable canning kitchen, emergency preparedness workshops,
neighbourhood exchange-a-book boxes, and bike tune-up workshops. Start thinking of projects you might want to
organize for your neighbourhood’s grants up to $1000. Be creative! Be collaborative! We'll update you when the 2014 deadlines are posted. Or check back here soon!
with Village Vancouver
Immediate Village Vancouver volunteer needs:
Newsletter Reporter
-- Practice your writing and reporting on events happening within Village
Vancouver. Write short articles for the
newsletter on current events. We need
help to share the good work that’s happening out there! (Skills: researching, writing, 4-10 hours a month.) If you’re interested, contact Rhiannon@villagevancouver.ca!
Admin Team Members
– Help Village Vancouver get even more organized! We need helpful hands to do straightforward
administrative tasks such as keeping email lists current and helping organize
files. Your help will support the
foundation that allows the organization and the transition movement to
thrive! (Skills: general computer
skills, Minimum 4 hours a month). If
you’re interested, contact AdminWG@villagevancouver.ca!
Village Vancouver always has need for more engaged involved
co-creating volunteers, so contact us if you wish to be involved!
Paul Stamets: Mycellium Running
A Multi-Media Presentation & Book Signing
 |
| (Photo from https://www.banyen.com/events/stamets) |
Canadian Memorial Church
1825 W. 16th Ave (604) 737-8858 for tickets (Banyen Books)
Paul Stamets has been a dedicated mycologist for over thirty
years. Over this time, he has discovered and coauthored four new species of
mushrooms, and pioneered countless techniques in the field of edible and
medicinal mushroom cultivation. He has written six books on mushroom
cultivation, use and identification; his books have long been hailed as the
definitive texts of mushroom cultivation.
Cost: $15 (Reg), $10 (Senior), tickets at Banyen Books
(instore or by phone 604-737-8858) More information here.
Salon d'Elan Vital: A Walk on the the Wild Side
 |
| Image from http://www.fs.usda.gov/pct/ |
Feb 1, 1 - 4 pm, Potluck 1 pm, Slide Show 2 pm
Location: Kits, near beach RSVP to salon@villagevancouver.ca for address
Join us for a potluck and salon. Rhiannon Johnson will show
slides and talk about her 3500 km journey last summer, a 5 month-long hike on
the Pacific Crest Trail. What does it take to walk through the wilderness of
California, Oregon, and Washington on her walk towards Canada? What were the
biggest dangers? The greatest thrills? Come find out and dream of adventure
together!
UBC Farm Symposium
 |
| (Photo provided by event organizer.) |
February 7, 2014 from 8:30 am to 3 pm
Old Barn Community Centre, Upstairs Meeting Room6308 Thunderbird Blvd
Registration: http://symposium.ubcfarm.ubc.ca/registration/
Cost: Free! Lunch is $5.
Join us for a full and free day of presentations and
group activities providing insights on our food system sustainability, with
topics ranging from hops production, institutional food procurement, and
community education. Snacks,
refreshments, and a delicious local lunch will be provided. Please register in
advance here as space is limited and demand is high! Or tune in to our livestream.
Organic Landscape
Management Courses
at Langara College
Get down and dirty! Organic landscape management is the design, installation and maintenance of landscapes to promote environmental health and is based on the understanding that all organisms in nature are interdependent. In order to have healthy plants we must nurture the health of their entire ecosystem. Sustainable landscapes clean the air and water, restore habitats and can actively contribute to the development of healthy communities.
These courses are suited for anyone in the landscape and
horticultural trades seeking to upgrade skills, or for individuals interested
in working as a professional landscape/garden designer.
- Organic Master Gardener
- Growing Food in the City
- Plant Knowledge for Organic Gardeners
- Ecological Landscape Design
Additional Events
Village Vancouver Main St. February Potluck and Workshop. Feb 4, 6 - 8 pm at Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, 3981 Main St.
Sauerkraut and Vegetable Fermentation Workshop. $12,Feb 8, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, Britannia Community
Centre.
Kits Village February Potluck Feb 9, 6 - 8 pm, RSVP for location.
Kits Village February Plastic Recycling Depot Feb 13, 6 - 7 pm, RSVP for location.
Workshop: Renew, Re-Engage and Reconnect to Life, $145. Feb 22 - 23, Stanley Park Ecology Centre.
Kits Village February Potluck Feb 9, 6 - 8 pm, RSVP for location.
Kits Village February Plastic Recycling Depot Feb 13, 6 - 7 pm, RSVP for location.
Workshop: Renew, Re-Engage and Reconnect to Life, $145. Feb 22 - 23, Stanley Park Ecology Centre.
Aquaponics Workshop and Tour, Tour: $99, Workshop: $899 (early bird). Feb 24 - 26, UBC.
Workshop: Greenest City Series: The Salad Bowl, gardening in small places
Sat Mar 1, 3 - 4:30 pm, Free. Registration required, phone 604-665-3972.
Additional dates for this free workshop are March 15, April 5, and May 3.
Additional dates for this free workshop are March 15, April 5, and May 3.
