No need for the ark...yet!

I've been thinking about this one for a while now, but this morning I think the crazy weather of the past year (more specifically the last two months) really hit home. I was on my way to work, aboard the Grouse Mountain Skyride enjoying an amazing sunrise when suddenly the wind picked up. Great! When I got to my office (at the Peak of Vancouver), after a head-down battle with the relentless wind across the mountain plateau, I was advised by our fabulous dispatcher of yet another wind warning for the area. Even better!

You don't have to be a weather expert to realize that November and December have been more than a little bit unusual. A quick look at some of this fall's headlines says it all:

"Hundreds of Chilliwack residents evacuated as river overflows"

"Water, Water everywhere"

"No end yet to Vancouver's boil-water advisory"

"Crippled by storm, BC sees new one approach"

"Mother nature unforgiving, blasting BC's south coast again"

"Mayor seeks emergency funds"

The damage left by recent storms has left an incredible footprint (Have you seen the opictures of Stanley Park?) that should serve as a reminder to all of us about our vulnerabilities when pitted against the forces of nature. Why the sudden change? Of course we can speculate. Maybe global warming (if your a member of the BC NDP then its surely the governments fault) but regardless of why its happening, the bigger question must be whether or not we have learned anything from the experience of all this bad weather?

Really! What is going to happen the next time we find ourselves faced with a precautionary boil-water advisory? How will we fare the next time higher than normal winds cause longer than average power interruptions? What would we do if something really big and bad happened, like an earthquake?

Popular school of thought tells us that we should be prepared to survive on our own for up to 72 hours. To do this there are some very basic items that you and your family must have on hand. These things make up your emergency survival kit and, combined with a plan and some basic knowledge should help you to weather any storm:

1. Water - you'll need 4 litres per person, per day. This water will be used for drinking, washing and preparing your food.

2. Food - be sure to pick non-perishable food that doesn't need a lot of water to prepare and that won't make you thirsty.

3. Manual can opener - in case the electric one doesn't work.

4. Flashlight with spare batteries - check your batteries (in everything) every 6 months, with daylight savings times.

5. Candles - with matches or a lighter.

6. Radio - make sure its a battery powered one and keep a spare set of batteries.

7. First Aid kit - In a big event emergency responders will be extremely busy and probably only able to respond to life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

8. Extra medication, prescriptions, baby formula etc.

9. Extra keys to your car and house.

10. Extra cash or travellers cheques - don't assume that bank machines or debit machines will be working.

The above is a minimum list of things that you should have. In order to make your 72 hours as comfortable as possible, you should also consider packing:

1. Changes of clothing and footwear for all family members.

2. Sleeping bags or extra blankets.

3. A whistle.

4. Garbage bags - in case sewer and septic systems don't work.

5. Toilet paper.

6. Gloves.

7. A basic tool kit that includes things like an adjustable wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, hammer etc.

8. A small fuel powered stove, with instructions for its safe use.

The wind today has been a little bit inconvenient for us at Grouse Mountain but I for one, take comfort in the fact that we have very good plans for dealing with just these types of situations. Planning is the critical element that will ensure all of us make it comfortably through whatever mother nature throws at us. We certainly can't change the weather, hopefully we have learned something from our experiences and the next time it happens we will be prepared. Please check out the emergency preparedness links in the community section of my blog.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday from my family to all of yours.

Ray

Children's Commissioner appointed.

I'm a bit out of the loop for sure. As my last post suggests the start of an incredible winter season has kept me busy and I haven't had a lot of time to pay attention to the news. So, in trying to catch up I happened upon a headline from CBC News (on the internet) stating "Judge appointed as BC children's watchdog." This is great news and I for one wish Judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond well as she settles into her new and very important post.

The appointment of a children's commissioner in BC accomplishes one of the key recommendations in the 172 page "Hughes Report: BC Children and Youth Review", completed by retired Judge Ted Hughes in April 2006. Since the completion of this report, the BC NDP have repeatedly called for the government to re-instate a children's commissioner. In the above mentioned CBC piece Carole James calls the appointment of Judge Turpel-Lafond "a victory for children and an admission of failure by Premier Gordon Campbell." Interesting!

The newly appointed commissioner is quick to point out that her office will be free of partisan politics and that she hopes to keep said politics out of child protection in this province. Great idea, unfortunately thanks to our most loyal opposition her very appointment has been tainted by political expedience. I think that if this was my new job I'd be just a bit concerned about the actual importance placed on the appointment compared to say... bottled water?

Maybe I've just missed something? Perhaps all of this time on the slopes has frozen my brain a bit (I know many people who would agree). Of course it is not unusual for Carole James and the NDP to blame someone for something (the government has been blamed for the affects of recent floods, water turbidity, global warming and snowfall, to name a few) but didn't the BC government plan to have a children's commissioner appointed over a week ago (22 Nov), after a one-day sitting of the legislature? What happened? Its curious to me that anyone so apparently concerned about the welfare of children in this province would even consider refusing unanimous consent to the appointment of a commissioner. This should have been the priority of the sitting as it was intended and it is extremely unfortunate that the NDP has seen fit to once again lay blame for a situation rather than participating in the achievement of an appropriate and immediate solution.

epic powder day at Grouse Mountain



While most of the city seemed to be stuck today, wondering what this white stuff falling from the sky was and how they were going to deal with it, I spent the day practically up to my knees in powder up at Grouse Mountain. OK, so I work at Grouse and therefor had very little choice in the fact that I was there, but I can't remember the last time we had this much powder this early in the season. Almost 2 feet in 24 hours and its only November 26. If this is any indication to the ski season we are going to have then I recommend that you all dust off the gear and I'll see you on the slopes.

"Its not the time for politicians to be debating with each other in the legislature. Its time for politicians to listen to the people..." (Mike Harcourt in the Vancouver Sun September 1992)

It's unfortunate that the BC NDP of today is still getting mileage out of the fact that the fall session of the legislature has been cancelled. Its also unfortunate that the media seems to be providing them with the vehicle to keep this alive when they clearly didn't feel it that important back in the 90's when the NDP government of the day cancelled the fall session all but twice.

Whats most unfortunate however is the fact that the BC NDP appear poised to voice their displeasure (over the cancelled fall session) by dragging out the planned one day session of the legislature this Wednesday using every trick that they can think up.

The purpose of this Wednesday's session is to appoint a new independent children's commissioner, an appointment that the NDP agrees is important. The question then is, will the NDP stick to the agenda and help see Ted Hughes recommendations become reality or will they once again try and find political opportunity in an otherwise tragic event.

Into everyones life a little rain must fall... or something like that.

Oh my Goodness! A little bit of rain combined with a boiled water advisory and look what happens! Fights break out at Costco, hundreds of people line up at Real Canadian Superstore, sell outs at Canadian Tire and virtually every other retailer in the neighbourhood, police called in to control riotous crowds...for what? The new Playstation 3? No, that was the day before, this time the most precious item on everybodies shopping list was bottled water.



I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself. I was walking past the Save-on-Foods in Lynn Valley yesterday at the same time as a poor, beleaguered store employee was pulling a large pallet of 500 ml water bottles from the store and into the mall entrance for the waiting horde. The pallet jack wasn't even lowered to the ground when the employee was literally pushed out of the way, the shrink wrap torn from the pallet and people, like locusts swarmed taking as many cases as they could barely carry. It was incredible to watch and I couldn't help wonder if these bottles contained water from the fountain of youth itself.

Why the panic? Recent heavy rainfalls combined with high wind have caused mudslides into each of the lower mainlands three water reservoirs. This mud and silt has caused turbidity levels to rise, up to 90% at the Seymour Reservoir and 70% at Capilano. (Turbidity has dropped significantly since and advisories for the Coquitlam reservoir have now been lifted). Despite these high levels we have been assured by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority that the boil water advisories are "precautionary" and in place due to the potential for bacteria to become embedded in silt particles, making it difficult for chlorine to kill.

Panic is an extremely dangerous thing. I deal with a certain amount of panic all the time through my job and the other things that I'm involved with and I've seen panic do some strange things to otherwise calm and rational people. But panic need not happen and the easiest way to reduce panic in an emergency (or precautionary boil water advisory) is to be prepared for it. One easy way to get prepared is to develop a family emergency plan that identifies these 10 elements:

1. Family meeting place - Determine a place to go if you can't stay in your house.
2. Out of town contact - A person to phone to get information and to check in.
3. Home hazard hunt - Identify and correct the hazards in your home.
4. Emergency kits - Create Grab and Go and Stay in Home kits.
5. Emergency Supplies - Including things like food and water.
6. Utilities - Locate gas and water shut offs and learn how and when to shut them off.
7. Sanitation - What will you do if your toilets don't work.
8. Kids and Disasters - Prepare everyone in your family.
9. Pets and Disasters - Are the special considerations for your pets in a disaster?
10. Practice, Practice, Practice.

Looking at water alone, your family should have enough clean, potable (bottled) water on hand to supply 4 litres (1 gallon) per person, per day for at least 3 days. Remember that (depending on the nature of the emergency) this water may also be needed for things other than drinking like brushing teeth and cooking so keeping a bit more on hand is probably a good idea. Another great way to ensure that you are prepared is to educate yourself about the potential emergencies that could happen in your community and the hazards that they would likely present for you in particular. Most communities provide some sort of basic emergency preparedness training to residents free of charge and there is plenty of information available to you at your local library or through the Provincial Emergency Program. Please check out the links below and do yourself and your families a favour by getting prepared.

http://www.pep.bc.ca/

www.vancouver.ca/nepp

http://www.nsemo.org/

www.getprepared.ca

Next time I'll tell you about where you can go to get a coffee the next time we find ourselves in a nasty boiled water advisory

we will not forget!!! Victory Square 11 November 2006

Sand-bagged by Simpson

I hate this time of year! The fall is particularly difficult for me for a number of reasons but perhaps one of the biggest is the affect that the rain has on my backyard. The lane behind my house has been built up so that its higher than my yard, so every time we get any significant amount of rain my garage and parking spot flood. This makes them pretty much useless to me until the spring and it drives me crazy. I keep meaning to do something about it but...


As frustrated as the fall rain makes me, I really do count myself lucky compared to those living along the Chilliwack and other rivers this past week. Our recent record-breaking rain falls were an inconvenience to me for sure, but my plight seems insignificant when stacked against those forced to evacuate their homes as swollen rivers took over. I sincerely feel for these people, as a human being and as a volunteer with two emergency preparedness organizations.

Thankfully, no one was hurt or worse and homes will dry out allowing repairs (albeit expensive ones) and life will go on for these people.

Disturbed as I was lying in bed and listening to the rain, this time around I think it was the wind that bothered me the most, and I'm not talking about mother natures warm fall breezes! What really got my back up against the wall was the wind generated by Vancouver-Hastings' own NDP MLA Shane Simpson and his inappropriate timing in turning a communities struggle into a political opportunity for a struggling political party.

Its certainly no surprise to see Simpson or the NDP using the backs of those disadvantaged as a soap box and this time around it was to accuse our provincial government of neglect in dealing with flood protection over the past 5 years. This despite the fact that it was a now past member of his own party (while in government) that placed the sole responsibility for dike and levy repair and maintenance on the shoulders of local government. Even Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames refused to blame the provincial government citing that the storms of the past week were 1 in 200 to 500 year events. How do you plan for that?

So here are a few of the things that Shane Simpson forgot to tell us about.

1. In May of 2003 the BC Liberals introduced the Flood Hazard Statutes Amendment Act and provided $1 million for the development of flood hazard management tools.

2. During the NDP's reign in the 1990's the Fraser River Flood Control Program, an agreement with the Fed's to undertake massive improvements of dikes along the Fraser River (established in 1968), was allowed to expire. This despite the fact that studies completed in 1994 identified substantial risk of flooding with the potential to cause $1.8 billion damage affecting 300, 000 people, should the Fraser rise beyond its banks.

3. In June 2001 the BC Liberals announced a 2 year funding commitment for the Flood Protection Assistance Fund.

4. After the Chilliwack River flooded in 2003, the BC Liberals spent $500, 000 to help strengthen dikes along the river and they provided a further $56, 000 in grants to study further upgrades.

5. Since 2001, the BC Liberals have spent $9 million in flood mitigation projects in British Columbia.

Its extremely unfortunate that events like this happen in our communities, the fact that they do is one of the reasons I volunteer, and it really sucks that my back yard and garage flood (for me at least). But they do and they always will. The best we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best and when they do happen, all of us should have some responsibility to help. Shane Simpson says that sending Barry Penner in to fill sandbags isn't enough. I suspect that in reality, if asked Barry would be right there doing this, would Shane?

A Tale of Two Leaders

This past weekend has been a busy one in the news for BC politics with the closing of meetings of the Union of BC Municipalities. Of particular note were announcements made by Premier Gordon Campbell and comments from Carole James regarding homelessness and mental illness in BC.

Both of these issues resonate clearly for us in Vancouver-Hastings. One need only walk a few short blocks of Hastings street to witness first hand the very real footprint that homelessness has left in our community. No longer is this a problem limited to the downtown eastside.

I must have read half a dozen pieces between the Sun and the Province dedicated to homelessness and mental illness and I found it very interesting to see the manner in which our two provincial party leaders approached a very serious and growing problem and the level of leadership applied toward reaching a solution. On one hand we have Gordon Campbell who, in Saturdays Vancouver Sun acknowledges the "the mentally ill in BC have been let down" and he recognizes that "the de-institutionalization of the mentally ill has been a failed experiment". Does he mention the fact that it was the NDP in the late 90's who first helped carve up Coquitlam's Riverview Hospital? No, he doesn't.

On the other side of the house we have NDP leader Carole James who, in the same piece blames Campbell and the BC Liberals for the increased number of homeless people in BC, for creating the gap between the rich and poor in this province and for cancelling the fall sitting of the Legislature (How many fall sessions did the NDP cancel during their tenure? Someone remind me.) The Premier, in acknowledging homelessness has also recognized the limitations of his government in dealing with the problem and points out the need for cooperation between all levels of government in order to reach a real solution (a point echoed by Michael Smyth in the Vancouver Province, "Cities share blame for plight of homeless"). Ms. James calls this finger pointing.

So let me point some fingers. While it is true that the number of homeless people in the GVRD almost doubled between 2002 and 2005 (from 1121 to 2174), the truth is that homelessness in BC has actually been on a steady increase since the early 1990's. In fact:

1. In 1998 there were 70 foodbanks in BC, about as many as in the rest of Canada combined.
2. In 1997 the child poverty rate was 19.6%, only slightly better than the national level.
3. There were about 15 000 homeless people in BC in 1998.
4. Between the years 1991 and 1996 the number of households in the GVRD at the risk of homelessness increased from about 39 000 to almost 58 000 and the number of homeless people during this period doubled.
5. Between 1995 and 2000, in Burnaby the number of trips made to the foodbank rose by almost 38%.

The problem of homelessness can certainly not be ignored any longer. Premier Campbell has acknowledged this and stepped up to the challenge, however the problem cannot be solved by the province alone. Communities through-out the province must take some responsibility for the people living on their streets and perhaps most importantly, Carole James and the NDP need to demonstrate a bit of leadership of their own and become part of the solution to homelessness. Especially since they helped to create the problem.

better transit...not freeways?

This past Friday, walking home from my son's school we passed a sign on a neighbour's lawn that read "better transit... not freeways". Anyone that's followed this blog for a while knows where I personally sit on the issue, still when my son asked me what it meant I was a bit stumped. The only thing that I could think to say immediately was that the person who put it up obviously doesn't commute outside of the city.

"Better transit...not freeways"? I challenge anyone (that hasn't done this already) to take a day trip out into the valley and back again, on any given day of the week. It doesn't matter which crossing you choose: Port Mann; Pattullo; George Massey; Alex Fraser; etc., the result will be the same. You will be stopped almost completely at some point due to traffic.

"Better Transit" obviously means more light rail, car-pools, bicycles and anything else that reduces the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road. While all of these are great ideas (we have been a one vehicle, car-pooling family for over a year now), none solve the immediate problem of outdated bridge and freeway infrastructure and none will really work until our freeway's are made bigger. (There have been no significant improvements to lower mainland freeway's since the 1980's, but the population has grown by about 750,000 during this period) Transit outside of the City of Vancouver and off of the Skytrain lines is close to pathetic! As long as it takes someone like me an hour and a half by bus to travel what takes fifteen minutes by car no one will be jumping to change their transportation habits. So what is the solution? 20% more buses and 44 more Skytrain cars? Probably a great idea in the long run but immediately (without significant infrastructure upgrades) all that more buses are going to do is create more congestion.

"...not highways!" I can't help but think that those opposing the Gateway Program (like my neighbour) are missing what is probably the biggest and most important part of the puzzle. Gateway is not about building bigger freeways, but freeway upgrades are a critical part of Gateway. Our current systems will not allow more buses, more light rail or more use of bicycles. In other words, our current freeways can not accommodate "better transit."

"Better transit..." means a lot of things for sure and it appears to me (especially after reading the Vancouver Sun on Saturday 28 Oct 06) that Premier Gordon Campbell, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon (whom I know personally as a passionate cyclist) and the BC Liberals have begun taking some very significant steps in the right direction. Of course we all have certain responsibilities toward the success of better transit and for starters, opponents need to look beyond the notion of bigger freeways. For starters, take a look at the provinces "Green Cities Project" that includes $40 million over 4 years in matched funding for, among other things "better transit" like improved bike paths and walkways. This is over and above the $2 million promised earlier this summer specifically for bicycle infrastructure in various communities throughout the province.

Unfortunately, at the moment it seems as though those against Gateway are stuck in their own ideological "traffic-jam" and they can't see beyond the roadblocks that they have constructed. If they could they would see what most of us do already and that is a multi-faceted plan for..."better transit."

Hastings-Sunrise Community Meeting

This past Monday (October 23) I attended the second annual Hastings-Sunrise Community meeting at the Hastings Community Center. Although I had been to a Committee meeting in September, this was my first "real" exposure to the Hastings Sunrise CityPlan Committee as a whole and I have to say that I was (am) impressed. I found it extremely refreshing to see such a large group of people, from all points of the community, come together for a community that they clearly care a great deal about.

For those of you out there that don't know, CityPlan is an initiative of the City of Vancouver that engages community residents to develop a "plan" (with City support) that is then used to help guide future decisions affecting the particular community. In this case Hastings-Sunrise. CityPlan initiatives include such things as inventory and improvements in housing choices, shopping areas, traffic issues, parks and public places. The Hastings-Sunrise community extends (approximately) from Grandview Highway to Burrard Inlet and from Boundary Road to Naniamo.

While I can't really give justice here to everyone that set up a display or all groups that presented, meeting attendees were provided brief updates from sub-committee representatives in areas including:

1. Hastings-Sunrise Public Realm (described as those "things" outside of buildings).

2. The Neighbourhood Centers Program ( a department within the city that has money for such initiatives as community public realm).

3. Hastings-Sunrise Housing Sub-Committee (exploring density issues and looking at housing issues that will help attract people to the area).

4. Hastings-Sunrise Traffic Sub-Committee (works with the city to try and solve the most troubling traffic issues in the community)

5. Living in Communities (a group that works with the community to address issues surrounding the sex trade).

6. Hastings Park Conservancy (an organization dedicated to the re-greening of Hastings Park)

7. East Vancouver Port Lands (a joint effort between the city, Port Authority and the Burrard View community to address issues involving port lands).

8. North End Action Team (a group of residents from the "Forgotten Triangle")

9. Light Water Drums.

10. Hastings Elementary School (celebrating 100 years).

This meeting turned out to be an extremely informative and worthwhile way to spend an otherwise dreary Monday evening. As a relative newcomer to the community, the passion that I encountered here only served to strengthen my own resolve to do more. So, over the coming weeks I will try and find more information about the various groups within this community of ours and introduce them to you here but, in the meantime you may want to mark a couple of dates on your calendars:

Hastings-Sunrise CityPlan Committee Meeting - Monday Nov 27, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

Hastings-Sunrise Traffic Subcommittee Meeting - Tuesday Nov 7, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

Hastings-Sunrise Public Realm Subcommittee - Wednesday Nov 15, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

For More information on the Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision and its various subcommittees, go to www.vancouver.ca/visions

Hastings-Sunrise Community Meeting 23 October 2006

Want to learn more about what's going on in your community? This Monday October 23 is your opportunity to get involved. Join the Hastings-Sunrise CityPlan Committee at the Hastings Community Center at 6:30 pm for the 2nd Annual community meeting and you can learn more about:

1. Crime and Safety Initiatives
2. Traffic Calming Proposals
3. Greening and Public Realm Initiatives
4. The Neighbourhood Centers Program and
5. The status of planning in East Vancouver's Port Lands.

Don't miss your chance to provide suggestions and participate in some of the great initiatives designed to preserve and make our community safer. I look forward to seeing you there!

Monday. October 23 2006, 6:30 pm

Hastings Community Center

3096 East Hastings Street

time to get moving...Gateway Consultation Wednesday 11 Sep 06


I think I've made my feelings pretty clear when it comes to traffic, gridlock and the proposed Gateway Program. As someone who drives the Number 1 and creeps up to the Port Mann with some regularity, I think improvements are way past due. But whether you commute or not, Gateway is important to Vancouver-Hastings residents and therefore it is important that we all understand the truth about the project.

Current estimates put the population of the Greater Vancouver area at just over 2 million, this is set to increase to 3 million by 2031. In order to get these people moving, in a city with a less than perfect transit system we are increasing the number of cars purchased each year by about 20 000. The result is a 30% increase in commute times over the past decade. What is your time worth to you?

Our BC Government is taking some desperately needed steps to correct a transportation infrastructure that really hasn't been touched since the 1980's. Despite what you may hear, increased capacity on roads and bridges is critical to allow an increase in buses, light rail and other transportation alternatives. You can't have one without the other! Further, increased capacity on roads leading into Vancouver will not mean increased traffic in Vancouver-Hastings since studies show that growth in Vancouver residents working outside of the city exceeds suburban residents working in the city by 9 to 1. Gateway is going to help many of us Vancouver-Hastings residents get to our jobs (outside of the city) and home again quicker and more safely.

The Gateway program is a long overdue initiative that will allow our critical infrastructure to meet current requirements and future growth in transportation alternatives. It is also critical to moving goods quickly throughout the lower mainland, the province and the country, but perhaps most importantly it will allow us to get home to our families more quickly, spending our time where it is needed most.

Be a part of this exciting project. Come out to learn more and support our government, the Ministry of Transportation and the Gateway Program this Wednesday Oct 11 between 6 and 9 pm at the Italian Cultural Center (2610 S Grandview Highway). If you can't make it on Wednesday, be sure to complete the online feedback form available at www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca

Don't miss this Opportunity to make your voice heard!!!

Its now been a week since the Premier launched the BC governments "Conversation on Health" and during this past week I've heard surprisingly little positive feedback (in the media at least) about a program that will allow all British Columbians, from all corners of the province and from all points of the political spectrum, the opportunity to contribute towards the solution to a very real problem. A problem that, left alone will likely end up consuming 70% of every tax dollar in the province by 2017.

I can understand how some people may be skeptical. British Columbians may not be used to a government willing to listen to their concerns. We like our government where it belongs, tucked away in Victoria out of sight out of mind. By keeping them there "we" are always able to stay one step ahead of them. Because "we" are out here "we" know what the real problem with health care is and "we" can only assume that "they" also know the true nature of the problem (As announced by one reporter at the Premiers announcement and a Province reader in an Oct 3 letter).

Unlike the above mentioned reader, I am an idiot (I guess) because I don't know what the problem with health care is! But I'd like to find out. My exposure to the system is limited to the 3 or 4 emergency hospital visits that I've had to make due to my oldest son's asthma. Each time we were treated quickly and with the utmost care and so, based on my own experience I would have to say that the system is working fine! Isn't it?

Obviously my experience is hardly indicative of the system as a whole and that is exactly the point to the "Conversation on Health". To allow our government to get out into the community (literally and figuratively) to gain a sense of everyone's experience(s) and gather suggestions to ensure a sustainable system for us, our children and our grandchildren.

The problem, so far at least, with the critics is that while they are not afraid to tell us how much they hate the idea or that it will cost too much money, their criticisms (as usual) fall short on providing constructive solutions to the problem. For this reason I implore everyone who reads this to get involved. You have been given the chance to make a difference and if we truly care about our health care system, we will support our government by providing it with our honest concerns and constructive suggestions for change.

As Health Minister George Abbott has said "The challenges we face in health care today are not BC Liberal Challenges; they are not NDP challenges; they're challenges for all governments and all society". To get involved and make your voice(s) heard with respect to health care in British Columbia:

make a comment... http://www.bcconversationonhealth.ca/EN/405/89

sign up for a forum... www.bcconversationonhealth.ca/EN/402/510

or email your support... ConversationonHealth@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca

another reason to quit?

By now one would have to assume that almost everyone knows all of the very compelling health benefits to quitting smoking. Longer life must be an appealing concept to most of us, but in case anyone out there needs another reason to kick the habit, why not consider the negative impact that tobacco use has on our environment?

According to an article in Vancouver's 24 Hours on Monday, clean up crews at East Vancouver's own Trout Lake have picked up an astonishing 208 000 cigarette butts from the shoreline over the past year. In my own relentless efforts to make my workplace go tobacco free, I've learned a bit more about the large and ugly footprint left on our planet by the cultivation and use of tobacco products.

Cigarette butts are made of cellulose acetate, a material with extremely poor biogradability which means that we are stuck with them for an awefully long time. In 2003 in the United States, San Diego's Sonoma Beach decided to go completely smoke free. Prior to that, like our own Trout Lake, officials estimated that 50 to 60% of the beaches litter consisted of cigarette butts. In Canada, some 2 billion empty cigarette packages and 50 billion butts are thrown away (many carelessly) every year and worldwide, it is estimated that 954 million kilograms of butts are discarded annually.

Without even getting into the further environmental damage caused through the cultivation of tobacco, again I have to ask... Do you really need another reason to quit smoking?

what are you waiting for?

This past Saturday my two boys and I decided to take the bus up to Hastings where we took care of some errands and dropped in at a bicycle and pedestrian safety fair that was being held at the Community Policing Center. On the way home we walked back to Renfrew to catch the bus but unfortunately I was so busy reading a pamphlet that I'd got at the fair that we missed it pass by. With a bit more than a little persuasion I managed to convince the boys that it would actually be quicker, and better for us to walk home than wait the 15 minutes for the next bus.

But that's me in a nutshell. I will always walk to the next bus stop and even the stop after, rather than wait and its a trait that I hope my kids will take from me.

Last week Finance Minister Carole Taylor warned British Columbians of the impending doom that health care spending will bring to the provincial budget if something is not done. She predicted that by the year 2017 health care will gobble up 70 cents of each dollar that our BC government spends. I don't know about you but this disturbs the hell out of me.

But take a look around you. Are you really surprised that 50% of adult Canadians are over weight and that some 63% of us are not active enough to get any real health benefits from the few activities we do? The fact is that when it comes to health care most of us believe that it is our fundamental right to universal and unrestricted services. We are worried sick about the possibility of a two-tiered system and any increases in our premiums. The question then is, why are so few of us willing to do anything to actually help sustain the system? A perfect example is the fact that less than 3% of eligible adults in this country donate blood. I find this astonishing.

There can be no denying the fact that universal health care is a distinctly Canadian institution that is worth preserving. But if the system is to survive, a lot more of us are going to have to start walking a bit more rather than waiting that 15 minutes for the next bus to come.

here's to big tobacco

Quite possibly the hardest thing that I have ever done was to quit smoking but, after nearly 15 years of carelessly puffing away, I finally began to realize just how stupid the whole thing was. It didn't hurt that at 33 I was having trouble walking up stairs without losing my breath and often kept myself awake at night listening to my own wheezing. So after about 8 tries I quit and now, 3 years later I couldn't feel better.

I am now one of those dreaded ex-smokers. While I don't usually preach to people who still smoke (it never worked for me), I do advocate for the complete ban of smoking anywhere that me or my family may be exposed to it and I applaud our provincial government for its stance on tobacco.

Last Friday the BC government won a landmark victory over the multi-national tobacco giants. The BC Court of Appeal has rendered a unanimous verdict that will allow our province the right to sue for recovery of tobacco-related health care costs. I couldn't be happier about this ruling and I sincerely hope that this is the final nail in the coffins of big tobacco in this province.

Tobacco use in our province accounts for approximately $1.25 billion in health care costs and it kills nearly 6000 British Columbians every year. Some of these have never smoked! Given the challenges that we currently face and projected costs in BC, I think its great that we may have found an innovative new way to finance health care. The only thing better to me would be an outright ban on tobacco!

I don't know how many times I've heard critics of our government accuse the BC Liberals of lacking in imagination? I for one have been impressed, on more than one occasion, by the unusual yet progressive ideas that I've seen coming from Victoria.

Last week Premier Campbell announced a plan to cancel the fall session of the Legislature in favour of a road trip that will bring public meetings to communities through-out the province. As the Premier explained it, "This is a thoughtful way of proceeding with the public's business.", and I couldn't agree more. I for one welcome the notion of public processes taking place in the presence of the public.

Of course the NDP is aghast at the idea claiming that the move is simply a tactic designed to avoid accountability. (Forgetting of course that during their decade at the helm they only held two fall sessions) But who is the government expected to be most accountable to? This is an excellent example of leadership from the front and I suspect that the truth of the matter is simply that the opposition has finally accepted what polls have been saying for a while and that is that the NDP is no longer as welcome in the trenches as it once was.

...the huck...

In my last blog I mentioned how a recent trip to Silver Star saw nearly everyone in our group overcome either a specific obstacle, or a component of riding in general that we were having trouble with. For me it was the "Huck", and I am so happy about licking this that I thought I'd share a few different "hucks" in this pictorial tribute.

While none of us are yet able to huck in the manner of say, Wade Simmons (we did have a lot of laughs at the expense of another "Simmons"), a few of us did manage some respectable air time and had a blast in the process. So here it is...the huck!

Sorry folks, I've got a lot more huck pictures to share but I believe that I've realized the limit to either blogger or my technical expertise. Doesn't want to post any more! Oh well, stay tuned 'cause next time we'll explore another exciting component of mountain biking...the skinny...

The passing of the Labour Day long weekend can be particularly tough for those of us who love the summer. Is it just me or are the summers just getting shorter and shorter as the years go by? It seems to me that once the PNE opens up thats it, time to pull out the heavy coats and boots brace yourself for another long, wet winter.

All of this aside, I have to say that this past Labour Day weekend was probably the most fun I've had in a single weekend so far! I was blessed with the opportunity to spend four days doing one of my favorite things with arguably, the greatest group of people that one could ever call friends!

Our four day epic mountain bike ride began on a trail discovered by my friends, in Lac Le Jeune. A nice warm up to the weekend however, a valuable lesson learned. Always ask just how "small" the climb is actually going to be before throwing on all of your armour and full-face helmet! Thanks guys, and next year I will conquer that spine.

Day 2 took us to Harper Mountain, just outside of Kamloops. Kind of a rough start to the day as the best rider of our group broke his arm falling from a "skinny" about 6 feet in the air. A bit of quick thinking, a shin pad, some tape and a ride to the hospital from a local rider who thankfully
happened to be in the right place at exactly the right time, and we were back on our way. Unfortunately without our friend Pierre, but he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Day 3 at Silver Star's bike park. A long drive from Lac Le Jeune but worth every second for what could have been the best day of mountain biking that I have personally ever had. The trails were awesome and the stunts were challenging and I think that every one of us managed to take our riding to the next level by conquering at least one thing that we couldn't, or wouldn't do before. For me it was the "huck". Speaking for the group, I have to say "kudo's" to Silver Star Resort and its trail builders for all of their hard work. The quality of the trail building more than made up for the long line ups at the lift.

Day 4 and the four of us that still had the energy to tackle another bike park, headed out to Sun Peaks Resort. A long dry summer had left trails more than a little dusty and keeping a straight line was a challenge. That said, it seemed as though we had the mountain to ourselves and as they say, "a bad day on the bike is better than the best day at the office" (or something like that. All-in-all not a bad way to end the weekend.

And suddenly there we were! Not long after it started the weekend was over, even with the extra two days. I had to get back to see my oldest boy off to his first day of kindergarten (another reason that this Labour day was memorable) and everyone else had their own "real world" challenges to face Tuesday morning, as another summer came to an end.

The weekend was fabulous for a number of reasons. The biking was tremendous for sure, but at the end of it all I would have to say that the thing that made it the most memorable for me, was the people that I got to share it with. And the fact that now I can "Huck"!

around every black cloud...

If anyone was going to find a silver lining around the otherwise dark and dismal black cloud of the 90's under an NDP government, it had to be Kevin Potvin. ("Socialists Score with Express" Vancouver Courier Friday October 4.)

I think that very few would actually argue his main point and that is the value that the West Coast Express and the Millenium Line have added to an otherwise very tired transit system. The problem is that he uses apples and oranges to compare these systems with the BC Liberals Gateway Program. The West Coast Express and the Millenium Line have done nothing to alleviate traffic problems east of the Port Mann Bridge, as thousands of commuters will attest. I myself spent almost an hour last week trying to get from south Langley to the bridge via highway 1. Obviously Mr. Potvin doesn't drive this route!

Its also interesting that Kevin so briefly glances over the Fast Ferries fiasco as though $244 million is nothing between friends. Also interesting is the fact that the article stops short at 3 "big boondoggles." It seems to me that with only a little bit of thought one could easily recall several more significant messes made during our decade of NDP mis-management.

As to the BC Liberals not having any new ideas, I guess building critical infrastructure that will get cars off of the road sooner as well as one that will accommodate buses, bicycles and future rail transit isn't that new, its just that no one before our current government seemed willing to do it.

private resorts provide valuable emergency response capabilities

Vancouver-Hastings MLA Shane Simpson found his way into the news again last week, this time in a Globe and Mail Piece entitled "Environmentalists blast parks plan." (You didn't think he'd have something nice to say did you?) According to the piece Simpson objects to BC Environment Minister Barry Penner's decision to announce proposals for resort construction in 12 wilderness areas. The decision has been made during the legislatures summer break which, in Mr. Simpsons opinion does not allow for "meaningful consultation of the issue".

What do you think? Aside from the fact that the BC Resort Strategy and Action Plan has been in place and available to anyone interested since November 2004, why not take steps to increase tourist visits in our province. Will 12 new resorts result in the mass destruction of BC Parks and Forests as we know them, or will it create a new group of ambassadors to educate even more people about our parks all while providing valuable resources to aid in emergencies. The fact is that we need tourism dollars to cover increased spending in areas such as education and health care and to make up for declines amongst other sectors.

In 2004, we welcomed 22.4 million visitors to the province and they provided us with $9.5 billion in revenue. Within the tourism industry, the resort sector (in 2004) accounted for 20% of this revenue and employed some 26,000 people. Overall in 2004, tourism provided 117,500 full-time jobs while representing a mere fraction of the provinces budget compared to other industries such as forestry. The fact is that tourism has become an extremely valuable asset to our province and the wholesale destruction of "public parks" is unlikely to occur if for no other reason than the fact that its not in the interest of private resort owners to allow this.

In this same article, Policy Director for the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Gwen Barlee raises her concern that resort development will require the clearing of substantial amounts of land to control the risk of forest fire. While there may be a grain of truth to this statement (some trees will likely have to be cut down), I don't think that she or Shane Simpson are considering the importance that private resort owners and their staff have (and will have) in regards to emergency response in remote areas. Private resort owners, for a variety of reasons such as insurance and liability requirements will staff trained people to respond to the multitude of emergencies that occur everyday in the BC wilderness. Events such as lost hikers, avalanches, medical emergencies and, as the North Shore witnessed this past Sunday, forest fires caused by natural acts like lightning (to name a few) may be dealt with much more quickly through the partnerships that will be developed between resorts and public emergency services.

BC is a wonderful province with much to offer its residents and our guests. "Environmentalists" like Shane Simpson need to understand the importance that private resorts and other tourism operators have in preserving our wilderness and parks rather than discounting them immediately as enemies of the environment bent on the destruction of public park space.

a tribute to the ride.

Recently (after far too big a break), I was re-introduced to my bike. Its a mountain bike and before "life" got in the way I used to ride it 3 or 4 times a week. Of course it helped that I used to live only minutes from some of the best trails in North America, wasn't married, didn't have kids and so on. You get the picture. Thankfully , I've now managed to find a way to fit at least one weekly ride into my otherwise busy "real" life. My regular riding partners and I call this "Thursday Therapy".

This past Thursday we found ourselves on Mt. Seymour's CBC trail. It turned out to be an awesome ride, made possible largely due to the efforts of trail builders such as the North Shore Mountain Bike Association. In fact, the (soft)footprint of the NSMBA has been visible on every ride that I've been on this year. CBC, Oilcan, Seventh Secret, Pipeline, Espresso to name just a few trails have all benefited from the touch of the NSMBA. The result is a series of trails that are safe and considerate towards eco-systems, while providing sufficient challenge to all ability levels. My helmet goes off to these amazing trail builders of the North Shore.

It seems that since I've rediscovered this former passion, I've also become more aware of the cycling going on around me. Yesterday, while sitting on the patio at Vancouver's Frog and Firkin, my friends and I witnessed a very colourful gaggle of cyclists parading down Broadway. I have no idea what they were up to but it sure looked like they were having fun.

Words can't describe how happy I am to be back on my bike or how great it is to see so many others doing their part to keep their cars parked. I also appreciate a provincial government that is as supportive of transportation alternatives as the BC Liberals. On July 6 of this year Premier Campbell announced his intention to provide another $2 million toward the improvement of cycling infrastructure for 12 communities in the province. This on top of the approximate $50 million in cycling investment that is a part of the governments Gateway Program. Its great to witness a provincial government that is dedicated to funding transportation strategies that are good for the environment, sustainable and that promote healthy living.

For more information on the North Shore Mountain Bike Association and the trails of the North Shore, visit their site at www.nsmba.bc.ca

"Building that capacity, building of that community infrastructure is an essential piece. It doesn't happen overnight. Its something that happens over an extended period of time. Its something that happens through working together, building trust together, building confidence together, learning how to share resources in the community to maximize the impact in a positive way on the community."

Vancouver-Hastings MLA Shane Simpson on building capacity of a community (Hansard vol 7, no 4)

Just thinking out loud...

How did Vancouver-Hastings earn the title of second poorest constituency in BC? Geographically speaking its not a whole lot different from many other communities. I've taken enough sociology courses to recognize that there are a multitude of answers to this question, but still I wonder...

Vancouver-Hastings has an interesting history, full of impressive accomplishments. According to the Hastings-Sunrise Community web pages, New Brighton was born (with money) as a holiday retreat for residents of the capital of New Westminster in 1868. The name changed to Hastings in 1869 and as the community grew it also laid claim to many Vancouver "firsts" like first road, hotel, post office, telephone, subdivision, and so on. At the request of local residents for more "wholesome" activities, the first exhibition was held in 1910, with Exhibition Park being named in 1946. Hastings Park race track had already been established in the late 1800's and has since been able to boast a number of its own "firsts".

All in all a very impressive start for a community that would later become the neighbour to the poorest postal code in Canada. So what happened?

Not discounting the many other factors that have undoubtedly contributed to our current situation, I can't help but wonder how much the ideology of our community representatives (provincial and federal), have contributed to what appears to me to be the inability for our community to move beyond the "ordinary" or the "average".

Provincially, Vancouver-Hastings (Vancouver East prior to the 1991 election) has been represented by a NDP (CCF) MLA since 1933. Federally, Vancouver-East has sent NDP MP's to Ottawa consistently since 1935, with exception to 1974 and 1993. So what you say! Well that is almost 75 years of "glass half empty" (un)leadership for our community. Nearly three quarters of a century of direct exposure to an ideology that historically stifles personal choice and is restrictive towards the rights of the individual. Is it any wonder that our community is poor when we are consistently represented by people that encourage mediocracy and refer to their own loyal supporters as "average" and "ordinary".

You may argue that we have got what we deserve since it has been us that have consistently chosen to elect NDP representatives however, I suggest the possibility that perhaps the voting patterns of Vancouver-Hasting are the result of a particular party interjecting and encouraging the possibility of a community nirvana, mainly through negative campaigning "over an extended period of time". I also believe that this is changing.

The political history of our community obviously doesn't provide all of the answers to its current plight, but what I do suggest is that it is possible that Vancouver-Hastings and Vancouver-East have in some ways suffered because of the guiding principles of our elected representatives. In my opinion, our situation cannot and will not change as long as we continue to elect the NDP. The primary reason being that our current representatives are bound by their own party's democratic socialist constitution that doesn't allow the progress needed to create a completely healthy and robust community that encourages growth. While we have recognized the problems in our community, we haven't done anything to fix them beyond blaming current governments (we haven't even made useful suggestions to fix the problem) , forgetting that in BC, the NDP had ten years to cure the plight of the homeless. What happened?

Shane Simpson accuses the BC Liberals of creating poverty in British Columbia, "...Now that we've created the poor and homeless, we're going to punish you for your circumstances." (Hansard) I suggest that the NDP has done nothing in their own right to prevent this from happening in fact, the NDP need poverty, homelessness and suffering in order to remain relevant. Another reason that they are not doing so well in today's booming economy.

But then I'm just thinking out loud...

why would anyone want to cover this up?


Here's something completely different, Kevin Potvin (Vancouver Courier columnist)doesn't like the idea that someone wants to build a facility, with his own money, that has multi-use potential for the enjoyment of all. A building that will undoubtedly benefit the people that use and work in it as well as the city and the community that it calls home. (Kevin hasn't read last weeks Courier, or at least the part that talks about how big, private money basically built Commercial Drive).

Even more strange may be the fact that the proposed Whitecaps stadium will be built expounding the very issues that Mr. Potvin preaches to us almost every week. This stadium will be built using sustainable and environmentally sound building practices and it will be the most transit friendly facility of its kind in North America. People will be able to easily access it by bus, train, skytrain, seabus and, even bicycle or foot for many.

While there are certainly challenges that owners and builders must face given the unique location and preliminary design of this structure, those concerned must remember that stadium plans are still in their infancy. Obviously and for a multitude of reasons, including the ability for emergency services to respond to incidents, the ability to evacuate the premises if necessary, the ability for stadium owners to obtain insurance etc., serious consideration will have to be given to the risk potential of the railyard below. But then it is unlikely that the first shovelful of dirt will be removed until proof that strategies to mitigate such risks have been demonstrated. Conversely, one significant earthquake in the area will likely mean that all that's left of Gastown is the new Whitecaps Stadium.

Still, others have complained that the competition that may be introduced through stadium restaurants and retail outlets will place an unwanted burden on existing Gastown merchants. This despite the latest Mustel report that shows 78% approval for the project by local businesses. There is also the argument that the "look" of the stadium won't fit the "historic design" of Gastown. My kids and I visited Gastown today and it seems to me that the community kind of looks in and onto itself anyway and therefore stands with its "back" to "the last piece of critical waterfront in urban Vancouver". I'm sure that historic Gastown won't even notice its there.

The fact is, this stadium may actually be the very thing needed to re-connect Gastown with the waterfront and, for that matter the rest of the city. Gastown may once again be more than the tourist magnet that it has become. At least that is what two former mayors and a majority of residents and business owners think anyway. Even if Kevin Potvin and a small number of others don't agree.

Ahh memories...

"...its also much important for our caucus, because we look forward to the day this house sits after May 12, 2009, when we're on those benches, and we don't want too big a mess to clean up from what you are going to do over the next four years."

Vancouver-Hastings MLA Shane Simpson in his closing statement to the house Thursday 15 September 2005 (Hansard)

How big a mess could this possibly be compared to what was left after 12 years of the NDP? Remember Bingo-gate, the Glen Clark Casino charity scandal, eight years of budget deficit prior to 2001, and among other things, a party that in the end couldn't even play nicely with itself. Oh, and of course theres always...




This $244 million "mess".

However, our Vancouver-Hastings representative would have us believe that cost overruns are the sole property of the BC Liberals.

"...but for this government (BC Liberals), it thinks nothing of adding tens of millions of dollars to cover cost overruns..."

Shane Simpson also from Hansard

BC Liberals Put Students First (again)

Another educational landmark was achieved today in BC with the signing of an agreement between Premier Gordon Campbell and the First Nations Educational Steering Committee. Among other things, this agreement will allow the First Nations the jurisdiction over educational decisions for First Nations students. In other words, First Nations will be ensured the cultural relevance of their education while guaranteeing that it fits and is easily transferable between public schools. The agreement will also allow First Nations students eligibility to post secondary institutions without losing any of this cultural relevance.

Considering this milestone along with the first negotiated contract between the government and the BCTF in over ten years (16% increase over five years and 2% over most other agreements within the BC Negotiating Framework), I sincerely hope that this is the last bit of proof that any remaining naysayers (likely within the NDP and the BCTF) need to demonstrate that this government is now and always has been committed to our students!

One need only look at some of the recent significant commitments made by the BC Liberals to realize which side of the table has been truly committed to education, including the best interests of both teachers and students in BC, right from the beginning.

1. $2 billion specifically for education between 2001 and 2007.
2. $881 increase in spending per student.
3. $1.5 billion in seismic upgrades to BC schools.
4. $196 million increase in funding for post secondary education in the province.
5. $800 million for capital improvements directly for education.

Clearly the government has made the financial commitment toward education, now is the time for the rest of us to work together to ensure that we truly are the most educated province in the country. I for one look forward to five years of cooperation between the province, teachers, parents and most importantly, our students.

What was that strange "unsound"?

Did anyone else hear a strange sound earlier this week? In case you missed it, it was the sound of our NDP MLA's and party faithful exhaling due to a sudden (unfounded) opportunity to complain in the media about the BC Liberals.

The reason that you may not have heard this was because the sound was very nearly drowned out by the completely unsurprizing glass-half-empty tirades of NPD leader Carole James. Another sound we haven't heard for a while.

Last week Dr Penny Ballem resigned her post as Deputy Health Minister for reasons that no one but her really knows at this time. My impression of what I've read on it seems to indicate a difference in opinion, but then really all thats been said is that she feels that unspecified plans for health care are "unsound". What does this mean? In the real world people leave jobs all the time for a multitude of personal and professional reasons and it is not unusual for a person to disagree in principle with their boss or with a particular policy that they are exposed to.

In this case though, because the NDP has decided that health care is going to be their spring board to effectiveness, Ms James wants answers "immediately" as to the Premiers plan for health care, without providing the government opportunity to adequately investigate Dr Ballem's claim. While I don't know all of the Premiers future plans, I am aware of a few of the very "sound" things that the BC Liberals have done already and how we stack up at the moment compared to the rest of the country.

1. Healthiest place to live in Canada - BC.
2. Top performer in overall healthcare and use of the Medicare system - BC.
3. Best access to cancer treating drugs - BC.
4. Most efficient spending of health care dollars - BC at approx $2545 per person.
5. $3.8 billion increase in overall healthcare spending.
6. Significant increases in training for doctors and nurses.
7. Significant increases in knee and hip replacements and other surgeries.

Of course these are just a few examples. So is the system perfect? Maybe not yet, but it seems to me that healthcare in BC has received an awful lot of positive attention lately. Enough that I question whether or not anyone can describe the system as a whole as "unsound".

A "Drive" by any other name...

According to Commercial Drives own champion Kevin Potvin, the second annual Commercial "Drive" Car-Free Festival was a smashing success, even in the absence of local government representation. Although both Libby Davies and Shane Simpson managed a showing, no one from City Hall got the opportunity to bask in the glow of Commercial Drives version of a car-free utopia.

So what! Would the event have been any more successful or popular if they had been there? I'm sure that the Courier could have found better use of a third of a page.

While Mr Potvin may be right in saying that a community doesn't need "car-borne customers to thrive", the truth is that his vision doesn't necessarily match the reality of the "Drive" on any other day of the year. The Tuesday following this event my family and I went to our favorite gelato place on Commercial Drive and what did we see? The perfect view into a "gasoline dependent, mean and barren future" where parking was at a premium and conversation was frequently smothered by the bellowing exhaust of another cultural phenomenon, the "chopper".

Incidentally, I was at the Dog Days event at Trout Lake the day before and I just happened to glimpse Vancouver's own Kim Capri. While I wasn't there all day (just most of it), I did not see Shane Simpson or Libby Davies. This can only lead me to believe that maybe even this socialist super-duo can't make every one of the dozens of events that are held every weekend in this city. Or maybe they did their own Fathers Day things on Saturday, just so they could clear their calendars for the Commercial Drive event.

Protect your Pansies?

I thought I'd keep my first post close to home. My family and I moved to the Vancouver-Hastings area just over a year ago. Admittedly we had our reservations. We'd heard all of the East Vancouver horror stories and we bought into most of those stereotypes.

Shortly after moving in we spared no expense and purchased an alarm system and we remain diligent about locking doors and windows (although we've avoided window bars). We never leave anything of any value outside which is probably good advice for any community.

Time has passed and we now realize that for the most part we were wrong. We live in a lovely, friendly neighbourhood within a thriving and culturally diverse community. We have neighbours that talk to us and to each other, unlike our neighbours in our previous community, and I think that the last grow-op within a few blocks just blew up a couple of weeks ago.

All in all we love our new community and we generally feel safe within it. That was until a couple of weeks ago when the unimaginable happened. Someone stole our pansies! Not only the pansies but the ugly fake plastic tree that we had on our front deck. Worse, the pansy poachers didn't target us alone but hit several other front doorsteps on the street! Even worse still I've learned is that this isn't the first time that this has happened.

What have we gotten ourselves into? Are pansies and other doorstep decoration some new crazy fuel feeding someones drug habit, or does someone just really like flowers but can't afford them? How do you bolt down a flower? My advise here then my friends, watch out for those that can't protect themselves. Protect your pansies at all costs.