March 18, 2026

Namethatbridge

Citylandsonofficialnamefornew bridgeoverHighway1

LIFESTYLE13

Bikebuilders

Engineers celebrate Women’sDay buildingbikes forkids

SPORTS29

Basketballchamps

Collingwoodseniorboyswin 2A hoopsprovincial title

SWEETSENTIMENT

Newshoots rollingin as film industry picksup

BRENTRICHTER brichter@nsnews.com

Inabusinessthatis notoriouslyfeastandfamine, the filmindustryhasbeenmanagingtoputthree squaremealsadayontheNorthShore’s tables.

TheDistrictofNorth Vancouverhosted85productions in 2025fora totalof193daysof filming.That resultedin justover$430,000in revenuesforthemunicipality,accordingtothemost recentstats.

TheCityofNorth Vancouvergranted79permitsfor local filminglastyearfor TV shows,commercialsandfeature films,whichbroughtin $259,000for municipalcoffers.

And West Vancouversaw92daysof filmingin74locations,raising $340,000in revenuesforthe district.

SomeofthenotableTVtitleswithlocallyshotscenes in thelastyear include VirginRiver, Avatar:TheLast Airbender, FireCountry,a rebootof FearFactor andaprequeltothe LegallyBlonde moviefranchisecalled Elle

OneofthehigherprofileNorthShore-shotfeaturefilms makingits debutin 2026 is RemarkablyBrightCreatures, an adaptationofapopularnovel by thesamenamestarring SallyFieldandLewisPullman. Viewersshould recognize Gallant AvenueandthePanorama Park Pier inDeepCove whenthefilmbeginsstreamingon NetflixinMay.Its openingscenewasshotinthemassivedivetankinthe parkinglotofLowerLonsdalesubmarine researchand

Yournewneighbourhoodpharmacy in CentralLonsdale

Apharmacyvisitisrarely justaboutpickingupa prescription. Formanypeople it’sachancetoask questions,talk throughconcernsandgetguidance onthehealthdecisionsthatshape oureverydaylives.

Thisisthekindofexperience

PureIntegrativePharmacyaims toprovideatits newestlocation, PureMillennium,nowserving North VancouverandtheCentral Lonsdale community at 137East 13thStreet.

OurnewestPureIntegrative Pharmacylocation inCentral Lonsdaleisled by Farshad Felfelian,RPh,PharmD,whoserves aspharmacymanager.

Adeeperhealthfocus

Earlierinhiscareer,Farshad Felfelian workedinseveralpharmaciesacross theNorthShoreandbegannoticing thesamekindofconversations happeningagainandagain. Patients wantedtobetterunderstandtheir healthandlearnwhattheycoulddo to support their well-being overthe longterm.

Thatperspectivealignswiththe philosophyPureprescribesacross all25locations,includingthree in North Vancouverandtwoin West Vancouver.

Whileprescriptionmedications areanessentialpartof

Pharmacist FarshadFelfeliannoticed patientsseekingguidancebeyondsymptoms to betterunderstandand support their long-termhealth.

Pure Integrative Pharmacy.

healthcare,Purealsolooksat thebroaderpictureofpatient health.Theirpharmacistsoften discusstopics such aslifestyle habits,nutritionandprevention alongsidemedicationmanagement assistance.

Medicationmade foryou

By takingthetimetounderstand eachpatient’scircumstances, Pureaimstosupportnotonlythe treatmentofillnessbutalsothe improvementoflong-termhealth forindividualsandfamilies.

improvebothcomfortand outcomes.Purepharmacists regularlycollaboratewith physiciansandotherhealthcare practitionerswhencompounded medicationsmaybehelpful.

Wellnessguidance madeeasy

The wellnessareaofthepharmacy issupported by FrontStore ManagerBruce Polack,natural healthadvisor.Bruceworksclosely withpatientswhohavequestions aboutvitamins,mineralsand

Naturalhealthadvisor BrucePolackhelps patientsnavigatevitamins, minerals and supplements with personalized guidance forbetterhealth. Photovia Pure Integrative Pharmacy.

frequentlyworkalongside physicians,naturopathicdoctors, nursepractitionersandother healthcareproviderstohelp supportpatientsmanagingchronic conditionsorcomplexhealth concerns.

ForresidentsofCentralLonsdale, includingthosemovingintonearby developmentssuchasMillennium CentralLonsdale, we inviteyou tomakePureMillenniumyour neighbourhoodhealthresource.

Theirintegrativeapproach can beparticularly helpfulthrough pharmacycompounding.

CompoundingallowsPureto preparecustomizedmedications whencommercially available optionsarenotthebestfitfora patient.This mayincludeadjusting medication strengths, changing deliveryformatsorremoving ingredientsthatcausesensitivities. Everypatientisdifferentand whentreatmentscanbetailored to individualneeds,itcanoften

nutritionalsupplementsforhealth andhealing.

Formanypeople,the supplement aislecanfeel overwhelming. Bruce Polackhelps simplify decisions by offeringthoughtful guidancebasedonindividual needs;takingthetimetodiscuss optionsandhelpwith abetter understandingofwhatmaybe mostappropriate.

As ateam,Pure sees theirrole aspartofabroaderhealthcare network.Theirpharmacists

As alocalB.C.community pharmacy,PureIntegrative Pharmacyhaslongplayed animportantroleinhelping peoplenavigate everydayhealth questions.Whethersomeone needs amedicationreview, advice aboutsupplementsorresources andreassuranceabout aspecific healthconcern,thePureteamis approachable, availableandready toansweryourquestions.

LearnmoreaboutPure IntegrativePharmacyand itsservicesbyvisiting www.purepharmacy.com

FISH TALES

Surveys find resilientsalmon populations in West Van creeks

BRENTRICHTER

brichter@nsnews.com

West Vancouver’screeksaregetting a surprisinglycleanbillofhealthfollowingthemost recentstudiesbythelocal Streamkeepersgroup.

Everyfallforthelast18years, West VancouverStreamkeepershavepartnered with West VancouverSecondarystudentsto walkthebanksoftheBrothersandHadden Creeksystems,countingmaturechum, coho andchinooksalmontokeeptabsonthe localpopulation’shealth. Theypresented their resultsto West Vancouvercouncilon March9.

In2025,thevolunteers counted279 coho and72chinooks returningtospawn–the secondhighestnumbersever recorded sincetheprogrambegan–alongwith342 chum– thesecondhighest resultinthelast eightyears.

Thenumbersaredownsignificantlyfrom 2024,butthatyearwasastatisticaloutlier whenmorethan2,000fishmadeitfromthe mouthoftheCapilanoRivertoitsuppermosttributariesthankstothe October2024 atmosphericriverraisingcreeklevels.

Inadditiontocitizenscienceandpublic advocacy, theStreamkeepershavecarried outnumeroushabitat restoration projects including rewildingcreekbanksandinstallingfishladdersand rearingpondsintended togive returningsalmonandtheiroffspring the greatestpossiblechanceforsuccess.

Andthingshavebeentrendinginthe rightdirection.

“Itjustshowsthattheprogressthat we’vemadeismeasurable.It’sshowingpositiveimpact,”saidBenBrosnon,theproject’s

COSTLYCRASH

A West VancouverStreamkeeper volunteerholds up a largemalechumsalmonfrom LawsonCreekinthe fallof2021.

leadstudentstatisticianandathree-year veteranofthesalmonsurvey.“Andwe’re reallyproudofthat.”

Whilethefallsurveysdonebywalking thecreeks’bankshelpsestablishabaseline of returningadultsalmon,it’s stillsomething ofaninexactscienceascohoarewilyand easilycamouflaged.

Similarsurveyscarriedoutonother creeksystemsinthemunicipality oftenyield noadults,butthestewardshipgroupknows theymustbeinthere.Forthelast five years, theStreamkeepers havebeensupplementingtheirfallmaturesalmondatawith a programtotrapandcountjuvenilecohoin 10 West Vancreeks.

“Loand beholdthenextspring,the placeisjustfullofjuveniles,”saidSteve MacDonald,Streamkeepersvolunteer.“So

theconundrumis where dothese damn thingscomefrom?They’realloverthe place.…InRodgersCreek,it wasinthehundreds.Itwasalotof fish.Butitcouldeasily bealotmorethanthat.”

Thedata revealsthat,thoughthey’re certainlynot whattheywerepriortocolonization, West Vancouver’screeksstill have thewatertemperatures,riparianvegetation andinsectproductionneededtosupport at leastsomesalmonids,MacDonald noted.

“Thefactthatwecankeepgettingfish backtothese reallyrathermalignedstreams isaprettygoodindicationthatnotonly arethesefish resilientbutthatwe haven’t screwedthingsupasmuchaswemight sometimesblameourselvesfor,”MacDonald said.“Theycanstillproducefishandit’sstill ajoytoseethem.”

Itdoesn’t meantherearen’tthreats though.Droughtsandlowstreamflows canmakethecreeksinaccessible,tanking a return’snumbersandtheoffspringthey mightspawn.Asinglechemicalspillin a storm draincanwipeout dozensoffish. Thankstosuburban development,streams have lostalotofthenaturalfeaturesthat madethemworkassalmonid habitat. They’realsoonthe receivingendoftoxic stormwaterrunofffromthe roads.In2023, therewasamajorfishkillonBrothersCreek justasthestudentsurveywas beginning. Theculpritwas6PPD-quinone,achemical additive incartiresthatisfataltosome salmon.

“It has amassiveimpact,specifically onthecohosalmonanditkillsthem quitequicklyand quiteeasily,”saidLeslie Pomeroy, theStreamkeepers’leadvolunteer onthefallsurvey.

Recentstudies have foundthat90 per centormoreoftheland-borne pollutants thatarewashedintothecreekscan be attenuatedwithraingardensorbioswalesthat capturestormwaterandfilteritthroughsoil and plants.TheStreamkeepers have been lobbyingtheDistrictof West Vancouverto begindesigningand buildingsuch mitigation measuresatkey pointswhererunoffis enteringfishbearingcreeks,MacDonald said.

Knowingthatthesalmon are presentin creeksthroughoutthemunicipalitycarries withitanincreasedobligationtoseethem vigilantlysafeguarded,MacDonaldadded.

“Asagroup,weshould be continuingto improve thesituation,”hesaid.“Ifyou’re notwillingto protectthat,well,you’vegot a heartofstone.”

DriverwhohitNorth Vancouver RCMP cruiser foundwith harddrugs

BRENTRICHTER

brichter@nsnews.com

Ifyou’redrivingaroundwith wads ofdrugsinthecar,you’ll probablywanttodrivecarefully.

TwoNorthShoremenhavebeen arrestedandarefacingchargesafter a rear-enderwithaNorth Vancouver RCMPcruiserledpolice to acacheof drugsintheirvehicle.

TheincidenthappenedonMarch 5atthecornerofKeithRoadand

MountainHighway,accordingto a releasefromtheRCMP.

Thedriverofa redMiniCooper read-endedan RCMPvehiclethat was stoppedata redlight,policesaid. WhenofficersapproachedtheMini, theysawdrugparaphernalialeft out inplainview.

Asearchofthevehicleturnedup baggiesoffentanyl,crystalmethand cocaine,aswell as cash.

“Thisincidentshowshow routine

callscanquicklyturn intosomething far moreserious,” saidCpl.Mansoor Sahak,North VancouverRCMP spokesperson. “Rear-endingamarked policecarisn’ta recommended life choice,butinthiscase it didmake it remarkablyeasyforofficers to interceptharmfuldrugsbeforethey reachedthecommunity.”

Theinvestigation is stillopenand thetwohavenotyetbeencharged. Theyhavebeen released.

Thenewpedestrianandcyclingbridge overHighway 1 in North Vancouver willbe called theCrosscutBridge.

CROSSCUTBRIDGE

Citynamesnew pedestrian bridgeacrossHighway1

BRENTRICHTER

brichter@nsnews.com

CityofNorth Vancouver councilhasofficially namedthesoon-to-beopenpedestrianand cyclingbridgeover Highway1.

CouncilvotedunanimouslyMonday,March9to namethespantheCrosscut Bridge.

Thename,whichwas putforwardbythecity’s civicnamingcommittee,ismeanttowork onmultiplelevels.Thebridgequite literallycrossesthe“Cut”portionofHighway 1.InanodtotheNorthShore’shistoryin forestry, thenameisalsoa referencetothe crosscutsawusedbylumberjacksupuntil the1950s.Andthere issomesymbolism codedintothename, accordingtoacity staff report.Incarpentry, acrosscutgoes perpendicular tothegrainofthewood. Thebridge“cutsacrossthegrainofthe existing roadnetwork, offering an entirely newkindof connection.”

“Thename is strong,clear,and resonant.Itis rooted in localgeography, honours regionalhistory, anddescribes preciselywhatthebridgedoes:itcrosses theCut,”thecitystaff reportstates.

The$12.5-millionbridgeisintendedto reconnecttheCedar VillageandLoutet Parkareaswhichwerecutofffromone

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anotherbytheextensionofthe Trans Canada HighwayfromMountain Highway to Lynn ValleyRoad in 1961.

Althoughnoexactdatehasbeenset, theCrosscutBridge is expectedtoopen tothetravellingpublic thissummer Municipalstaffdescribed it as “oneofthe most-anticipatedactivetransportation projectsinthecity’s history.”

Sincethebridgehasbeen in concept –whichdatesbackto1999– it hasbeen referredtobycitystaffastheCassano LoutetOverpass.Thecity’snamingcommitteealsoconsideredcalling thenew infrastructuretheCedarBridge,orkeeping itsunofficialCasanoLoutetmoniker.

Councilapprovedthenamingcommittee’s CrosscutBridge recommendation withlittlediscussion.

“Lovethename,”Mayor Linda Buchanansaid.

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Judge rejects owner’s requestto cancel restrictive covenant

JANESEYD jseyd@nsnews.com

AB.C.SupremeCourtjudgehas refuseda requestto remove a long-standingcovenantthatprevents ahomefrombeingbuilton aproperty intheIndianArmarea,sayingthe covenantstillservesitspurposeof limitingdevelopmentinthe region.

Inadecision releasedFeb.25,B.C. SupremeCourtJusticeJacquelineHughes dismissedanapplicationbypropertyowner Fiona Wozniaktocancelthe restrictivecovenantsoshecouldconstructahome onthe lotinthe Woodlands/SunshineFallsarea.

Wozniakarguedthatdevelopmentin IndianArmoverthepasttwodecadeshas madethecovenantobsoleteandthatitno longerservesanypurpose.TheDistrict ofNorth Vancouverdisagreed,arguingit continuestohelpthedistrict’slongstanding policyoflimitingdevelopmentintheIndian Armarea,whereaccessislimited, delivery ofemergencyservicesischallengingandthe steepwoodedterraincreatesrisksofforest firesandlandslides.

Asnotedinthe courtdecision,subdivisionsintheareadatebacktothe1900s,with anearlyaccess roadconstructedin1917.

Giventhechallengesofthearea,which include fire lanesthatdon’tmeet municipalstandards,however,themunicipality haslongdiscourageddevelopment, while permitting“reasonable recreationaluse”of properties.

Thecovenanton Wozniak’sproperty hasbeeninplacesince1995andlimitsthe propertytoshort-term recreationaluseonly, prohibitinganypermanentstructuresor mobilehomes.Thepropertywascreated whenalargerwaterfrontparcelwas subdividedinthemid-1990s.

Theoriginalownerproposedthesubdivisionontheconditionthatthe newly createdlotwould remainundevelopedand usedonlyfor recreationalpurposes.The districtapprovedthesubdivision withthat condition,andthecovenant was registered ontitle. Wozniakpurchasedthevacantlotin 2004.Thecourtheardshewasawareofthe covenantandits restrictionsatthetime.

Wozniaklatersoughttohavethecovenant removedsoshecouldbuildahome.

Wozniak first wrotetothedistrictin2016, askingforthecovenanttobecancelled.The municipality refused.Shemadeasimilar requestagainin2021.

Incourt, Wozniakarguedthat developmentintheIndianArmareahasincreased significantlysincesheboughtthe property.

Thejudgefoundtherewaslittledirect

ArgumentsaboutthecharacterofIndian Arm were partofa recentB.C. Supreme Court case. GOOGLE MAPS

evidenceofthat,althoughmany buildings had been builtwithout permits.Thejudge notedasof2009theIndianArmarea had a populationofabout300people.

Thecourtheardthatwhilesomeexisting cabinshavebeen replacedwithlarger homesandsomevacantlots have been developedovertheyears,the district has generallynotapproved subdivisionscreatingnew residentiallotsinthearea.

Incourt,DanMilburn,thedistrict’s managerof planning, propertiesand permits, testified thatlimitingdevelopmentinthe area remainsaconcernforthe district, because ofthe heightenedriskofwildfires.

Thejudgenotedthatwhilethelothas the samezoningasotherpropertiesinthe area,thesubdivisionthatcreatedthepropertywouldnot have beenapproved without theagreementthatthelotwould remainfor recreationaluseonly.Thejudge rejectedthe argumentthatthecovenant had become outdatedbecausethe districtlateradopted differentwordinginits policiesgoverning developmentintheIndianArmarea.

Whilethewording ofthe policy has changedovertime,thecourtfoundthe district’soverallobjective–limitingadditional densityand directinggrowthtourbanareas – remainsthesame.

Hughesfoundthecovenantcontinuesto providepractical benefits tothedistrict by ensuringthe propertycannotbe developed for residentialuse.

“IndianArm remainsarural residential settingwithsingle-family residences,asit wasin1995whenthecovenantwasputin place,”thejudgewrote.

In rejectingthe requestto removethe covenant,Hughesalso rejectedtheargumentthatcancellingthecovenantwouldnot harm themunicipality.

“I find thecovenant benefitsthedistrict by grantingittheabilitytolimitdensityand developmentonthe propertyandensure thatthepropertyisusedconsistentlywith communityneedsandthepublicgood,” Hugheswrote.

Waterfrontsaunabusiness granted extensioninAmbleside Parkuntil 2027

BRENTRICHTER

brichter@nsnews.com

Itcouldbeawarmer-than-usual summer on the West Vancouverwaterfront.

West Vancouncilhasapprovedayear-longextensionof the pilotprojecttointroduceamobilesaunabusiness to AmblesidePark.

Gatherwell’s10-seatsauna openedtothepublicin Decemberon whatwastobeathree-monthtrial.

MayorMarkSagerannouncedatcouncil’sMarch9meetingthattheprojectwillbeextendeduntilApril2027.

“It’s receivedalotofpositivefeedback fromthecommunity. Residentsandvisitorsalike seemtoenjoythisunique waterfrontwellnessactivity,”Sager said. “And this will allow ourstafftocontinuetoobserve theprogram acrossall seasons.”

Thecustom-builtsaunaonwheelsisheatedbya12-kilowattelectricstovethatbringsthetemperatureuptoabout 29 C.Ithasalargewindowfacing the water andseating orientedtoencourageconversation. Bookingscostabout $30fora75-minutesession.

AccordingtoGatherwell,thesaunahashadalmost2,400 visitorssinceitopened.Ithasbeen80percentbooked onweekendsandthecompanyislookingtoconstruct asecondmobile saunaandmove it intoplaceby June.

Inastatement,Gatherwellfounder Jonathan Chawla welcomedtheexpansion of thepilot.

Gatherwell founderJonathanChawlaandAnnaJohnston test outGatherwell’smobilebeachsidesauna at Ambleside Park. PAULMCGRATH / NSN

“Weliveinacountryknownforitsfriendlinessand a regionofunparalleled beauty, yetweoftenlacktheyearround infrastructuretoenjoy themtogether.Gatherwell is dedicated toturningour parks intovibrant,four-season ‘thirdspaces’throughwaterfrontsaunas. We’reincredibly gratefultothedistrict’sstaffandcouncilforpartnering withustocreatethisbeachfronthubformeaningful social connection,nomattertheweather,” he said.

Rollcredits

MostMetro Vancouver residentsgetalittlethrillwhen we recognizeaneighbourhoodparkordowntown streetinthebackgroundof a movie,TVshoworcommercial.

There’sanevenbiggerthrillthatcomes, we would think,forthefilmworkerwhen theybookagigthatwillkeep thembusyon a localset. Film jobsare high-paying,skilled work. We areproudofthetalentthatthe industryhasdevelopedhere.

Filmsets,withtheirconvoyofvehicles anddisruptionstostreetsand sidewalks, mayat timesbeaninconvenience,butthey arewellworthit,wesay.Eveninaslow year,filmproductionsspendbillionsof dollars onwages,goodsandservices.

Butbytheirnature,filmjobsare ephemeral.Theyonlylastuntilthedirectorcalls

“cut.”AndtheindustryinB.C.seemsto fadetoblackwhenevertheCanadiandollar risesorwhenanotherjurisdictionoffers sweetertaxcreditsforproducers.

Naturally,anenvironmentlikethis stokesworriesaboutaracetothebottom inwhichbusinesses seektoescapeanytax burdenatallbypittingdifferentgovernmentsagainstoneanother.Afteryearsof deficits,theprovinceistryingtocutspendingandraise revenueswhereitcan.They mightbetemptedtoleavesubsidies forfilm productionsontheediting roomfloor. Butweseevalueinstayingcompetitive. TheamountoftaxtheB.C.governmentcan collectonafilmshotinOntarioorGeorgia isnil.

We wantourstreetsandparkscast forthescreenandwewantto remain HollywoodNorth,strongandfree.

KhodaHafez,amessage toourIranian-Canadian friends

JOHN WESTON

Contributingwriter

It’soneofthosemajor lifeironies,the kindyouneverforgetonceyoulearn it.

DuringmyyearsasMemberof Parliamentfor West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-SeatoSkyCountry, Iwasappointed Canada’sfirstGovernmentLiaisonto the IranianCommunity.Itwasinthat role that I cametounderstandthatCyrus the Great, founder ofthePersianEmpire,is remembered in the Hebrew Bibleastheliberatorof theJewishpeople,theking whofreed them from Babyloniancaptivityin539 BC.

Thatironycametomindwithfullforce lastweek, asIsrael joinedtheUnitedStates inattackingIran,themodern officialname

ofthecountrythatoccupiesmuchof that same regionformerlyknownas“Persia.”

WhenCanadasevereddiplomatic relationswithIranin2012,itleftmorethan 200,000Iranian-Canadianswithoutaformal bridgebetweenthemselvesand the governmentoftheirother country.During mytime as MP,agroupofextraordinary Canadians of Iranianbackground,mostfromtheNorth Shore,ralliedtoformaCanadian-Iranian SteeringCommittee to helpservetheinterestsofalargecommunitythat strovefor recognitionandfor remediestoadiplomatic void.

Together,wepromotedPersianculture,celebrateddemocraticvaluesand demonstratedwhatitmeans to build understandingbetweenpeoplesevenwhen

governmentscannot.

Isentamessage,paraphrasedbelow,to themembersof that SteeringCommittee thisweek.Ishareitherebecausethevalues theytaughtme,and the civilizationthey represent,belongtousall.

Someofthosevaluesspokepowerfully throughthewordsofSaadiShirazi, the 13th-centuryPersianpoetwhoseverse adornsthewallof the UnitedNationsbuildinginNew York: Allhumanbeingsaremembers ofoneframe, Sinceall,atfirst,fromthesameessence came.

Whentimeafflictsalimbwithpain Theotherlimbscannotat rest remain. Ifthoufeelnotforother’s misery, Ahumanbeingisnonameforthee.

Iran’shorrible regimehassystematically murderedandoppresseditsownpeople, whilesponsoringterroristorganizationsand destabilizingthe region.Thoseactions,culminatingin recentstrikes,“haveafflicted a limbwithpain,”and“theotherlimbscannot remainat rest.”

Here’sthemessageIsenttomembers oftheformerCanadian-IranianSteering Committee:

DearFriends,

Whileyou’reindifferentplacesandin somecaseswehavebeenoutoftouch,Iwant toexpressmysadnessthatwarhasdescended uponthecountryofyourorigin.

Invariousways,eachofyoujoinedwith metopromotePersiancultureinCanadaand

MAILBOX

COMMUNITY WILL GREATLY MISS WALDORF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

RE:Closureof WaldorfHighSchoolLeaves StudentsInShock,March11newsstory

DearEditor:

Ijoinwiththeparents,students,and heartbrokenstaffof WaldorfHighSchool thatadecisionhashadtobemadetoclose theschoolbecauseoffinancialconstraints. AspartofthecongregationofHighlands United Church,I wanttoexpresshowdeeply thepresenceofthe Waldorfstudentshas enrichedourcommunity.

Theirdailycomingsandgoingshave beenaconstantsourceofjoyandpleasant surprises–they’realwaysnoticingif someoneispassingbyor needinghelpwith an awkwarddoor.I recallanoccasion when Iwascarryingaheavyloadandastudent gentlypulledaclassmateasidebythesleeve tomake roomformepass. We allshared a littlechuckleaboutit.

Iwasespeciallymoved by theconcern expressedfortransyouthwhofound Waldorftobeasafeandwelcomingspaceto growandlearn.Highlands Churchhasalso committedtobeingpublic, intentional, and explicit aboutbeing aplacefor2SLGBTQIA+ folk.As wealongwithmanyothers advocateforgender-affirmingcareacross allinstitutions,itmaybesmallcomfortto knowthe North VancouverSchoolBoardhas committedtothesamething.Letall hope andpraythatevery studentfindsaplaceto

legalityand content. The News also reservestheright to publishanyand/orallletterselectronically.

landthatcelebrates them for whotheyare.

Theschoolthatthechurchhousedfor allthesedecadeswillbesorelymissed,but especiallythewonderfullyunique brandof youngpeopleitattracted tothe Village.

RossWhite North Vancouver

March18,2026

AfterKhamenei:Relief,Fear,andtheRuleofLaw

DearEditor:

Itisverysadnewsthatthe Vancouver WaldorfSchoolwillcloseits high school at theendofthe2026schoolyear. Having workedattheschoolfor27years,I have seenlotsofstudentsflourish at the school

Itisnotjustaschoolforspeciallearners, butaschoolthatnourishesallaspects of thehumanbeingsothatstudents have the opportunitytoexpandtheirtotalnature, whetheritisacademic, athletic, artistic, entrepreneurialormanyotheravenuesthat piquetheirinterests.

Ihavebeenintouchwithmanygraduateswhohaveexpressedtheirgratitudefor theireducationattheschool,with many sayingthatafterfinishingGrade12, going intothirdyearuniversitywouldbeacademicallymorefittingforthem. Truly, thehigh school gifted themwithskills thatwere muchappreciated and servedwellintheir post-secondarystudies.

Thereishopethattherewill be ways tobringitbacksothatthislegacycan continue.

RonayeIreland

North Vancouver

Greatness isinpeople,

tocelebratefreedom,humanrights,the ruleof law,anddemocracyeverywhere.

Togetherwepursuedvaluesto whichwe committedinmyroleastheGovernment LiaisontotheCanadian-IranianCommunity: Freedom,Responsibility, Equality, Compassion, andIntegrity.

Eachofyou,separatelyandtogether, taughtme aboutthe gloriesofPersiaand aboutthevasthumanpotentialof Iran.

Eachofyoutouchedmeand othersin a powerfulway, showingustheamazingworld that couldgreetusallifwegavepeaceand democracyachance.

Iknowyouhavemixedemotionsthis morning.

Ijustwanttothankyou for thenobleway youhaverepresentedthetruegreatnessof Iraninthelivesofmany,includingme.

Ineverdid fulfillmydreamoflearning

not regimes

Farsi.ButIlearnedatleastonephrasethat meansmoretometodaythan it everhas: “KhodaHafez,”“MayGodprotectyou.”

Eachofyouandallofyouare in ourfamily’s prayerstoday,asistheNationofIran. Whateverunfoldsin the daysahead, I believewhatmyIranian-Canadian friends showedme remainstrue:thatthegreatness of acivilizationlivesinitspeople,notinits regime.TheCanadiansIworkedalongside carriedwiththemsomething thatno missile can reach,thespiritofaculturethatgave theworldits firstdeclarationofhuman rightsontheCyrusCylindernearly26 centuriesago,andthateightcenturieslater, throughSaadiShirazi, remindedusthatwe areallmembersof a whole.

KhodaHafez,Iran.

John WestonservedasmemberofParliament for West Vancouver-SunshineCoast-SeatoSky Countryfrom2008to2015.

Donald Trump’sannouncementthat ajointU.S.–Israelioperationkilled Iran’sSupremeLeader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,triggered aprofoundly mixedreactionhereonthe NorthShore.

FormanyofIraniandescent, it was amomenttheyneverbelievedthey wouldsee.Forothers,itraisesgrave questionsaboutinternational law, precedent,andescalation.AstheMP forNorth Vancouver- Capilano,I cannotpretendthosetensionsdo notexist -orthatonestatementcan neatlyresolvethem.

IhaveheardfrommanyIranian Canadianswhoarefranklyjubilant. Theyortheirfamilieshave lived throughexecutions,torture,the crushing ofdissent,anddecadesof genderapartheidundertheIslamic Republic.TheyseeKhameneinot as adistantheadofstate,butas thearchitectof asystemthat exiled them,scarredthem,andstole people theyloved.Forthem,hisdeathis notanabstractionbuttheendofa manwhopresidedoversomeofthe darkestchaptersoftheirlives.

We musthonourthatlived experience.Itisnot“celebrating violence”torecognizethatpeople whohavesufferedunderabrutal regimemayfeelrelief,evenjoy,when itsmostpowerfulfigureisremoved. Itisanhonesthumanreactionto decadesofrepression.AsCanadians, weshouldlistenwithhumilityto thosestories,andrememberthatour foreignpolicydebatesare,formany ofourneighbours,intenselypersonal.

At thesame time,wecannotavoid the hardquestionsabouthow thelaunch ofmilitaryoperationsand thekilling ofIran’sseniorleadershipoccurred. Ruleof law

Theseoperationstookplaceon foreignsoil,outsideanydeclared war,againstthetopofficialsof asovereignstate. Anumberof legalscholarsand international organizationshavesuggestedthat, primafacie,theseactionsmayappear inconsistentwith international law andriskerodingtherulesmeantto restrain greatpowers.Thoserules arenotacademic.Theyarethesame oneswe invoketodefendUkraine againstaggression,tocondemnthe downingofFlightPS752,andto protectcivilians caught in conflict. Canada’scommitmentto arulesbasedordermattersmostwhen it is uncomfortable -whengreatpowers, includingourallies, stretchortest thoserules.Acknowledginggoodfaithquestionsaboutthe legality ofthiswardoesnotdiminishthe Iranianregime’sterriblecrimesor confuseoppressorwithoppressed. Itsimplyinsiststhat international law andnormsapplyuniversally. Intheweeksahead,Parliamentwill examineCanada’sresponse.My commitmenttoyouisthis: Iwill continuetostronglysupportthe Iranianpeople’sstruggleforfreedom andjustice,whilealsoworkingto ensurethatfutureactionsaretakenin accordancewithinternationallawand thatfurtherescalationofthecurrent conflictisavoided. We oweyou honestyaboutthedangers,empathy forlivedexperiences,and aforeign policythatkeepsfaithwithboth.

vingWith acular generation?

CityofNorth Vanapproves newCentral LonsdaleBIA

BRENT RICHTER

brichter@nsnews.com

CentralLonsdalebusinessownershave clearedthelasthurdles requiredtoset upabusinessimprovementarea.

Themovewillseecommercialproperty ownersontheLonsdale Avenuecorridor betweenHighway1and VictoriaPark chargedanextralevy peryearontopof theirannualtaxes.

Themoneywill be earmarkedfor beautificationprojects,specialeventsand marketinginitiativeschosen by anelected board ofdirectorsto benefittheneighbourhood’sbusinessesasawhole.

TheCentralLonsdaleBIAwillstart witha budgetof$600,000. For theowner ofacommercialunitassessedatthe$1.1 million median,thatwillmeananextralevy of about$485 peryear.For largerbusiness ownerswithpropertiesinthe$5million range,itwill resultinabout$2,200more per year.

Butthe non-profitsocietylookingto establish aCentralLonsdaleBIA first hadtocleara“petitionagainst”process carriedout by the city–asortof reverse referendum.

Underthe process, 50percentofthe propertyowners representing50percent of theassessedvalueofthelandwithinthe areawouldhavetoformally registertheir disapprovalinordertohaltthecreationof a BIA.

According toacitystaff report,76 ownerspetitionedagainstthe BIAproposal – 26.9percentoverall.Their properties accountedfor14.7percentoftheassessed commercialpropertyvaluewithintheBIA.

ForadvocatesoftheBIA,thosewerethe resultstheywerelookingfor.

“Thatlevelofsupportisbothsignificant andencouraging.Itshowsthatastrong majorityof businessesand propertyowners believethatworkingcollectivelythrough a BIAcanhelpstrengthenCentralLonsdale’s economicvitalityandlong-termsuccess,” HenyMustikasaritoldcouncilmembersat theirMarch9meeting.“Tonight’s decision representsanopportunitytosupportthe broader businesscommunityandtomove forward with aframeworkthat allows CentralLonsdaletogrow, strengthenand worktogetherforthe benefitoftheentire district.”

Councilmemberscongratulatedthe businesscommunityonthe resultandpredictedgoodthingsfortheneighbourhood.

“I recognizethatsupport hasn’t necessarily beenunanimousandthat

participationcomeswithacost,butIthink thismodelhasbeenverysuccessfulacross theprovincetostrengthenlocalcommercial areas,”saidCoun. Tony Valente.“Ithinkthat energycanhelpusasacitytobringthe streetstolifeaswell,andI’mprettyexcited aboutthat.”

Coun.HollyBack,aformersmallbusinessowner,addressedthosewhoworried aboutthesizeofthelevyandexpressed faiththataBIAwouldbeacatalystfor greaterprosperity.

“Thebusinesseswilldefinitely,definitely benefitfromthis.Andmaybeifsomeof themdon’tseeitrightnow,theywillseeit alongthe road.Theyonlyhavetolookat theLowerLonsdaleBIA – they’vedone a fantasticjobongettingallthebusinesses together,smallandlarge.”

DespitebeingachampionforBIAsat thecounciltableinthepast – includingfor CentralLonsdale – MayorLindaBuchanan wasthelonenayvote.Buchanansaidshe agreedwiththeBIA’s goalsof revitalization, beautification, andeconomicdevelopment butshecalledforapauseintheprocess, citinginflation,insurance,tariffsandwider uncertaintyintheglobaleconomy.

“Rightnow,smallbusinessesarefacing extraordinarypressures,”shesaid.“Taking ashortpausetoensurethetimingisright willultimatelyleadtoastronger,more successfulprogram.”

SLOWDOWN

Copclocks12 playground zone speeders

JANESEYD

jseyd@nsnews.com

“Ihadtogethometo walkmydog.”

That’soneoftheexcuses driversgavetopolicewhen theywerenabbedinaspeed trapnearaNorth Vancouver playgroundlastweek.

Andthatdriverwasn’t aloneintheirlead-footways.

Apoliceofficerdoing speedenforcementnear ArborlynnParkin Lynn Valleycaughtandticketed 12speeders racingdownthe streetinjustonehouron themorningofFeb27.

Cpl.MansoorSahak, spokespersonforthe North Vancouver RCMP,notedthe speedinthepostedplaygroundareais30kilometres perhour,yetvehicleswereclocked goingup to62 km/h.

in onehour

Nature &Luxury in Harmony

Speeding tickets handed out rangedfrom $196to$253.

Sahaknotedthespeedingenforcement neartheplaygroundwascarriedout in responsetoneighbourhoodcomplaints aboutdrivers flooringitthroughthearea.

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SEASPANSHIPYARDS

Engineersspend Women’s Day buildingbikes for kids

ABBY LUCIANO aluciano@nsnews.com Local JournalismInitiativeReporter

Laughterfilledthe roomatthe MuseumofNorth VancouverMonday, March9asnearly70women from SeaspanShipyardsassembled children’sbikesfortheNorthShore Neighbourhood House.

Theengineersweredividedinto groupstobuild14miniaturebikes, installingthenecessities of wheels,brakes andhandlebarsalongwithstickers, ribbonsandflashinglightsasfun finishing touches.

The“bikebuild-a-thon”allowedthe Seaspanemployeestogivebackto thecommunitywhile alsocelebrating International Women’s Dayinafunand meaningfulway. The bikeswill be used in theNorthShoreNeighbourhoodHouse’s youngparentprogram.

“Thesebikeswill be helpfultosome kidsinneed,”said AmritGrewal,manager of electronicengineeringatSeaspanand eventorganizer,addingthatshelovedto seethepersonaltouchesthatwereadded tothebikes.“It’sspecificallydecorated withintent.It’sjustso heartwarming.”

GrewalsaidSeaspanhasplanned eventsforInternational Women’sDay inthepast,addingthatthe2026 theme “givetogain” resonatedwith theSeaspan engineers.Thebikebuildingexercisewas aperfectfit,shesaid.

“Ourideawasthattheyspend some time witheachother,find that community and supportthatthey’re lookingfor,” Grewalsaid.“Shipbuilding or engineeringingeneralisverycompetitive,very

focusedontasksandwhatnot.”

EngineerBiankaLabelle-Robert found assemblingthebikes rewarding.

“Bikesareagreatthing for kidsto have,”shesaid.“Havingsomethingthat we candoforthecommunityisamazing Itdefinitelymakesitfeellikethetimewe spent[wewere]building ournetwork,but alsogivingsomethingback.”

Labelle-Robertandhergroup built“DirtDevil,”agreenbikewith

construction-themedstickersand yellow, green andblueribbons danglingfrom the handlebars.

Gettinghands-on withthebikeswasa lotof fun, saidLabelle-Robert,addingthat theeventalsohaddeeper meaningforthe womentakingpart.

“Havingacommunity of womenwithin thecompanythatyoucan reach out to, gettheiradvice,Ithinkit’shuge,” she said.“It’saprettydiversecompany too,

sowomencanfeelconnected…wehave peoplecomingfromallovertheworld, sotheycanhavea sense ofcommunity withinthecompany,whichisgreat.”

Womenmakeupabout20percentof theengineersatSeaspan,Grewal said, addingthattheshipbuildingcompanyis hopingtogrowthatnumbertoatleast30 percentby2030through recruitmentinitiativesinschools,post-secondaryco-ops andtheirgrad rotationprogram.

“We’retryingtoattackitatdifferent levels,”Grewalsaid.

Progressisalreadyunderway, said Labelle-Robert,whohas seen things start tochangesinceshejoinedSeaspanin 2020.

“You see morewomenjoiningengineering[ingeneral], so ithelpswithbeing abletohiremorewomen,” shesaid.“I thinkthatdiverseteamsingeneralhelp becausepeopleseethingsdifferently.”

Afterthebikeswereassembled, theyweretakentotheNorthShore NeighbourhoodHouse.ExecutiveDirector LisaHubbardwastouchedbythe generosity.

“[Thekids]aregoingtobethrilled,” saidHubbard.“Foraparentwhomayor maynotbeabletoprovidethatfortheir child,thisjusttakesonethingofftheirlist and supportsthemwiththe stress of not havingenoughtobuyabike.”

“Itwillbenefitthekidsfrom starting theirjourneywithbikeridingandfitting in,”sheadded.“Itdoesmakeanimpact.” AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousandcivic affairsreporterfortheNorthShoreNews. Thisreportingbeatismadepossible by the LocalJournalismInitiative.

604-929-9201 admissions@brocktonschool.com www.brocktonschool.com @BrocktonSchool

COASTALESCAPES

ONNOWUNTIL -APR. 5AT4:00PM

SilkPurseArtsCentre,1570Argyle Avenue,West Vancouver

PaintersLisaArthur,ShwetaPatil &Phoebe Tsuiexplorethe emotional resonance &senseofbelongingfoundinour coastallandscapeswithworksranginginstylefrom representationaltoabstract.

https://westvanartscouncil.ca/event-6512345?utm_ source=nsnews.com&utm_medium=referral

LENNON &MCCARTNEY -INTHEIROWNWORDS ANDMUSIC

APR 9AT7:30PM -9:30PM

CentennialTheatre,2300Lonsdale Avenue,North Vancouver

StepinsidethestoryofJohnLennonandPaulMcCartneylikenever before.Thisisn’tjust atributeshow.

https://www.showpass.com/lennon-mccartney-in-theirown-words-and-music/?utm_source=nsnews.com&utm_ medium=referral

THEPOLYGONGALLERY:TANIAWILLARD:PHOTOLITHICS

ONNOWUNTIL -MAY 24 AT 5:00PM

ThePolygonGallery,101CarrieCatesCourt,North Vancouver

Theexhibitionis Willard’sfirstsincewinningthe2025SobeyArt Award—Canada’sbiggestcontemporaryartprize —andisher largestsoloshowtodate.

https://thepolygon.ca/exhibition/tania-willardphotolithics/?utm_source=nsnews.com&utm_medium=referral

dancersfromtheNorth

Soul version)at Park Royal South Sundayafternoon to bring unityandpeacein response to theongoingglobal conflicts

MALLMOVEMENT

Flashmob calls forunityand peace duringglobal conflicts

ABBY

LUCIANO

aluciano@nsnews.com

Local JournalismInitiativeReporter Shopperscheckingoutthestoresat ParkRoyalSundayafternoonwerein forasurpriseasthe floorquicklytransformedintothesiteofanemotional danceperformance.

Morethan20dancersdressedinwhite brokeoutasweatto“Papaoutai-(Afro Soul)”atthe West Vancouvermalltoshow humanity,unityandpeace in responseto ongoingglobalconflicts.

theyweresearchingforisthemselvesas a unitedgroup.

Thechoreography reflects thesame journey.

“Danceisuniversal,sowe canexpress ourfeelings,gobeyondborder, go beyond politics and saywe are here,”saidMolavi. “Weare[the]voiceofthevoiceless …we areheretohelp.”

Neartheendoftheperformance, Molaviandotherdancersheld a banner ofapoemfromIranianpoet SaadiShirazi, writteninbothEnglish andFarsi.

On viewnow

LiliMolavi, flashmoborganizer and Zumbateacher,saidthe“igniteand unite” flashmobideacameaftermorethan 30,000peoplediedduringthe January 8-9 protestsin Iran.

“I grewupinthe war and revolution and Ifeltthepainofallthemothers who have lostchildren,”saidMolavi. “Alsowiththe growingcrisisintheMiddleEast,Ifeellike we allneedtounderstand we are part of a bigfamily, we needtocometogether.”

Molaviunderstandsthefeeling of leavingyourhomeovernight. In her early 20s,she fledIranandmovedtoNorth Vancouver,andhascalled it homeever since.

Sunday’s flashmobwas inspired by ConferenceoftheBirds,anancient Persianstorypublished in 1177byAttar of Nishapur.Thepoem is aboutbirdsin searchofaleader who cansavetheworld. Theytravelthroughsevenstagesoftransformation,butintheendonly30birds reachthedestination, realizing theleader

Molavisaidthepoem reminds usthat “humanbeings are partofonebody.When onepartsuffers,thewholebodyfeels the pain.”

Thepoemisalsoondisplay at the UnitedNationsbuildinginNew YorkCity, showingthepoem’s message isuniversal, shesaid.

“Papaoutai”wasalso an intentional choice,intertwiningwiththe ancient story. Thesongaskstheuniversalquestionof “whereis guidance and protection,” Molavi said.The flashmobdancersweremeant to representbirds calling out,notonlyfor afather,butforwisdom, compassion and responsibilityfromhumanity.

“Itbecomesasymbolic call to all nations,all communities andallpeopleto ask–how can weprotectthe childrenof theworld?”shesaid.

InJanuary, acall outwassenttothe Vancouver and North Shore Zumba communitiestoseewhowouldbeinterested in

Dancerstake over Park Royal

beingpartoftheflashmob.DeniseGalay, fitnessprofessionalandfounder of Zumba Vancouver,cameupwith thechoreography,whileKarenKobel,aPilatesinstructor at KahlenaMovementStudio,helped piecethedancemovestogether andlead rehearsals.

Thehardworkpaidoff,saidKobel.

“It’ssoexcitingtolookupandseehow manypeoplearestandingthere takingin thatexperiencewithyou.”

LyndaSingwasoneofthemanydancerswhohappilytook part.

“It’s suchatragedywhat’shappening allovertheworldwiththedifferentwars thatarehappening,”Singsaid.“There’s so muchthatwecandoifwecometogether peacefullyandtrytostandforhumanity…. I’m reallygratefulthatpeoplecameand saw us.”

Duringtheperformance,shoppers stoppedandwatchedtheheartfeltperformance,someclappingalongwhileothers becametearyeyed.

ForMolavi,itwashardnottogetteary eyedtoo.

“It’sthepresenceoflove,”shesaid.“It’s big emotions becausethisiswhatweneed moreintheworld. We needmore unity.”

Shewaspleasedtogivethecrowd a

ThechoreographyofSunday’s flashmob channels “Conferenceofthe Birds,” an ancient Persian storyaboutbirdstrying to findaleader.

ABBY LUCIANO / NSN

welcomesurpriseaswellassomethingto thinkabout.

“[Itwas]amomenttopauseand reflect onwhat’sgoingonaroundthe world,” Molavisaid. “Itseems liketheygot the energythat we needed.”

Watchasnippetofthe flash mobdown below.

AbbyLucianoistheIndigenous and civic affairsreporterfor theNorth ShoreNews. Thisreportingbeat ismadepossibleby the LocalJournalismInitiative.

With Charlie Demers,MargaretGallagher,WileyWei-Chiun Ho, TaraMcGuire,JJLee,SophieSullivan, LindsayMaple,KatrinaKwan, Kung Jaadee, FrancesKoncan, SelinaBoan, Ashleigh Giffen, AdèleBarclayand more!

BY CHEYENNE ROULEAU BYCHEYENNEROULEAU

If youmissedour initialReadersChoice/A-List Awards websitelaunch,it’snot toolate. Forjust$299, youget afullyearofvisibilitywith yourowndedicated bioand adirecthyperlink. Secure your spoton theReadersChoiceA-Listtoday.

JANESEYD jseyd@nsnews.com

Alliedalsocalculated$101,000ininterest.

Theshipbuilderprovidedaffidavits detailing howitservednoticeofthelawsuit through registeredmailto Vancouver CruisesinMayof2025.

Butthecompanyfailed to fileastatement of defence.

North Vancouver’sAlliedShipbuilders hasbeengrantedadefaultjudgment ofmorethanhalfamilliondollars against Vancouver Cruises,whichthe shipbuildersaysowesmoneyforwork doneontheQueenofDiamondsparty boat.

AccordingtodocumentsfiledinFederal Court,Allieddid repairsontheshipand providedinspectionsin2024aspartofits required five-yeardockingandinspectionto maintaincompliance withfederalshipping regulations.

Accordingtocourtdocuments,averbal agreementtodothe work wasmadein Marchof2024betweenChuckKo,the head ofAlliedShipbuilders,andtheheadof VancouverCruises.

The work was carriedoutbetweenMarch andMay2024,includingultrasonictestingof theship’shull.

Alliedissuedinvoicesforthework,which werepartiallypaidbythecruisecompany.

Buttheshipbuildersaidmorethan $413,000ofthatbillhas remainedunpaid

Ina decision handeddowninFederal CourtFeb.10,JusticeRichardSouthcott granteda defaultjudgmenttoAlliedagainst thecruisecompany,includingmorethan $413,000inunpaid repair bills andmore than$101,000ininterest.

Accordingtoitswebsite, VancouverCruises.com provides party cruisesaround VancouverHarbour,False Creekandthe West Vancouvershorelinefor graduationeventsand publiceventslike Valentine’s dinnerand dancecruises,Latin dancecruises,weddingsandcorporate functions.

Thecompanyoperatestwoships,the QueenofDiamondsanditslargersister ship,theAbitibi.

TheQueenofDiamondsisdescribed asa128-footvesselthatcanaccommodate groupsofupto380people.

Filmindustrygood forlocal businesses, says ChamberCEO

developmentfirmNuytco.

Theamountoflights, cameraandaction on theNorthShorewasdownabout20 to30percentin 2025comparedtothe yearbefore,butstilldramaticallyhigher than2023whenHollywoodwriterand actorstrikeshaltedallbutthesmallest productions.

“Tariffthreatsfromthesouthgavethe industryalittlebitofpauseatthebeginning of lastyear,butsincethenthelasttwo quartersoflastyearandthefirst quarterof thisyearhavebeenbusy.It’sbeengreat,” saidJenniferJenatka,theDistrictofNorth Vancouver’sliaisontofilmproductions.

B.C.’sfilmindustrytendstobeinversely proportionalwiththestrengthofthedollar. Whenthedollarislow,itmakesCanada moreattractivetoU.S.studios.Thereis alsothesystemoftaxcreditsofferedbythe provincetosweetenthedeal.Thoseincentivesweremademoregenerouslast May.

“Theyaregettingalotmore inquiries becauseofthetaxcreditsandIhaveto saythewaytheprovincedoesitisvery clever,”saidClareHusk,theCityofNorth Vancouver’sfilmco-ordinator.“Youonlyget taxcreditsonpeoplethatareonpayroll that paytaxin B.C.”

Localstatisticsonthe economicimpacts ofthefilmbusinessarehardtocomeby, butCreativeBC,theprovince’s filmpromotionagency,estimatesthat$2.3billion wasspentbytheindustryin2023.Inbusier years,thatcanbe wellover$5billion.

North VancouverChamberCEOPatrick Stafford-Smithsaidbeyondthewagespaid tocrewmembers,theeconomicspinoffs wouldbesignificant.

“Thesecreativeproductionstouch manylocalbusinesses,fromconstructionsupplierstocaterersandflorists. A singleproductioncaninjecthundredsof thousandsofdollarsintolocalbusinesses, supportingourfriendsandneighbours,”he said.

Themassive dive tankatNuytco’s Lower Lonsdalesubmarine research anddevelopment firm is converted to a filmset fortheupcomingNetflixmovie ‘RemarkablyBrightCreatures.’ CNV North Vancouver’sCivicPlaza is converted to aset forapharmaceutical

It’ssomethingJanetkasaidshesees firsthand.

“Businessisbooming hereandwhen productionscomeandset up shophere andwhenthey’reworking outof North ShoreStudios,weknowthatthey’re

engagingwiththebusinessesinthearea,” Janetkasaid.

Andthereareotherspinoff benefitsfurtherdownthelineincludingtourismdriven bypeoplecomingtoseepopular filming

locations.Everyyear,theMurdoFrazer cabininMurdoFrazerParkdrawsinvisitorswhowanttoseetheon-screenhomeof VirginRiver’s maincharacter,Janetkasaid.

Morethanfacilitating filming,Huskand Janetkaarebothtaskedwithensuringlocal crewsdon’tsteponthetoesof residents when“circuses”–theindustrytermforthe convoyoftrucksthatcomewithalocation shoot–cometotown.

Sometimesthatmeanslimitingthe numberofdaysthatacrewmaytakeup astreet’sparking,or restrictingwhatcan andcan’tbeshotonlocalstreets.But,Husk said,crewsmakeapointofcausingaslittle disruptionaspossible.A recentlyshot policechaseonLonsdalewasevidenceof that.

“Itwasdonesowell,sofast.Itwassuch awell-oiledlittlebitof filmingthatIdoubt, unlessyouwereactuallyonthoseblockson Lonsdale,youwouldhaveknownwehad filmingthere,letaloneacarchasegoing fromLoloLane.”

Districtparksarepopularwithlocation scouts,andcrewstendtoleavethembetter conditionthantheyfoundthem,Janetka added.

“Ithink filmingonthewholeiswell received.Ithink residents reallyunderstand theeconomicbenefitstoourcommunity andtheprovinceasawhole,”shesaid.“A lotofour filmcrewsare residentsonthe NorthShoresothere’saspecialattachment betweenthe film industryandtheNorth Shore.”

To helpkeepalidonspoileralerts, industryfolkslikeHuskandJanetkahave tosignnon-disclosureagreementsthat preventthemfromdishingaboutwhat’s filmingnow.Buttwoofthethreebiggest productionsinB.C.havedatesbookedon theNorthShore,Husksaid.

Ithasbeen reportedthattheaward-winningPlaystationgame Godof War isbeing adaptedinMetro Vancouver,andthe big budgetproductionsof TheLastofUs and Shogun arealsonow filming.

Good Friday April 3~12p.m.

HolySaturday April 4~10a.m. -4 p.m.

EasterSunday April 5~10a.m.

Neptune News–March 2026

Celebrating Womenin WaterfrontIndustries

At Neptune Terminals, we prideourselvesonour strongleadershipand commitment to inclusion,which underpin aprogressiveandsupportive workplace. Wehavewomeninleadership rolesacrosstheorganization, startingwithour president,alongside rolesin communication,legal,human resources,finance, foursuperintendentsandmore.Every dayNeptune strives to create asupportive environmentwherewomencanthriveandbuildcareersin atraditionallymaledominatedindustry.

Oneofthenewest teammembersisJenniferSartorius,whojoined Neptunethis January. Jenniferbringsmorethan30 yearsof experience, mostrecently working at Howe Sound Pulpand Paper.With extensive maintenanceexperienceanda backgroundas amillwright by trade,shehasbuilt acareergroundedin technical skill,problem-solving,andhands-on expertise.

ForJennifer,Neptune wastheideal choice: achancetotakeonsomethingnew withouthaving to relocate herfamily.Itwas amove that offeredbothprofessional growthandpersonalstability —acombinationshedescribes as a“great opportunity.” So far, thetransitionhasbeen apositiveone.

“It’s beengreat,”sheshares.“Theteam isso strongalready,and everyoneis friendlyandwilling to share theirknowledge.”

AsJennifer continuestosettleintoher role,she’sfocusingondefiningand developingher responsibilitieswhilelearningNeptune’soperationsand systems. One of the mostencouragingaspectsofher experience so farhasbeenthe strong female representationinthe workplace. “Thereare morewomen working herethanI’veeverseenin my 30-yearcareer,”shenotes. “It’s greattoseesucha progressiveworkenvironment.”

JenniferdescribesNeptuneasinclusiveand forward-thinking,andshe’slooking forwardtocontinuing to learnandgrow withthe company. Her journeyreflects thebroadermomentum of womenenteringand excellingin non-traditional industries—bringingskill,leadership,andfreshperspectives to rolesthatare reshapingthefutureofindustrial workplaces.

Neptune Terminalshasbeenpartofthe North Shore for almost60years. We aredrivenbyourcommitmenttosafe, environmentallyresponsibleoperations,considerationforourneighbours,andsupportforourlocalcommunity.

KeepingGirls inBaseball

Amovement to keepgirlsinbaseballisgaining momentumontheNorthShore, thanksto leadershipfromlocallittleleaguesand strong communitysupport. Teams on theNorthShore, D5inbaseballgeography, see steadyparticipation fromgirls at the youngestlevels,but as they age, participation drops sharply.“Historically,girls move to softballorleave thesportaltogether at aroundagesnineor10,” explains StevePipkey, Past PresidentofWestVancouverLittle League. “Wewant to create apathway wheregirlscan keepplayingbaseballand theadditional, directedfundingfromNeptunewillsupport thisimportantinitiative.”

Thepush comesatanexcitingtime forwomen’s baseballinNorthAmericawiththelaunchof the Women’sProfessionalBaseball Leaguein the U.S. to whichseverallocalplayershave been drafted, piquing furtherinterestingirls’baseball.

Determined to keeploweringbarriers to entry, Stevegot agrantfrom Parksand Recreation Canada to helplaunchaffordabledevelopment opportunities.Earlyefforts arefocused onlowcost clinicsled by female coaches,ensuring young players couldseethemselves reflected onthefield.

At theprovinciallevel,BaseballBChasalso madegirlsbaseball apriority.Theorganization hostedasummerleaguelastyear,whichthe D5 Lionessesproudly won,and continues to build competitiveopportunities. Registrationisnow open, andorganizerssaytheywon’tturnanyone away.Theprogram welcomesgirls whowant to playexclusivelyon agirls’ team,as wellasthose whowish to participate inboththeirhomeLittle Leagueandthededicateddivisionjustforgirls.

Forregistrationdetails,visit: wvll.ca/programs/d5-lionesses

LeadershipThroughService

TheCommunityInitiativesand Leadershipprogram at Carson GrahamSecondarySchool continues to have ameaningful impactbothwithintheschooland throughout the community.

ThisGrade10–12 course,now inits tenth year,isatfullcapacity with 40 students enrolled(from over 120applicants). Meeting weekly after school, studentsdevelop leadershipskillsthrough hands-on service—building experiencein publicspeaking, eventplanning, teamwork, work readiness,and FOODSAFE certification.

This year,studentshave:

•WithsupportfromNeptune, hostedregular community dinners at theschool,serving an averageof 70–80guests (withup to 150 at larger events).

•Organizedseasonaloutreach initiatives,includingloading backpackswithessentials to sharewith community membersinneed.

•Participatedinleadershipbuilding experiencessuchas aropes courseandanannual sleepout at theschool to raise funds forCovenantHouse.

Do youenjoyreadingaboutactivitiesinyour

Patienttrappedin apartmentbuilding elevator withparamedics

JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com

Apatienthaving a medicalemergency in a West VancouverapartmentbuildinglastJulywas trappedinanelevator withthreeambulanceparamedics for25minutes,according toa recent report.

Gettingtrappedintheelevatormeant a delayingettingthepatienttohospital.

Accordingtothe reportby Technical SafetyBC,theincidenthappenedonJuly 21, 2025, whenBCEmergency HealthServices weredispatchedtoanolderapartment buildingin West Vancouver.Ambulanceservicesweredispatched aftera911call about a personhaving a medicalemergency in an apartment onthe 14thfloor.

Afterparamedicsloadedthe patient on astretcher andgotintheelevator,the elevatorbegandescending“whilemaking scrapingnoises”andpausingbrieflyonthe 12th, 11thand10thfloorswithoutopening, beforestoppingatthelobby.Theelevator then remainedtherewithoutthedoors openinguntilthefire departmentarrived andpriedthedoorsopenusingthe Jaws ofLife.

Inthe reportontheincident, Technical SafetyBCnotedtheincidenthappened

ina1968,18-storey apartmentbuilding whichhad twoelevators.Oneelevatorwas receivingamajor upgradeatthetime, and

completionofthatworkhadbeendelayed, leavingthebuildingwith onlyoneworking elevatorfortwoyears.Having oneelevator

outofservicealsoledtoheavyuseofthe remainingelevator.

The reportnotedtheelevatorhad received routinemaintenanceandinspectionwhichhadbeensignedoffbyan elevatormechanicjustthreemonthsprior Inthetwomonthspriortotheincident, however,theelevatorhadbrokendownsix times.

The reportconcludedthatworncomponentsontheelevatorhadlikelybeen left inplacebecauseofongoingworkonthe secondelevator.Theparamedicsholding thedooropenastheyloadedthestretcher intotheelevator resultedintheelevator doorderailingfromatrack,the report noted,adding“highuse,ageandwear madethedoormoresusceptibletocoming offthetrack.”

The reportaddedifparamedicshad beenprovidedakeyfromthebuilding managertooperatetheelevator in a special“independent”mode,itwouldhave preventedtheproblem.

TechnicalSafetyBCisagovernment-mandatedorganizationthatexaminesand reportsonthesafetyoftechnicalsystems andequipmentincludingelevators,boilers, ziplinesandamusementparkrides,among others.

HappyNowruz

Here’show to ringin Persian New Yearonthe North Shore

ABBY LUCIANO

aluciano@nsnews.com

Local JournalismInitiativeReporter

Springisjustaround thecorner,which meansvibrantcelebrationsareheadingtothe NorthShoreonceagain for Nowruz.

AlsoknownasPersian New Year,Nowruzis typicallya13-dayholiday recognizedbymany Persian,Kurdish,Baha’i, IsmailiandAfghanipeople,celebratingthefirst dayofspring.

Thereareatonof eventsandactivitieson theNorthShoretoringin thenewyear.

Herearesomeofthehighlights:

Sweetdessertpop-upatCapilanoMall ForallofMarch,North Vancouver bakeryDouganteSweet Momentsis holdingapop-upwithanassortment

ofhandcrafteddessertsforNowruz. Someofthosesweetofferingsinclude pistachio,cherry, hazelnutandNutella cookies,samanu,assorted driedfruits, assortedcakejarsandmuchmore.

When: NowuntilMarch31.

Where: CapilanoMall(935MarineDrive), unit86.

MusicforNowruzatthe West Van library

Enjoythearrivalofspringwithaspecial musicalperformance fromSainaKhaledi onsantour,AliSajjadionoudandAli Razmiontarat the West Vancouver MemorialLibrary. Light refreshments willbeservedwhile themusicisplaying. Registrationis requiredfor theevent.

When: Wednesday,March18,2to3p.m.

Where: West VancouverMemorial Library, WelshHall

Cost: Free. Registeron thelibrary’s website.

NowruzatthePolygonGallery

TheNorth VangalleryisholdingGolchin Vol.03,agatheringwithimmersive audiovisualperformancesandanart installationincelebrationofNowruz. AccordingtothePolygon,eachperformanceuseselementsofNowruzandthe symbolismofhaft-seen,“translatingritual objectsandseasonal thresholdsinto sound,light,andspatialexperience.”

When: Thursday,March19,6 to 9p.m.

Where: The PolygonGallery(101Carrie

Nowruz Mobarak!

CatesCourt,North Vancouver)

Cost: Free.RSVPonthePolygon’swebsite.

Danceworkshop at CivicPlaza

TheAcademyofMiddleEasternDanceis holdingafreedancetherapyworkshop foranyonetopartakein.

Participantswillbeinvitedtowear traditionalIranianclothingandareasked togatheraroundthehaft-seentableto celebrateNowruzandsharethebeautyof Iranianculturewiththecommunity.

“Inlightoftheemotionalandsensitive situationaffectingmanyIranianfamilies today,thisgatheringisintendedtobring amomentofhealing,hope,andconnectionthroughmusicandmovement,”said PoonehAlizadeh,artisticdirectorforthe AcademyofMiddleEasternDance.

When: Friday,March20,3to4p.m.

Where: CivicPlazainfrontofNorth VancouverCityHall(14114thStreet West)

Cost: Free AbbyLucianoistheIndigenousandcivic affairsreporterfortheNorthShoreNews. Thisreporting beat ismadepossible by the LocalJournalismInitiative.

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Member of Parliament

NorthVancouver-Capilano

Tel. 604-775-6333 |@jonathanwnv Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca

Weextendheartfelt Nowruz greetingstoeveryoneobserving this meaningful tradition. Maythisnew year be amomentof reflection, resilience,and shared hope fora brighter future for allcommunities whocherish this seasonof renewal.

PatrickWeiler

Member of Parliament

West Vancouver-Sunshine

Coast-SeatoSky Country

Tel. 604-913-2660 |@PatrickBWeiler

Patrick.Weiler@parl.gc.ca

HappyNowruz

Iranian-Canadiansmarknew year with grief and hope

HAMID JAFARI

Contributingwriter

FormanyIraniansonthe North Shore, thisyear’sNowruz–thePersian New Year–arriveswithmixed emotions.

Traditionallyatimeofcelebration, renewalandfamilygatherings,theholiday thisyearismarkedby reflection,solidarityandhopefor changefollowingmonths of turmoilinIran.

ZibaBiagoghli,anIranian-Canadian hairstylist who movedtoCanada16years agoandnowlivesin West Vancouver,says thisyear’sPersianNew Yearfeelsvery different.

“Thisyear,IwillnotcelebrateNowruz. TheatmosphereforNowruzdoesnotfeel thesameasitdidinpreviousyears.”

Nowruz,whichmarks the firstday ofspringandthestartofthe Persian calendar,is traditionallycelebrated with gatherings,festivemealsandthe preparationofahaft-seen table–asymbolic arrangementofsevenitems beginning withthePersianletter“S.”

ButBiagoghlisaidshewill notevenset

upthetraditionaldisplaythisyear.

“Nowruzisahistorictraditionfor Iranians.Iwillhonorit, butIhavedecided thatthisyearIwillnotevenset upahaftseentableinmyhome.”

Herdecision, shesaid, comesfrom a senseofsolidaritywithgrievingfamilies in Iran.

Theyear2026beganwithbloodshed inthestreets ofIran.Duringtheongoing uprising,calledbysomethe“Lionand Sun revolution,”tensofthousandsof peoplewere reportedlykilledinabrutal crackdownbytheIslamicRepublic.Some reportsestimatethatasmanyas36,500 peoplediedduringtheJan.8–9crackdownalone,makingitoneofthedeadliest protestmassacresinmodernhistory.

“ManymothersinIranareentering thisNowruzafterlosingtheirchildren – childrenwhogavetheirlivesforIran. Insolidarityandsympathywiththese mothers,Ihavechosennottocelebrate Nowruzthisyear,”saidBiagoghli.

Shehopes thenewyearwillbring majorpoliticalchange.

“I hopethat soon wewillhearthe newsofIran’s freedomfromtheIslamic Republicandcelebratethefallofthis regime. I hopetheIranianpeoplewill finallysee thefuturetheywant.”

SahraDilmaghanian, vice-president of theLionandSunorganizationanda West Vancouver resident,said Nowruzcarries deepermeaningthisyearforIranians aroundtheworld.

“Nowruz is ourtraditionalcelebration andhasbeenobservedbyIraniansfor many, manyyears,” shesaid.“Butthis yearistotallydifferent. It hasanother meaningforallIraniansaroundthe world.”

Forher, Nowruzhasbecomeboth a momentof remembranceandsolidarity.

“Thisyearwecelebrate Nowruz to keephopealiveandto rememberthe innocentpeoplewholosttheirlives for freedom,”shesaid.“Itisabouthope, new lifeandabetterfutureforourcountry.”

Dilmaghaniansaidthatdespitethe hardshipsmanypeoplefaceinsideIran,

conversationswithpeopleinthecountry reflectasenseofoptimism.

“Whenwespeakwithpeopleinside Iran,theytellusthateventhoughthey havelostfamilymembersandchildren duringthe revolutionagainstthe regime, theyhavenotlosthope,” shesaid.“They believeafreeIranwillcomeverysoon.”

InMetro Vancouver,shesaidmembers oftheIraniancommunityareplanning gatheringsandculturaleventsaround Nowruz,whilemanyfamilieswillstill preparethetraditionalhaft-seentableat home.

“Thisyearthehaft-seenisnotjust aboutcelebration,”shesaid.“Itisabout rememberinghopeandthepossibility of a newlifeforIranianseverywhere.”

Dilmaghaniansaiddemonstrations insupportofpeopleinIranarealso expectedtocontinue.

Despitetheuncertaintysurrounding Nowruzthisyear,Dilmaghaniansaidshe remainsoptimistic.

HappyNowruz

SombretonetoNowruz celebrationsas conflict ragesinIran

“AllIraniansshouldstay strongforfreedom,”shesaid.

“Wewillachievewhatwewant, andIranwillhaveabrightfuture again.”

BahmanSahami,knownas Nima,ownerandfounderofthe oldestPersianbookstoreinthe VancouverareaontheNorth Shore,believesthatNowruz will continueto remainanimportant culturaltradition.

“Nowruzhasbeenthemain culturaleventforIraniansfor thousands of years,”hesaid.

“Duringthepast47years, the IslamicRepublichastried to weakenthistradition,buttoday it is receivingevenmore attentionfrompeople.”

Sahamisaidthatthis year some celebrationsmayalso take theformofgatherings,rallies, and demonstrationsamong the diasporainsolidaritywith peoplein Iranand thosewhohave

losttheirlovedones.

“Nowruzwillneverbeforgotten–itwillonly be celebrated withgreaterstrengthandpride.”

ForArashAshtari,a North Shore residentwhohaslivedin theareaforaboutadecadeand ownsafitnessstudio,theholiday hastakenonamore symbolic meaning.

“This year,Nowruzismore ofasymbolofunityforme.” He saidthemomentcallsforsolidarityamongIranians.

“ThisNowruz,we needto standtogetherand remain unitedaroundonegoal–the falloftheIslamicRepublic.This year,Iwillnotcelebrate Nowruz, butIwillhonoritinsolidarity

withthegrievingpeople of Iran.”

AcrosstheNorthShoreand beyond,IranianfamiliesarepreparingtomarkthePersianNew Yearindifferentways–some quietly, somethroughcommunitygatherings, andothers throughactivism.

MaryamShariatmadari, a politicalactivist residingonthe NorthShore,saidNowruzhas alwaysbeendeeplyconnectedto natureandIranianidentity.She explainedthatthePersianNew Yearmarksthemomentwhen dayandnightareequalandthe daysbegintogrowlongerand brighter,symbolizing renewal.

“Iranianshavecelebrated Nowruzforthousandsofyears –evenintimes of mourning,” shesaid.“WhathaskeptIran standingforthousandsof years isitsmyths and traditions.”

Shariatmadari,whoisexpectingher firstchild, saidthisyear’s Nowruzcomesatatimewhen

manyfamiliesinIranaregrieving lovedonestheyhavelost.

“PeopleinIran remain determinedtohonourtheirtraditions,”shesaid.“Wewillholdthe Nowruzceremonies,butunder thecurrentcircumstances,we willnotcelebrate.”

ThespiritofNowruz –renewal,hopeandthepromise ofanewbeginning– remainsat theheartofthishistoricaltraditionforthePersiancommunity In2026,thePersianNew Year beginsonSaturday,March21,at 7:58p.m.PacificDaylight Timein Vancouver,markingthestartof theyear1405.

HamidJafariisa Vancouverbasedfreelancejournalistwho writesabouttheIraniancommunityinCanada,art,culture,and socialmediatrends.Hehasdone twoplacementswiththeNorth ShoreNewsthatweresupported byNewCanadianMedia.itshamidjafari@gmail.com

Wishingyouhappiness,renewal,andsuccessintheyearahead.TheNorthShoreLaw teamandourIranianlawyersareproudtocelebrateNowruzwithourcommunity.

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Threestrikes for West Van owners caughtfloutingshort-term rental rules

JANESEYD jseyd@nsnews.com

Withthesummerseasoncominginto view,theDistrictof West Vancouver is getting readytocrackdownonhomeownerswhofloutshort-term rental rules.

OnMonday,March9,councilpassed a seriesofbylawchangesmakingiteasier forstafftoissuetickets,chargeinspection feesorevengettheprovinceto takehosts usingserviceslikeAirBnBorVRBO off theironlineplatforms.

Thedistrictplanstohave a“three strikesandyou’reout”approach,where ownerswhohavebeen handedthree ticketsfornotfollowingtherulesstand tohavetheirshort-term rentallicence cancelled.

Therulechangeswillalsoallowthedistricttochargea“re-inspection fee”of$150 in caseswhere requirementsaren’tmet whenstafffirsttakealookataproperty.

Short-term rentalshaveonlybeen allowedin West VancouversinceJanuary 2025,whencouncilapprovedanew setof rulesforthem.Priortothat,anumberof short-term rentalpropertieswereknown tooperateillegally.

Ayear later,asofJan.21,2026,the

districthasapproved169short-term businesslicencesand is in theprocessof reviewinganother36applications.

Asinmanyotherjurisdictions,thereare

twotypesoflicences–oneforthe rental of anentire homeorsecondarysuite and anotherfor rentalofa roomwithin ahome, whichdoesn’thavecookingfacilities.

Onpropertieswithbothbasement suitesandcoachhouses,short-term rentalsarelimitedtooneperproperty in West Vancouver.

Short-term rentals must also beinlegal suitesthat meet currentBCBuildingCode regulations.

Noteveryonehasbeenplayingbythe newrules.

Accordingto a staff report,some operatorshavetriedto getaround the regulationsby applyingfor a licence for a roominahomeonlyand,once approved, applyingthatlicencetoadifferentsecondarysuiteorcoachhouse.

Ownerssometimesdothatwhenthey feel bringingasecondary suiteupto code willbetooonerous, accordingto a staff report.

Short-term rentallicencesinthedistrict aremonitoredbyathird-party provider, Granicus,whichispaidforby a provincialgrantof$240,000forthepurposeof monitoringthenewprogramover a twoyearperiod.Rules arealsoenforced on complaint.

Onceallthebureaucraticsteps and inspectionshavebeentaken care of,shortterm rentallicencesin West Vancouver cost$350peryear.

Province wantsto keepSUV allegedly usedin West Vanbreak-ins

JANESEYD

jseyd@nsnews.com

Theprovincialgovernmentisasking topermanentlyseizea2009Honda CR-Vthat West Vancouverpolice say wasusedinaseriesof vehiclebreakinsandcreditcardfraudsacrossthe NorthShorelastsummer.

InanoticeofcivilclaimfiledFeb.2in B.C.SupremeCourt,thedirector of civil forfeitureallegestheSUVwasusedbyits registeredowner, WyattAinsleyReader of Airdrie,Alta.,tocommitmultipletheft-relatedoffencesinJuneandAugust2025.

Thelawsuitallegesthat onJune23, ReaderdrovetotheWhyteLake Trail parkinglotin West Vancouverandbroke intofourvehiclesbysmashing windowsto stealcreditanddebitcards. Readerthen droveto WalmartinNorth Vancouverand used the stolencardsata self-checkoutto buyabout$2,800ingas giftcards,accordingtotheclaim.

Thefollowing day, Readerdroveto WoodgreenPlace,nearCypressFallsin West Vancouver,andbrokeintoanother vehiclebysmashingmultiplewindows to stealawallet,bankcards,adriver’s licence,IDcardand$50incash,according totheclaim.Beforethecardswerecancelled,about$1,000waschargedtothem,

accordingtotheclaim.

OnJune25,thelawsuitallegesReader repeatedthepattern,thistimedrivingto Purcell WaynexttoCapilanoUniversity in North Vancouver,whereheallegedlybroke intoanothervehicleandstolea laptop, wallet,creditanddebitcardsandadriver’s licence.Readercharged$350tothecards beforetheywerecancelled,accordingto thelawsuit.

Hethenallegedly returnedtothe North Vancouver Walmartwherehetriedtouse stolencreditanddebitcardstobuymerchandisefromthestore.

Reader’sbreak-inspreewaseventually haltedbyanastuteU.S.tourist,according tocourtdocuments,afterReaderallegedly drovetotheCypress TrestleBridgeparkinglotin West VancouveronAug.5,where hesmashedthe windowofa rented Toyota andstoletwolaptopcomputers,a wallet containingidentificationandcreditcards, andtwoAmericanpassports.

ReaderthenallegedlydrovetoMaple Ridge,whereheparkedthe Honda in the parkinglotofaKegSteakhouse.Oneof the laptopownersusedatrackingapplication to trackthevehicleandthencontacted police.MapleRidgeRCMPand West VancouverPoliceattendedandarrested Reader,accordingtotheclaim.

Policeallegethatafterthearrest, theyfoundthetwostolen laptopsinside theHonda,along with apurse containingaB.C.driver’s licencethathadbeen reportedstolenearlier thatday.Credit cardsbelongingtothe laptopownerwere alsofoundinReader’s wallet.Police seized theHondaCR-V.

Reader was latercharged with theft under$5,000andpossessionofstolen propertyinconnection with theAug. 5 incident.Thosechargeshavenotbeen proven in court.Readerfailedtoshowuptohis first courtappearance in November and a warrant wasissuedforhisarrest.

Inthecivilforfeituresuit,thedirectorof civil forfeiture allegesthe Hondawas used tocarryoutillegalactivitybecausethe vehicle was usedtotraveltoandfromthe break-insandtotransportstolenproperty. It alsoallegessomeorall ofthe money usedtoacquireormaintainthe SUVcame fromcriminalactivity.

Theprovinceisaskingthecourtto forfeitthevehicletothegovernment.

Dependingonconditionand mileage, carvaluationwebsitesputthevalueof a 2009HondaCR-Vatanywherebetween $4,000and$14,000.

Civilforfeitureproceedings are separatefromcriminalcases in B.C. anddonot

requireacriminalconviction.Thedirector mustonlyproveon a balanceofprobabilitiesthattheproperty is connectedto unlawfulactivity– amuch lowerstandard ofproofthan required for acriminal conviction.

Inthecaseofproperty worthlessthan $75,000,the governmentdoesn’tnecessarilyevenhaveto go to court.Instead, thedirectorof civilforfeiture sends a writtennoticetoknownowners.If no one files adispute,theproperty is automaticallyforfeitedtothe governmentwithout acourthearing.Accordingtostatistics providedbythe MinistryofPublicSafety andSolicitorGeneral,thereare between 960and 1,475casesof civilforfeitureevery yearinB.C.Onlybetween 11and15per centofthose caseshavebeendisputedin thepast five years.

TheBCCivilLibertiesAssociationhas arguedthatmanyforfeituresgo undisputed because legal feeswouldlikelybe greater thanthevalueofthedisputedproperty Personalserviceofforfeiture documentsis alsonot required for administrative forfeiture,sosomeownerslikelydon’t receive thenotice,the group has argued.

InthecaseoftheHondaCR-V,Reader filed adisputeJan. 5, which meansthe forfeiturehastobedecidedby a judge.

PUBLICHEARINGNOTICE

ProposedAmendments to theOfficial Community Plan Bylawandthe Zoning Bylaw toprovide various corrections,clarifications,andimprovements

WHEN: 5p.m.,March30,2026

WHERE: MunicipalHallCouncilChamber, 75017thStreetandviaelectronic communication facilities

SUBJECT BYLAWS: Apublichearingwillbeheld regardingproposed:Official Community Plan BylawNo. 4985,2018,Amendment Bylaw No. 5428,2026;and Zoning BylawNo. 4662,2010,Amendment BylawNo. 5425,2026.

SUBJECT LANDS: TheproposedOfficial Community Plan (OCP)bylawamendmentsapply to landswithinthe Districtof West Vancouver subject to the“Whitby Estates”and“ClydeAvenueAreaEastof Taylor Way”Development PermitAreaswithinOCPBylawNo. 4985, 2018(asamended).Theproposed Zoning Bylawamendmentsapply to alllandswithintheDistrictof West Vancouversubject to Zoning BylawNo. 4662,2010(asamended).

PROPOSEDOFFICIAL COMMUNITYPLAN BYLAWNO. 4985,2018,AMENDMENT BYLAWNO. 5428, 2026: wouldamendtheOCP to correctinadvertentpolicynumberingerrorsinGuidelinesBF-B3.2 “WhitbyEstates”and GuidelinesBF-B3.3“ClydeAvenueAreaEastof Taylor Way”.

PROPOSED ZONING BYLAWNO. 4662,2010,AMENDMENT BYLAWNO. 5425,2026: wouldprovideimprovementsandgreater flexibilityfornon-habitableattics,powerpoleinstallation,heatpumps,accessorybuildingsandstructures,and ferry terminaloperations accessoryinfrastructure.In addition,theamendments would generallyprovidegreaterclaritytomiscellaneous regulations, correctinadvertenterrors,andaddressinconsistencies.

Thepublichearingis youropportunitytospeak to Councilif youfeelyourinterestswillbe affected by theproposed bylaws.

ATTENDTHEPUBLICHEARINGASAN OBSERVER

1. Watchonline

Visit youtube.com/@WestVanDistrict atthe scheduledstarttimeofthepublichearing.

2.Inperson

VisitMunicipalHall CouncilChamberatthescheduledstart timeofthepublichearing. Advanceregistrationisnot required to attend apublichearing.

QUESTIONS?

Moreinformationontheproposed bylaws,includingstaff reportsandothersupportingdocuments,maybeviewed at westvancouver.ca/news/notices andatMunicipalHall from March13 to 30,2026during regularbusiness hours, 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,MondaytoFriday,excludingstatutoryholidays.

JohnCarbon, AssistantPlanner jcarbon@westvancouver.ca|604-921-3449

westvancouver.ca/news/notices

HOWTOPARTICIPATEINTHEPUBLICHEARING

1.Speakinperson

MunicipalHall CouncilChamber,750 17thStreet, West Vancouver. Personsmayaddress Council duringthepublichearing forupto five minutesat atime.

2.OnlineviaZoom (electronic communication facilities)Pleasecall 604-925-7004onMarch30,2026tobeadded to thespeakerslist. Instructionsonhowtoparticipateare availableat westvancouver.ca/ph.

3.Provide awrittensubmission

•Byemail, to correspondence@westvancouver.ca.

•Bymail,addressed to LegislativeServices, 75017thStreet, West VancouverBCV7V3T3.

•Inperson,addressed to LegislativeServicesandplacedinthe drop-boxlocatedatthenorthand westtheentrances to MunicipalHall.

Writtensubmissionsmustbe received by noononMarch30,2026to ensuretheirinclusioninthepublicinformationpackagefor Council’s consideration. To ensureafair process, Councilcannot considerany submissions receivedafterthepublichearinghasended.

Yournewsyourway

Policenab36drivers distracted by cellphones inenforcementblitz

JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com

Ifthereweren’talreadyenough reasonstostepawayfromyour cellphone, driversontheNorthShorecanadd a recentdistracteddrivingenforcement blitztothelist.

PoliceinbothNorthand West Vancouversetupatchokepoint intersectionsofMarineDriveand Capilano Road andMarineDriveand Taylor Wayduring rushhourearlierthismonth.Anunlucky 36 driverswhowereusingtheirphones whileintraffic gridlockwerehandedtickets fordistracteddriving March4.Afurther eightdriverswerehandedticketsforother Motor VehicleActviolations, includingnot wearingaseatbelt.

Policewalkedbetweenthecrawling traffic inhighvisibilityvestsduringthe enforcementblitz. But inmostcases,the guiltypartiesweretooengrossedintheir screenstonoticeuntilpoliceofficers knockedontheircarwindows.

Policecarriedouttheblitzbetween 3 p.m.and5p.m.tohighlightthebeginning of distracteddrivingawarenessmonth,said Cpl.MansoorSahak,spokesmanforthe North VancouverRCMP.

Ifacellphoneisn’tmountedinyour vehicleandyou’retouchingit,thatisconsidereddistracteddriving.Thesamegoes forphonesinyourcupholderwiththe screenturnedon.Ifyourphoneismounted, youcanuseyourhandoncetoanswer orendacall.Inordertouseyourphone withoutahands-freeoption,youneedto bepulledoverandparked,saidSahak.If you’reinthe flow oftraffic–evenifthat trafficisn’tmoving–”you’restillincontrol ofyourvehicle,”headded.“There’s awide rangeofexcuses,butthelawis very clear.”

Aticketfordistracteddrivingwillcost you$368andfourpointsonyourdriver’s licence.

Collingwoodclaimsseniors boys provincialbasketball title

ANDY PREST

aprest@nsnews.com

TheCollingwoodCavalierssenior boysare2Aprovincialbasketball championsforthesecondtimein threeyears.

TheCavsclaimedthecrownwith a tough78-72winovertop-seededNotre DameSaturdayatLangleyEventsCentre. Inatightfinal,Collingwoodtookcontrol withabigsecondquarter, outscoring the Jugglers22-10inthe frame.But NotreDame,who’d recentlydefeated Collingwoodin the Sea-to-Skychampionshipgame,wouldnotgoquietly,storming allthewaybacktoleadbytwopointsin thedyingminutesofthegame.

The West Vancouverschoolfought backto regainthelead,andwith45 secondsleftandtheCavs upbytwo, Collingwood’sPeter Huangmadea tough layupwhiledrawingafoul,knocking downtheand-onefreethrowtoscore a decisiveblowthatwouldtaketheteamall thewaytothefinalbuzzer.

ElliotMcNeillledthewayfortheCavs, notching30points,six reboundsandsix stealsinthe finalonhis waytoearning tournament MVP honours.HarryBell,

atournament first-teamall-star,added 21 pointsand seven reboundstoearn playerofthegamehonoursinthe final. Collingwood’s JakeMcAdamwasnamed thetournament’sbestdefensiveplayer.

Thewincappedoffastrongseasonfor theCavsthatincludedbig winsover4A powerhouseSt.George’sinthesemifinal of theNoRegretstournamentaswellas a winoverSaskatoon’s Holy Cross,theNo. 1-rankedteaminSaskatchewan.

AccordingtoCollingwoodstaff,the Grade12 playersontheteam have won fivestraightNorthShoreAAbanners sinceenteringhighschoolinGrade8,puttingupa48-0 recordinleagueandplayoff playasthey rose throughtheagegroups.

Thiswasthethirdprovincialtitle forthe Cavsfollowingwinsin2016and 2024.Thisteamwasanoffensivejuggernautthatoverwhelmedopponents with selfless,high-speedbasketball,saidhead coachAndy Wong.

“Ourteamwasdefinedbyourfastpaceandquickballmovement,”he said. “Ourshotselectionwasexcellent. We almostalwaystaketherightshotatthe righttime.It’saveryselflessteamgroup of boys.”

SAVETHE DATE

Joinus atourannual event, whereguestscanconnectwith awide rangeofexhibitors anddiscoverhelpfulproducts,services,and resources designedtosupportcaregiversandfamilies. Throughouttheday,enjoy aseriesofshort,engaging presentationscovering avarietyoftimelytopics relatedto wellbeing,caregiving,communitysupports,andpractical toolsforeverydaylife.

NetproceedsfromtheeventaresharedwithNorthShore CommunityResourcestohelpfundtheircaregiversupport programsthroughouttheyear.

Thefirst NorthVancouver High School

Photo:NVMA, 12312

TodaytheNorth VancouverSchoolDistricthassevensecondaryschools,butwaybackin 1909, the firstNorth VancouverHighSchoolclasswashousedinthetopfloorofthissmallbuildingblockonthe southeastcornerofLonsdaleandEighthStreet.

OriginallybuiltbyWilliamMordentohouse abakery,theMordenBlockwashometo avarietyofdifferent storesbeforeitsdemolitionin1964.

Aftermovingbetweenvariousbuildings,North VancouverHighSchoolfinallymovedinto apermanent buildingat 23rdandSt.Georgesin1924.TheschoolclosedinJune1979.

Discover more of theNorth Shore’srichhistory at MONOVA.Start planning your visitat monova.ca.Doyou have astory totell? Getintouch viaarchives@monova.ca.

Whysoil healthand worm pooparethe rootsofnutrition

LAURA MARIENEUBERT

Contributingwriter

A readerwroteto me recently, inquiringaboutthecumulativecostsof growingvegetablesathomeversus purchasing ready-to-eatfromagrocer. Icould relatetothisexcellentquestion, but itwasdifficulttoanswer becausetrue costsoccuralongacontinuumspanning decades. We areonlyjust beginningto understandthe coststopeopleandplanet ofconventionalagriculture(foodgrownin depletedsoils, compromisedby synthetic fertilizersand pesticides)ascomparedto organicand regenerativeagriculture.

Asapermaculturiststudentof regenerativeagricultureand holisticnutrition, whoalsohasconsiderableexperiencewith pesticidesensitivities,Ifeelconfidentin surmisingthatinvestingtodayin regenerativeandorganic(ROC)gardeningmethods, andmaintainingthosepracticesovertime, willpaydividendsinenhancedhealthand well-beingfarintothefuture.

Whenitcomestoournutritionalhealth, we should remember that healthyplantseat healthysoil, andask(ourselves,growers andgrocers),“Whatdoeswhatweeat,eat?”

Soilisthefoundationoftheterrestrial foodchain;considered by Hippocratesas the stomachoftheearth. Perhapsthen,the easiest,mostcost-effectivethingwecould doin homegardens thisspringisinvestin thecareandfeedingofsoil.

We couldinvestimmediatelyandinexpensivelybysinkinglidded bucketsdrilled throughoutthesidesandbottom(using a quarter-inch bit),intoourraisedbeds,large potsandgardens,andusethemasvermicomposters(in-ground compostbuckets housingworms). Alternativelywecould purchaseworm poopfromagardencentre or wormfarmer,and sprinkleabitintoeach transplantorseeding hole—foreverand always.

Wormsexcretewhatgardeners refer toasblackgold, anexquisitelybalanced fertilizercomprisedofdigested organic matter,beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa andnematodes.

Wormpoop, alsoknownasvermicast, containspurpose-builtenzymes,nutrients, minerals,humusandhumicacid,andworm mucus–themagicalingredientthatcoats eachtinypieceof poopandcontributes tofunctionandaggregationofsoilandsoil organicmatter(SOM).

ItisinlargeparttheexistenceofSOM inspecificquantitiesandqualitiesthat optimizessoil health—allowingsandy,silty

These two-inchlivingsoilblocks(left)are ready forseeding,whilemulti-sown kohlrabi andBrusselssprouts(right)are ready for thinning.

LAURA MARIE NEUBERT

andclaysoilsaliketobreath,holdanddrain waterandnutrients,andtoexchangeallof theaboveinthewaythatmakesnutrients bioavailableforplantstoeat.

Inmyhomegardens,I relyonin-ground vermicompostsineveryraisedbed.Also, wenowstartseedsinplastic-freeblocksof livingsoil.Theindividualblocksmaintain theirshapesbeautifullywiththehelpof mucus-coatedwormpoop.

We startsomeseedsindoorsintiny “micro20”soilblocksthatarethreequartersofaninchsquareandcontainasmall dimpleinthecentretopintowhereone dropsseeds.Oncetinyplantsdevelopone setoftrueleaves,individualblockswill be readytodropintothecentredimpleof largersoilblocksknownas“twoinchers.”

Theaccount@blossomandbranch hostsexcellentsoilblockmakingvideoson YouTube.

Foryears,Iguerrilla-formulatedmy ownsomewhatlivingsoilbycombining wormpoop,organicnutrientsandvarious growingmediums. Today,Ipurchaseliving soilcontaining40percentwormpoopin bulkandalsoinpre-madeblocksinnursery trays,fromourfriendAndrewCouzensof TerraFloraSoilworks,awormfarmerand self-describedmadsoilscientist.

Costsrangefromone-halfcentper homemademicro-20whensoilishomemadeorbulkpurchased,tothreecentsper blockbasedoncubicfootbags,to60cents perblockwhenpurchasing50pre-made two-inchersandtheir reusablenursery trays.

Anywayyouslicehealthyproduce growninhealthylivingsoil,thecostsare wellworththeinvestment.

LauraMarieNeubertisa West Vancouverbasedurbanpermaculturedesigner.Follow heronInstagram @upfrontandbeautiful or learn more aboutpermaculturebyvisiting her Upfront&Beautifulwebsite.

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48.Blowupon 50.Vice

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52.Change color

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1. Food fordipping 2. Gibbonorgorilla

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LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS:

ARIES March21-April19

Yourhonestywillbringhidden issuestolightbutmayalso causesometension.An unexpected revelationwill prompt reflection anddoubt. Thenew moon’sinfluencewill cause atruthtobe revealed, openingthepathtoward greaterclarity.

TAURUS April20-May20

Evenifyour finances are strained,solutionswill appear.You’llhavethe chanceto revisit apetproject or redecorateyourhome, rekindlingyourmotivation andsenseofhope.

GEMINI May21-June20

Thisweek promisesto be livelyand fulloftwists and turns. Youmay needto confrontcertainpeopleto restoreharmony.Evenifyou valuepeace, clearboundaries willhelpyou rebuildtrust and respect.

CANCER June21-July22

Yourintuitiveandcreative abilitieswill grow this week,givingyou amore spiritualoutlookandfresh perspectives. Yourempathy willintensify.Yourartisticor inspiringside maystartto shine.

LEO July23-Aug.22

Youmaybeunexpectedly inspiredby asocialmedia messagethatopensupnew perspectives.Asupportive friendwillplay acrucial roleinhelpingyouachieve somethinggreat,boosting yourconfidenceanddriving yourpursuitofhappiness.

VIRGO Aug.23-Sept.22

Yourschedulemaybecome overwhelmingifyoutakeon toomuch.Spaceoutyour appointmentstoavoidstress andlast-minutechaos. Treat yourtime like aprecious resource.Useitwiselyto regain balanceandpeaceofmind.

LIBRA Sept.23-Oct. 22

You’llhavethesuddenurgeto radicallytransformyourlife. Areturntoschoolor acareer changecouldbringyoucloser toyourtruecallingandpave thewayfor amorefulfilling, purposeful future.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Youremotionscould overpoweryourlogicthis week,influencingyour decisionsevenasyoutryto stayrational.Acceptingyour feelingsanddaringtostep outsideyourcomfortzonewill guideyoutowardchangethat

alignswithyourpath.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec.21

Thisweekwillhighlightthe need forbalanceinallyour relationships.Whetherat work,inlove,with relatives orfriends,you’llneedto negotiateskillfully,make compromisesandadjustyour expectationstopreserve harmonyandhappiness.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Adisagreementorconfusing situationatworkcouldspark thoughtsof acareershift. Beforemaking amove,takea stepback,weighyouroptions carefullyandseekadvice from lovedones.

AQUARIUS Jan.20-Feb.18

You’llshinebrightlythisweek, attractingthe recognitionyou deserve.This recognitionwill boostyourconfidence,selfesteemandself-worth,setting thestage formeaningful changeinyour future.

PISCES Feb. 19-March20

Amovemaybeonthe horizon,especiallyifyour currenthome feels toobig. Thischangecouldmarka newchapterinyourlife.In romance,positivechanges couldstrengthenor rekindle your relationship.

HOWTOPLAY:

Fillinthegridsothat everyrow,every columnand every3 x3box contains thenumbers 1through 9only once. Each 3x3box isoutlinedwitha darkerline. Youalready havea fewnumbers to get youstarted. Remember:youmustnot repeatthe numbers 1through 9inthesameline, columnor 3x3 box.

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Afterreachingher96thbirthday, HelenMarySpears (Carabetta)slipped away peacefully on March13, surrounded byher family.

Helenwasalways proud to saythat shewas atrue NorthVancouverite. Born on West 18th Street to parentsNickand AngelaCarabetta,sheattended bothLonsdaleand Queen Mary elementaryschools, then graduated from NorthVan High.

While workingasanusherette at theold Lonsdale Theatre,Helen mether future husband, Donald Spears. They were married for64yearsuntil Don's passing in 2012.Sheand Doncruised extensively, visiting over50 countries.Winters were oftenspent in Hawaii and Arizona.

Family wasHelen'smainfocus inlife, and shedoted onher grandchildrenMac,Dara, Casey, and Adam. Shealsospoiledher many cats andallthe neighbourhooddogsas well.

Helenlovedentertaining.Anamazing cook,her Italianpastrieswerealwaysa treat. Shevolunteered withtheLions Gate Hospital Auxiliary formanyyears and wasanavidgardener.

Helenwaspredeceased by husband Donand siblings Sam, Jim, Dom, and Eva. Sheissurvivedby her children, sonDavid Spears, daughter CarolBell, daughter-in-lawLouise,granddaughter Dara Lewis, (Alec, Cameron, Kiera),grandson Adam (Alena, Malia,Harrison)and son-in-law Joseph Bell, grandsons Mac(Carlie,Amelia)and Casey (Michelle,Kaylee, Evan.)

Many thankstothe staffofLynnValleyCareCentre Manor 4for theexcellent care Helenreceivedduring her stay.

WilliamGalway, “Bill” to thoseheloved,passedaway on February17th,2026,atLions Gate Hospital. Born in High River, Alberta,hewas thesecond of five children(Dave,Donn, Kerry, Lori).

Bill wasa belovedhusband to Linda, adedicated father to hissons Connerand Shayne,anda cherishedbrotheranduncle.A localbusinessowner and apillarofthe community,heserved30years withtheDistrictof NorthVancouver Fire and Rescue Services,retiringin2005at therankof Captain.

Bill’slifepassionsincluded family,sport, competition, andprofessional firefighting. He’s fondlyremembered by hiscrews at thefirehallaswellasthehundreds ofathletes whomhe mentored over twodecades of coaching in nearly everysportimaginable.Asan athletehimself,heachievedmultiplefirst place finishes in theBucketBrigadeat Hose Reel Festival, as well as regularappearancesat theWorld Police and Fire Gamesinavariety of sports.

CentraltoBill’slifewashisunwaveringChristian faith. He wasa lifelong studentof theBible,finding in itspages thewisdomand strengththatguided his path. Hisfamilytakes comfortinknowing that his deep-seatedbeliefhasnowbroughthimhome.

Thefamilywishes to thank thestaff atLions Gate Hospital fortheirexceptional care,particularlythe ICUteam,whosecompassionprovided adignified passing fora great man.

Allare welcometoattendbothgatherings to celebrateBill'slife,asfollows:

: at NorthShoreAllianceChurch.A receptionwill follow. at theRoyal CanadianLegion (123 15th St W, NorthVancouver).

Joan Godber (née Allen),98,passed away peacefully at Inglewood Care Centre.Mom wasborn in Quesnel,B.C., moving to NorthVancouver in 1959. Shewaspredeceased by herparents, Sydney and Rose Allenandbrothers, Jimand Frank.

Sheislovinglyremembered by herdaughter Lynn Grisack(Robert) and sonGerry Parminter(Debbie). Shewas alovingGrannytofour grandchildren: Michael (Kelsey),Brandon (Ange), Adam (Meaghan),Miles(Shelby)and sevenwonderful great grandchildren, Mya, Hayden,Luke, Jack, Sloane,Ridleyand Quincy.She wasalsoaspecial Grannytomanyextended families.

Most of Joan’s career wasinbankingatthe Bankof Montreal,North ShoreCreditUnionand Teachers CreditUnion.Sheofficially retiredat65, but continued to work part-time until shewas70. She wasveryproudofher22 years volunteeringatthe West Vancouver SeniorsCentre wheresheenrolled membersinprogramsand worked in theGarden Side Cafe on cash.

Momlovedanimals.Shehad apositiveoutlookon life, enjoyed reading,bingoandbridgeandanything thatallowedher to socialize. Shegot immensejoy fromher grandchildrenand spent many hours babysitting them.

SpecialthankstoInglewood Care Centre,especially thewonderfulcarefromLeolina.

It is with deep sadnessthat we announcethe passingof RonaldReidLeeafter90 yearsofa life welllived. Rondiedpeacefully on February4th, 2026 in thecomfort ofhisown homesurrounded by lovedones.

RonwasborninTorontoandbroughtup in Agincourt. He wasanaccomplished trackathlete whospecialized in sprintingandoncetookhis exceptional speed to thehallowedhalls of Madison SquareGardensforan event.

He movedtoNorth Vancouverin1965and wasa hard-working, and successful ownerof Capilano and Marine Esso,WestviewEsso and later3rd St. Esso.Heestablished many lastingrelationships with hiscustomers over many decades.Heretired in 1994.

Ronwill be lovinglyremembered by hiswife, Elizabeth;hischildrenRichard, Janet (Nils Clarke) and Andrea (Ron Gervan); andhisgrandchildren Max(Lorijane),Angus,Roseand Brock.

He lovedagood game of Crib and making turkey dinner forfamilyand friends.Hewas knownforhis caringandwelcomingnatureand forhis tolerance and inclusionforallpeople. Ronalsopossesseda quick witand awonderfulsenseofhumour that neverwaned, even in hisfinal years. Forthesetraits, he will be remembered fondlybyall whohad the privilegeof spending time with him.

Donations maybemade in Ronald Lee’s nameto Canadian RedCross Health EquipmentLoan Program(HELP).

ShirleypassedawayatLions Gate Hospital.She is survived by her sons Gordonand Russell (Michelle), grandchildrenKieranand Kendall, and sister Dorothy (Paul). Shirleywaspredeceased by herhusband Jim after58yearsofmarriage.

ShirleywasborninEdmontonand eventually moved to Vancouver whereshe workedas ateacher, substituteteacherand librarian. Sheenjoyed many yearsoflivinginLynnValley with her family and friends.There will notbe afuneral,atShirley’s request.

When Icometotheendoftheroad Andthesunisset forme Iwantno ritesinagloom-filledroom Whycry fora soulsetfree? Miss me alittle- butnot toolong Andnot withyourheadbowedlow Remember thelovethatwe shared Miss me -but letmego

Along-timeresidentofWestVancouver, Peter passedawaypeacefully on March3rd at theageof 88. He is survived by daughterAlexandra and beloved grandsonMatthew.

Aservice will beheldatWestVancouver United Church,2062 Esquimalt Avenue,at1pmon Sunday March22nd,withareceptiontofollow.

In lieuofflowers pleaseconsider adonation in his nametoThe Polygon (formerlyPresentationHouse Gallery)orHydrocephalusCanada.

Tolearnmoreortoshareamemory, pleasevisit www.mckenziefuneralservice.com/memorials/jamescruikshank/5692494/

To placean

Obituary, InMemoriam, or Memorial Service,

April20 ,1 938 -J anuary8,2026

brigitte freybe

BrigitteFreybe -cherished wife andlifepartner to Henning,sister to Bärbel (dec.2025) and Margarete(dec.1993), mother to Anouchka(Scott) andSven(Juliette),momato Saskia, Maurits, Dries, Julianand Maia -passed away peacefully on January 8atNorth ShoreHospice.

BrigittewasborninSchwäbisch Hall,Germany-the firstofthree daughters to Margarete andFriederichHeller. Whileherdream wastobecome atheaterstagedesigner,her father insisted shefirst traintobecomea seamstress, which shedidfor twoyears.By1958she switched disciplines to graphicdesign,atthe AcademyofArt andDesign in Basel, Switzerland. Ayear later, she continued herstudies at theAcademyofFineArts,Munich, whereshe finished herdegree in 1965.

On April 1,1966 Brigitte joined astudent-organized triptoMoscow.While changingtrainsin West Berlin,she spotted“the most gorgeous manI’d everseen”walkingtowardsher on the platform.“Iimmediatelythoughthewas aprince”. They boarded the trainandthe group of 20 connectedonthe long trainride, andbythetime theyreachedMoscow,Brigitte and Henning were intertwined,windingupinalove affairthat wouldspan sixtyyears.

They married in September1967, andthen relocatedtoMontréal in 1968.Brigitte worked at Radio Canada, in television programming as agraphic designer forthe long-running children’s seriesChez Hélène. Shecreatedstoryboards anddecorativebackdrops, collage work andinkandbrush paintings. In 1970 theyreturnedtoVancouver and started family life.

Brigittebecame adocentatthe Vancouver ArtGallery,campaigned forits relocation to the courthouse, andfound kinship with galleryadministratorsand cultural leaders. By the late 1970s,sheand agroup of friendsfounded theContemporaryArts Society of Vancouver. At thesametime, sheand Henninghad startedcollectingart -a gradual process that extended overdecades-long friendships with gallerists,curators, artists andcollectorsin Canada andGermany,France, USA and Italy. Afterleaving the CASV,Brigitte served on the Board of Trustees at the VAG, andon the AcquisitionsCommittee forContemporaryArt at theNational GalleryofCanada.

In 2015,theylaunched Griffin ArtProjects, agalleryspacefocusedonexhibitingart fromprivatecollections forthe public. In 2025,Brigitte andHenning announced thedonation of alarge portion of theircollectiontothe VAG- celebrated in the exhibition “Postcards from the Heart”.Onthatopeningnight, she radiated withthe sheer joyandgratitudeofbeing amongst friends, families, artists, andcuratorsand being able to give back to acommunitythatgaveherso much.

Herother significant art-love wasopera, specifically those composed by RichardWagner. TheRingCycle wasamong her favourites, which she attended at least20times in cities throughout North Americaand Europe.

Herbiggestloves, however, were her fivecreativegrandchildren.Self-designatedas ‘moma’,shenurturedthe closeness shehad with each, andexpressedher love andjoy at everyfamilygathering through tableaus of foodandseasonal traditions.She wasafeisty game-player,willing to hop on arollercoaster,playcards, or go on family field trips. In 2017, sheand Henning invitedthe family on aBalticSeacruise to celebrate50years of marriage, thefirst time they hadreturned to Russiasince 1966.

pleasecallNadia at 604-653-7851

pleasecall Adam at 236-889-6595

pleasecall Katya at 604-653-7851

oremail

oremail

oremail

kireland@lodestarmedia.ca

ahogan@glaciermedia.ca

nmather@glaciermedia.ca

We aregratefulfor the wonderfulcarefromthe team of nursesand doctorsatLionsGate Hospital,aswellasthe palliative team at North ShoreHospice.The loving gesturesshown by friends andfamily, who ralliedherspirits, heldherhand, andshared heartfeltstories, will always be remembered.

ACelebration of Life is beingplanned forlateApril.

REMEMBRANCES

With profound sadnessweannouncethepassingof Suzan(Zsuzsanna) Kertész, aged88 years, aftera courageous battle with Alzheimer’sDisease. Suzan passedawaypeacefully and surrounded by love on Friday,February27th,2026.

Born on July 17,1937,inGyőr, Hungary, Suzanwas themiddleofthree childrenborntoSarolta and Lajos Kertész. Suzan’sfamilywishes to extend their heartfeltgratitude to theexceptional staffatBerkley Care Centre,whosekindness, compassion, and care broughtdignity and comforttoSuzan’s final years.

Suzanwaspredeceased by herparentsandher brothersAlexandLouis. Suzanissurvivedbyher daughter Christine(Alan),grandsons,Maxand Roman, sisters-in-law Mary Ann(Alex) Kertészand Florence(Louis) Ross,Alan’sparentsElisabethand Edward Pietrzyk, nieceSherry (Dave) Kertész, nephewBryant Kertész, and many greatand greatgreatniecesandnephews.

To writeacondolencetothe family,pleasevisit www.mckenziefuneralservices.com OBITUARIES

Celebratethelives oflovedoneswithyour stories,photographsandtributes

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Breakthrough

byNeldeKeijzer

SantaBarbara,California

Thetears of grief Have washed away The clouds of sorrow, Andvision now isclarified

Imiss you still, Butsee you new In light of joy And smile at yourremembrance.

The love we shared Still here to give And to experience The joy that comes from that, is you!

takingcare of each other is what communityisall about.

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Thankyou forcontinuingto place yourtrust in us nowandalways.

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Asyoushare thestories andthememories ofhowtheylived theirlives andhowverymuch theymeant, mayyou findcomfort...

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