Just the other day my family was discussing the fact that there is a lack of functioning water fountains in public spaces in Vancouver. Browsing the City’s website this morning I found a notice about new portable water fountains that have been put in place to help us all beat the heat this summer.
The temporary water fountain locations are:
Northeast corner of 70th and Granville
Vanier Park – outside the Coast Guard building
Northeast corner of Commercial and Broadway
Northwest corner of Burrard and Davie – outside the community garden
Southwest corner of Napier and Commercial – in the community walkway
As you can see from this map provided in the City’s Open Data set, there are already several fountains throughout the city.
Perhaps we don’t notice them as much nowadays but it’s good to know they are there. Remember to stay hydrated this summer even if the sun isn’t shining through the clouds.
Update Tyler Ingram snapped a photo of the portable fountains:
Next week a local non-profit is selling off leftover Vancouver 2010 gear along with lost & found items in one giant Olympics blowout sale.
VANOC is offering up office supplies and furniture from the athletes’ village while lost & found items include anything from red mittens to cell phones, umbrellas, jackets, and hoodies. All proceeds from the sale will support families through the Network of Inner City Community Services Society.
The Province also reports that the Olympic street banners will be sold in the coming weeks:
“Proceeds will support a workshop called the Fab Shop, at 1220 E. 2nd Ave., formerly the Vancouver 2010 fabrication shop, designed to provide training and work experience to people from the Downtown Eastside. The City of Vancouver has donated the 1,600 banners, a number of which will be signed by VANOC head John Furlong.”
The sale runs Monday through Saturday, 11:00am to 6:00pm daily at 875 East Hastings.
I recently did a tour of the Downtown Eastside with BC Housing to learn more about their renovated properties. They scooped up over 20 hotels on the east side, some known as being the most dangerous buildings in Vancouver, and proceeded to bring them up to code so that tenants could have better living standards. I’ll have a full post about the project up soon but looking at their “before and after” photos inspired me to do another “Then and Now” series post. This week’s theme is hotels (which I’ve covered before, but here are a few more).
1900, Clarence Hotel. Photographer: Norman Caple, Archives Item# LGN 708
2009, Malone’s, From Google Street Views
1928, Austin Hotel (background). Photographer: WJ Moore, Archives Item# Str N190
2009, Ramada, From Google Street Views
1917, Hotel Patricia. Photographer: Stuart Thomson, Archives Item# CVA 99-187
2009, Hotel Patricia, From Google Street Views
1923, Dunsmuir Hotel. Photographer: Gowen Sutton Co. Ltd., Archives Item# CVA 677-978
2009, Dunsmuir International Student Housing, From Google Street Views
Should you have a theme you would like to see covered “Then and Now” please leave a suggestion in the comments. As note above, I’ll have an expanded post about BC Housing‘s initiatives up within a few days.
Glowbal Collection is bringing a gourmet BBQ feast to the Downtown Eastside Tuesday, August 10th in partnership with the Union Gospel Mission.
Six chefs from Glowbal’s properties (Italian Kitchen, Coast, Sanafir, Trattoria, Glowbal Afterglow, and Society) will be preparing everything from beef brisket and ribs to potato salad, coleslaw and corn bread at Oppenheimer Park.
“With this event, we are strengthening our partnership with the Union Gospel Mission,” says Glowbal Collection Proprietor, Emad Yacoub. “A Texas BBQ is a high-spirited way to support outreach workers and connect with Vancouver’s people in difficulty and need.”
Members of the community are invited to stop by throughout the day as the meals will be served from 10:00am until 4:00pm. It’s a chance to meet neighbours, support community workers, and have some fun in the newly renovated park.
Glowbal and the UGM are currently looking for volunteers to help out at the event. If you’re able to head down to lend a hand, please contact [email protected].
Burnaby is hosting its own free outdoor movie nights this month at Civic Square.
August 5, 2010
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
August 19, 2010
KJ: Music & Life, a Cantonese film with English and Chinese subtitles. An award-winning documentary about a 17-year-old music prodigy from Hong Kong.
August 26, 2010
Up
The films will be shown from 8:30pm until 10:30pm rain or shine.
Update There is another location for a free outdoor movie night in Burnaby. By donation to KidSport, you can enjoy a movie with the family at Swangard Stadium August 15th. Gates for the Moonlight Movie in the Park open at 7:30pm and they will be showing How to Train Your Dragon.
Other free outdoor movies in Metro Vancouver this summer include: Stanley Park, at Nat Bailey, at Holland Park in Surrey, in Yaletown, and by donation at Coquitlam Centre.
