Sign In Register flavours and games beloved by Hong Kongers is returning to the North Vancouver waterfront the Vancouver Hong Kong Fair is returning to The Shipyards from 11 a.m the event’s main attraction will be the more than 80 booths in the cultural market which organizers say is to make sure everyone who wants to get in is able to With as many as 18,000 people visiting last year's fair That includes Hong Kong street food stalls an open outdoor stage featuring various performances as well as community booths offering resources and connections to diaspora organizations The annual fair is one of the largest of its kind in North America and is organized by local volunteer organization HK House A theme running through this year's event is sensory memories of Hong Kong "We have the traces of Hong Kong exhibition .. there's the photography from award winning-photographer Chan Kiu archives of important events through their lens And we have the tactile kind of memory and tradition with the workshop for paper crafting," she said There will also be an exhibit for the mini bus "It's a very unique form of transportation we're just evoking all those senses in terms of memories and traditions," Kwan said you'll also find a section where children will be doing business with their parents "They learn how to do business in their mother tongue," Kwan said "That's something often lost with second-generation kids who grow up here and so a lot of the parents have expressed a deep appreciation for the chance to interact with their kids in Cantonese." Kwan suggests buying a ticket ahead of time That's to anticipate numbers and avoid big lineups like they had last year "[A ticket] has an hourly time stamp," she said "This is so that we can ensure everyone who wants to go in can get in." One of the key goals of the fair is to feature aspects of Hong Kong culture that are at risk of disappearing and now a lot of displacement," Kwan said "That's why one of our key priorities and mission is to preserve culture and to have this space for people to freely express what Hong Kong culture means to them For more information about the Vancouver Hong Kong Fair, visit the event website   Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter a swath of development took place across the District of North Vancouver This work was captured in a photo album compiled by the District of North Vancouver engineering department which contains more than 300 images. One of those shots shows work undertaken on Lynn Valley Road near Frederick Road in June of 1914 The Dovercourt Hotel can be seen in the distance which was built in 1909 by Harry Holland and served tourists visiting Lynn Canyon Visit the MONOVA Archives to see the full album now open at 115 West Esplanade in The Shipyards Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver, at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley, is open for drop-ins on Monday and by appointment Tuesday-Friday, 12:30-4 p.m. Contact: [email protected] North Shore Daily Post Local News for North Vancouver and West Vancouver Local business owners voiced opposition to the City of North Vancouver’s proposed paid parking plan during a council meeting on April 14 warning it could severely impact their ability to operate At a council meeting on April 14, council voted 4-3 to approve a plan to bring paid parking to Lower and Central Lonsdale Mayor Linda Buchanan and Councillors Angela Girard Jessica McIlroy and Tony Valente supported the paid parking Holly Back and Shervin Shahriari opposed it Four business owners from Lower Lonsdale argued that limited parking and increased costs would hurt day-to-day operations and customer service especially in the Lower Lonsdale and East Esplanade areas a business that installs custom bike racks said the parking time limits and payment model would complicate logistics and force staff to manage parking instead of serving customers Customers usually leave their cars for three to four hours for rack installation “We will need to pay for that parking if the customer can’t pick up the car within four hours and we need to park the car in a residential area We will then have to draw a map explaining where we parked that car,” he said “We don’t want to be plugging the meter or walking two or more blocks there and back to park a car when it should be answering the phone or installing a bike rack.” Reach local customers on the North Shore. Advertise with North Shore Daily Post who owns an automotive shop and commercial building in the area criticized the city for what he described as poor communication and said the plan would cripple businesses in the area Krangle said he spoke to every business on the 200 and 300 blocks of Esplanade He criticized the city’s claim that the plan had undergone extensive engagement “I got a letter from Blair Underhill saying this project had the most comprehensive engagement of any transportation project to date “Being a building owner and business owner for the last 29 years I would have expected somebody to walk around and let us know what’s happening here The lack of consultation makes it feel like it’s getting jammed down our throats.” Josh Sepulveda of XTR Building Services echoed concerns over a lack of consultation and said the proposed changes would impose recurring financial burdens on businesses like his “We found out about the proposal from another business just last Thursday,” Sepulveda told council “We have vehicles that break down and take days to repair Paying for parking every time isn’t sustainable.” Sign up for important local news alerts a service industry veteran 43 years in Lower Lonsdale said the proposal would discourage quick customer visits and make business unsustainable “I talked to over 30 North Vancouver residents in the past few days—every one of them was disappointed or disgusted,” said McAlduff “This parking meter proposal is a business killer.” The City of North Vancouver claims the plan will help address long-standing parking challenges and there was significant community consultation CNV said the plan was developed through two phases of community engagement “The result is a forward-looking strategy that aligns with the City’s transportation goals and addresses curb space challenges,” CNV said “We heard clearly from our community—parking needs to work better,” said Draper “Whether it’s parents picking up their kids or residents trying to park close to their homes this plan is about making curb space work for everyone.” May 4, 2025 at 9:31 am ..I used to bisit and shop lower lonsdale and 1st ave area…not anymore after this money grab!! May 4, 2025 at 2:56 pm Did the mayor have this in her campaign before her election or the councillors that voted with her Just something to remember with the next election May 4, 2025 at 5:46 pm aren’t North Vancouver residents getting bent over far enough as it is but counsel tries to keep bending residents even farther over May 4, 2025 at 5:57 pm May 4, 2025 at 7:34 pm May 4, 2025 at 8:52 pm First they give away public property to restaurants that take up valuable parking spaces that are not well used and now they want to make us pay for whatever is left so we can visit our doctors and other important businesses on Lonsdale.Not to mention the traffic congestion that this has caused May 4, 2025 at 10:12 pm Why is supply/demand so hard for people to understand (specially those commenting above) When the demand for a precious commodity goes up (and supply doesn’t) May 5, 2025 at 10:00 am and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Contact Us: contact@northshoredailypost.com The Vancouver Marathon is back this weekend event has more than 25,000 participants across the marathon That's a record for the Vancouver Marathon; last year it sold out with 23,000 people Runners from 60 different countries are registered to run the different races Both the marathon and half marathon start at Queen Elizabeth Park and end at West Pender Street near Bute and Thurlow but they take different routes to get to Vancouver's iconic park The marathon starts at Queen Elizabeth Park before heading south to West 49th which will take runners to Pacific Spirit Park and UBC The race exits UBC on NW Marine Drive and stays on the road near the shoreline before crossing into downtown over the Burrard Bridge (see slide 2).  eventually taking over the seawall and looping around Stanley Park before heading to the end The half marathon will cut north on Cambie Street and make its way to Chinatown before heading back down to the shores of False Creek and heading into Stanley Park where it eventually links up with the regular marathon route (see slide 3) the downtown peninsula will be congested with detours and blockages for drivers There are some places along the race routes for cars to cross The 8 km race stays inside Stanley Park except for the finish which it shares with the two longer races (see slide 4) will be closed starting at noon on Saturday Areas at the start of the race will be closed off starting Saturday night Race routes will only be blocked off for a few hours with earlier sections closing and reopening earlier than later sections The earliest sections to close are near the start line All roads in Stanley Park will be closed except the causeway and Lions Gate Bridge Organizers are encouraging people to use transit to get to start and finish lines, and have tips for participants TransLink service changes for the 2025 Vancouver Marathon: Transit users can check the TransLink alerts page for up-to-date details on bus routes 2025 and updated with additional information A developer is looking to replace a cluster of single-family homes on Mount Seymour Parkway near Parkgate with a 46-unit townhouse complex The  rezoning application will be discussed by District of North Vancouver council on Monday Trillium Projects has submitted plans to redevelop five private lots and two vacant parcels owned by the District at the corner of Mount Seymour Parkway and Gaspe Place The proposal includes eight three-storey townhouse buildings with two- and three-bedroom strata units ten of which would be lock-off suites that could be rented separately All of the homes would sit above a single underground parkade with 71 vehicle stalls and space for more than 100 bicycles The developer is offering to purchase the District-owned land A separate bylaw to close the public road would need council approval The site sits on the north side of Mount Seymour Parkway Parkgate Mall and the community centre are within walking distance The lot slopes downward from Gaspe Place toward the golf course with a nearly eight-metre drop in elevation A previous 44-unit plan surfaced in 2018 but was pulled after residents raised concerns about density Drawings show landscaped walkways connecting the buildings to a shared courtyard and children’s play area The developer plans to stagger building heights along Mount Seymour Parkway to avoid a “wall-like” appearance from the street Trillium also proposes removing most of the on-site trees—many deemed dead or in poor condition by an arborist—and planting 98 new ones The company has offered a $1.05 million community amenity contribution and another $50,000 toward future upgrades to the Spirit Trail Contact Us: contact@northshoredailypost.com A cheerleading gym has applied for a three-year Temporary Use Permit (TUP) to expand its cheerleading and tumbling facility in the Marine-Hamilton neighbourhood of the City of North Vancouver. CNV council will discuss the proposal by Absolute Cheer & Tumbling Ltd. at a council meeting on May 5 The business at 758 Harbourside Drive operates in a 497-square-metre space in a three-storey industrial building in the city’s southwest corner recreational uses such as Absolute Cheer are permitted but limited to a maximum of 500 square metres The company now requests a temporary increase in allowable space to 908 square metres The permit would allow the gym to continue operations without structural changes or renovations 40% of the additional 411 square metres would be used for expanded recreational activity while the remaining 60% would support merchandise manufacturing The City’s planning staff support the application noting that the proposed expansion aligns with the intent of the zoning and the Official Community Plan’s Mixed-Employment designation This land use designation allows for partial commercial uses within industrial zones and supports community-serving amenities like recreation The applicant is interested in reapplying for another three years—the maximum duration permitted under city regulations Owner Sonja Aquila says the facility has operated without incident for eight years with no complaints regarding traffic or parking She described the location as ideally suited for industrial and commercial activity noting that the building’s high ceilings and open warehouse design work well for cheer and gymnastics instruction City staff noted that such facilities typically require significant vertical clearance and unobstructed floor space making industrial sites like this an attractive fit would allow the business to continue growing while it searches for a longer-term location solution Contact Us: contact@northshoredailypost.com I went on my regular power walk on the Seawalk in West Vancouver Out of the corner of my eye I saw on my right a woman sitting on the bench with a beautiful cream and brown dog and people passing me on the left with another dog Suddenly the brown dog ran in front of my legs from right to left my feet got tangled in his leash and I fell on my face on the graveled concrete a nurse and two other people who helped me to get up and sat me on the bench I had a cut wound on the bridge of my nose from my glasses and my nose was bleeding The doctor squeezed my nose to stop the bleeding She gave me a prescription for an antibiotic with steroids to heal my wounds and prevent them from infection She also suggested that I take a tetanus shot I don’t have private health insurance I couldn’t sleep for a couple of days I missed my daughter’s final presentation of her graduation project that she worked on the entire year I wasn’t there to see it with the rest of the family We had booked a family Easter dinner for that Sunday in a restaurant celebrating my daughter’s birthday and her graduation Can you imagine going to the restaurant with a headache and a face like that My doctor told me that I was very lucky that my glasses didn’t poke my eyes and that I didn’t break any bones. I want the district to take under consideration revoking this policy before somebody falls and dies from a concussion. Before the change, dogs on the Seawalk were free to run on a long path behind the fence, and there’s also a large dog park in Ambleside. I extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the four strangers who stopped to help me after my fall. Thank you to the young doctor, her friend, the nurse, and the mining engineer who walked me back to my car. Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video1:19 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter North Vancouver—Capilano 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 219 of 219 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 219 of 219 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in North Vancouver—Capilano Wilkinson has 37,909 of 63,366 votes (59.83%) is in second place with 21,339 votes (33.68%) and Tammy Bentz Wilkinson has represented the riding since 2015 North Vancouver—Capilano used to be named North Vancouver The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 26,459 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account a new North Shore Neighbourhood House (NSNH) a respite centre with 18 overnight beds and 25 adult daycare spaces City Council directed staff to expedite planning for Phase 2 of The Hub Redevelopment – an 18 storey mass timber building to include a three floor podium for a new North Shore Neighbourhood House and 179 rental homes including 30% below market rentals Funding through the BC Builds Program for the non-profit housing component to be undertaken by Catalyst Community Development Society was announced in February 2024. Financing for the construction of the North Shore Neighbourhood House was approved by Council in July 2024 Site preparation for construction of Phase 2 have been completed by the City and Phase 2 construction will start early in 2025 The Hub is being built in three phases to ensure the continued operation of the North Shore Neighbourhood House throughout construction Phase 1 is under construction and features a six-storey building with 89 below-market rental units that Catalyst Community Development Society will operate and a respite centre that The Health and Home Care Society of BC (CareBC) will manage Phase 2 will include the construction of a new building with 179 non-profit rental units and a new North Shore Neighbourhood House offering a wide range of essential community services including childcare and food security programs. Completion is anticipated for 2028 Phase 3 will deliver a renewed Derek Inman Park to the site Construction will begin after the existing North Shore Neighbourhood House is demolished in 2028 Preliminary Engagement – Spring 2021 Phase 0 (early works) – April-August 2022 Phase 1 (northwest building) – Fall 2023-Fall 2025 (anticipated) Phase 2 (southwest building) – 2025-2028 (anticipated) the City held a series of engagement initiatives in 2021 The public and others provided essential input to help the City make the best decisions and plans for this important project.  Engagement initiatives included a Virtual Information Session on May 13, 2021 attended by 98 people, a Let’s Talk community engagement project page three main themes emerged for The Hub project: The North Shore Neighbourhood House (NSNH) has been serving the Lower Mainland’s North Shore community since 1939 With a mission to enhance the lives of community members and inclusive environment where everyone matters As one of the largest not-for-profit organizations on the North Shore NSNH employs more than 100 people across 18 sites providing a wide range of programs and services that cater to children The North Shore Neighborhood House main site is situated at 225 East 2nd Street in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale neighborhood and serves the community through several major programming areas that operate on-site These programming areas encompass a range of services aimed at improving the lives of community members with a special focus on those who are most vulnerable and include childcare and children’s programs community programs and services (programs that service diverse needs of our community including new parents the facility is faced with accessibility challenges inadequate support equipment and infrastructure for the current programming The new North Shore Neighbourhood House facility will continue to provide an extensive range of community services Planning has already begun for the new facility and a draft functional program has been developed to address current and future programming needs of the NSNH A facility of approximately 29,000 square feet is required and will be contained within a three story podium topped by fifteen stories of housing.  The existing playground in Derek Inman Park will be removed to enable Phase 2 construction. There are 4 alternate playgrounds within a 3 block radius of Derek Inman Park: Semisch Park The existing tennis courts in Derek Inman Park are anticipated to remain operational during construction of Phase 2 This will be reviewed throughout the construction period and is subject to site safety considerations While we do our best to encourage the retention of trees on each development site multiple uses and technical requirements of the Phase 2 Hub Redevelopment site means we will need to remove several trees from the site.  While it is optimal to preserve mature trees which will deliver 179 new homes as well as a new NSNH is a large development that requires the entirety of the lot The condition and size of the existing trees have been reviewed and even if the building mass could be designed around the trees their root systems would not do well with the extent of development activity on the site The future redesign of Derek Inman Park presents an opportunity to further contribute to the City’s urban forest plans.   During construction, temporary road closures will be required. Signage will be posted showing alternate routes and flag personnel will be on site to help keep traffic moving. Once construction commences, project updates will be posted to cnv.org/Roadwork. Street parking adjacent to the Phase 2 construction area along St George’s Ave and East 1st Street is anticipated to be impacted. The existing lane provides parking to support NSNH and park activities. Signage will be posted and project updates will be posted on this page.  Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account The Liberal incumbents in the two North Shore ridings made victory speeches Monday night with a large number of polls showing they had been re-elected Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Patrick Weiler projected-elected in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky In the neighbouring riding of North Vancouver-Capilano projected-elected incumbent Jonathan Wilkinson said: “This is a good day to be a Liberal Weiler had 37,468 votes compared with 20,726 for his Conservative rival Wilkinson had garnered 36,487 votes compared to 20,722 for his Conservative challenger with 218 of 219 polls counted Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. the two North Shore ridings have swung back and forth between electing Tories and Grits but have both been painted red since former prime minister Justin Trudeau swept into power in 2015 who has been federal environment minister and natural resources minister He noted that not long ago people wouldn’t have bet on the Liberals to form a fourth government although it appeared late Monday to be another minority He said Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney is “enormously capable” to lead Canada at this time of tariff and annexation threats from U.S “I think Canadians made the right decision this evening … This is the best country in the world and it’s worth defending,” Wilkinson said “The challenges we’ve had with President Trump have built a renewed sense of what it’s like to be a Canadian.” that are important to Canadians that the next government will need to address the riding see-sawed back and forth between electing Conservatives and Liberals since at least 1988 but he won by a much wider margin this time He attributed the win to a successful ground game in his large riding which stretches from urban West Vancouver to smaller communities up the Sea to Sky highway “I’m going to be the MP for everybody in this diverse riding whether people voted for me or not,” he said Monday night He identified key issues in his riding as affordable housing transportation challenges and fighting climate change He insisted he could be affective at addressing those He noted past Liberal minority governments have worked with other parties to get things done in Ottawa “I think we can find a dance partner if it is a minority,” he said Weiler’s 2021 victory was the third straight for the Grits in this riding lculbert@postmedia.com transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Applications are now open for Hollybrook a new affordable housing development nearing completion at 600 West Queens Road in the District of North Vancouver Located on the former Delbrook Recreation Centre site the four-storey building will offer 86 affordable and subsidized rental homes for families and seniors The remaining municipal land is being redeveloped into a neighbourhood park featuring accessible recreation and sports amenities The District of North Vancouver provided the land while the Province of British Columbia is funding the construction The project is managed by Hollyburn Community Housing Society a North Vancouver-based non-profit that will own and operate the building Hollybrook is expected to open in July 2025 The development offers a range of rental rates based on income verification: Applicants seeking subsidized units must include a BC Housing Registry File number with their application. More details, including the application form, are available at TPM Management’s website. Inquiries can be directed to: hollybrook@tpmmanagement.ca Vancouver News >> April 14, 2025 at 7:11 pm April 15, 2025 at 12:54 am People waiting on BC Housings list for years still need to apply for this housing and MIGHT get chosen There needs to be a better way to get affordable housing especially if you’ve already been waiting on BC Housing lists for years It should be offered to those waiting on the list (which currently sits at 8 years) prior to anyone that can afford the higher cost of rent that this build seems to be offering April 15, 2025 at 4:35 am I am looking to buy an apartment but I have zero down payment I got my professional job for 2 years and I pay 2890 per month rent April 15, 2025 at 12:51 pm Income Assistance (welfare) only pays a few hundred bucks on top of regular assistance if u have a place $1100 should say “Affordable to the area” Contact Us: contact@northshoredailypost.com Jonathan Wilkinson of the Liberal Party has been re-elected as the member of Parliament for North Vancouver–Capilano Wilkinson had 59.6 per cent of the vote compared to the Conservatives’ Stephen Curran with 33.9 per cent Tammy Bentz of the NDP had 4.2 per cent of the vote the Greens’ Andrew Robinson had 1.7 per cent and Eshan Arjmand of the People’s Party had 0.4 per cent After the results became clear Monday night that Wilkinson had secured his fourth term in the riding he took to the podium at the Pinnacle Hotel in North Van to address a rosy room of supporters He said the key issue in this election was leadership “It's about how do we manage our way through this complicated conversation we are going to have with the Americans about tariffs and everything else and do so in a manner that allows us to continue to move forward economically,” Wilkinson said adding that the relationship between the two countries will never return to the way it was before The leader that Canadians voted for is Prime Minister Mark Carney whom Wilkinson said he’s had the good fortune of knowing for 25 years “Carney is an enormously capable fellow who has served in the most senior levels of public service in Canada and elsewhere the most senior levels of the private sector in Canada and elsewhere,” he said “He is somebody that if you actually looked at what Canada needs today in terms of somebody to lead and you went across the country to try to find somebody that fit that requirement you'd be hard pressed to find somebody better.” In contrast to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre whom Wilkinson characterized as a career politician with little other credentials Wilkinson thanked all the other candidates in his riding for running as well as all the supporters – those who voted for him and those who didn’t “You have to thank the citizens who voted for you I am the MP for every person in this riding,” he said whose election night event was held across the street at The Pipe Shop also expressed his appreciation for everyone who participated in the election “I think that I had some great conversations with people,” he said I know that they didn't agree with me and they didn't support me I think that having honest and open conversations and debates is the way that we work out our problems.” Curran added that his work with the Conservative Party will continue “There's a lot that we were talking about during this campaign that is really the direction I’d like to see the country go in on a lot of different issues and so I'd like to continue to help with that project,” he said “I just don't know at this point what capacity it will be in.” What had been a flip-flop riding in the 2000s has become a safe bet for the Liberal Party under Wilkinson Wilkinson cruised to victory with nearly 45 per cent of the vote in 2021, compared to Conservative Les Jickling's 28 per cent The NDP’s Bentz received 20 per cent of the popular vote, the Greens got about five per cent and the People’s Party received just less than three per cent the riding has swung back and forth between the Liberals and Conservatives It was a Conservative stronghold from the 1980s up until 2004 when Liberal Don Bell was elected Conservative Andrew Saxton took the seat back for the Conservatives Wilkinson rode the Liberal wave to victory   Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter The days of free (or nearly free) parking on the City of North Vancouver’s busiest streets are coming to an end. A split council voted Monday night to bring in a new era of paid parking. drivers will be expected to pay to park on most of Lonsdale Avenue and its side streets unless they have a residential permit Quieter residential streets along the Lonsdale spine and Moodyville will mostly have two-hour limits on parking except for vehicles with street parking permits parking will be free for the first 30 minutes and $1 for the second 30 minutes the price goes up to $3 per hour to a maximum permitted time of four hours Drivers can pay either at street-side terminals or via a smartphone app The plan also increases the amount of curb space dedicated for loading zones and drop-off/pick up areas as well as adding on-street spaces reserved for people with disabilities The changes are intended to increase turnover in coveted street parking spots and encourage people to make better use of underground parking which goes underused even at times of peak demand the cost of residential street parking will rise from the current $2.10 monthly to $8.33 for one vehicle and $12.50 for a second one Rather than permits being granted on a block-by-block basis they will instead be for neighbourhood “zones” and residents who live in multi-family buildings will become eligible to receive permits for the first time Non-market rates will be in place for households on low incomes and day passes will be available for visitors who apply in advance The changes have the general support of the North Vancouver Chamber and the Lower Lonsdale Business Improvement Association When the matter last came before council on April 7 Tony Valente introduced amendments to the policy intended to mitigate some of the many concerns council members received since going public with the plans Valente’s motion also calls for any net revenues the program brings in be sent to a fund dedicated to public safety and infrastructure improvements for streets and sidewalks “The city’s existing policies are from the '90s We have a totally different situation now that includes more congestion pollution,” Valente said “I realize it’s not an easy change. It’s not a welcome change perhaps but the current state actually is not working for us right now because we do have a parking problem without this and so this is an approach that is balanced and measured.” Angela Girard and Jessica McIlroy and Mayor Linda Buchanan agreed with Valente “Streets are public space and we should be maintaining that public space for the benefit of all residents it promotes equity through more parking turnover It promotes active transportation and more transit use,” Girard said “When parking is free [or] it’s under priced and it leads to pollution that comes with that.” Holly Back and Shervin Shahriari all voted against the change with most citing concerns about growing costs for residents and visitors inconvenience for drivers and unintended consequences for the workforce that commutes to North Van “I just do not feel comfortable with the timing of this Paid parking in front of businesses will definitely push shoppers elsewhere,” Back said Bell said Valente’s amendments had “fairly satisfactorily addressed” some of the concerns council received but the pocketbook issue was too big to overlook “It’s never the time to make big changes particularly if they involve dollars, but this is a particularly bad time because of the tariffs on top of everything else and the wastewater treatment plant,” he said predicted that the city would ultimately be better off but it’s all about managing parking in a way that benefits the whole community We are not looking at having businesses go out of business We are not looking at having residents have to circle blocks or have to walk multiple blocks to get where they want to go.… We want to make it easier to find parking  Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter perhaps just before buying some candies or ice cream with their pocket money Woods’ was at the terminal of the Capilano Streetcar line on School Street and Bowser Avenue The store was later renamed the Red & White Store part of a chain of cross-Canada grocery stores In 1958 or 1959 it was demolished to make way for the Upper Levels Highway Visit MONOVA’s micro exhibit Corner Stores and Collective Memories to see more North Vancouver corner grocery stores Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver, at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley, is open for drop-ins on Monday and by appointment Tuesday-Friday, 12:30-4 p.m. Contact: [email protected] District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services is crediting smoke alarms and a smart decision by a resident with saving a home from a fire in Edgemont the homeowner on Lyndene Road was awoken by his smoke alarms the three family members and their dog were safely outside but the garage was fully engulfed in flames and the fire had spread to two vehicles in the driveway but the structure can most likely be saved “The residents did everything right,” he said “They had a working fire alarm that sounded as soon as the fire was detected and woke them up and got them out of the building where they could call 911 when the homeowner realized the fire was burning in the garage he made sure to close the door – one of the best things you can do to prevent a fire from spreading “It will definitely slow the fire down and keep it in the room of origin,” he said the superheated gasses and smoke would have travelled throughout the house and would have gotten the rest of the house going as well.” Fire prevention officers began their investigation later on Wednesday Ferguson said it’s too soon to say what caused the blaze on Lyndene but he said garage fires can often be traced back to batteries on charge Ferguson said the fire underscores the need for everyone to go test their own smoke alarms which are key to waking people up before the smoke and flames do “We do definitely see situations where there are either no smoke alarms in the house or the smoke alarms haven’t been checked and are not operational,” he said We want people to be able to get out of the building as soon as possible and that’s what these alarms are meant to do.” [email protected] twitter.com/brentrichter brentrichter.bsky.social North Vancouver RCMP have arrested a man for a double stabbing that occurred outside Sailor Hagar’s pub in Lower Lonsdale Police say the were called to the 100 block of Semisch Avenue just after 2 a.m First responders found two victims at the scene suffering from stab wounds The injuries were serious but non-life-threatening As charges have not yet been sworn by the Crown however the RCMP say he was on parole at the time he is being held in custody while the RCMP’s serious crimes division continues its investigation “As the investigation is in its very early stages there are a lot of unanswered questions that police are seeking answers for,” said Cpl “What we do know is that there was a dispute inside the liquor establishment between the parties before the alleged assault occurred.” Anyone who has not yet spoken to the police and witnessed the incident is asked to call police at 604-985-1311 and quote file # 25-7227 Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter North Vancouver RCMP say the man reported missing on April 7 has been found deceased Investigators released an update on Wednesday saying the cause of death is not considered suspicious "The RCMP offers its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased," the release stated we have asked the candidates running in all three North Shore ridings a series of key questions about how their parties would govern and what impact they could have on the community in alphabetical order by candidate’s surname and have raised my son on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples (North Vancouver Capilano riding) for over 22 years I’m a social justice seeker & love the Arts Communication & collaboration (problem solving/linking people together) make me happy Canadian stories & culture are my passion How would your government cut Canada’s carbon emissions in the next term Free & easy to access home energy retrofits & clean power; eliminate handouts to Big Oil; make big polluters pay; stop big banks greenwashing; create thousands of good paying jobs by investing in clean energy energy efficient affordable homes & transportation How would your government make housing more affordable in the next term NDP will build more homes that people can afford faster; help 1st time homebuyers; ban investment firms from buying up properties; use public land to build affordable housing; stop renovictions & lower rent; help those w greatest housing need How would your government protect Canada’s economy in Trump’s trade war The NDP doesn’t buckle to bullies & we’ll do what we always do: standup for workers & small business Invest in a build Canadian/buy Canadian strategy; reciprocal tariffs; $10,000 rebate on Canadian made hybrid cars; EI reforms/protections; Victory Bonds How would your government advance Truth and Reconciliation with First Nations https://tammybentz.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/tammybentzndp/ https://bsky.app/profile/tammybentz.bsky.social specializing in infrastructure and business law I am an avid swimmer and love taking my dog We will help reduce global emissions by exporting LNG to trading partners to get them off of coal we will support Canada’s cleantech sector in becoming a global leader in innovation Tie federal infrastructure funds to housing construction Penalize gatekeepers who get in the way of construction Incentivize local governments to reduce imposed costs on home construction Apply targeted reciprocal tariffs to stand up to Trump Provide temporary loans for affected businesses to keep jobs www.stephencurran.ca https://www.instagram.com/stephen.p.e.curran/ https://x.com/specurran I have lived in the Grand Boulevard area of North Vancouver since 2009 A married father to 2 teenagers and an outdoor enthusiast I have 25 years working in sustainability with the natural resources sector Our government would stop giving taxpayers’ money to oil and gas companies and invest it in clean energy instead - such as hydrogen right here in North Vancouver We will make big companies prove they have real plans to deal with climate risks We’ll build homes that people can actually afford in the biggest public housing construction program since the ‘70s We’ll create local jobs in construction and close loopholes so criminals can’t use real estate to hide money We’ll create Strategic Reserves of critical resources We’ll put Canadians back in control of natural wealth to benefit our communities instead of foreign corporations Stop shipping our raw resources out of the country www.andrewrobinson2025.ca https://www.instagram.com/andrewrobinsongreen1/ https://bsky.app/profile/arobinsongreen.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewprobinson/ A lover of the wilderness and nature and being outdoors Making big polluters pay through industrial carbon pricing; helping families save with energy-efficient upgrades; continuing to invest in greener electricity grids incentives for efficient buildings and EV’s Freeing public lands for affordable housing; scrapping GST on rental investments; creating an affordable housing agency; $10B in low-cost financing; $25B for prefab builders; and no GST for first-time buyers on homes under $1M Strategic and forceful countermeasures: tariff revenues to support workers & industries; $2B for the auto sector; $5B trade diversification fund for economic resilience; tax/GST deferrals for businesses; and temporary removal of the 1-week EI waiting period https://www.jonathanwilkinson.ca/  https://x.com/JonathanWNV https://www.instagram.com/jonathanwnv/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.wilkinson.923/ Three young football stars from North Vancouver are receiving the chance to live their dreams and play the sport professionally After a new Canadian government was picked on Monday some other strong candidates were selected by teams during the 2025 CFL Draft in Toronto on Tuesday – including Keelan White The Ottawa Redblacks selected White as the No 184-pound University of Montana wide receiver had 161 catches for 1,862 yards and 14 touchdowns during his 57-game collegiate career White’s talents were obvious in high school, when he played for the Handsworth Royals 1 in the province with an average of 128 receiving yards White’s father Richard was then head coach at Handsworth and a former CFL player himself reaching the national level in flag football Findlay will get to play for his hometown BC Lions as the organization selected the defensive back as the No Playing for University of Western Ontario for four seasons Findlay was a Ontario University Athletics First-Team All-Star and named the provincial conference’s defensive player of the year in 2024 He played for Vancouver College in high school After being drafted, Findlay becomes a fourth-generation professional Canadian football player The Hamilton Tiger-Cats took Carson Graham alum Hosseini in the third round 300-pound UBC engineering student was a 2024 All-Star and helped the Thunderbirds win the Hardy Trophy and Mitchell Bowl championship in 2023.  has suited up for 27 games (with 16 starts) during his four-year university sports career Update: This article has been updated to include Arvin Hosseini who was incorrectly missed in a previous version Keelan White is headed to the Nation's Capital! #CFLDraft | @REDBLACKS pic.twitter.com/BLHUzXs1ym Welcome home, Jackson Findlay! #CFLDraft | @BCLions pic.twitter.com/xaYNZ9xj0F HOSSEINI IS HAMMER BOUND! #CFLDraft | @Ticats pic.twitter.com/xshgYzLIDM The days of free (or almost-free) parking on North Vancouver’s busiest streets may soon be coming to an end City of North Vancouver council is set to vote this Monday on a suite of changes including charging to park on the street in commercial areas where demand outstrips supply drastically increasing the price of residential street parking permits and opening them up to residents who live in apartments along with dedicating more curb space exclusively for loading zones and parking for people with disabilities the city’s deputy director of transportation reminded council that there hadn’t been any major review of the city’s parking policies since the 1990s “We are the only urban city in this region who does not charge for parking on our commercial high streets and who excludes multi-family buildings from accessing permit parking causing challenges for businesses and residents alike Updating our parking policies is long overdue,” she said drivers would end up paying $3 per hour to park on the busiest commercial streets in Lower and Central Lonsdale The price of a resident-only parking permit would go from $2.10 per month to $15 per month for a single vehicle Draper said rates are intended to be aligned with other municipalities while encouraging residents and visitors to make better use of off-street parking options which tend to be underused even at peak times Implementation of the plan would be done gradually Council first debated the plan in May 2024 city staff have been doing public consultations which yielded unsurprising if nuanced results most people don’t like paying for parking but there’s recognition that this is the only tool left that the city can use for improving parking availability in busy commercial areas,” Draper said To view the entire staff report on parking changes, click here. Numerous residents turned out to council to speak up on Monday Lower Lonsdale resident Lori Kilback warned that any loss of permit parking in exchange for pay parking would be punitive especially for families who can’t get everything done on foot close to home “Our catchment school is 1.6 kilometres away That is far too far to walk with a small child There is no efficient public transportation to get there especially if you have work obligations,” she said reminded council members they bore the responsibility for the growing demand for parking without a providing the needed new supply “Why is the city incentivizing more driving and parking for out-of-town visitors in the Lonsdale core Why is it at the cost of local tax-paying residents and most importantly where the hell am I supposed to park this year?” he said “High density developments are approved with the city with one parking space per unit while families cram into apartments to weather a housing affordability crisis.” Those who speak for the business community were more keen to see the city make reforms executive director of the Lower Lonsdale Business Improvement Association said there was “broad support” among his organization’s members “Increasing the availability and ease of parking can only benefit businesses and their customers who are looking for simple and cost-effective ways to get to and support their local businesses we want to make it an easy choice for someone to support local,” he said said his organization was also generally supportive of the recommendations related to the commercial areas But he also warned the changes might be viewed cynically as a cash grab by the city if the new revenues aren’t used transparently and fairly the chamber is urging council to keep both the parking fees and fines low and for any surplus revenues be used to offset business taxes Central Lonsdale resident Brady Faught said his family of four gets by just fine with a single vehicle and urged council to go ahead for the benefit of the entire community our current design heavily prioritizes the free unimpeded movement and storage of vehicles doesn’t serve anyone particularly well,” he said “I can understand any hesitancy around this topic with affordability being a primary concern is subsidizing that free parking in our grocery bills and our taxes.” Mayor Linda Buchanan specified the vote would be put off until the April 14 meeting to give the public more time to digest the proposed changes Council members spent close to two hours putting questions to staff over how the new parking rules would be implemented While most kept their comments on the new parking regulations to themselves Holly Back specified she did not have much sympathy for people parking on the street and using their garages to store things other than vehicles I do have an issue with that,” she said “You have a parking space and then you’re going to complain about what we’re going to charge for the street which I think is actually more than fair.” VancouverNews28-year-old hiker dies after fall on North Vancouver mountain By Kaija JussinojaPublished: April 20, 2025 at 7:20PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Tenants and their loved ones say they’re worried and confused after learning that a contract supporting 31 assisted living suites at a North Vancouver seniors' residence is coming to an end When Dean Mackie helped his mother Lorene move into Chartwell Churchill House in March 2024 “It takes years in the system to go to the level where you get supportive housing like this,” he said “And to have a place that’s nice and well run and right here on the North Shore was a triple-win because we’ve lived on the North Shore for many years.” Mackie said the staff and level of care at the facility run by Chartwell Retirement Residences, is exceptional and has brought comfort to him and his 82-year-old mother who lives with dementia But the mood shifted when Mackie received a “cryptic” email a few weeks ago from the house manager at the residence instructing him and Lorene to both attend an in-person meeting where they would be given an update ‘You have to come to the meeting,’” Mackie said “Aha. Anytime somebody sets you up for an in-person conversation you know that something big is coming down.” they sat down in a room “jam packed” with other residents and loved ones they asked for the door to be closed,” Mackie said “And they announced that [Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Housing’s] contract with Chartwell is coming to an end all the subsidized assisted-living residents will have to find someplace new to live.” “One resident asked what would happen to them after 24 months if they were still there Why weren’t the grandfathers ‘grandfathered-in’ to be able to stay One resident mused out loud that medical assistance in dying (MAID) might be a preferable option,” Mackie said Unlike the care his mother has received from front line staff at the residence Mackie said the communication from Chartwell "I received that one email announcing the meeting and then one follow-up email … and that’s it." “And each time I look for any new announcements it's still unclear whether his mother will be forced to leave Churchill House Chartwell spokesperson Mary Perrone Lisi said the company’s contract with BC Housing and VCH came to a natural conclusion in 2021 we have explored various opportunities to renew the agreement; however a decision was made not to renew the contract,” she said in a written statement. “While we recognize this outcome is disappointing for impacted residents and families we remain deeply committed to supporting them with compassion and care throughout the transition." Churchill House will gradually shift to a private model that supports Chartwell-managed suites A spokesperson from BC Housing said that residents living in the suites which are subsidized by the province and VCH won’t have their rents increased to market rates while living at Churchill House Vancouver Coastal Health will help impacted residents and their families find other suitable housing and care services with as little disruption as possible,” the spokesperson said adding that the vacated units will switch to private market rates which start at $3,785 per month for a studio apartment While BC Housing would not directly respond to questions if residents would be evicted after the 24-month period, the provincial body said it “stands behind” a previous statement to CityNews that no one will be evicted That statement reads that residents can stay on at their current rate but that they will be “encouraged” to leave Neither Chartwell nor BC Housing would say what encouraging residents to leave will look like With just 91 subsidized assisted living beds on the North Shore – with a third of those soon to be lost – Mackie said it would be “devastating” if his mother had to move to Richmond “Our plan was to keep mom here as long as possible because she loves it here … and she knows if she were to move across one of the many bridges that I wouldn’t be able to visit as often,” he said “She has two grandchildren here on the North Shore.”   Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter. The District of North Vancouver has deactivated its X account while other Metro Vancouver cities are mulling doing the same following concerns about misinformation and far-right extremism on the platform and owner Elon Musk’s Nazi-like hand salute at U.S We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“We have begun the process of deactivating the district’s corporate x.com account,” says a statement this week from the District of North Vancouver “This is something we have been considering for some time now based on changes to the platform x.com no longer aligns with our corporate values.” The district says it will still have a social-media presence on Instagram The City of Vancouver is also looking into whether to deactivate its X account we are currently exploring the operational impacts of deactivating the City of Vancouver’s X account and how this may affect communicating with users across the city,” an emailed statement said Wednesday we are looking into alternative platforms and other jurisdictional responses to inform the best path forwards for our organization and communication needs.” A spokesperson for the city confirmed that the X alternative site Bluesky was being considered Asked whether New Westminster would also leave X the city’s communications team said it’s reassessing its social-media use “While we anticipate there may be a need for change in the near future at this time we have not finalized any decisions,” city staff said in an email government stopped advertising on X more than two years ago when ownership changed The government “vigilantly upholds a no tolerance policy towards hate and harassment,” an email from the Ministry of Finance said “We are continuously reviewing the appropriateness of all platforms as we consider the most effective ways to reach British Columbians with trusted The “X-odus,” as it has been dubbed by media outlets following concerns about misinformation and far-right extremism on the platform Richmond said while it hasn’t made a decision yet about X it has created a Bluesky account and is looking into how to build a profile for future use saying they had no plans yet but are continuously reevaluating social media and the best way to reach citizens Both Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam have Bluesky accounts but have not yet posted as they consider which service best suits the city the German government may also deactivate its account The report says because Musk has become increasingly vocal in his support for far-right and anti-establishment parties in Europe ahead of Germany’s Feb German institutions including unions and universities have deactivated their accounts saying “the EFJ considers it unethical to participate in a social network that has transformed into “a machine of disinformation and propaganda.” Bluesky was a project started by Jack Dorsey when he was CEO of what was then-Twitter in 2019 It became an independent company in 2021 and Its founding mission continues to be to “develop and drive large-scale adoption of technologies for open and decentralized public conversation.” Software engineer Jay Graber has been the CEO of Bluesky since its inception The District of North Vancouver could soon be hiring paid crossing guards for elementary schools following an increase in appalling driving by parents 11 for a one-year pilot project after hearing from parents and volunteers who’ve become fed up with parents causing near misses and dishing out abuse to volunteers a volunteer with Cleveland Elementary’s traffic safety team said she and the other two crossing guards who show up each day will not continue after this year and warned there likely aren’t others willing to step in and do the job “It’s not just the preponderance of illegal or unethical driving that makes the job difficult or the endless amount of parking violations … the work itself is extremely demoralizing We are parents with no power and we are almost entirely women which means we are routinely yelled at and dismissed,” she said I need a break from the emotional labour that is caused by a few dangerous and bad actors.” traffic safety co-ordinator at Montroyal Elementary said his school’s vice-principal stepped in and started directing traffic after some very close calls involving drivers and kids she suffered insults and abuse and threats,” he said “We have three to four significant incidents per drop-off and pick-up so it’s not a matter of whether something’s going to happen it’s a matter of when something’s going to happen I’ve seen several children almost hit by cars One of them came within about an inch of being run over.” stressed that children’s safety outside schools should not be a “big ask.” I receive reports of parents almost hitting students as they speed down our narrow street or speak rudely to the few volunteers that we do have,” she said “On the days we do not have a volunteer crossing guard zipping into the no-stopping areas to drop off their child right in front of the school I personally witnessed a child almost get run over because a parent wanted to grab a parking spot that became available When it came to a request for a staff report back on options prioritize safety improvements around schools with known issues The crossing guard pilot project was more divisive Introducing his motion to work with the North Vancouver School District Jordan Back said it was not only necessary but long overdue The City of North Vancouver pays for crossing guards at all five of its elementary schools “These aren’t just imaginary worries that we’re hearing They’re the daily realities for families across our whole community I understand these concerns first hand every time I walk or bike with my children I believe we have responsibility to act,” he said arguing the district should go straight to full implementation along with increased enforcement for violators and bans on dropping off kids within two blocks of their schools I’m just shocked to hear how bad it’s gotten and about the increasing number of near misses and also the abuse are feeling afraid to let their kids walk to school and that just makes the problem worse with more cars and more drop-offs” she said “I don’t think it’s necessary Mayor Mike Little however said the district shouldn’t pursue the pilot until there had been a proper look into the funding sources and benefits “You are talking about costs… of over $500,000 by the time it’s all said and done per year going forward $500,000 can go towards fixing a lot of problems at a lot of schools And this presupposes that the best solution to the problem is with crossing guards I don’t think it is in most cases,” he said adding that school safety should be paid for by the Ministry of Education “I think the best solution to the problem is going to be through using speed bumps changing the built form in and around (schools) using signage and other things to affect behaviour in those areas.” Little did however take the occasion to call out the “culture problem” at the root of parents driving their kids to school in an otherwise safe community “I am wagging my finger at the parents would drive right down the front hallway and drop their kid off at the classroom and that is absolutely irresponsible behaviour,” he said  Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter Municipalities across Canada are debating how they should respond to the U.S City council unanimously approved a new “responding to the United States tariffs through local government action” policy to support the economy in a council meeting March 10 U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods and 10 per cent on energy exported from the country on March 4, according to the B.C. Government's website the president put a pause on tariffs for some goods until April 2 The U.S. slapped a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products March 12, then leading the Canadian federal government to impose reciprocal tariffs on a total of $29.8 billion imported goods CNV Mayor Linda Buchanan brought forward the policy to council listing tasks staff will take on to help local and Canadian economies thrive Council is directing staff to work with local business and community economic development organizations to look into ways to promote a “buy local / buy Canadian” campaign in response to U.S Some organizations include the Lower Lonsdale Business Improvement Area (LLBIA) LOCO BC and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Staff will also work with regional organizations to develop a response strategy that reflects collective economic influence of B.C “I think supporting our local economy amid broader economic challenges – especially in the face of the U.S which are very real and immediate – is more important than ever and they cannot be ignored,” Buchanan said “These trade measures put local jobs businesses and our broader economy at risk.” “This is a moment that demands leadership,” she added “This is not just about responding to an unprovoked trade war it is about protecting livelihoods and strengthening the economic foundation of every corner of this province Council is also directing staff to create an “internal roundtable” to look into a rapid response to tariffs and other economic challenges facing the city including directions on how to follow through with a plan One suggestion Buchanan made in the report was a potential adjustment to the city’s business licensing process allowing businesses to expand operations through a “split-licence” to remove red tape and barriers in economic uncertainty Staff will also get busy reading the city’s regulations and policies to find immediate and long-term strategies to respond to economic threats like tariffs and supply chain disruptions All councillors voted in favour of the plan with many expressing support to shop locally or in Canada Tony Valente and Angela Girard echoed buying local and Canadian products but were still surprised to find the country in this situation “It’s a harsh reality that we find ourselves in this current situation – reacting to what feels a lot like betrayal so I fully support the team Canada approach,” Valente said Valente asked staff when looking into the plan to consider some of the trade agreement rules with partners like Mexico and the European Union under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to ensure they still honour the agreements “It’s important that we realize we’re not alone in this actually and others will be targeted as well and we need to stand with them,” he said Shervin Shahriari and Don Bell also voiced support for the plan Shahriari said every business has a supply chain and each part can vary if they are Canadian or American owned He suggested there should be a caring approach to the policy to make sure the city applies a fair policy to local businesses “Not all Americans like these tariffs a lot of them have valued the almost family relationship we’ve had for decades – hundreds of years – between the United States and Canada,” Bell said I refer to it as the Trump administration that really declared an economic war on Canada and several other countries.” District of West Vancouver also issued a statement regarding the tariffs on March 13 stating they will buy Canadian products when reasonable options exist.  [email protected] Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter The next North Shore RapidBus to Metrotown will be arriving in about two years Following an influx of cash from the province and approval by TransLink’s board and the Mayors’ Council the latest investment plan from the transit agency will see the existing R2 Park Royal to Phibbs Exchange express bus extended to Burnaby’s busiest SkyTrain hub in 2027 Also included in the announcement is funding for the planning work that will lead to the eventual launch of the North Shore Bus Rapid Transit line which is expected to offer a higher level of service with dedicated lanes and priority signals at controlled intersections as well as more comfortable rides and stations TransLink will add all-day bus service to the 231 route which connects the Harbourside neighbourhood with Lonsdale Quay The run currently only operates from rush hour to rush hour there will be a five per cent increase in overall bus service targeted mainly for routes that experience the most overcrowding To cover the cost of the expansions announced this week with two-per cent increases expected annually starting in 2027 The amount TransLink draws from property taxes will go up by $20 per year for a typical homeowner, and the amount the region charges in parking taxes is expected to climb by about 40 cents for a $10 parking fee The province is also contributing a $312-million operating grant that should keep the transit authority afloat until a “new funding source” can be identified and approved by the legislature At a joint meeting with TransLink’s board and the mayors Wednesday director of operations and strategy for Movement specifically praised the extension of the R2 said she learned the hard way about taking transit to and from the North Shore when she was working a job here “Taking transit there was a long journey with a number of transfers and I would often end up calling my dad to pick me up or spending more than my hourly earnings on an EVO to get home because the bus journey would have just been too long and it was too late,” she said “The R2 extension will truly improve access for workers and for students and I’m so thankful that it’s part of the plan." The R2 extension has long been on the wish list of the North Vancouver Chamber which sent a letter in support of the investment plan “Congestion on the North Shore is the top issue choking our economy and preventing a workforce from across Metro Vancouver from accessing family-supporting jobs on the North Shore,” chamber CEO Patrick Stafford Smith wrote the R2 RapidBus extension is a critical project that will significantly improve connectivity.” TransLink has been warning of ongoing structural deficit that would result in as much as a 50 per cent reduction in transit service and the longer-term deficit has been reduced by half But TransLink Mayors Council chair and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West stressed that the fast-growing region’s transit system will always be in a precarious spot “We’ve talked about this for years and years about the need for a new funding model for transit that reduces the reliance on fares and property taxes and is right-sized to deliver the service that this region requires,” he said “We have to be bold and courageous and move quickly in this area if we want to avoid the repetitive nature of every two or three years having a panic and trying to come to a Band-Aid agreement.” West also called on the province and feds to show up with capital funding for new projects adding that “noted left-wing Premier Doug Ford” provides twice the capital funding per capita to transit in the GTA than David Eby’s government does in Metro Vancouver Is North Vancouver the doughnut capital of the world as Canada ranks among the top of doughnut-crazed countries and more shops are popping up in North Van – seemingly by the minute The latest to join the ranks is Lower Mainland juggernaut Lee’s Donuts which just opened a new location in Lower Lonsdale From their cosy new storefront at 100-124 West First Street frosting and freshly serving the same sweet rings that have made them a hit at Granville Island and beyond the Lower Lonsdale Lee’s is throwing a grand opening all day Saturday (April 5 After getting a good reception from several pop-ups at Lonsdale Quay Lee’s owners decided to add a permanent shop in North Van “We thought it was a great community to share our doughnuts with,” said spokesperson Jigs Dimaculangan But getting the new location going took a little longer than expected so the company disguised the store as a Hula Hoop Combat Training business while they awaited permits and other things required to open “It was just to create a buzz in the area,” Dimaculangan said adding that people who signed up to an email list for the fake company will soon be getting some real T-shirts With customers now being welcomed into the shop Lee’s owners say the interior of the North Van location pays homage to the area’s shipbuilding history “The space features honey-tinted reclaimed wood creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects the character of the surrounding neighbourhood,” reads a press release “A standout feature is the decorator’s corner window where customers can watch fresh doughnuts being filled Dimaculangan added that the new store has been under soft launch operations and that extended business hours will be coming soon Nickel’s and Harmony up the street just aren’t enough doughnuts for you Lee’s has another North Van location that’s still in the works A couple years ago, you may recall seeing Lee’s Donuts signage outside a new residential development in Moodyville “That’s still in the works,” Dimaculangan said