#downtown columbia

[allthecanadianpolitics]

As the cold, wet weather rolls into B.C.’s South Coast, a coalition of groups from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is calling for more safe and warm spaces for the homeless. The Carnegie Housing Project held a press conference Thursday, warning that there are 3,100 people of no fixed address in the region, including 2,000 in the Downtown Eastside, but just 1,500 shelter beds. The group, along with the Aboriginal Front Door Society, Overdose Prevention Society and Building Community Society, released nine urgent actions to address the crisis. At the top of the list is a call for the province to create between 500 and 1,500 more shelter spaces.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[rickchung]

Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines x Vancouver Art Gallery x Downtown.

VAG's exhbition is the first solely dedicated to the rich five-decade history of artists' zines produced in North America since the 1970s—incuding from Vancouver's Western Front. Chart the self-expression of this underground art making across generations through the documentation of different subcultures from queer arts to feminist politics.

"Maggie TV": a single-channel video on clear Sony television, wire, epoxy-covered paper stars, beads, and mixed media by New York-based artist Maggie Lee (2017).

Collection on display until Sept. 22.

[rabbitcruiser]

Public Art, Vancouver (No. 8)

Bernar Venet’s monumental work 217.5 Arc x 13 is part of his Arc series of sculptures which illustrate the beauty, balance, and malleability of raw steel. The name of this artwork is a precise description of its mathematical composition. All of the beams in the sculpture are nested and curved to the same angle providing a sense of balance and grace. Venet employs mathematical manipulations of this industrial material to explore the interconnected relationships amongst nature, humanity, and the universe. The repetitive thirteen curves give a resting yet rhythmic sense of movement and fluidity. The raw red-brown rust colour of the unpainted surfaces of the corten steel, an authentic surface upon which Venet insists, facilitates an interaction with the natural elements.  This sculpture was acquired by the Vancouver Biennale Legacy Foundation in 2007.

“Increasing levels of abstraction and complexity frighten those for whom art is a means to attain a comfortable expression of calm, luxury, and delight.” – Bernar Venet

Source

[kesara]

Bridge to Seabus - Vancouver [IMG_2353] by Kesara Rathnayake

[piqtescue]

TW for mentions of m*rder cases, violence, crime

I usually dont post things like this but I announce with a fucking relief flooding my bones like no other, that Canada's worst serial killer that did ungodly, horrific things to women in Vancouver over a span of 25+ years, has died in prison. I'm not even putting his vile name in here because he doesn't deserve any more recognition.

The time has finally come where daughters, parents, siblings, cousins, friends and loved ones no longer have to sit with the fact that he breathes and their girls don't.

I hope he rots in fucking hell.

((petition to piss on his body or destroy his grave? im open to ideas))

[oceanbreezebandb]

Your Ultimate Guide: Finding Last-minute Short-term Suites in North Vancouver

There's a certain excitement that comes with spontaneous travel plans, and sometimes the best adventures are the ones that aren't meticulously planned months in advance. Whether you're a spontaneous traveler by nature or circumstances have led you to plan a last-minute trip, finding suitable accommodations on short notice can be a challenge. However, in North Vancouver, even last-minute travelers can find comfortable and convenient short-term suites to call home during their stay.

Exploring North Vancouver’s short-term suite options:

North Vancouver offers a variety of short-term suite options, ranging from cozy studios to spacious apartments, all of which are perfect for travelers seeking flexibility and convenience. These suites typically come fully furnished and equipped with all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay, including kitchen facilities, Wi-Fi access, and in-suite laundry. Whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or with a group of friends or family, there's a last-minute short-term suite in North Vancouver to suit your needs.

Benefits of last-minute short-term suites:

While planning a trip at the last minute may seem stressful, there are actually several benefits to booking a short-term suite on short notice. For one, you may be able to take advantage of discounted rates or special offers that are available to travelers who book their accommodations at the eleventh hour. Additionally, booking a short-term suite allows you to enjoy the flexibility of staying for as long or as short a time as you'd like, without being tied down by strict reservation policies.

Tips for finding last-minute short-term suites:

If you find yourself in need of last-minute accommodations in North Vancouver, don't panic – there are several strategies you can use to secure a short-term suite on short notice. One option is to search online booking platforms and travel websites, where you can often find a variety of short-term rentals available for immediate booking. Alternatively, you can reach out directly to local property management companies or short-term rental hosts to inquire about availability. Finally, consider expanding your search to include nearby neighborhoods or suburbs, as this can increase your chances of finding a suitable short-term suite on short notice.

Making the most of your last-minute stay:

Once you've secured your last-minute short-term suite in North Vancouver, it's time to start planning your itinerary and making the most of your time in this beautiful city. Take advantage of the suite's convenient location to explore North Vancouver's many attractions, from scenic hiking trails and waterfront parks to bustling markets and cultural landmarks. Be sure to also indulge in the city's vibrant culinary scene, with a plethora of restaurants and cafes serving up delicious cuisine from around the world.

Embracing spontaneity and adventure:

While last-minute travel can sometimes be unpredictable, it also presents an opportunity to embrace spontaneity and adventure. Use your time in North Vancouver to explore new neighborhoods, try new activities, and connect with fellow travelers and locals alike. Whether you're embarking on a solo journey of self-discovery or enjoying a spontaneous getaway with loved ones, your last-minute short-term suite in North Vancouver is sure to be the perfect home base for your adventures.

Planning for future trips:

While last-minute travel can be exhilarating, it's also a good idea to plan ahead for future trips to North Vancouver. Consider bookmarking your favorite short-term suite options for future reference, or even setting up alerts to notify you of any last-minute deals or availability. By planning ahead, you can ensure that you have plenty of time to research and book the perfect accommodations for your next visit to this captivating city.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, finding last-minute short-term suites in North Vancouver is easier than you might think, thanks to the city's wide range of accommodation options and flexible booking policies. Whether you're seeking a spontaneous adventure or simply need a place to rest your head at the last minute, North Vancouver has everything you need for a memorable stay. So why wait? Start planning your last-minute getaway today and discover all that this dynamic city has to offer.

[rob604designs]

False Creek, Vancouver BC

-Rob604

[robmoses1]

Dark on the High Road

I shot this photo last night from a dark road indeed, but the road I am referring too in the title is actually the road behind the buildings. There is a light seemingly streaking though the air behind the buildings. That light behind the buildings is actually a car driving down a road on the other side of the lake. It was a pretty dark night so there wasn’t much to see back there, but I wasn’t…

[whileimout]

Canon EOS 60D + @vsco

[kxantares]

In which I SkyTrain-post about: the Dunsmuir Tunnel.

Or, actually, why the SkyTrain network as a whole feels like a goofy little toy train, while also being a really cool example of quirky '80s technology being pushed right to its absolute limits. But first, some context is useful — specifically, the urban freeway plan for Vancouver, which, unlike many cities in North America, was largely aborted.

↑↑↑ This is what they wanted to do to part of the City of Vancouver…

…and this is the overarching plan that was mostly defeated by an organised left in Vancouver. (The few areas that weren't saved, well, those deserve their own posts.) So, with a massive freeway plan being shot down for the city centre, what was the plan going to be for transit? Well, after some amount of messing around with express buses throughout the '70s on the part of the regional transit network, which was operated by BC Hydro before BC Transit took it over… …Vancouver got chosen to host Expo 86. Which was themed around transportation, being named "Transportation and Communication: World in Motion — World in Touch".

Which meant: well shit, maybe now's a good time to make up for having dodged the whole highway bullet. However, using a normal heavy rail network, on entirely new infrastructure, with human drivers, was untenable, because: I guess I need to introduce the Socreds.

I'm not going to get into the ideology of social credit, which the Socreds never actually ended up being able to give effect to, or the somewhat unusual conservatism of WAC Bennett's long administration, but effectively, by the early '80s, the Socreds had pivoted to plain old neoliberalism, which meant: cutting costs all over and also keeping unions out of whatever they could. (As an aside, if you've ever got the time, read about the Solidarity protests of 1983 in BC, because the sheer intensity of the Bill Bennett administration's fuckery on that front is a pretty clear demonstration of shock doctrine.) And yes, if you're keeping track, that's William Bennett for 20 years → 3 years of not William &c. → Bill Bennett for 11 years → Wilhelmus Vander Zalm for 5 years. Lots of William happening. And all of those assorted Williams were Socred Premiers. But how do you cut costs and also keep unions away from a brand new metro system? Well, Urban Transit Development Corporation, a Crown Corporation (basically a state-owned enterprise, but Canadian) in Ontario had an idea:

A tiny train. But it runs frequently. It's also automated, and uses a linear induction motor for propulsion. That's kinda critical to the fact that the SkyTrain works whatsoever, really, given other constraints I'm about to get into. And what else can one do to save costs on a rail system?

Reuse old alignments, like the Central Park Line of the British Columbia Electric Railway.

But what saves even more money?

Reusing old infrastructure. Basically, until just a few years before the SkyTrain started operation, Canadian Pacific ran long-distance trains, all the way out to Toronto (and sometimes further), through the Dunsmuir Tunnel from Waterfront Station, which is now the "main" hub for TransLink, linking the SeaBus, Expo Line, West Coast Express. Canada Line, and many bus routes. But that got shut down, to make way for literally slicing the Tunnel in half height-wise — and thus letting two tracks use the same tunnel, which was built tall enough for old steam trains. Which means: you've got trains constrained to a fairly tiny loading gauge, which, sure, maybe you'd want to build longer platforms to compensate for that, but:

No. Hence automation. For example, try to find a precise timetable for the Expo Line anywhere on the Internet, without screwing around with APIs or whatever. You can't, last I checked. The design philosophy resulting from the "let's spend as little as goddamn possible while still having a grade separated rapid transit system" approach means that, well, we've got trains so tiny in loading gauge terms that you can fit two in a barely modified single-track rail tunnel, which are barely even 80m long, which still could carry 25,700 people per hour per direction, solely thanks to completely absurd frequencies. Like, TransLink deserves to be yelled at over the lack of redundancy in such a critical transportation backbone, and the provincial governments that they rely on for funding deserve it even more, but it's. Well. Kinda interesting how the most ridiculous possible political pressures resulted in, like, a fairly functional transit system, via the weirdest specifications possible. However, this is also why, not even 40 years after the Expo Line opened for regular service, it's already close to its limits. They were far too cautious and non-ambitious in their design for the system, chasing ideologies of Fiscal Responsibility™ instead of future-proofing, and now we've got transit infrastructure that's going to require redundancy to the tune of an entire extra metro line in the northwest/southeast direction eventually, even if other connections should be able to pick up the slack in the medium term.

[bananarchy4ever]

Some Easter-themed posters denouncing the ongoing street sweeps of unhoused people in so-called Canada's most impoverished neighbourhood. The Vancouver city council and mayor are incredibly cruel and supportive of these sweeps. Disgusting. Posters like this and more available for download and distributing how you see fit.

[rickchung]

Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines x Vancouver Art Gallery x Downtown.

VAG's exhbition is the first solely dedicated to the rich five-decade history of artists' zines produced in North America since the 1970s—incuding from Vancouver's Western Front. Chart the self-expression of this underground art making across generations through the documentation of different subcultures from queer arts to feminist politics.

"Maggie TV": a single-channel video on clear Sony television, wire, epoxy-covered paper stars, beads, and mixed media by New York-based artist Maggie Lee (2017).

Collection on display until Sept. 22.

[rabbitcruiser]

The Marine Building was opened on 7 October 1930.

[kesara]

Attessa IV [IMG_0909] by Kesara Rathnayake

[thebruhgirlexperience]

My full attractions and food tour in vancouver is now live on my youtube! Go watch me stuff my face c #travel #travelgram #wanderlust #travelling #explore #travelphotography #instatravel #adventure #travelblogger #vacation #traveltheworld #traveller #trip #tourism #traveladdict #traveldiaries #exploretheworld #beautifuldestinations #holiday #vancouver #vancouverisland #vancouvereats #vancouverbc #vancouverfoodie #vancouverattractions #vancouvercanada #vancouvertourism #vancouvertravel

[clickyourradio]