Militant Mothers and Booze Cans

Today's entry is about how people have made changes in this city and helped to keep some safe and beautify their piece of the community.

The Militant Mothers of Raymur are an important part of Vancouver's history.

In the late 1950s the city began a urban renewal plan for the Strathcona area. The plan was to demolish older homes and use that land to create public housing including the Raymur Housing Project. The housing project is at the corner of Campbell and Pender Streets but many of the project's children attend school at Seymour Elementary School. In order to get to the school the youngsters had to cross the railroad tracks.

In the fall of 1970 a group of mothers from the housing project organized a protest against the Burlington Northern Railway. They had been negotiating with the railway to get the company to build an overhead walkway but the negotiations were going nowhere. So the mothers began to camp out on the tracks and stopped the trains. Even though there was legal action and intense pressure from the railway the mothers refused to move and allow the trains to get to the Port of Vancouver.

The Burlington Northern Railway finally did give in and build the walkway. I guess it was less expensive in the long run that the money they were losing by not being able to get to the port.

Part of this urban renewal plan for Strathcona also consisted of plans to build a highway through the district. In order to do this the planners were going to demolish houses on the entire block of Prior and Union Streets. There was a public outcry. Not only because we would be losing parts of our history but also because there was no public consultation on this. Planners quickly backtracked on that idea and a new approach to urban development and change was born. Now the public is allowed to present their opinions and concerns. Walking around downtown lately I have seen notices where planners are intending on constructing large condo towers so there may be more public outcry as the citizens try to stop this.

At the corners of McLean Drive and Charles Street is this little park - Mosaic Creek Park.

In the 1990s these three vacant lots were slated for a condominimum building. The residents of the area weren't pleased with this proposal so they raised the money to purchase the land themselves and turn it into a park.



 Artists Glen Andersen and Kristine Germann worked with project coordinator Sarah White and ran workshops to teach residents how to create the mosaics that are seen throughout this area. 300 community members created the mosaics that create a path running through the park. (Initially the community wanted to have a stream running through this area but it proved to be impractical.)

This mosaic feature surrounding an herb garden was designed and coordinated by Glen Andersen and Marina Szijarto.

Here, though my camera didn't pick it up, are stones with names of people involved with this project. The design team consisted of: Glen Andersen, Christopher Dale, Kristine Germann, Joanne Hogarth, Lawrence Low, Sarah White and Ms. White was the coordinator.

Friday while walking through here I ran into a woman who told me all about how this park came to be. She used to live in a house here that was once a booze can. She now lives in an apartment building on the Charles Street side of the park and she said she can remember when that area was all orchards. She wasn't that old so it wasn't that long ago. Relatively speaking of course.
 



This building which has an entrance on Mclean Drive as well as one on Charles Street was built in 1912 but I don't know anything about it.

 

I hope you find the beauty around you.

 

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Glen Andersen, Christopher Dale ,Kristine Germann,Joanne Hogarth,Marina Szijarto,Lawrence Low,Sarah White,History,

Magic Mushrooms and Ice Cream

When I first saw this sign I smiled. My first thought was the infamous magic mushrooms but Money's never produced those. I don't think so anyway.

Actually the mushroom industry in BC is one that in 2002 brought in 74.8 million dollars to the province. That's a lot of being kept in the dark and fed bull#@&*.

I wandered down Prior Street in Strathcona. This is one of the oldest areas in Vancouver and the buildings reflect that.

Some have really been taken care of and show the pride and craftmanship they were built with:

Others, not so much.

I look at these homes and wish that there was way I could see the ghosts that live there. These houses have lived through so many events. They have sheltered people from all sorts of weather conditions; welcomed home the hard working and housed the ne'er do well. The home has seen births, deaths, marriages, tragedy and triumph. It has cried with its owners' pain and rejoiced with their successes.

So many of these homes, like the one below that is across the street from me, have been divided into many residential units. That way it is possible to keep the house going so that it can house many more families.

Prior Street turned into Venables and I kept walking. On the corner of Venables and Glen is a very busy place this time of year.

La Casa Gelato by the International Ice Cream Factory, is a big pink building that you can't miss. 218 flavors of gelato, sorbetto and yogurt including such rarities as curry, garlic, red bean and of course lemon, vanilla and chocolate. Perhaps the variety is what has kept the place in business for close to twenty years. No matter what the reason I saw lots of people going in and out today.

If you need parking you can't miss it.

The mural on the lot surrounded by a pink fence sort of lets people know which business the space belongs to. But if you are a person who would like to eat your iced treat slowly and savor the taste then you might enjoy the ambiance of the area right beside the parking lot.

Such a peaceful, relaxing spot not far from a busy thoroughfare. I was good though and resisted tempation. But I am making a mental note to remember one of their gelato cakes the next time I want something really special.

It was a good day. Nice breeze so that the heat didn't derail me like yesterday. Remember the piece I wrote on the murals around the city? Here's another one on Hastings Street.

I stood and looked at this one for a few moments. It warms me to know that I can find art and such like this around even in areas that aren't the best. It shows that someone still cares.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Prior Street, Strathcona,La Casa Gelator,Murals,Walk,history,Venables