Spring is finally here! Take in the latest issue of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News to find out all the great things happening in the neighbourhood.
CNH’s RISE Community Health Centre wins BC Quality Award
Collingwood Corner: Demolition of Vancouver Distribution Centres
Buzzing like bees at Still Moon Arts Society this spring
Neighbourhood Small Grants accepts applications through April 18
The Welcome Pole Project by Indigenous carvers
Applications due for the Ann and Jo-Ann Sobkow Award on April 30
Plus, spring photos by Penny Lim and Gail Hirst
Do you have a local story to tell or an event to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.
The deadline for the May 2024 issue is April 10.
We welcome story submissions from 300 to 400 words long. Accompanying photos must be high resolution in a jpg file at least 1 MB large and include a photo caption and the name of the photographer.
Loretta Houben and her young son watching the demolishing of the warehouses on Wellington Avenue, 1992. Photo by John Williams
Do you remember a train whistle blowing late at night in the 1960s and 1970s when the freight train would arrive at the back of the large warehouse complex located on Wellington Avenue and Joyce Street? The train used the former interurban tracks from the east. I lived on Monmouth Avenue and the sound would comfort me in the middle of the night.
The warehouse was opened in March 1957 at 3450 Wellington Avenue and owned by Robert K. Arkley. For many years it was McGregor Warehouses Ltd., until it came under new management in 1973 and was changed to Vancouver Distribution Centres Ltd. The owner at the time was George A. Carey, and the general manager was Harvey Allen. The warehouses were a huge facility consisting of 120,000 square feet. Some of the businesses located here were Castrol Oils, Nestle Canada, DuBois Chemicals of Canada and Johnsons Wax.
Looking north from behind the warehouses from the SkyTrain tracks, 1992. Photo by John Williams
It was difficult gleaning this information from online newspapers at Newspapers.com. Not much has been written about this complex, which was in the Collingwood neighbourhood from 1957 until 1992, a period of 35 years, when it was demolished to make way for townhomes and condos. The area was rezoned in 1988.
The warehouses were torn down in 1992. The apartments and townhomes were sold from 1992 to 1994, advertised in the Vancouver Sun for as low as $4,000 down payment. Apartments started at $74,500 and townhomes started at $210,000, from VLC Properties. Eventually, the area included Wellington townhomes on Wellington Avenue, with the Avalon and Connaught townhomes behind them. Also included were two high rise towers, the tallest in the neighbourhood at the time: the Regent Court and Queen’s Court.
My dad, John Williams, took the two photos included with this article. I inherited my love of old buildings and documenting neighbourhood changes from him. These are the only two photos I have seen of the warehouses on Wellington.
The one thing I remember about this area is the beautiful green lawn in the front, with picnic tables for the staff. McGreer Street was once an unnamed gravel lane, running along the west side of the property.
Do you have memories or photos of this warehouse complex? Please get in touch with the editor, Paul Reid, if you do, at rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.
Still Moon spring events coming up. Visit StillMoonArts.ca for details and to register. Photos by Still Moon staff and volunteers
Still Moon inspires vibrant and connected communities through art and nature. Spring is the perfect season to invite fresh new growth, joy and experiences of life.
Visit StillMoonArts.ca to RSVP for these blossoming events and experiences.
Gardeners’ Gatherings
A series of work parties at Renfrew-Collingwood’s local dye garden. Participants will work together to tend the garden, ask questions and experiment with natural dyeing. Bring an instrument if you play.
April 13, May 7 and 11, June 11, July 27, August 6 and 24, September 7, October 12 and 19
Various times
Colour Me Local Dye Garden (3958 Renfrew Street, Vancouver)
Dine and Twine: Community Art Gathering and AGM
An evening of food, art-making and community. Elect new board members while enjoying delicious vegetarian chilli and work together to twine daylily leaves to create the hair for Water Woman, a magnificent giant puppet Still Moon is co-creating with community.
Wednesday, April 17
6:30 to 8:30 pm (AGM at 7 pm)
Slocan Hall (2750 East 29th Avenue, Vancouver) or Zoom (by request)
Beaver Pondering Lodging Completion Celebration
Celebrate the completion of our living-willow sculpture, converse with project artists, listen to guest speaker Bob Baker and enjoy fried beaver tails and hot chocolate.
A week-long work party to plaster the local cob shed with minerals and pigments from the dye garden! Enjoy vegan chilli and unleash your creativity on our community-built structure.
April 23 to 27
Various times
Colour Me Local Dye Garden (3958 Renfrew Street, Vancouver)
Youth Connect: 2024 Spring Cohort
Learn about the Still Creek watershed, remove invasive plants, weave with willow, create art with natural materials and make new friendships in the neighbourhood.
April 23, April 27, May 7, May 11, May 15
Various times
Various locations within Renfrew-Collingwood
Our Water Conversation: Stories and Natural Dyes
Still Moon at Connect Fest
Listen to water stories from guest speakers Lori Snyder and the Quantum Care Team, Masa Kateb and Eda Ertan, then share your own water memories and stories during an intercultural dialogue. Use this as inspiration to co-create scales for Water Woman’s dress with natural dyes. Join in the creation of this giant puppet celebrating our water hopes and dreams.
Sunday, April 28
4:30 to 7:30 pm
Edmonds Community Centre (7433 Edmonds Street, Burnaby)
May Day Mending
With EartHand Gleaner’s Society
Mend your garments and extend their life with patches, strengthening stitches or invisible mends. Enjoy herbal tea and learn new textile mending techniques.
Wednesday, May 1
4 to 8 pm
Slocan Hall (2750 East 29th Avenue, Vancouver)
The folks at Still Moon Arts can’t wait to experience spring with you.
Renfrew-Collingwood Community News 