Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Monthly Archives: July 2013


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Tipper Restaurant and Review Room

2066 Kingsway ( Kingsway & Victoria )
604-873-1010
email feedback@thetipperrestaurant.com
Open  8:00 am to 10:00 pm

 Daily Specials, Events, Fresh Local Food

BY PAUL REID

Greetings food fans. For the third time in a row now people we are venturing to that strip of Kingsway, between Nanaimo and Victoria, just in time to catch the Tipper as it celebrates it fifth birthday (as of May 15).

The Tipper is that little piece of coolness that somehow broke off from Main or Commercial and drifted East to an area much in need of such. If you haven’t checked out this east-side eatery, featuring delicious west coast classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner, then you must.

So what has happened in five years? “We are much more tied in to the community now,” says the owner, Colin. “People have gotten to know us and they have witnessed the integrity. It hasn’t been easy though and we did not celebrate our fifth anniversary too much since we still have some things to iron out.”

Always listening to feedback and changing accordingly, Colin does feel, though, that the Tipper has worked past its initial growing pains, now with a steady clientele of regulars who will swear, “The Tipper Rocks!”

A quick look to an online foodie forum such as Yelp.ca reveals that the locals are lovin’ the Tipper. With an average of four stars (out of five), the reviewers appreciate the awesome food, attentive service and comfortable atmosphere. Here are some of their quotes:  “best that it gets,” “Perfect little gem,” “Old school good service!” “Great food and great service–definitely one of my fave spots in Vancouver.” “I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect breakfast. Found it!” “Good flavours with a feeling of home cooking. I’ve been satisfied every time!” “Hands down the best omelet I’ve ever had and that’s saying quite a bit!”

I, too, love the Tipper. On this occasion, I acquainted myself with one of Tipper’s Steak Sandwich with a side of those awesome fries with chipotle mayo. And of course an ice-cold pint to wash it down, a Red Truck lager. With pints going for $4 ($5 for a giant one!), you can’t go wrong.

Aside from the awesome food, Colin has followed through with his initial vision to help local artists. The walls serve as a rotating gallery featuring local artists and the Review Room in the back is home for local musicians and performers. (Visit the website for upcoming bookings). You too can book the back room. Talk  with Colin to iron out the details. Way to go Colin!

Bon appetit.

Copyright (c) 2013 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Renfrew Ravine and Renfrew Park Master Plan moves forward

Update from third open house

by Deanna Cheng

Most residents are satisfied with the City of Vancouver’s master plan to improve Renfrew Community Park but with the Renfrew Ravine, many of them do not want extra paths going into the ravine itself.

That’s what the two dozen or so people who showed up on May 13 to the Slocan Park field house learned. They came to this third open house to review the updated plans and fill out feedback forms. A couple of them had ridden their bicycles through the light drizzle.

According to Ben Mulhall, landscape architect for Catherine Berris Associates, some people at the second open house held early March were against a path on the west side in fear of break-ins and the invasion of privacy. “It was about 50-50, for and against,” he said. “To compromise, we made the pathway only halfway through, ending it at 25th Avenue.”

Local resident Harvey Dueck said, “It’s great that they want to work on the park and restore natural areas in the park.” When he first moved here, he remembered oil floating on the stream (part of Still Creek that runs into Burnaby), possibly from the decommissioned gas station at 22nd and Renfrew.

“The ravine is relatively wild and a refuge in the city, especially for the birds,” Dueck noted. “A path along the stream would disrupt that.”

Michelle Baudais, another resident, agrees with him. “Increasing access to the ravine park is not compatible with the vision to preserve wildlife and restore habitat.” She points to the number-one objective listed on the vision plan. “Protect, enhance and restore habitats and the ecosystem resilience of the creek and forest,” meaning to maintain and encourage the living trees, plants and animals in the area.

Further access to the ravine may lead to pollution and more coyote encounters with the public. Another proposed change will create deeper ponds and put in culverts, channels or conduits for the drain crossing underneath the roads.

Mulhall said, “The fish and salmon can’t travel but with the local pools, small fish can live there. It will give greater diversity to the wildlife nearby. The insects, newts and salamanders.”

For Renfrew Community Park, one third of the parking lot off Renfrew Street will be converted to an off-leash dog park. The wading pool will be converted into a water spray park with a small platform facing the sloped grass eating area.

On the south side of Renfrew Park Community Centre and Renfrew Branch library, there will be community garden plots.

For additional changes or more details, visit Vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/improving-renfrew-ravine-and-renfrew-community-parks.aspx.

Deanna Cheng is a journalism student at Langara college.

Copyright (c) 2013 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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New health and physical activity project moves residents

BY ESTHER YUEN

Renfrew-Collingwood community organizations and the University of B.C. Kinesiology Department partnered earlier this year to launch the Renfrew-Collingwood Interculturalism, Health and Physical Activity Initiative. The goal of this project is to promote interculturalism, defined as curiosity about people different from ourselves and a willingness to connect, through physical activity to increase social-connectedness, health and well-being in the community.

Residents of the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood are encouraged to participate in events associated with this initiative and are invited to share their learning experiences. This initiative is expected to continue indefinitely, but is also expected to launch and support other related projects and programs in the neighbourhood.

To support the project, diverse teams made up of Renfrew-Collingwood community leaders have been or are in the process of being established. The steering circle, responsible for giving direction to this initiative, consists of representatives from Collingwood Community Policing, Vancouver Coastal Health, Windermere Family of Schools, Collingwood Neighbourhood House, Renfrew Park Community Centre, UBC and Collingwood Business Improvement Association. The Intercultural Communicators Circle disseminates stories and information, and the Intercultural Connectors Circle, once formed, will reach out to groups that are identified as low-participatory groups.

UBC faculty, staff and students will be working alongside the three circles as well as Renfrew-Collingwood residents or groups who are or will be involved in intercultural physical activities. Led by Dr. Wendy Frisby, the UBC group will act as an academic resource to the community and assist the community in documenting the project. Their aim is to build capacity around the neighbourhood and, in the process, gain insight into real-life community development.

Between now and December 2013, all three circles and UBC representatives will work together to identify existing skills and to learn new skills, create a regularly updated map of intercultural physical activities in the community, promote and communicate about the initiative and document and review the project process.

Residents of the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood should contact Paula Carr at pcarr@cnh.bc.ca if they have questions or are able to contribute to the map or organize events and programs that promote community and intercultural physical activity. The Intercultural Communications Circle is also actively looking for motivational stories from community members that give insight into stories about community-based physical health initiatives.

Copyright (c) 2013 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News