Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Author Archives: Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Gathering of Canoes – 2017 Pulling Together Journey

Canoe-journey

Photos by Penny Lim

BY PENNY LIM

The Gathering of Canoes was a long-anticipated event, one of the Canada 150th birthday events and the culmination of the annual Pulling Together Canoe Journey. First Nations paddlers – including our very own Collingwood C.R.E.W. based out of Collingwood Neighbourhood House – started up the Sunshine Coast and participants joined in along the way.

Months of hearing of this historic undertaking coming to town. The day dawned. On July 14, 2017, a crowd waited breathlessly at Vanier Park for a sighting of these 23 canoes.

Canoe-journey-3

Here they come! The canoes circled in their protocol before landing. The paddlers asked for permission to land on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

Canoe-journey-2

The excitement was heavy in the air. The ceremony was very inclusive, with the RCMP, Police Department and Mayor amongst the paddlers. The different tribes got to know each other, too.

Witnessing this moment was a privilege in life. Absolutely exciting and joyous! Electric waves of emotion.

Copyright (c) 2017 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Homeless program raising funds and donations in Renfrew-Collingwood

Windermere Girls Group Homeless Program Donations

The Girls Group from Windermere Secondary ran a successful socks and underwear drive to support the participants of the homeless program at Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Photo by Suzanne Liddle

BY ANA MATEESCU

The Collingwood Neighbourhood House Morning Star breakfast program has been running since 2004 and serves between 60 and 80 people every Saturday morning! Here homeless and tentatively housed people, from the Collingwood neighbourhood and beyond, are able to have a hot shower and get some clean underwear and clothes before a hot breakfast.

This program relies on the generous help of dedicated volunteers and donations from the local community.

Recently, the program partnered with the Girls Group from Windermere Secondary. The girls ran a very successful socks and underwear drive to support the participants of our homeless program! For two to three weeks they spent every lunch break promoting the drive at school and encouraging pupils and teachers to donate.

A regular attendee at the breakfast program, Michael Desbiens, went along to meet the girls to say thank you.

Michael has been coming to the Morning Star breakfast program for a number of years. For a long time, Michael was homeless and living on the street; he connected with the outreach workers at Collingwood and they helped him to apply for housing and eventually he got a roof over his head. He is healthier and happier now but he knows how important it is for someone who is homeless to have basic needs met such as having clean, dry socks and underwear.

On May 30 Michael visited Windermere Secondary and had lunch with the girls who participated at the drive. It was an amazing afternoon with interesting discussions and Michael said he felt again “young and full of hope” by listening and witnessing how these girls are making plans how they want to change the world.

Michael talked about his experiences and the girls plan to come and volunteer for the breakfast program every Saturday and engage other secondary schools from the Collingwood Renfrew area to raise awareness of homelessness.

A video story about May 30 Windermere Secondary girls group action is on the Collingwood Neighbourhood House website and Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIALpiJmP8I

Donate and shop!

The Morning Star breakfast program is always accepting donations of clean socks and underwear. You can also drop off donations at Vancity on Joyce and Kingsway.

Would you like to shop and help the community at the same time? Come check out our Collingwood Summer Market! On Saturday, August 19 there will be a yard sale on the front lawn of CNH with a wide variety of interesting items sold, with plenty of bargains. All the money raised will support CNH’s homeless program.

Come every Tuesday and Thursday 11-2pm in August and September in front of Collingwood Neighbourhood House to shop and support people who are struggling with poverty and homelessness.

Ana Mateescu is the homeless programs coordinator at Collingwood Neighbourhood House.

Copyright (c) 2017 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Local markets just a Skytrain ride away from Renfrew-Collingwood

An abundance of farm-to-table goodness, seasonal produce and exciting new vendors can be found at the markets right now. These markets are close to the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood or accessible by Skytrain.

Queen-E-Farmers-Market

The Queen E Farmers Market features new lunchtime hours where you can also stop by the CBC Musical Nooners down the street for free summer concerts. Photo source: eatlocal.org

NEW! DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET

Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza

688 Hamilton Street at Georgia

Jun. 1–Oct. 5

Thursdays, 11 am–3 pm

Shop downtown then pick up lunch or dinner at the Queen E market. New lunchtime hours!

Near the Granville St. or Chinatown Skytrain station

http://eatlocal.org/markets/downtown/

Even better, stop by the CBC Plaza (700 Hamilton Street), 12-1 pm, for their free summer concert series running until every weekday Aug. 25. Check out the line-up at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/events/cbc-musical-nooners-return-for-their-8th-year-1.4160454

CBC-Musical-Nooner-Wesli

Wesli rocked the stage with afro and reggae beats at the CBC Musical Nooners before playing at the Vancouver Folk Festival. Photo by Julie Cheng

TROUT LAKE FARMERS MARKET

Lakewood Dr. & East 13th Ave.

Saturdays through Oct. 21

9 am–2 pm

Near Nanaimo Skytrain station

www.eatlocal.org/markets/trout-lake/

MAIN STREET STATION FARMERS MARKET

1100 Station Street

Wednesdays through Oct. 4

2–6 pm

Near Science World Skytrain station

www.eatlocal.org/markets/main-street-station/

MERCATO ITALIAN MARKET

3075 Slocan St. at Grandview Hwy.

Fridays, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18 & Nov. 24 (Christmas market)

5–9 pm

Run by Il Centro, the Italian Cultural Centre, Mercato Italian Market blends a traditional farmers market with an Italian community market that highlights local, organic and artisan products and produce.

Near Renfrew Skytrain station

www.italianculturalcentre.ca/events/mercato-italian-market/

RIVER DISTRICT FARMERS MARKET

8683 Kerr Street

Saturdays through Oct. 14

10 am–3 pm

The River District is one of Vancouver’s up-and-coming neighbourhoods and is located on the Fraser River just south of Renfrew-Collingwood. Along with local baked goods and seasonal produce, enjoy live music, family activities and the nearby waterfront playground and pier. You can also stop by Romer’s Burger Bar, which we reviewed in an Eating Out in RC column (https://renfrewcollingwoodcommunitynews.com/2014/03/13/eating-out-in-rc-romers-burger-bar-great-food-awesome-waterfront-location-cool-atmosphere-excellent-service/)

COLLINGWOOD SUMMER MARKET

Front yard at Collingwood Neighbourhood House

5288 Joyce Street

Saturday, Aug. 19

1–4 pm

Used clothing, household items under $5

– compiled by Julie Cheng

Copyright (c) 2017 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News