Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

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Remembering David Hanuse – A beloved elder

David Hanuse gives a traditional First Nations welcome

David Hanuse gives a traditional First Nations welcome at a gathering in 2008. Photo by Julie Cheng

Dave Hanuse, a former board member of Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), elder to CNH’s Aboriginal youth, volunteer with Families Branching Out and just a very sweet man, passed away October 17, 2016. He was 73.

Dave was somebody who always looked on the bright side of life, loved to joke and laugh in his gentle way and spoke warmly about finding a home among the staff and volunteers at Collingwood Neighbourhood House.

He was generous in sharing his cultural knowledge and practices and often gave a blessing – singing and accompanying himself on the drum – before Families Branching Out dinners. He loved to join the youth in the Canoe Club and felt such peace and contentment canoeing with them. He last participated in the Canoe Club’s Pulling Together Journey about two or three years ago.

Dave’s health was failing over the last few years but he still made the effort to come to Families Branching Out, more recently accompanied by an aide. It obviously made a huge difference to him to be a part of Families Branching Out and of CNH.

Julie Cheng, editor of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News, recalled the days when she and David sat on the CNH board. “We had a special bond because we were both ‘newbies’ on the board, as he called us,” said Julie. “He always gave me a warm hug whenever he saw me.”

“I will always remember Dave’s twinkly, sparkling eyes,” recalled Jennifer Gray-Grant, CNH executive director. “He was the kind of person who absolutely focused on you when he spoke to you. He always gave you the sense that the time you spent speaking to him mattered to him. I will miss his kindness, his caring and his gentle manner.”

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Reflecting on five years of salmon returning to Still Creek

Still Creek photo with salmon and ducks

Still Creek at Natal Street and Cornett Road where chum salmon have appeared for the past four years. Photo by Kaitlyn Fung

BY CRECIEN BENCIO FOR STILL MOON ARTS SOCIETY

In the first week of November 2016, my neighbours and I are waiting. At Still Creek by Natal Street and Cornett Road, we step off the sidewalk and dodge the blackberry fronds. We are close enough that our fingers touch the water. Our eyes are alert for a flicker of a fin or a ripple.

For five years now this has been our ritual. This would be the fifth year salmon are to return to Still Creek in Vancouver. Still Creek is part of the Brunette River Watershed and is one of the major tributaries that feeds Burnaby Lake. The creek is partially hidden in culverts until it reaches Burnaby, where it flows above ground until it empties into Burnaby Lake. Chum salmon hadn’t made their way through these industrialized areas for 80 years until 2012.

I can feel the water seeping in through my shoes, but I am excited. This moment is part of the narrative our childhood – our environmental restoration efforts, the trees that we planted in the Renfrew Ravine now as big as we are, the silly garbage that we pulled out.

Personally, the salmon is a symbol of my own process of learning. This year, I have been more mindful of indigenous food sovereignty and the land that we are on. This journey has been confrontational and difficult. Through this, I learned how salmon is beyond species – it is linked to cultural knowledge systems, health, ecosystems, relationships and resiliency.

The salmon is a small wonder in my community. It surprises me how much I have learned from their returning presence. It surprises me how the many relationships I treasure revolve around their annual return. This year as I make my trek to the creek with friends I think, have the salmon heard our songs? Have they heard our dreams? For the past five years, this is where we have waited.

Still Moon Arts Society acknowledges that we are on the unceded, occupied, and traditional lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sto’lo  nations, and for this we are thankful. Through creating art, restoring environment, and building community, Still Moon commits to  facilitating spaces for understanding and for knowledge sharing. This work will acknowledge and respect the contexts of the past and the present.

How can neighbours help the salmon and contribute to a thriving ecosystem in Renfrew-Ravine?

  • Do not use harmful chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • Dispose of garbage, chemicals, paints and other liquids properly. Do not dump chemicals down the storm drain.
  • Wash your car without soap or with phosphate-free soap.
  • Participate in Evergreen’s Uncover Your Creeks program to take action to improve the health of Renfrew Ravine. For more information, visit evergreen.ca

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Eating Out in RC: Ananda Bhavan Dosa Villa

Ananda Bhavan
Dosa Villa
2269 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5N 2Z9
604-336-5666
anandabhavanbc.com

BY PAUL REIDdosa

I am pleased to announce another fine edition to our community’s already diverse line-up of stellar culinary establishments. Just west of Nanaimo Street, on the north side of Kingsway, complete with parking both in front and underground, you will find Ananda Bhavan Dosa Villa. Just recently acquired by chef “Vicky” (you can call him Venkatesan Kaliyamoo), Ananda Bhavan now specializes in dosas – that amazing treat from India’s southern region.

Vicky has the restaurant nicely decorated: comfortable, simple, clean. Vicky suggested the Chicken 65 ($7.50) as my appetizer and the Southern Spicy Ravala Masala Dosa ($10.25) also caught my eye. Vicky took some time to make sure he understood just how spicy I could handle. Though I do love it spicy, I know from experience that Indian cuisine does need some respect in this department. You probably don’t want to say “as spicy as you can.”

Chicken 65We settled on medium spicy and that turned out to be perfect for me. The Chicken 65 was amazing. Bite-sized pieces of the most delectable chicken with two delicious accompanying sauces: one more spicy, and one to cool it down. I believe I detected some coconut in there.

My Spicy Ravala Masala Dosa was also excellent and came with more of those sauces that Vicky prepares fresh each morning; also, a nice lentil soup. I was in spicy heaven. Thank goodness for the cool mango milkshakes ($3.95) to help wash it all down. Can you say – “I’ll be back?”

Vicky is from Tamil Nadu. This is the region at the very southern tip of India. Inspired by the cooking of his parents, Vicky attended culinary school in India and has been a chef now for over 16 years. Dosa Villa is his first restaurant as owner.

“I come in a few hours before we open each day and create everything fresh,” he says. “Fresh ingredients and everything prepared each morning.” Having just put in a new stove and grill to cook the giant dosas, Vicky is ready to cook his way into our hearts.

Also on the menu you will find, in addition to Chicken 65, a nice assortment of appetizers: vadai, pakoda, spicy chicken wings, samosas. There is a long list of the house specialty, dosas, that I cannot wait to be back to try. Perhaps the Prawn Masala Dosa or Lamb Vindaloo Dosa.

Idli, another southern India specialty, is a savoury cake made from rice and black lentils that is apparently easy to digest and good for the stomach. There is a long list of vegetarian dishes, as well as tandoori, chicken, seafood and biryani dishes.

In addition to this wide selection of appetizers and entrees, you will find hot teas and coffees; cold beverages such as a kulfi float, lassis, milkshakes and soft drinks; and for dessert, sweets such as gulab jamun and kesari.

Open from 11 am to 11 pm on Mondays to Thursdays, and from 11 am to 3 am (that’s late!) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, you can have an excellent lunch or dinner at Dosa Villa any day of the week. Bon appetit!

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News