Help us plan for a sustainable future

Transcription

1 Focus P O R T M O O D Y S Q U A R T E R LY N E W S L E T T E R Summer 2011 Vol. 14 No. 2 Help us plan for a sustainable future WHAT S INSIDE: The City of Port Moody prides itself on being sustainable. Purchasing hybrid vehicles, exploring affordable housing strategies and growing our arts and culture scene are just some of the ways we re investing in the community s future. Now we want your input on where to go from here. Port Moody s Community Sustainability Plan outlines our goals based on four pillars: environmental, economic, social and cultural. We want to know if the plan reflects your idea of a sustainable community. Go to fill out a short survey, and tell us how strongly you support what we re proposing. If you re a business owner, we also want to know how you re making your workplace more sustainable. What kind of challenges do you face? Fill out the survey and let us know. Swing by the Community Sustainability Plan booth at Golden Spike Days on July 1, or go to for more information. Fill your summer with cultural events. PAGE 3 Enjoy idle-free boating at Rocky Point Pier PAGE 4 Port Moody residents are recycling superstars! PAGE 5

2 Summer Reading Boosts Young Brains Send us your Port Moody photos! If you re a shutterbug, submit your photos for the 2012 Port Moody City Calendar. What images come to mind when you think of City of the Arts? Submit photographs that show off your creative spirit. Drop off your photos anytime at City Hall before October 11, 2011 for a chance to be featured in our 2012 calendar. See for more details. The school year is winding down, which means summer reading fun at the Port Moody Public Library is about to begin! Studies show that kids and teens who keep reading over the summer have better reading skills when they go back to school. Our summer reading programs promote reading all summer long, and prove that cracking the covers is anything but boring! The Summer Reading Club is a free, province-wide program that encourages children of all ages to read (or be read to) for 50 days during the summer. All participants receive a reading plan to track their progress, and visit the library to receive weekly motivational stickers. Reading superstars who read for 50 days or more receive a special medal at the end of the summer to celebrate their achievement. Teens aged can also join the fun through the online Teen Reading Club. With this free program, teens can post book reviews, enter contests, and chat with popular authors and other young readers from across the country. All discussion forums are moderated by library youth services staff from around the province, ensuring that teens can chat about books in a safe environment. Teens can sign up at From popular series books, to graphic novels, to magazines, even the most reluctant reader will find something exciting at the Port Moody Library. Registration for the Summer Reading Club starts June 2 at the library Information desk. For more information, phone / summer

3 That s a wrap! Summer Cultural Highlights SHIFT Performing Arts Society presents its 4th annual 1-Act Theatre Festival at Inlet Theatre from June The festival features several short plays over three days. Find more information on SHIFT at Goliath Performing Arts Society has its first production at Inlet Theatre in late June. Join us in welcoming Port Moody s youngest theatre group as they present an original short play. All four of Port Moody s automated waste collection trucks are now sporting public art wraps. Artists James Mah and Clive Tucker have created vehicle designs that promote the City s recycling and waste management initiatives. Look for our latest art on wheels in a neighbourhood near you! All trains, all the time at the Port Moody Station Museum This summer, celebrate the 125th anniversary of the arrival of the first trans-canada passenger train with the Port Moody Station Museum. July 4, 1886 was a hallmark event for Canada and Port Moody. To honour the occasion, the Station Museum is bringing out the best of its CPR collection. Visit the Museum from June to September to see their vintage velocipede, CPR tools, service items, tickets, uniforms and much more. Celebrate further and attend free family activities at the museum from July 1-3 from 11am-4pm. Come down on July 1 and see the Greater Vancouver Garden Railway Club display their popular G Scale model trains and the Morse Telegraph Society demonstrate their telegraphy skills. Watch for costumed heritage actors telling stories from Visitors can also enjoy the popular Golden Spike Scavenger Hunt, a railway lantern craft and the opportunity to personalize your own Museum rail tie. Free cake every day! Visit or call for more information. The 35th annual Golden Spike Days runs at Rocky Point Park from July 1-3. Join the City on July 1 as Mayor and Council celebrate Canada Day with free cake. For more information on this year s festival, visit There s another exciting line-up of great jazz, rhythm and blues planned for the Summer Sunday Concert series. This popular event takes place every Sunday at 2pm at Rocky Point Park, starting July 10. Find details on this summer s line-up at Want the outdoor movie experience? You ll have two chances to catch films outside. Port Moody is partnering with the VanCity Outdoor Film Festival to bring the first outdoor movie to Rocky Point Park on Sunday, July 10. Watch a family friendly film (TBD) on a giant screen by the water. The Port Moody Film Society is also presenting their annual indoor/ outdoor film night this August at Inlet Theatre. See for details. You ll find more information on these events and more in the City s Summer Cultural Guide. Pick up your free copy at City Hall and other City facilities beginning mid-june / summer 3

4 No idling this summer As we move into the summer boating season, here s your chance to protect the environment in the same way you would at home or with your car. Green boating practices help to protect Burrard Inlet and other coastal waters of BC. One of the easiest things you can do is to reduce unnecessary idling of marine engines. Idling produces carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides which pollute our air shed and contribute to climate change. Boaters can help to reduce pollution by: Smart boating techniques - reduce total fuel consumption through the boating season by planning trips and minimizing time you have the throttle open. Turning off your motor instead of idling when you re tied up at dock. Following your boat s recommended maintenance schedule & keeping the battery properly charged. You ll also avoid being disappointed when a boat won t start or run properly after launch. Ensuring that your propeller is in good shape and of the right size. Avoiding excess weight - overloading your boat will use additional fuel. Not spilling fuel in order to preserve the marine environment. Why compost? Recently there s been a lot of talk about composting food scraps. That s because leftovers that end up in the dump create greenhouse gases. These gases act like a giant blanket that surrounds our planet, trapping some of the sun s energy. Here s the problem. Growing plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air. When those plants die they release that carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. This carbon cycle doesn t add any new greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. However, if the plants get buried and decompose they create methane. Methane absorbs 20 times more heat from the earth s surface than does carbon dioxide. And two-thirds of the methane produced in Metro Vancouver is from food and plant material rotting in the dump. That s why Port Moody was an early adopter among municipalities throughout the Metro Vancouver region that must collect everyone s food scraps by We take your food scraps and green waste to a facility where composting breaks down meat, bones, pizza boxes and dairy products. The end product is soil and mulch for gardens and parks. Your food scraps won t get buried in a dump and start generating methane, that powerful greenhouse gas that speeds up global warming. By continuing to separate food scraps from the garbage and placing them in your green carts, you ll keep even more garbage out of the dump. Help protect the mudflats! Port Moody has one of the few remaining large mudflats in Burrard Inlet. The city s trail system, including wooden boardwalks that run around the head of the inlet, is designed so visitors can experience and enjoy the wildlife that live there. It also protects this environmentally sensitive area that s home to many at-risk species. Help us to ensure that this special place remains for future generations by remaining on the designated trails, staying off the mudflats and keeping your dog on leash / summer

5 Port Moody recycles more! Port Moody resident? Go ahead and pat yourself on the back! Port Moody households have done a stellar job in adapting to the City s new collection model with bi-weekly garbage collection and weekly collection of green waste. Thanks to your efforts to reduce garbage, we re already seeing impressive results in the first quarter this year. In the first three months of 2011, only 27% of the waste we collected at the curb went to the landfill. That s good news by itself. But it gets even better. Remember that regional goal to send 70% less garbage to the landfill by 2015? Well, with an average diversion rate of 73% from January to March this year, Port Moody is the first municipality to meet (and exceed) that goal. And you did it three years ahead of schedule. Congratulations Port Moody... you do recycle more! Weight 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 Here s when City-provided waste collection started. Here s when we switched from weekly to bi-weekly garbage collection. Keep black bears out of your neighbourhood It takes participation from an entire neighbourhood to keep bears (and other animals) in the forest and out of our yards and streets. Bear resistant locks on the City s collection carts can help, but each homeowner must do their part too. Keep your garbage and green carts locked throughout the week. Wheel your carts to the curb the morning of collection. Freeze stinky waste until collection day. Keep disposable diapers in a diaper pail indoors until collection day % 60% 40% 20% 0 Spring 2009 Summer 2009 Garbage going to the landfill Fall 2009 Winter 2009 Spring 2010 Summer 2010 Fall 2010 Waste diverted to recycling & compost facilities Winter 2010 Spring 2011 Total weight of waste Here s when City-provided waste collection started % 27% Take bird feeders down now until next winter. There s an abundance of natural foods throughout the city for birds. At this year s Bear Essentials seminar, residents learned that a female bear produces more cubs if more food is available, even if it s garbage. That s because garbage can provide 10 times more calories than natural foods. If you see a bear in your yard, on the street or in a park remember the four S s Stay calm Stay still (do not run) Speak calmly Slowly back away Percent of waste that goes to to the landfill Percent of waste diverted to recycling & compost facilities Go to and click on animals for more information / summer 5

6 Check before you build Are you planning a home expansion or landscaping project? If so, make sure that you re building according to City bylaw requirements, and on your own property! You would be surprised at how often homeowners hire contractors to build expansions, landscape fencing or retaining walls, only to learn some time later that the construction is actually on a neighbour s property or on public property. This can result in costly removal and relocation of the structures. Start with a proper survey of your property. Check for yourself if the City requires permits and ensure that your contractor follows the rules. In some cases, your plans may not conform to the City s zoning bylaw. Some types of work do not require building permits. For work that does, the rules are in place to protect your safety and preserve community standards. If what you build is unsafe, the City could require you to remove it. If you build over or too close to City services, such as sewer or water lines, you may face additional costs if the City needs to access those services. If your construction hampers access to City services, the City cannot absorb the cost of removing your structures and will not pay to replace them. Our advice to you is plan ahead and plan according to City regulations. Have a safe summer Summer is around the corner, which means backyard barbecues, trips to the swimming pool and visits from the ice cream truck! As you re slapping on the sunscreen, make sure to familiarize yourself with Port Moody s seasonal reminders and safety tips: Make sure that your BBQ is in good working order. Keep a bucket of water, a bucket of sand or a garden hose nearby in case of emergencies. Make sure your BBQ site is flat and well away from sheds, fences, trees and shrubs. Keep children, outdoor games and pets well away from the cooking area. Never leave your BBQ unattended or light it indoors. Lawn Sprinkling regulations are in effect from June 1 to September 30. Sprinkling is allowed between 4-9 am & 7-10 pm. Even-numbered addresses can water on Wednesday & Saturday, odd-numbered addresses can water on Thursday & Sunday. Established lawns only need 2.5 cm of water a week, including rainfall. Water once a week early in the morning to reduce evaporation. When the fire hazard reaches high the Fire Chief may elect to ban smoking on City trails, in parks and in forested areas. If the rating reaches extreme the Fire Chief may consider closing down these areas until the hazard diminishes. Remember to complete your census Communities depend on census information when planning for new schools, roads, waterworks, public transit, and police and fire services. Urban planners use census information on households and families to plan current and future housing needs, health care, and daycare centres. Starting in May 2011, households can complete their census questionnaire online at It s an easy, secure and convenient option that you can access anywhere, anytime / summer

7 Two locomotives that could and did Contributed by Al Sholund, Freedom of the City recipient and local historian Two railway engines stand out in Canadian history - Engine 371 and her sister Engine 374. Engine 371 pulled the first transcontinental passenger train from Montreal into Port Moody, the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway on July 4, years ago! Engine 371 was honoured on a silver dollar minted in Expo Year (The Incorporation of the City of Vancouver was observed on the obverse side.) Engine 371 finished her working life as a logging locomotive. The CPR donated Engine 374 to Vancouver in It was on display at Kitsilano Park until 1985 when it was moved to the CPR Roundhouse on False Creek in preparation for a complete refurbishing in time for Expo 86. To help fund the project, Imperial Oil agents sold bricks bearing the purchaser s name. On completion of the project, Engine 374 was removed from its stall in the Roundhouse and put on the Roundhouse turntable where it remained for viewing until the end of Expo 86. relaying the named bricks in alphabetical order. Upon completion of the project, Engine 374 was moved out of its stall to its permanent weather protected site. The pavilion was officially opened on August 22, Additionally, the Vancouver Parks and Recreation has converted the Roundhouse into a beautiful community centre bearing the name Roundhouse, naturally. Drop in to the Roundhouse Community Centre and look for your brick if you have one, look at Engine 374, the sister to our Engine 371. Afterwards, relax with a cup of coffee of tea and reminisce about Expo 86 if you were lucky enough to have attended 25 years ago. Footnote: Expo 86 visitors will remember that the CPR Roundhouse was home for Czechoslovakia A large area surrounding the turntable was paved with the purchased name bricks. The location of every brick was entered into huge manuals for easy reference. Every purchaser received a certificate with the location of their brick. Visitors from every province and territory came to a stall that was set up to assist purchasers locate their brick. After Expo 86 closed, Vancouver Parks and Recreation moved Engine 374 back into a Roundhouse stall while the turntable was being removed and the site filled in and paved. The Vancouver Centre Lions Club raised funds for a covered pavilion and for Start thinking about your Spike Awards nominations! The Spike Awards are given by the City of Port Moody s Economic Development Committee in the fall, and honor outstanding local businesses in six different categories. Winners are recognized at a gala evening held at City Hall. Stay tuned for more information on how to nominate your favorite business for this recognition! / summer 7 ward

8 WHAT S ON IN PORT MOODY Special Events Water for Life: An African Photo Exhibit May 30 to June 16 The exhibition tells the story of the global water and sanitation crisis through the camera lens of internationally renowned photographer Peter Bregg. Free. City Hall Galleria. Info: 4th Annual Children s Art Festival June 19 to 30 See over 100 paintings, along with a live demonstration from students of local artist Evelia Espinosa on Saturday, June 25 from 2-5pm. Free. City Hall Galleria. Info: 35th Annual Golden Spike Days Festival July 1 to 3 The festival promises a fun-filled weekend for the entire family with great entertainment, special events and activities, as well as great food! Live shows, sporting events, children s rides and more. Rocky Point Park. Info: or Vancity Outdoor Film Festival Sun July 10 at sunset (approx. 9:15pm) Outdoor family-friendly movie to promote community building. Bring a donation for local charities. Rocky Point Park. Concerts / Music / Theatre Wonderland High June 11, 3pm and 7pm YAP presents the movie premiere of Wonderland High. Sometimes high school can get a bit crazy! Tickets $8. Inlet Theatre. Info: YoungActorsProject@gmail.com. Yarilot Concert Series 2011 June 19, June 26, July 10, 2pm Three different concerts over three weekends. Tickets $15/$ Shoreline Circle. Info: or SHIFT 1-Act Theatre Festival 11 June 23-25, 8pm Third annual festival of short plays. Tickets $15/$12/$40 for three-day pass. Inlet Theatre. Info: PCT Summer Sunday ConcertsPresented by TD Canada Trust Music & Rhino Marketing Every Sunday starting July 10, 2pm Enjoy free jazz, rhythm and blues concerts at 2pm every Sunday in July and August starting July 10. Free. Rocky Point Park. Info: Take Care of You June 29 & 30, 7:30pm An original piece written, directed, and performed by youth in the Tri-City area, and proudly presented by Goliath Performing Arts Society. Tickets: $8. Inlet Theatre. Info: goliatharts@gmail.com. Film Port Moody Film Society screens films every month at Inlet Theatre. Tickets at the door: Members $5/Annual membership $5. Arranged Fri June 10, 7:30 pm For My Father Fri July 8, 7:30pm Indoor/Outdoor Double Feature Sat Aug 13, 7:30pm - Agata and the Storm, 9:30pm - TBA Weather permitting the first film will be screened indoors and the second film will be screened outdoors. Tickets and/or pre-registration required Port Moody Public Library, Port Moody Recreation Complex, Kyle Centre, Port Moody Station Museum, Port Moody Arts Centre, Inlet Theatre Box Office, Council Meetings Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month except August. Meetings usually begin at 7pm in Council Chambers at Inlet Theatre. Agendas are online and at City Hall & library. Next meetings dates: June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26. Museum 2734 Murray St., directly west of Rocky Point Park. Summer hours: 10am to 5pm, daily. Info or The museum and 1921 Venosta Railcar are available by appointment for wedding photos and special events. Canada Day Weekend Celebration 2011 July 1-3, 11am-4pm This summer the Port Moody Station Museum celebrates the 125th anniversary of the arrival of the 1st trans- Canada passenger train. Events, activities and free cake every day! Free. Info: or Port Moody Arts Centre Hours: Monday - Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. Closed Holidays. pomoartscentre.ca; Summer Classes & Workshops Register in person at 2425 St. Johns Street or phone Visit for full program details. Highly qualified instructors encourage creative growth in people of all ages & stages. Full Day Camps Monday to Thursday/Friday 9am 3pm. Art & Drama (6-12yrs) Spend half the day doing art/half the day doing drama. Theatrical Art Camps (6-12yrs) Work together to create a play! Morning Camps Art Effects (6-12yrs) Create art in exciting ways. Art in the Morning (7-10yrs) A creative way to start your day. Family Clay (5yrs + with adult) Families get creative with clay. Youth Pottery (11-14yrs) Work on the potter s wheel. Afternoon Camps Afternoon Clay (6-14yrs) Learn the basics of creating with clay. Art in the Afternoon (7-10yrs) A fun and artistic way to spend the afternoon. Gallery Exhibits June 7-July 2, Opening Reception: Thursday June 9, pm-8pm Main Gallery: Port Moody Arts Centre students, various; 3D Gallery: Port Moody Arts Centre students, various; Plum Gallery: Port Moody Arts Centre students, various; Scotiabank Gallery: Port Moody Arts Centre students, various. Free. July 14-September 3, Opening Reception: Thursday July 14, pm-8pm Main Gallery: Rose Eysmond, Nature Morte et Vivante, oil and acrylic on canvas; 3D Gallery: Debbie Teupah, sculpture; Plum Gallery and Scotiabank Gallery: Olga Polshina, enamels; Plum Display Case: tbd. Free. Shoreline Writers Association 3rd Sunday of each month, 1-4pm The Shoreline Writers Association meets at the Arts Centre to discuss work. Call for details. Featured Art Visceral by Debbie Teupah July 14 September 3, 2011 Recreation For a full list of recreation programs pick up a Happening Guide at the Port Moody Recreation Complex or go online to portmoody. ca/recreation. Try pickle ball, athletic yoga or family badminton. Library ADULT PROGRAMS For more information on these free programs visit Port Moody Library s website at or call Links to Literacy Golf Tournament Monday, August 29 Join us on the links at Swan-e-Set Bay Resort or dsolem@portmoody.ca for info. English Practice Groups for Adults Fridays, 9:30-11am, ongoing Practice your English language skills in an informal setting. Book Clubs Join a book discussion group. New members welcome! Inlet Book Club 1st Wed of the month, 1 3pm Night Readers Book Club 4th Wed of the month, 7 8:30pm Library youth PROGRAMS For more information on these free programs visit Port Moody Library s website at or call Registration is not required unless otherwise noted. Online Teen Reading Club Post book reviews, chat with other book lovers and popular authors, share your original writing and win prizes! Sign up at Summer Reading Club Savour each word! Kids can earn a special medal by reading for 50 days. Lots of free fun activities to keep kids reading all summer long. Register in person starting Thursday, June 2. Children s Musician Will Stroet Thursday, July 14, 2-2:45pm, Inlet Theatre Sing-along with Will. Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters Saturday, August 13, 2-2:45pm, Inlet Theatre Ventriloquist Bacon in his Bananas for Books show. Bite into Books with a Buddy Thursdays, July 7-August 4, 10-11am Join teen buddies for summer reading and activities. Ages Family Storytime Tuesdays, July 5-August 23, 6:30-7pm Baby Sing & Learn Thursdays, July 7-August 11, 2-2:30pm Ages birth to 18 months. your work your life your rewards Develop with us! w w w. p o r t m o o d y. c a / c a r e e r s Score a Hole in One Join in the fun on August 29 at Swan-E- Set Bay Resort and help celebrate the Port Moody Library s 11th annual Links to Literacy golf tournament. For more information, phone or visit The Focus is published four times a year (March, June, September and December) by the City of Port Moody and is distributed to households and businesses in Port Moody. It is also available at all City facilities and in PDF format on Port Moody s website. We welcome your feedback communications@portmoody.ca Phone: Fax: Contact Information Emergency City Hall, main switchboard Mayor & Council City Manager Building Bylaws & Licencing Engineering & Operations Environmental Services Fire Department Kyle Centre Legislative Services Library Planning & Development Police Department Recreation Taxes & Utilities City Hall/Library/Inlet Theatre/Galleria 100 Newport Drive Mail: P.O. Box 36, Port Moody, BC V3H 3E1 Port Moody Recreation Complex 300 Ioco Road Kyle Recreation Centre 125 Kyle Street Fire Hall #1 200 Ioco Road Fire Hall #2 955 Glenayre Drive Public Safety Building (Police) 3051 St. Johns Street