Category: Canada

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Even more talk about the stadium proposal

Been watching this closely lately, and the excitement is killing me. After lots of hunting, all I could find was that there are to be even more meetings to discuss this issue. In the states, we call that a filibuster.

Two extra meetings have been added to accomodate public debate on the issue, and so far, opponents of the project have focused their arguments on the proposed waterfront location of the stadium.

Jon Stovell of the Gastown Neighborhood Coalition says the Whitecaps should find another site, “And, we would like to encourage Council to help the Whitecaps find an alternate location, such as BC Place. People have been talking about Hastings Park and the old Empire Stadium location.”

Meanwhile, some supporters of the stadium say Stovell is a real estate developer who wants the waterfront property to be used for condo developments. [cknw]

I already had a thought in the back of my head that those architects and developers who have come out against the stadium have alterior motives. It’s a hot piece of land that could get top dollar for even more, outrageously expensive condos that would net more profit than a stadium would, at least in the short term.

I’m almost more inclined to say no to the stadium if there would be more of a push to build office space instead. There seems to be more and more of a shortage of that in the downtown area.

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Waterfront stadium

Panoramic of the Gastown rail yard

I understand that I am not from Vancouver and have only lived here a few months. With that being plainly said, I have to admit that I like the idea of building a stadium in the Gastown waterfront.Watching this whole issue unfold is teaching me a lot about the way things happen in Vancouver. From the people who want change to those who are strongly against it. Being so new here, I’ve been slightly afraid of really expressing that opinion. Being American is another thing. We are stereotyped to love the idea of more development as a way of life. That might be a stretch to say, but just something that I’ve felt with still getting familiar to my new home.

Vancouver councillors heard from those ‘for’ and ‘against’ a proposed Whitecaps soccer stadium in Gastown.A whopping 96 delegations signed up to voice their opinions on the 70 million dollar project.

Caryn Duncan spoke for the Central Waterfront Coalition, “My feeling is that the proposed stadium has been imposed on us, and that it doesn’t feel very good or very neighbourly. Over the months, discussion of the stadium has looked a lot like a couple of little boys in a sandbox, kicking sand at each other.”

Council has set aside an extra day to hear all the speakers.

The debate will continue on Thursday. [cknw]

I’ve heard both sides to the argument, and they all make sense. In terms of anything negative, I do get concerned about “possible hazardous materials” being on the rail lines under the stadium, but it makes me wonder what’s passing through those lines right now?

And on the other hand, the benefits of something like this has me in support of the whole project. In such an international city, a downtown futbol(soccer) stadium would be really great. It would mean so much more income to businesses in the area, aid tourism, provide a great venue for concerts, and bring some extra charm to the area.

Look at the pictures I took and pasted together just the other day. They’re not the best, but the area isn’t the most appealing to look at right now. The stadium would be a nice addition. It’s not a high rise with horribly expensive condos in it. It’s added recreation for a city that is constantly growing and changing.

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What’s more Vancouver than Douglas Coupland?

Douglas Coupland signed a book for meIn a last minute dash of cool, free things that Rebecca seems to win a lot lately, the streak continued when she was selected for a CBC Radio One live taping of North By Northwest yesterday morning. The entry went in on Friday, we got the word on Monday morning, and the event was that night at 6:30 PM at VCC.

Douglas Coupland was the guest last night, and it was an excellent event. Rebecca’s been a fan of him for most of her life[her post], and “City Of Glass” was one of the first things I read when I got out here. I have more of his stuff that I want to read, but sitting down to read a book has always been a challange for me. Regardless, his works is a great way to familiarize yourself with Canadian culture, more so the ins and outs of what makes up Vancouver.

Coupland was not what I expected, but I like him even more than before. He’s scattered, smart, random, geeky, educated, and entertaining. This is just my impression of him as a person during the recording. I have yet to really say anything solid about his writing.

Douglas CouplandStill, I’ve come into contact with many authors during my days in college and public radio. Among all of those experiences, this guy ranks up there with some of the best. And by best, I mean some one who is cool. That goes a long way with me.

When I gave him “City Of Glass” to sign, he asked if we were from out of town. Of course we’re not, but I told him that, yes, I am from Iowa and this was one of the first things I read while living here. That kind of peaked his curiosity, and he asked what brought me here. While I told him that it was because I married the girl standing next to me who has lived here all her life, he signed my book, “To John from Iowa, Douglas Coupland.” Pretty neat. 

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Banning gadgets while driving in Canada

The Canadian Automobile Association is going one step beyond banning just cellphones while driving in order to cut down on distractions while driving.  MP3 players and other portable electronics are the next thing on the list that they want Ottawa to consider, but the ban would only apply to new drivers in Canada.

The CAA called on all provincial governments to legislate a restriction on the use of electronic devices by novice drivers.

“We don’t want their minds taken off the driving task and we want them to keep their hands on the wheel,” said CAA president David Flewelling.  [lfpress]

The B.C. government has weighed in on the suggestion[vancouversun], sparing the west coast for now.  Their position makes sense.  Doing more to make the education of the driver is the better route to go.  You can only regulate so much before it becomes ineffective.

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Fueling my constant concern

I’m not liking the news coming from the organizers for the 2010 Olympics.

Ice hockey will be played on the smaller North American-sized surface during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in a bid to save money, organizers said on Wednesday.

Olympic hockey has traditionally been played on the larger ice surfaces used in European leagues, but officials said the change would save an estimated $10 million (Canadian) in construction costs and allow room for more seats. [espn]

For me, this goes further than being a hockey fan. I have this constant wonder about the planning and execution for the coming games. We are less than four years away now, and I am always looking around town for evidence that all will be in place for when the flame is lit. There is talk of not worrying about cost, then having to ask for more funding, that everything will be ready in time, and now cutting a few corners to allow for a lower cost. It makes me feel a little uneasy about it all.

Keeping the smaller rinks makes sense. It benefits Vancouver, and Canada for the matter, in the long run because there can be more done with the venues later once the games are over without having to de-renovate GM Place and so on. There’s also that slight feeling of taking the slow and steady inhale of air to hold your breath as 2010 approaches and more surprises pop up. I’m already crossing my fingers.

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Now that I live in Canada, I care about these things

It’d be even better if some one was uber super awesome cool and scored us both some of these sweet things.

Apple has cut the prices of the fifth-generation iPod sold in Canada. The 30GB iPod video, which was CAD$379, is now $30 less at $349, while the 60GB iPod video model is now $459, a $40 cut from the original $499 price tag. The newly updated special edition U2 iPod, also based on the fifth-generation design, sells for $379. According to iLounge, the price drop is an apparent response to changes in international currency exchange rates. The report notes that the iPod nano and iPod shuffle pricing remain unchanged.  [macnn]

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2010 Riot

I caught wind of this from Daily Vancouver’s 2010 Coverage[post]. Is it evidence of people still having a grudge about the 2010 Winter Olympics coming to town? It’s not exactly clear, but you can find “2010 Riot” scribbled in various places around Vancouver. I snapped this picture at the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal[britishcolumbia.com].

Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal - 2010 Riot

A search[google] comes up with little in terms of any clues, and here’s another photo example.  It’s got me curious.

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Adventures On the Sunshine Coast

Venturing through the woods on the Sunshine CoastAs you might have heard on the podcast, we took a day trip to the Sunshine Coast[wiki] over the weekend. This was my first time making the trek, but Rebecca is a seasoned pro. And anytime you have to take a ferry to get somewhere, I’m pretty excited, fear of sinking or not. Is that because in Iowa we don’t have ferries? Yeah, you’re probably right, but we do have some nice boats you can ride on down the Mississippi while you gamble.

Our time up the coast was a super awesome good time. Rebecca spent a lot of time in this area while growing up and speaks about it highly. This was my chance to check it all out, and I have to say that I can see why. It was very apparent, as with nearly all of the lower mainland, that the area is developing a lot. Ocean front homes are the thing to have, and people are building them where they can, as big as they can.

Horseshoe Bay ferry terminalI heard someone say that living in B.C., it’s hard to not become a lover of the outdoors. I can say that is oh so true. I had fun playing soccer and what not while we were there, but I wanted to keep exploring the woods and just see what was out there. There were some trails that we went around, but with my hiking shoes on, I could have stayed out there for hours.

I uploaded a series of pictures from the day to my Flickr account. Check out some of the shots from Horseshoe Bay[flickr] and the Sunshine Coast[flickr] if you’d like. I have a feeling we’ll be back there again in the future.

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The (International) Noise Conspiracy at The Plaza Club

The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Vancouver, BC - May 20, 2006This is a completely late posting, but we checked out The (International) Noise Conspiracy[wiki] at the Plaza Club when they swung through Vancouver on May 20th. Rebecca was faster to the draw on her post about it, but let me elaborate.

If you have never seen them before, they put on an incredible show. And if you are some one who has had that opportunity, then you know how awesome they perform. For myself, this was the second time that I got to check them out. The last show was in Brooklyn, NY, and I got a drumstick in the face at the end of the encore. I left this show with better luck.

The Fever opened up the show with a very solid performance. Coming all the way from New York, the four piece band boasted a setup that is not of your normal rock and roll band make up, but is becoming less unusual. Singer, guitarist, drummer, and keyboards. When their set started, I thought the lead singer was standing on top of a box while singing into the mic on top of its stand. Getting closer, it became clear that he was freakishly tall and kept the mic low. It was a neat effect for his sometimes, Tom Waits-esque voice. Continue reading “The (International) Noise Conspiracy at The Plaza Club”

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Shaking Up The Airwaves

I’ve been having fun learning more and more about the radio market in Vancouver. Today has to be no exception with MOJO Sports Radio being chopped off from the Corus block. Apparently the station has been having troubles in the ratings for some time, and the news of its departure can’t be all that surprising.

MOJO, one of Corus Radio Vancouver’s four local stations, will become AM730 and offer continuous traffic and weather reports during the morning and afternoon rush hours as well as re-broadcast “time-shift” several talk shows from CKNW, its sister station.

MOJO had about half the market share of its all-sports competitor, TEAM 1040, with a 0.9-per-cent share of the total radio audience compared to 1040’s 1.4 per cent, according to Bureau of Broadcast Measurement Canada’s 2006 statistics. [the province]

This continues a steady decline of performance for Corus Radio Vancouver, the largest blow being the loss of broadcasting rights to Vancouver Canucks games to cross town rivals, Team 1040. This also comes after the “major restructuring” at CKNW in April that saw twelve staff members, of various departments and tenures, being removed from the company. With the fourteen let go from MOJO today, there’s a lot going on within the Corus group of stations.

Does Vancouver need a radio station that is heavy on the traffic report side? I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t listened to enough of the market to give a solid answer, but there seems to be an abundance of traffic reports on the dial now to get that information in a fairly timely manner. It’s almost as if they are shoving AM730 into the closet with the hopes that it makes enough money to validate its existance and float along with the rest of the group.