This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, BC as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring
Losing Streak Finally Over for Canucks
The latest post on Canuck’s Hockey Blog reviews the Canucks win over the St. Louis Blues last night. The losing streak is over and everyone is relieved. “After stopping Andy Macdonald in the shootout and winning the game for the Canucks, Roberto Luongo skated out of his net and did a little fist pump.” Vancouver really needed the win. “If they had lost, they would have entered the All-Star break with five straight losses” and the possibility of being knocked down to 10th in the Western Conference.
In the post, our blogger writes that “the most telling part of the game was just how much the fans stuck with the team, even when they were trailing in the third period.” There was encouragement even after Luongo gave up a few goals. “Maybe we're beginning to shake off our reputation as a goalie graveyard after all.” Right now, the Canucks have a three-point lead over Columbus and Nashville and “a chance to rest easy for a week.”
NDP Housing Critic Calls Housing Minister’s Homeless Estimates “Preposterous”
Reporting for The Tyee, Andrew McCleod writes that there are some debatable claims by Victoria’s mayor Alan Lowe. Many are saying “the province is overstating the amount it is helping while continuing to underestimate the problem provincewide.” Forest and Housing Minister Rich Coleman counted 170 “new and upgraded” units, while Victoria’s mayor said it was a “net 127.” NDP housing critic David Chudnovsky, however, said, “We have the announcement of 73 units of housing today.” And City councillor Dean Fortin “put the figure at 75 new units.” Looking at the details, you’d have “not subtract any of the ones that are being lost” in the upgrades, which puts Chudnovsky and Fortin's figures “closer to the mark.”
While Coleman's estimates of how many people are being helped is clearly high, writes McCleod in his post, “he also may be underestimating the problem.” Coleman said, “The estimate I have from B.C. Housing is that between 4,500 and 5,500 are homeless at any given time in B.C.” Chudnovsky calls the number “preposterous.” His own count, “relying on figures from homelessness surveys and aid workers across the province,” puts the total “at more than 10,500 homeless.” And even that number, he says, is conservative. To make any progress, “He'd have to make 60 more announcements like this. I don't see them coming.”
Free “Funraiser” This Weekend for Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
A recent post on Gung Haggis Fat Choy Todd Wong announces a free “fun raiser” for the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. “VACT created Asian Comedy Night and Sex in Vancouver. VACT specializes in being funny and creating fun.” With support from ExplorASION, VACT is able to offer free admission to their Fundraiser event at the Norman Rothstein Theatre this Saturday January 26. It’s “an evening of guaranteed good laffs!”
Although the show is offered for free, donations are suggested at the door if possible. The show will host “Funny Man,” Tom Chin, actor Olivia Cheng, standup comedian, Jeffery Yu, Elvis tribute artist, Aaron Elvis Wong, and a variety of sketch comedy groups. As the event is free, “tickets are first-come-first-served at the door.” Or, you can “reserve a seat by signing up for our free newsletter of VACT events.” Details are available in the post.
Thinking Short Term has Long Term Affects in North Vancouver
On North Vancouver Politics.com, a recent post asks readers to remember that we all have to think about how our politics “impacts us here in North Vancouver.” Former councillor Ernie Crist is “challenging our civic leaders to provide us with leadership and long-term vision.” Current problems are “our own fault” because we allowed our municipal governments to “pander to the short-term demands of individual residents and organized interest groups such as developers.”
Our blogger notes in the post that Crist “points directly at Seymour residents who lobbied hard to get such amenities as the Parkgate Safeway store” while ignoring the fact that with development comes “more people and higher densities.” He says, “They broke the OCP to suit the short-term” and now they can't understand “why their neighbourhood changed.” Crist says we all have to realize the power is really in our hands, but if we “leave it up to a few folks to decide – [we’ll] get what [we] deserve.”
About VancouverIAM
VancouverIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media and social networking websites currently rolling out across North America. Each IAM website filters and organizes blog content as well as offering video upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates Inveslogic.com, Greenedia.com, Healthedia.com and Blabaloo.com. For more information or to register an account, visit VancouverIAM.com.
