The Best Block Party Around!

It was another amazing summer block party hosted by the Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association. The weather held out and the party and fun rocked all afternoon and into the night.

The kids craft project – The Neighbourhood Mosaic – was created by the kids and will be installed in one of the community gardens. Thanks to Jan and Sandra and all of the talented artists that have contributed. And thanks to the Vancouver Foundation for the grant and support to put this project together.

The fun and entertainment continued with ball hockey, a real live race car and the Scott Riddell band.

Thanks to the organizers and the volunteers that make these events happen.

 

What’s Next in the ‘Hood?

timeflies  Time flies when you are having fun and another year has come and gone. The Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association wants to thank all of the neighbourhood enthusiasts who have dedicated time, efforts and resources to making our little part of the North Shore a better place for everyone.

Over the past year we have hosted a Block Party, organized a Great Canadian Shore Line Clean-up of the McKay Creek and Heywood Ravine, adopted a new traffic island, begun the refurbishing of another traffic circle and advocated the CNV infrastructure for changes to improve our egress and traffic safety.

As 2016 continues to gather steam, the HHNA is planning for another great year. We are looking for suggestions, project ideas and concerns that you have about Hamilton Heights. Please submit any suggestions or concerns to info@hamiltonheights.ca or talk to any member of the executive.  All ideas are welcome!

 

Summer Fun – Hot Times in the City

Tucked under what appeared to be the only shade on the street, the annual Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood gathering kicked off in fine form with our young artists creating some stunning bird houses for the area. 16 new and unique homes were created for our feathered friends. They will be hung throughout the area – look for them at our new sponsored garden at 21st & Neilson, along Hamilton, Cumberland and tucked away in surprising spots!

Hamilton Heights Bird Houses

Hamilton Heights Bird Houses

Thanks again to the Vancouver Foundation and the North Shore Neighbourhood House for their grant and support.

the old fishing holesidewalk drawing Master chef helping hands Hard at work Focus chalk artist Bubble Dance Artists at work

 

Bird House Bonanza

04-06-2015 3-04-12 PM

This summer, thanks to the Vancouver Foundation and The North Shore Neighbourhood House, the young and the young-at-heart will be decorating birdhouses that will be hung throughout the area. On Wednesday, July 1st, we will be gathering on Neilson Street at 4:00pm to decorate the houses.

After the party, the bird houses will be hung in the area so everyone can enjoy them and learn about the various species that live with us in this beautiful neighbourhood. One of the best spots to see the houses will be in the Street Garden at 21st & Neilson that community has recently adopted.

Come and join us, meet the kids in the neighbourhood and help them design the perfect little home for their feathered friends!

Bird House Bonanza & BBQ

block party For something a little bit different this year, the annual neighbourhood party has been moved to a new date and combined with activities for the entire family. With the support of the Vancouver Foundation and The North Shore Neighbourhood House, the HHNA will be hosting a fun, family friendly afternoon party and BBQ.

Date: Wednesday, July 1st – CANADA DAY

Time: 4:00 Bird House Building   //  5:00 BBQ

Location: Neilson Street – between 20th & 21st

There will be burgers and such on the grill. As always, BYOB and maybe some munchies to share with your neighbours.

Heywood Park Cleanup

Bring your friends and neighbours and come out to the first annual Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association organized area clean-up. On Saturday, April 25th we will be cleaning the Heywood Park / North McKay Creek ravine.

As part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, we will be focusing on Heywood Park and McKay creek that is an important watershed for our local environment. It is an active ecosystem that hosts salmon, fish, owls, bears and a host of other wildlife. All of the garbage that ends up in the ravine deposits into the creek and ultimately flows out into the ocean. The litter we collect will help prevent issues in the future.

Please email us at info@hamiltonheights.ca if you are interested in participating. The event is family friendly and we need people of all abilities – from recording the collection information, to hauling out the debris and coordinating the teams of people.

Saturday, April 25th
Time: 10:00am
Meeting Location: Hamilton & 20th (on the greenway – west side)

 

The Lucas Centre Question – What the Candidates Had to Say

Prior to the All Candidates Debate for the City of North Vancouver’s general election that was held on October 21st, the Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association asked all candidates to answer the following question: “What future use do you envision for the School Board’s lands at the Lucas Centre?”

We want to share the responses we received.

For your edification, the Candidate’s public profile (as seen on CNV.org) as well as their answer to our question (if received) have been collated into a single document.

All candidates_Candidate Profile

All Candidates Debate

Density and development heat up City of North Vancouver debate

See more at: http://www.nsnews.com/news/density-and-development-heat-up-city-of-north-vancouver-debate-1.1464907#sthash.enOjKyes.dpuf

Written by: Jeremy Shepherd

A jam-packed Lucas Centre crowd watched the City of North Vancouver’s prospective mayors and councillors duel over density and development at an all-candidates debate Tuesday.

Mayor Darrell Mussatto touted his vision of a walkable community benefited by development. Mussatto urged the audience to support a public transit referendum scheduled for next year, which may lead to the first transit upgrades in the city since 2007.

Competing mayoralty candidates Kerry Morris and George Pringle both took aim at the mayor.

The pace and scale of densification is beyond what the city’s infrastructure can absorb, according to Morris.

“We’ve been growing because every developer that is walking in front of council is owed something, principally because they’ve made a magnificent donation to get members of council on council.”

During questions from the audience, Mussatto was asked if there were any development projects he’d opposed over the previous term.

“Off the top of my head I can’t think of too many that I haven’t supported,” he said, explaining applications go through a lot of work with staff before being presented to council.

For the full article click here

 

 

Getting to Know Your Candidates

Save the Date: Tuesday, October 21st 7:00 – 10:00 pm

The civic election will take place on Saturday, November 15th. This election will see the selection of a Mayor, six Councillors and three School Board Trustees. The selected individuals will sit for a term of 4 Years (currently it is 3).

There are critical issues for the City as a whole as well as concerns that directly relate to the Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood. There are questions to be asked, responses to be analysed and decisions to be formed.

If you want to hear what the candidates have to say – the Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association is hosting an ALL CANDIDATES MEETING on the evening of Tuesday, October 21st (7:00 – 10:00pm) at the Lucas Centre.

Every election is important and every vote counts. Come and meet your candidates and hear what they have to say about the issues you care about.

Falling on Deaf Ears

Mark Chevalier, Vice President of the Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association spoke during the public section of the District #44 School Board Meeting on behalf of the area residents. Noted below is his speech:

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Good Evening School Board:

I am Vice President of the Hamilton Heights Neighbourhood Association.

The Lucas Centre site is directly within our community.

The majority of our community believe that public school lands should retain in public ownership and not be sold.

We were very disappointed that lease or community use options were not discussed by the School Board or Dialog as options, at community meetings, despite assurances that they would be considered.

A running track option was added late in the process. While the other options instead retained the grass field, which in any event is required by the City’s draft OCP.

Also, the report states that the site was to be reviewed partly on the basis of being a “Place for Learning” …. but no educational / learning use for the site has been presented in any way, at any open house, or in the report.

The School Board and Dialog options were primarily driven by residential re-zoning to generate real estate sales revenue.

We welcome tonight’s motion that the School Board review:
“… alternative community uses for the Lucas Centre lands … prior to the City Special Study”.

We request that the School Board address these concerns as the process moves forward.

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Ultimately, the motion failed to pass. Once again, money and not public concerns are driving the decisions…with implications that the area and City residents will have to bear the brunt of.