Blogs, Vancouver IAM Daily Blog Report: Ecosystem Suffering, "No Net Loss" Park Policy in Question, Canucks


by ANDREW RIDEOUT - Date: 2007-11-26 - Word Count: 1034 Share This!

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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

Richly Diverse Ecosystem in Danger

A recent post in Stephen’s Rees’s popular blog on urban transportation calls attention to a report that claims “urgent action” is necessary to “preserve one of Canada’s most important ecosystems.” The area referred to is the gravel reach between Hope and Mission. “The greatest threat is human activity. The report is addressed to the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council.” The reach, home to “some of Canada’s most biologically significant riparian and aquatic ecosystems,” has been significantly stressed due to “urban growth, agriculture, resource extraction and industrial development.”

Rees points out in his post that Highway #1 is a major culprit. “Despite what its proponents admit, the real reason for expanding the highway is to open up more land for development, and… the illusion of a faster drive into Metro will increase interest in this area for all kinds of development.” Waterfront sites will, of course, be of most value to buyers. He anticipates at least another million people coming into the region in the next 20 years, most of whom are “wedded to the concept of a single family home with a two car garage.” Rees also anticipates a land grab by those who can get restrictions lifted by their political buddies. It will be a test of our government’s greenness how they respond to this report, knowing that the development industry “shovels more money at politicians than anyone else.”

Canucks Continue to Improve

The latest report from Canuck’s Hockey Blog gives us a run-down on the Canuck’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The “Canucks came home from a 1-1-1 road trip and put together a 2-0 shutout win over the resurgent Chicago Blackhawks.” The blogger calls the game “entertaining” as both teams had their share of hits and chances to score. The tone was set early by Ryan Kesler’s checking of “super rookie Patrick Kane into the Chicago bench.” Soon after, Brendan Morrison scored and Roberto Luongo's goaltending kept them ahead the rest of the game.

The blogger admits that the Blackhawk’s lineup is full of good kids. “Marty Havlat and Tuomo Ruutu - if they can ever stay healthy - are just as skilled and are only 26 and 24 respectively… it's hard to believe that Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith… are still in their early-20's.” The team reminds him of the Canucks team of the early 2000’s.
On behalf of the Canucks, “Sami Salo played a good game… and so did Willie Mitchell. Mattias Ohlund and Lukas Krajicek both returned to the lineup, and for the first time in a while, the team has a (fairly) healthy group in the back end.” The Canucks are a more respectable 5-6-1 now and finish the month with a couple home games.

“No Net Loss” Policy for Parks is Flawed

Oldtown News blogger Jamie Hamilton reveals in her recent post that more Vancouver park space is to be lost. Today, Commissioner Spence Herbert is bringing forward a motion calling for a “no net loss” of Park Space. This in itself is all right.  “However, he undoes the motion when he asks that a park reserve system be set up when we lose parts of our parks due to development.” The motion states that any land lost needs to be replaced, “either through shrinking the size of parking lots, or through a combination of acquisitions and expansion in other areas.”

Hamilton opines in her post that “the problem is that development should not intrude into our diminishing green space, period.” She claims that the motion is “severely flawed” in that “it suggests that it's OK if green space is taken, as long as the space is reserved in a land reserve, or through acquisitions in other areas.” She is troubled by the “other areas” language in his motion. If we lose green space in Stanley Park, for example, no land elsewhere in the city could compensate for it. “Taking park space from one area of the city and replacing it in another area of the city isn’t proper, equitable, or fair.” The blogger will be speaking at the park board meeting today at 4 pm and encourages others to be there.

Stella’s Food Not on Par with Atmosphere and Service

A recent post by blogger Katie in Beyond Robson explores Sunday Brunch at Stella’s Tap and Tapas Bar (1191 Commercial Drive) and gives it a mixed review. “While the name may not suggest an appropriate brunch setting, the customer traffic suggested I had stumbled across a hidden gem.” Greeted by a casual setting, the atmosphere was set for a pleasant morning and the menu gives much to consider. “The food choices were well balanced and diverse, offering a dish for every palette.” The server was also knowledgeable and guided her meal selection.

In her post she writes that the meals “arrived in excellent time, but a regrettable lack of attention to detail soured the experience.” She says Stella’s fell into a common issue in restaurants in that they “fail to pay attention to the quality of the vegetables they use. This was true for my mixed greens at Stella's.” She says a good meal can be ruined by rotting greens. Aside from the wimpy veggies, the steak was perfect, although a “lack of quality control resulted in my mate's eggs coming out soft poached, instead of the requested hard.” The blogger left torn by the experience. The menu was well constructed as was the atmosphere, but “there is not a similar level of care in the back of house.”

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.


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