Blogservations – The Impact of Gentrification in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side on our Local Hospitals
In my many observations of Vancouver, one controversial and relevant to me, is the Gentrification of Vancouver's Downtown East Side (DTES). Wikipedia defines Gentrification as, 'the socio-economic, commercial, and demographic change in an urban area resulting from wealthier people buying housing property in a poor community.' Gentrification of our city's DTES has lead to higher rates of homelessness and displaced peoples in this already marginalized demographic group of the poor, mentally ill, HIV positive and drug addicted persons. Homeless - Photo by Ed Yourdon Personally, working as a Registered Nurse in our city's biggest Hospital I am confronted with this issue of displaced people from the DTES everyday I go to work. New condos and a lack of subsided housing for the poor and mentally ill have made our DTES residents flock to our local hospitals, desperately asking for the Hospital System to provide them with some sort of housing. They will … Continue Reading »
09/09/09 – September 9th, 2009
Today being the 9th day of the 9th month in 2009 can be very special and lucky for some people or just a calender anomaly and others might even view the date a superstitious ominous warning. Today, is the last set of repeating single digit dates we will see for almost a century, until January 1st, 2101. Some people are choosing to get married today for luck and others are using it as a marketing scheme. Las Vegas is apparently having discount rates for weddings and Hollywood released the Tim Burton Movie '9' today. Google is even releasing their special number 9 'Google Doodle'. Wedding Cake Topper - Photo by Steena Interestingly, today in the Chinese culture the number 9 is considered lucky and associated with a long life. It is rumored that the palace at Beijing's Forbidden City was built with 9,999 rooms! Beijing's Forbidden City 2008 - Photo by Pjmorse Just the opposite … Continue Reading »
Balsamic Fig Pork Tenderloin from Edible Gardens
One of the topics I have been wanted to blog about is my adventures cooking - good or bad. This past week I made Balsamic Fig Pork Tenderloin. I was at my Mother's house and found an unopened jar of Mission Fig Balsamic Spread from Edible Gardens Gourmet Food Products based in Surrey, British Columbia. It had been sitting around in her cupboard for about a year as she had received it as a gift and did not know what to do with it. She said I could have it so I brought the Fig Balsamic Spread home to experiment with. Balsamic Fig Spread from Edible Gardens The first thing I did when I got home was open it and taste the spread, and although it was strong tasting of the balsamic vinegar was actually pretty good. I Googled it and found a couple of recipes that Edible Gardens suggested on their … Continue Reading »
Burrard Bridge Bicycle Lanes
I have been wanted to talk about this topic for quite some time as I am directly affected by it on my commute to work; the City of Vancouver's trail run of the Burrard Bridge Bike Lane that started July 13th, 2009. The City has been given the Bicycle Lane up to 6 months for the trial and keeping stats on pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist traffic. Historically, the same trial run was also initiated 10 years ago and was shut down after less than a week because of altercations between cyclists and motorists. Previously, before the bicycle trial this past July there were 3 lanes for North and Southbound motorist traffic for a total of 6 lanes on the bridge. The Pedestrians and Cyclists had to share the relatively small sidewalks on bot sides of the bridge. Now, with the Bicycle Lanes implemented Southbound (leaving Vancouver) motorists only have 2 lanes … Continue Reading »
