By Tayvie Van Eeuwen
@tayvieeee

Hello 2021! For a nice change of pace, enjoy some January Happy News.

Local

SFU to receive $22-million from federal government for new urban climate change centre

We LOVE to see it. 🤩

On January 12, Simon Fraser University (SFU) announced that they will be the recipient of a $21.7 million endowment from the federal government. The investment makes SFU one of seven Low Carbon Cities Innovation Canada Centres (LC3) in the country.

As explained by FCM president Garth Frizzel, local solutions are integral to meeting the nation’s climate goals. Set to launch in September 2021, the non-profit organization will work to accelerate “urban climate solutions,” such as increasing green building retrofits, electric transportation, shared mobility, and integrated land-transportation, as well as creating a zero-waste “circular economy.”

Sav Dhaliwal, chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors, commented on the new LC3 centre in a statement, saying,

There has never been a more important time to accelerate urban climate action. Through the LC3 Centre, our local communities will have a venue for developing, testing and implementing innovative solutions that can be broadly rolled out and scaled across our region. Metro Vancouver looks forward to working with the LC3 Centre and SFU toward helping us meet our ambitious climate goals and creating a carbon-neutral region by 2050.

We can’t wait to see! 🌿

Richmond lavender farm slated to open this spring

Lavender farms = pure relaxation. ✨

Welcome to Lavenderland, Metro Vancouver’s newest outdoor excursion! Set to open in June, the flower farm will feature at least four kinds of lavender, including SuperBlue lavender, Melissa lavender, and French lavender.

“Just imagine how calming it will be to stand in waves of purple flowers and breathing in the relaxing and soothing scents,” said Lavenderland manager, Michelle Wu.

“We hope more people will come in this year to find peace in times of chaos, to be able to have fun together with family members and dream of a better future.”

The farm will feature self-guided tours, DIY classes, handmade gifts, baked goods, and more. Pre-booking is available now.

Orca pod returns to BC coast after two decades

💫 MAJESTIC. 💫

A collection of orcas that have not been spotted in 20 years has recently returned to BC’s Broughton Archipelago. The group represents two lines of the A5 pod— the A23 and A25 matrilines — that have been missing from the Fife Sound for decades.

On Monday, January 4, Fisheries and Oceans Canada researcher Jared Towers was able to capture aerial photos of the pod, featuring a new calf. He heard the A5’s on a hydrophone and identified them by their dialect before heading out into the water.

“This family loves to spend time off in northeastern Vancouver Island, and yet historically, they love spending a lot of time in the archipelago, specifically in the winter,” Towers told Global News.

“We have lots of sightings, records of this family in that area throughout the 1980s and 1990s. And then around the mid to late 90s, they just stopped using the area and haven’t been documented back there since until just four days ago.”

Some biologists, including Alexandra Morton, credit the disappearance to sonic devices used by the fish farm industry in the 1990s to scare predators off. The recent visitation is viewed as an indication of hope, signalling that the whales feel safe enough to return.

Now, researchers have suggested naming the new calf Ne’nakw, meaning “returning home” in Kwak’wala. 🌊

Following multiple break-ins, Qualitown Thrift Store decided to let folks shop for free

Community care at its finest!

Meet Qualitown Thrift Store—a shop in Campbell River that has experienced repeated break-ins and trash-rummagings over the past couple of months. In an effort to combat crime and better serve their community, manager Caroline Bleany made the decision to open their doors for homeless folks to shop for free.

Now, every second Monday from 12 to 2 PM, those experiencing poverty can pick up items and receive a hot meal and snacks for free, including coffee, milk, fruit, and baked goods.

Bleany explained to CBC that the idea was sparked when she began witnessing people stealing inside the store.

“We thought that creating this program is going to be a better avenue for us to actually give them what they need,” said Bleany.

“We try also to be [in] a relationship with them, letting them know that… we want to help. We want to work here as a community to reach out to you guys.”

On December 14, the store opened it’s doors for the first time for free shopping. By mid-morning, items such as socks, jackets, blankets, and other warm items had been picked out.

The cost of the program is unknown, but Bleany affirmed that the store will happily cover any costs.

“The most important thing for us… is to let these people know that we know that we love them.”

Brb, my heart is bursting. 💖

Happy Suggestions

Watch this beaver waddle around downtown Vancouver

7-year-old teaches Mi’kmaw quillwork, a skill she learned from her mom

Secret Santa delivers poems and $250 gift cards to hundreds of Edmonton homes

Tayvie is a Métis/Anihšināpē and Irish/Scottish student and writer. Her circle is small, but her joy is large. She splits her time between over-thinking and visiting Disneyland. Read her articles to take a peek inside the world of mental illness and happy news, because it’s all about balance, right? Follow @passagebeading for her hand-made Indigenous earrings.