Strathcona BIA E.newsletter
April 2011
| |
|
Executive Director's Report
 | |
Photos courtesy Vancouver Design Nerds
|
Strathcona Bike Racks
The SBIA received funding from the City of Vancouver to install twenty bike racks throughout the Strathcona BIA. Rather than putting in standard pieces, the SBIA decided to develop and design unique bike racks.
In mid-April, we partnered with the Vancouver Design Nerds and held a Bike Rack Jam to generate concepts for practical yet fun designs. Some fantastic ideas came out of this session, and it was also a great opportunity for local artist engagement.
 | |
Conceptual bike racks
|
We're looking forward to finalizing this project and getting these bike racks out for the summer so stay tuned as more details are revealed!
Banner Update
Now that spring is upon us, it's time to freshen up our banners! The SBIA is currently consulting and engaging with the community and will work with local artists to help develop and design new banners.
We will put a call out for proposals shortly, but in the meantime, if you are an artist and are interested in learning more about this project, please contact the SBIA office.
| |
Earth Day Waste Drive
On April 21, the SBIA held its annual Earth Day e-Waste drive in the parking lot of the Patricia Hotel. This time around, we added a little twist and asked businesses to bring down plastics, cardboard, and Styrofoam in addition to their e-Waste.Perhaps our members have been stockpiling these items, because we received a steady flow of drop-offs throughout the day.
Fifteen businesses participated in the event by doing a little spring cleaning and offloading it on us. Reboot provided a large truck, which was quickly filled with computers, monitors, printers, and miscellaneous equipment that surely predates many of us. Reboot collected the items, salvaged what they could, and took the rest to Free Geek, an organization that responsibly recycles electronic devices.
We also filled a mini-van with Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts that we later recycled through WCS Recycling in North Vancouver. The plastics were taken to the warehouse of a BIA member who receives free plastics recycling services from West Coast Recycling (this service is available to all businesses; contact us if you'd like information). Finally, we filled another van full of cardboard. All reusable boxes went to Special Screencraft Printers, which reuses them for delivering its products. The remainder was dropped off at a regional transfer station.
In total, the event collected just over two tonnes of waste, the majority of which was e-Waste. Our biggest donations came from Primero Cigars, Barrick Technologies, and Kudos Leather, all of whom brought in well over 200 kg of waste. Thank you to all who participated.
Here's a sample of what we collected:
· 42 desktop computers
· 35 monitors
· 25 printers
· 18 keyboards
· 15 laser ink cartridges
· 7 stereos
Did you miss out on our Earth Day event? Don't want to wait for our next waste drive? Give us a call today and we'll help sort out your waste. We can arrange for e-Waste pickups or help you distribute functioning equipment to people who need it. We can also find solutions for your recyclables such as plastic and cardboard, so please do get in touch.
Contact Sophie:
sustainabilitysbia@telus.net
Resource Exchange
Save money on purchase and disposal costs by exchanging materials with other BIA members.
Here's a sample of the current listings on the exchange:
Available: Assorted large fabric scraps (free)
Available: Display stand for cards, brochures or other small items (free)
Wanted: Thin wood panels, minimum 12" x 18"
Check out the Strathcona Resource Exchange at http://exchange.strathconagreenzone.com and start exchanging materials today!
| |
|
Eclipse Awards creates world's largest donor wall made from reclaimed materials
In keeping with the recycling theme, Strathcona business Eclipse Awards has unveiled what it believes to be the world's largest donor wall created from reclaimed materials. The project, a highlight of United Gospel Mission's new facility at 601 East Hastings, is over 12 feet high and 20 feet wide and combines recycled glass, salvaged pine beetle wood, and aluminum (one of the most highly recycled metals in existence) to dazzling effect.
 | |
Eclipse Awards' Donor Wall for United Gospel Mission.
Photo courtesy Eclipse Awards.
|
As owner Toby Barrazuol says on his blog, "For Eclipse Awards, this project was a real milestone in many ways because it beautifully combined so many of the things that are important to us: recognition, sustainability, collaboration and community." Go to Happiness Delivered, Eclipse's blog, for more of the story: http://www.eclipseawards.com/happinessdelivered.asp. | |
|
Boardroom ECO Apparel's Friday Sample Sales
http://echorain.ca/Echo-Rain-Sample-Sale-03-25-11.html
Every Friday from 10 am - 6 pm, Boardroom ECO Apparel is opening shop at 1201 Franklin St for a sample sale. This SBIA business specializes in manufacturing technical, fashionable and environmentally friendly clothing primarily for the promotional products industry.
Styles range from dressy to casual to sporty. There's lots to choose from; be sure to check it out soon!
For more details about ECO Apparel, please visit http://boardroomecoapparel.com/company_profile.html  | |
SBIA's Sophie & Rachel model their ECO Apparel sample sale scores.
|
| |
|
Beer and Cheese Tasting
with Allison Spurrell of les amis du FROMAGE & Au Petit Chavignol and Dave Varga of Red Truck Beer
Red Truck Beer has partnered with Au Petit Chavignol to offer an incredible dining experience on Tuesday May 10. The popular restaurant has prepared a five-course dinner that includes a cheese tasting with Allison Spurrell. All cheeses are paired with Red Truck Beers and include three limited-release products.
Date: Tuesday May 10, 2011
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Au Petit Chavignol, 843 East Hastings St.
Cost: $65.00 per person (includes taxes and gratuity)
Tickets are available in-store or by phone at Au Petit Chavignol, 604.255.4218.
| |
|
Sustainable Living Expo
May 13 to 15: EPIC: The Vancouver Sun Sustainable Living Expo is Western Canada's largest lifestyle show for the eco-conscious consumer. Join this annual celebration of planet-friendly living and surround yourself with over 300 exhibitors, inspiring ideas, exciting entertainment, and smart shopping in one jam-packed weekend.
For more information, visit http://www.epicexpo.com/.
| |
| May 31 is the last day to submit your application for mural funding for 2011
Over the past few years, the SBIA has proudly sponsored more than ten beautiful murals throughout Strathcona.
Visit our sustainability website to see our existing murals and learn how your building could be the next one to receive this artistic makeover. http://www.strathconagreenzone.com/murals.
If you'd like the BIA to connect you with mural artists you can work with to develop an idea, please call our office at 604.258.2727 and speak with Joji. | |
|
Progress Report
|
Year
|
2008-2009
|
2009-2010
|
2010-2011
| |
Street Cleaning Hours
|
5567
|
8226
|
8113
| |
Graffiti Tags
|
3634
|
3623
|
3472
| |
Security Hours
|
7712
|
5881
|
6128
| |
Materials Exchanges
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
42
| |
Tons of Waste Diverted
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
2.08
|
| |
|
|
|
 United Gospel Mission: New Logo, New Website, New Location
Exciting times for the local
urban relief organization! UGM has not only updated its logo and redesigned its website, it has also opened a 70,000 square foot purpose-built facility at 601 East Hastings.
The new building's features include five separate rooms with a total of 72 beds dedicated for shelter use, a dining room with comfortable seating for 160 guests, six bright, spacious classrooms with up-to-date technology, a recovery program with suites for 64, a drop-in centre that's open 10.5 hours/ day, seven days a week, and beautiful suites for men who've completed UGM's recovery program and need transitional abstinence-based housing.
Read more about United Gospel Mission and check out the new site: www.ugm.ca.
| |
|
 JJ Bean Coffee goes to Guatemala
Last month, several of Strathcona-based coffee roastery JJ Bean's employees travelled to Guatemala.
 | |
Jesse Lawrence, Manager of JJ Bean on Granville Island, hacks up the roots of a banana tree while building a house with Habitat for Humanity. Photo by David Long.
|
Four JJ Beaners spent two weeks building homes with non-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity, while several others visited farms where some of the company's favourite coffees are grown.
 | |
Guatemalan coffee farm Fince La Perla, which JJ Bean's coffee quality leader, Grady Buhler, desbribes as the
"lovechild of the Garden of Eden and Rivendell." Photo by David Long
|
To read about the trips, go to http://www.jjbeancoffee.com/articles/2011-habitat-guatemala.
|
| |
|
 Small Business BC
2011 Summer Seminar Catalogue Now Available
Whether you're starting or growing your business, Small Business BC's seminars can help you with your venture.
Small Business BC offers over 50 unique seminars delivered by industry experts in topics ranging from getting your business online to tax and finance.
Visit the Small Business BC website today!
| |
|
Bike to Work Week is Coming Up...
The fifth annual Bike to Work Week will take place from May 30 to June 5, and the SBIA is once again sponsoring a station. We'll be at the corner of Adanac Street and Clark Drive on Monday, May 30 from 4 pm to 6 pm. 
The folks at Jim M. Koo Produce have kindly lent us their parking lot again this year.
If your business would like to donate an item to include in our prize pack, please contact our office at 604.258.2720 or
admin_strathconabia@telus.net.
| |
 | |
SOLEfood Farm, 399 Hawks Ave.
|
SOLEfood Starts a CSA! SOLEfood, the urban farm run by United We Can in the parking lot of the Astoria Hotel, is starting a debit-style CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) program. A CSA is of a community of individuals who buy into a farming operation's harvest in advance so farmers and consumers can share the risks and benefits of food production. Offerings will tentatively include - Salad Greens
- Tyee Spinach
- Arugula
- French Breakfast Radishes
- Collard Greens
- Lacinato Kale
- Rainbow Swiss Chard
- Heirloom tomatoes
- Heritage peppers
- Hot peppers
- Eggplant
- Cucumbers
- Basil
- and... Strawberries!
SOLEfood Farm began in 2009 and provides training and employment opportunities to residents from Vancouver's Downtown East Side to build, plant, maintain and harvest the farm. It also supplies fresh greens to nearby restaurant Au Petit Chavignol. Email or call them to sign up for CSA membership or to ask about the program. email: solefood@unitedwecan.ca phone: 604.837.1601. web: http://1sole.wordpress.com/ | |
Do you have a story or an event you'd like fellow SBIA members to know about? Let us know, and we'll share it here. Office Phone 604.258.2720 Rachel Leigh, Administrator admin_strathconabia@telus.net Joji Kumagai, Acting Executive Director strathconabia@telus.net Sophie Agbonkhese, Sustainability Coordinator sustainabilitysbia@telus.net | |
|
|
