The Flying Pigeons

Our adventure starts with a short ride to the pier. On a nice day like today, there’s a great view of Mount Baker!

Can you spot Mount Baker in this picture?

Next stop – the waterfront pathway!  This trail stretches 1.5km along the water’s edge. As we meandered down the path, we see lots of cyclists, dog walkers, and joggers enjoying the outdoors.

Bump, set, spike!  As we pass by Urban Rec’s beach volleyball courts, we see teams battling it out on the soft sand.  It sure looks like the teams are having a blast out there!  If you want to join in on the fun, registration is still open.

Urban Rec's summer beach volleyball league at River District is in full-swing!

All this fresh air and vitamin D has tired us out!  We decide to make a brief stop at this spot on the path that overlooks the water. Here we relax and take in the sights and sounds of the river.

Enjoying the view by the water

Rejuvinated and relaxed, we are ready to embark on our return trip. For this leg of our journey, we decide to cycle along East Kent Avenue North to see what other exciting things are happening at River District.

Check it out! From East Kent Avenue North, we get a great view of the crane from the old Canadian White Pine Mill. The mill was where logs were plucked from the river and then sawed into planks and boards. Did you know, at its peak, the mill exported BC wood to four continents? Amazing!

A view of the Canadian White Pine Mill crane

No tour of River District would be complete without a stop at River Walk, Polygon’s new townhome community.  These beautiful homes are part of River District’s only townhome community.  Since the community is a-buzz about these homes, we decide to check out all four of their display suites.  Wow, they are beautiful!

Home sweet home!

Here’s a sneak peak of Neighbourhood Park North – River District’s first park! We can see that the finishing touches are being added. When it is complete, we will definitely be coming back to have a picnic at the harvest table and to play on the playground.

River District's first park!

The best part of cycling along East Kent Avenue North is the brand new bike paths. They make for a very smooth ride.

Wow! These Flying Pigeons can really fly!

Our last stop of the day is the recycled driftwood playground at Riverfront Park.  Every kid’s weekend ‘to do’ list includes a trip here.  Not only is a visit here fun for kids, but parents also have a enjoyable time relaxing outdoors while they watch their little ones play.

Come play at our recycled driftwood playground!

-          May 4-10: Russell Lemon Ale & Crisp Lemon Ale Halibut Burger

-          May 11-17: Howe Sound Garibaldi Honey Pale Ale & Thai Spiced Turkey Burger

-          May 18-24: Red Truck Lager & Jamaican Jerk Chicken Burger

-          May 25-31: Red Racer E.S.B & BBQ Spiced Burger

Also, this Sunday is Mother’s Day! Come to Romer’s and celebrate Mom’s special day with a tasty brunch made with the freshest ingredients. For Romer’s Mother’s Day menu, visit: http://www.romersburgerbar.com/wpcontent/uploads/2010/07/BRUNCH_and_DINNER.pdf

On Mother’s Day, Romer’s will be open early for brunch starting at 9am. Call to place your reservations now as space is quickly filling up. River District Romer’s Burger Bar: (604) 566-9545.

Want to stay in the loop on everything that is happening at River District? You can follow us on Twitter (@RDVancouver) and interact with us on Facebook . Through these channels, you can also chat with us and update us on all the different things happening in the community. Curious about our event and activities? Check out River District’s Flickr photos and view videos on YouTube featuring amazing footage captured from our past events.

The River Walk sales office and three display homes will be open for sale Saturday, April 14 at noon sharp. There are a limited number of homes available. For the best selection, arriving early is highly recommended.

For more information, visit www.polyhomes.com/riverwalk

Born and raised in Vancouver, this is the place that Janette calls home. She studied at UBC and completed her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Commerce.  After graduation, Janette worked in a variety of roles that focused on event coordination and community engagement. These experiences come into play on a regular basis in her current position as the Community Relations Coordinator at River District.  When Janette’s not at the Centre, you’ll find her immersed in the Great Outdoors – backcountry camping, dragonboat racing, and most recently, trying to perfect the fine art of stopping on rollerblades.

Today, we had the pleasure of spending some time with Janette to get to know her better!

River District (RD): An English Literature major! Working at River District seems like a far stretch from Shakespeare! What attracted you to the River District project and to the Community Relations Coordinator position?
Janette Lau (JL): In university, I took a few geography electives and an urban planning course that focused on cities. These classes peaked my interest in development and growth of cities and urban spaces. Of course, I haven’t let go of my writing aspirations. One of the greatest perks of my job is that I have the opportunity to write and be creative on a daily basis!

RD: They say, the pen is mightier than the sword! In a nutshell, tell us about your role at River District Centre.
JL: As the Community Relations Coordinator, I’m responsible for creating events, keeping the Centre ship-shape, and everything else to ensure every visitor experience is a great one.

RD: In three words, how would you describe a typical day at the Centre?
JL: Dynamic. Informative. Fun. Everyday at the Centre, there’s always something happening.  We have a variety of visitors coming through our doors  – from kids attending Family Place to yogis coming for yoga class. There is never a dull moment, and that is what keeps things exciting!

RD: What would you consider to be your favourite event so far?
JL: There are actually two events that stand out in my mind. I had a blast setting up the Halloween event at the Centre last year. The pumpkin patch in our backyard was a huge hit with all the families, and it’s not everyday that your job requires you to build a life-size scarecrow!  More recently, this year’s Chinese New Year celebration was also a lot of fun. I’ve never seen a lion dance performance up-close before!

RD: River District events have been very popular with families. What have you found most rewarding about your current position?
JL: I have to say being able to get to know the people who live in the surrounding community better is a very rewarding part of my job.  A year ago, the Centre was still under construction. It seemed like a distant dream that we would have the Centre up and running and have people coming back repeatedly. It’s so great to see this come to fruition in such a short period of time.

RD: What is your favourite burger from Romer’s Burger Bar?
JL: Romer’s Mushroom burger is my favourite. Just thinking about it makes me hungry! Aside from burgers, I can’t get enough of Romer’s delicious donuts!

RD: Rumor has it, you’re a foodie! When you’re not at Romer’s, what/where else do you like to eat?
JL: I have cravings for soup noodles all the time. If anyone could suggest noodle restaurants to try, I’m all ears!

Thank you Janette for taking time to answer our questions!  Next month, we will feature another member of the River District team.

Evening Skies

Congratulations to Braden Batsford – the winner of our photo contest for the month of March-April and the lucky recipient of a $25 Gift Card to Romer’s Burger Bar! ­­­­ In keeping with the theme ‘Spring at River District’, Braden’s photo submission titled “Evening Skies” captured the beautiful hues of pink and purple on the River.

Braden, please e-mail Sandy at syoung@parklane.com to receive your prize.

Once again, we are calling all the shutterbugs out there. The theme for the April-May photo contest is ‘Nature at River District.’  Capture mother nature’s splendor, with River District as the backdrop, and send in one (1) of your best photos for a chance to win!

The winning photographer will receive a $25 gift certificate to Romer’s Burger Bar. Their picture will also be featured in our May newsletter! So what do you need to do? Follow these simple steps:

1)   Snap a few photos that fit this month’s theme ‘Nature at River District’

2)   Select one (1) image

Post it to our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/RiverDistrictVancouver)

Add the following caption ‘Photo contest entry – your own title for your photo’.

Not on Facebook? No problem. E-mail your entry directly to syoung@parklane.com.  Please include in the subject line, “River District Centre Monthly Photo Contest”. All
submissions must be received by May 14th, 2012.

3)   The winner will be selected based on the number of ‘Likes’ they receive for their picture. Make sure to tell your friends about your photo submission and get them to ‘like’ it on our Facebook page to improve your chances of winning.

4)   The winner will be announced in our May e-newsletter, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled—if you see your photo, you’ve won! Please e-mail us in redeem your prize.

* Note one photo per person per contest period.  Contest periods will typically run mid-month to mid-month.  By entering this contest and posting your photo on Facebook, you are allowing RD staff to use your photo for promotional purposes.  Photos must be appropriate for audiences of all ages.

Tai Chi instructor or ‘Sifu’, Steve Malliaris, began his studies and training in Tai Chi, Qigong, and Kung Fu in 1969 at the young age of 18. While continuing his studies with many Sifus and traditional Kung Fu schools, he combined his unique Western approach to teaching and founded the Canadian Institute of Tai Chi located in Vancouver’s Chinatown in 1973. The school has since flourished, and now in its 38th year, it has produced many dedicated teachers and students through the system of health enhancement and Tao (way) of living.

Steve is devoutly dedicated to the practice and teaching of Martial Arts. Beyond living-out his passion, he loves his family, boats and fishing.

To learn more about Steve and the Canadian Institute of Tai Chi, please visit: www.taichiinstitute.ca

Born and raised in Vancouver, Kyra completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography at the University of Victoria.  A few years later, after working in film, fashion, and marketing roles, Kyra was inspired by volunteering in a Kindergarten classroom and made the decision to complete her Bachelor of Education at UBC.  After experiencing the world through exploring and travelling to other continents, and gaining practical job skills working in the City of Vancouver planning department, Kyra made the move out East to Toronto to pursue her Masters in Urban Planning.  Kyra combines her wealth of experience and her dyanamic personality in her position as Director of Community Relations for River District. We had the pleasure of speaking with Kyra today to get to know her better!

River District (RD): You have a wealth of experience in so many different areas. Let’s start at the very beginning. What was your first job?
Kyra Lubell (KL): I worked at Baskin Robbins serving ice cream one summer.  The best part about the job was getting a free scoop of ice cream every time I worked!

RD: That must have been one of the sweetest jobs in town! Let’s talk about River District. How did you end up working on the River District project and when did you begin?
KL: I saw a posting for my dream job, Director of Community Relations for River District, and applied.  It was a great fit for me as it was a combination of urban planning, marketing, communications, events and community building.  In January 2011, I joined the River District team, which at the time was known as East Fraserlands.  When I started, River District Centre was a shell of a building – it’s amazing to think about how far the project has come in just over a year!

RD: What does a typical day look like in your role?
KL: Every day is different and that’s what I love about my role.  My days are spent on a range of activities, from meeting with potential programming partners to planning River District events to managing marketing and communications. One day I might be doing an interview with the media while another day I’ll be reading a story to a kid.  I love the variety and opportunities to meet so many interesting people – from neighbouring community members to local urban farmers.

RD: True to the old adage, variety is the spice of life. What has been your biggest accomplishment so far in this role?
KL: I’m really proud that River District won the Real Estate Foundation’s Land award in the fall of 2011.  It shows that River District has an amazing team who have worked hard to create an innovative and sustainable project.

In terms of achievements, I think my biggest accomplishment to date is that I brought a full spectrum of programming to River District Centre (RDC).  It’s so exciting that we have partnered with established organizations like Arts Umbrella, Scouts Canada and Family Place.  I’m also thrilled that we have partnered with Urban Rec – it’s surreal to think we have an urban beach on-site complete with volleyball courts and organized league play every summer!

I’m also really proud of the events that we’ve hosted at RDC.  Each event builds on the success of the last and it’s great to so many new and familiar faces with ear to ear smiles.

RD: Speaking of events, while working at River District Centre, what has been your favourite event?
Goodness – there are so many to choose from!  Can I give you my top 3?  Halloween because I loved transforming the Centre backyard into a pumpkin patch, Chinese New Year because we had so many people come out and everyone was in such great spirits (plus the lion dancers put on quite a show!) and BC Rivers Day because we had a pie baking competition with local celebrities like FollowMeFoodie’s Mijune Pak and I got a little starstruck and sugar happy!

RD: The events and activties at River District Centre defintely bring the community together. What kind of the feedback about the Centre have you received from the community?
KL: We’ve been welcomed to the neighbourhood with open arms!  People really enjoy the
Centre whether they are looking at our larger than life community model, doing yoga or watching their kids play.  In fact, parents tell us that their kids beg them to let them come here every week!

RD: It shows that you are very passionate about what you do. Outside of work, and in your remaining free time, what would we find you doing on a Saturday afternoon?
KL: Right now I’m renovating my basement. You’ll most likely find me in Home Depot or Ikea.

RD: After your renovations are complete,  if you could buy a plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
KL: I am saving all my pennies for a trip to Greece and Italy.  I have dreams of seeing all the sights, taking thousands of amazing photos, indulging in exotic food (pizza counts right?!) and learning about different cultures.

Thank you Kyra for taking time to share your story. Next month, we will be feature another member of the River District team – stay tuned!

Olive is resting on a bench at the River District after enjoying a lovely walk along the waterfront!

Congratulations to Meggie Moo – the winner of our photo contest for the month of February-March and the lucky recipient of a $25 Gift Card to Romer’s Burger Bar. ­­­­ In
keeping with the theme ‘Animals at River District’, Meggie’s photo featured her
dog, Olive, resting on a bench at River District after enjoying a lovely walk
along the waterfront.

Meggie, please e-mail Sandy at syoung@parklane.com to receive your prize.

Once again, we are calling all the shutterbugs out there. The theme for the March-April photo contest is ‘Spring at River District.’  Capture the Spring season on film, with River District as the backdrop, and send in one (1) of your best photos for a chance to win!

The winning photographer will receive a $25 gift certificate to Romer’s Burger Bar. Their picture will also be featured in our March newsletter! So what do you need to do? Follow these simple steps:

1)   Snap a few photos that fit this month’s theme ‘Spring at River District’

2)   Select one (1) image

Post it to our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/RiverDistrictVancouver)

Add the following caption ‘Photo contest entry – your own title for your photo’.

Not on Facebook? No problem. E-mail your entry directly to syoung@parklane.com.  Please include in the subject line, “River District Centre Monthly Photo Contest”. All
submissions must be received by April 14th, 2012.

3)   The winner will be selected based on the number of ‘Likes’ they receive for their picture. Make sure to tell your friends about your photo submission and get them to ‘like’ it on our Facebook page to improve your chances of winning.

4)   The winner will be announced in our April e-newsletter, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled—if you see your photo, you’ve won! Please e-mail us in redeem your prize.

* Note one photo per person per contest period.  Contest periods will typically run mid-month to mid-month.  By entering this contest and posting your photo on Facebook, you are allowing RD staff to use your photo for promotional purposes.  Photos must be appropriate for audiences of all ages.

With her encouraging and positive personality, River District Centre’s newest yoga instructor, Sarah Crawford Russell believes that yoga has the ability to change your life – one breath at a time.

In 2008 Sarah completed her 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, an experience that “changed her life” as she began to see yoga not just as a physical practice but as a way of life. That same year she also finished her degree in Contemporary Dance at Simon Fraser University. Most recently, Sarah had the amazing opportunity to study in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico with Michael Gannon. During this 200 hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Apprenticeship, Sarah experienced a remarkable transformation within her own mind and body through which she hopes to inspire others on their journey both on and off the mat.

Come meet Sarah and join us for Hatha Yoga at River District Centre on Tuesday from 5-6PM. Classes begin April 3.

For more information about Sarah, visit her website at: www.sarahsunshineyoga.com