A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at Como Lake United Church and Mountain View Suites November 26.
The United Church has partnered with the provincial government to create 75 new rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes.
The BC government issued a release November 26:
“We know people in Coquitlam need more options for quality, affordable housing options like Mountain View Suites,” said Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville.
“Partnerships are key to success on these projects, so our government is proud to be working with the Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church of Canada and the City of Coquitlam to help deliver the affordable homes that people need here, and throughout the province.”
Located at 1110 King Albert Avenue, the five-storey apartment building includes a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, as well as an adjoining chapel with community space. Monthly rents range from $375 to $2,341, depending on unit size and household income. The building will be owned and operated by the British Columbia Community Renewal Society of the United Church of Canada.
“Having property throughout BC puts the United Church in a position to leverage our assets for the benefit of localities where we serve, not just for our congregations but for the wider communities,” said Deborah Richards, president, Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church of Canada.
“This partnership with BC Housing through the Community Housing Fund enables us to provide working families, seniors and individuals with the affordable, quality housing they need.”
The Province, through BC Housing, invested approximately $7.5 million through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund for the project and will provide an annual operating subsidy of approximately $560,000.
The Como Lake United Church congregation, in partnership with the Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church of Canada, provided the land for the project, valued at $5.3 million. The land equity was used by the United Church to pay for the new chapel. The City of Coquitlam provided $660,000 for the project.
Go here for the full statement. CTV News and TriCity News covered the event.
Don Evans, Director of Property Development for the Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church of Canada, told me in a telephone conversation that quite a number of United Church buildings are being developed or sold: “There are too many buildings for the needs of the community in the future of the church.”
He said a similar development at Brechin United Church in Nanaimo has just been completed; the church will hold its first Sunday worship at the new building December 18. Construction at Peninsula United Church in south Surrey should be completed next September. And demolition of the Lakeview Multicultural United Church on 12th Avenue just east of Victoria Drive is slated to begin early next year.
Jubilee United Church celebrated its first worship service at the new site September 11.
At least two other major redevelopments have taken place in Burnaby and Vancouver in the past couple of years.
Jubilee United Church moved into its new home in Burnaby (along with the Pacific Mountain Regional Council offices) September 11, and Oakridge United Church held a special service September 25, after having moved into its new building last year. (I wrote about the newly opened Feast and Fallow cafe last week; it shares part of the building with Oakridge United.)
Evans added that some churches will likely be sold – Brighouse United Church in Richmond for example, where redevelopment plans have not worked out.
On April 13, 2018 Premier John Horgan had announced that a partnership between the United Church and the provincial government would result in more than 400 new homes being built in Coquitlam, Nanaimo, Richmond and Vancouver. Brighouse (along with Como Lake, Lakeview and Brechin) was to undergo major redevelopment.
Evans said the United Church is open to hearing from new churches that are looking to purchase buildings.
He said of the Como Lake redevelopment: “Though the project did experience some delays, we are thrilled to have it finished. We feel . . . it is one of the nicest ones we’ve done; the church is beautiful.” The smaller, purpose-built space meets the needs of the congregation better than the aging building it replaced, he added, allowing the congregation “to get back to serving their community.”
Simon’s Soapbox
Caroline Short and Simon Vanderloo make soap together.
A recent CTV News story featured two siblings who have developed a unique home enterprise over the past couple of years.
It began:
A hodgepodge of buckets and bottles sit on a white table in Simon Vanderloo’s small kitchen. While he heats a large container of coconut oil in a microwave, his older sister Caroline Short, carefully measures a mixture of freshly scented essential oils.
The siblings, who are from New Westminster, BC, make handcrafted soap every Tuesday. It is something they have been doing together since the early days of the pandemic.
“We started making soap during COVID when Simon and I had a little bit of extra free time,” said Short. “We learned how to make it together and quickly discovered that Simon is really good at it.”
Vanderloo is 28 years old and lives with Down Syndrome, which naturally occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.
Short has always believed in his potential and often wondered what it would be like to start a businesses with him.
“When I found that making soap was a good activity for both of us, I thought, ‘Why don’t we try to make something bigger with it?'” Short said.
With Vanderloo also keen to do more, the pair created a company called Simon’s Soapbox.
The idea behind the name is that the business is a platform Vanderloo can use to highlight and share all of his abilities.
Go here for the full story.
Simon and Caroline’s story was also covered by a March 18 article in The Banner (published by the Christian Reformed Church in North America), which reported that they had tied for first place in a BCIT entrepreneurial services competition. It included this note:
Short, an elder and the clerk at First Christian Reformed Church in Vancouver, is also the regional advocate for CRC Disability Concerns for Classis BC.North-West.
Vanderloo is a member at New Westminster CRC. In addition to making soap, Vanderloo volunteers at a local pet store and has a part-time job at a grocery store.
Go here for the full article.
Boxes of Love
Many churches are giving out hampers and gifts to neighbours these days. Among the most active and largest scale operations is CityReach Care Society, a charity connected with Broadway Church (based in The Warehouse, just below the church) in east Vancouver.
The immediate focus in on Boxes of Love, with any donations being doubled if given by this Sunday (December 11).
Here is what they’re doing:
Together. we can bring hope & joy to 700 families
Boxes of Love supports over 700 local families with quality wrapped toys, filled stockings, holiday treats and gift cards for Christmas.
This year, we will be hosting the event on Saturday December 17 in Vancouver and Port Coquitlam, as well as supporting local schools in Vancouver, South Vancouver, Tri-Cities and Surrey!
Our matching campaign is on now!
Join us in raising $150,000 for this year’s Boxes of Love Christmas Campaign. Every $200 donation provides a family with a Box of Love, plus priority access to our Family Christmas Funtastic event, and one month of food hampers through our Food For Families program!
*From now until December 11, your gift in any amount will be DOUBLED, dollar for dollar, by generous matching funds partners, up to $40,000. This means that your donation will help TWICE as many families!
Donate here. Every dollar makes an impact in the life of a local family.
Volunteer with ‘Boxes of Love’
Thank you to all of those who have signed up to deliver Boxes of Love this season! Our volunteer opportunities for the event day are now FULL.
However, we are looking for volunteers at our Tri-Cities location on Tuesday December 13 and Wednesday December 14. To sign up to volunteer or for more information, please contact [email protected]
CityReach works throughout the year. Its programs include:
- Food for Families
- Club Freedom
- Outreach
- Adopt-a-School
- CityReach Bees
- Out of School Care
- CityReach Surrey
Dec 2022
Dream Centre Society: The Christmas Project – December 8, 2022 - December 12, 2022 at All DaySIMinar: The Importance of Prayer in Missions – December 8, 2022 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
BEZ Open Mic, with Russ Rosen – December 8, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Singing Christmas Tree: Once Upon a Manger – December 9, 2022 - December 11, 2022 at All Day
The First Christmas Experience – December 9, 2022 - December 11, 2022 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Treasures: Rediscover the Gift of Christmas – December 9, 2022 - December 11, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Amabilis Singers: Voces Angelorum – December 9, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Blues Hoodoo – December 9, 2022 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Advent Vigil for the Silenced – December 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
English Conversation Group for Ukrainian Women – December 10, 2022 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Amabilis Singers: Voces Angelorum – December 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Carols and Bells: A Concert – December 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Outdoor Christmas Market – December 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Winter's Night – December 10, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Belle Voci: Messiah in the Valley – December 10, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Laudate Singers: Family Christmas – December 11, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Chantez Noël: The Chamber Choir of Pacific Spirit United Church Choir – December 11, 2022 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with Simon Millerd and friends – December 11, 2022 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Laudate Singers Free Christmas Concert – December 11, 2022 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Laudate Singers: Family Christmas – December 11, 2022 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Blue Christmas – December 11, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Abendmusik Vesper Choir: Advent 2022 Vespers – December 11, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Belle Voci: Messiah in the Valley – December 11, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas Open House – December 14, 2022 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: We Three Queens – December 14, 2022 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
CityReach: Boxes of Love – December 15, 2022 - December 17, 2022 at All Day
Used Book Sale – December 15, 2022 - December 23, 2022 at 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Community Christmas Dinner – December 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Winter Harp – December 15, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm
The Messiah – December 15, 2022 - December 17, 2022 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Christmas With Chor Leoni (six shows) – December 16, 2022 - December 19, 2022 at All Day
Carols in the City – December 16, 2022 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
CLF Vancouver Christmas Banquet – December 16, 2022 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Chamber Choir: Christmas by Candlelight – December 16, 2022 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Home for the Holidays – December 16, 2022 - December 17, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver Chamber Choir: Christmas by Candlelight – December 16, 2022 at 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dundarave Festival of Lights (Saturday concerts) – December 17, 2022 at All Day
Light the Way Christmas Concert (three events) – December 17, 2022 - December 18, 2022 at All Day
Christmas Reprise XIX at Holy Rosary Cathedral – December 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Jubilate Vocal Ensemble: A Festive Offering – December 17, 2022 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas – December 17, 2022 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
North Shore Community Christmas Dinner (volunteer opportunities) – December 17, 2022 at 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Brian Doerksen presents 'The Heart of Christmas' – December 17, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Reprise XIX at Queens Avenue United Church – December 17, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Festive Cantatas: J.B. Bach Magnificat – December 17, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas – December 17, 2022 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Festive Cantatas: J.B. Bach Magnificat – December 18, 2022 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Brian Doerksen presents 'The Heart of Christmas' – December 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Tales – December 20, 2022 - December 21, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas Presence – December 20, 2022 - December 22, 2022 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Blue Christmas Service – December 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Longest Night of the Year – December 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Premiere Screening of Story Guild Documentary Film, The Great Power, with Christmas After Party – December 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Winter Harp – December 21, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Ilhan Saferali & Friends do Charlie Brown's Christmas – December 21, 2022 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas in Versailles – December 23, 2022 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – December 24, 2022 at 7:00 am - 8:00 am
Christmas Day Service – December 25, 2022 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
60th Canada Chinese Christian Winter Conference – December 27, 2022 - December 31, 2022 at All Day
Worship Invasion New Years Eve Praise Party! – December 31, 2022 at 9:00 pm - 11:45 pm