May 2022 Newsletter


May Meeting  
Our first in-person membership meeting in over two years will be held on Wednesday, May 4, from 7-8:30 PM at the Strathcona Community Centre. The meeting will be in the upstairs Community Room. Follow the signs. An agenda will be sent to all members the Monday before.
 
If you’re not a member – or aren’t sure – you can sign up for free at https://strathcona-residents.org/membership/

Celebrate Strathcona 

Save the date!

On Saturday afternoon June 11, the SRA is hosting a huge celebration of community in Strathcona Park.
 
Starting at noon, we’re inviting all residents for a “meet your neighbours” picnic (bring your own or buy from one of the food trucks that will be on Hawks Ave.) 
 
There will be lots of activities: a Scavenger Hunt with prizes, a Soccer Workshop (by the Vancouver Whitecaps), Art activities by the Eastside Arts Society, a Skateboard Workshop, a Pedestrian Obstacle Course, Collaborate with RecTrek, BioBlitz, Strathcona and Cottonwood garden tours – discover Hives for Humanity, Environmental Youth Alliance, Erthhand Gleaners, the Working Group for Indigenous Food Sovereignty – plus info tables about eagles, bees, fruit trees, herb gardens, the wetland project – and more.
 
And then, from 3-4 PM, a giant Dance Party with live music by Rumba 7.
 
To pull off this amazing day, we need a little help from you. We need volunteers to distribute invitations door to door in late May/early June. Let us know if you can cover a few blocks (i.e. 500-600 block Pender).

We also need someone to pick up and drop off a battery generator that day…. 
 
Also half a dozen folks to set up and tear down a few tables and tents.
 
If you can help, contact Dan at sra@strathcona-residents.org or 604.347.9003. 

PARKS UPDATE

We’re pleased to see that the MacLean Park playground is finally back in “full swing”. We’ve been promised that the water park will be repaired (again) before summer. Plans for the off-leash dog area in Strathcona Park are on hold as the park planner in charge moved on to another job.
 
We are concerned however that our efforts to make Strathcona Park more resident-friendly seem to have gone off the radar. We hearing rumours of plans to make it into even more of a  “regional” sports park, not unlike our two other closest parks, Trillium and Andy Livingstone.
 
The 2023-2026 Capitol Planning process is in full swing and will be approved by the Park Board this summer. If you took part in our survey and recommendations – or if this is an issue that you care about – we urge you to e-mail the Park Commissioners and staff, reminding them that we need more park space dedicated to all residents, not just sport’s leagues.  Eastsiders should get priority in Eastside parks, especially because so many have so little access to green space.
 
Click here for a pre-addressed e-mail.
  UPCOMING  EVENTS 
 
Celebrate Militant Mothers Day 

Saturday May 7      11 AM – 2 PM

Join members of the original Militant Mothers of Raymur and their children by the railway tracks at 600 Raymur Ave. for a festive 50th Anniversary Celebration of their successful community action. Rain or shine, we’ll be having snacks, speeches, music and more.
 
2nd Annual Strathcona Community Clean-up
Sat. May 14     10 AM – Noon
SCPC Office. 872 E. Hastings St.
Sign up at info@strathconacpc.ca   604.717.0622
Bring gloves and a bucket
  
MacLean Park Music 2022 

Music at MacLean Park is back again for summer 2022. This year,  concerts will be on Sunday from 2-5. Here’s the line up: 
June 12: Fleetham-Stevens / Linda Villareal with Michael Dun / Old Time Dance Party with Paul Silveria
June 26: Vancouver Folk Ensemble / re:Sisters / Fraser Union
July 10: Lawless Firm/Harris & Debray / Rusty Creek
July 24: Country Roots Day with Blue Lasso / The Soda Crackers / The Contingency
August 7: Royal Cajun Band / The Burying Ground  / Spectator 6
August 21: Joe Charron / Sudanda / Something About Reptiles
September 11: Jazz Day with Trevor Whitridge / Gerry Teahan+Kit Eakle / Torsten Muller

Many thanks to the folks who donated to help pay the insurance costs required – those costs have been repaid!

See you in the park…