While Alpine and Nordic skiing, as well as bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events, will be held some 125 km north where snow is abundant in the resort town of Whistler, the outdoor Vancouver venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Cypress Mountain, is snow challenged.
This is what I see of Seymour Mountain on the North Shore across the Inlet from my Port Moody rooftop terrace; still not much snow.
They certainly weren’t kidding about being the “Greenest” Games ever! Record temperatures this week are still hovering at 10°C/50°F, and the rain isn’t helping either.
Snow being trucked in from Manning Park, which is about 160 km east of from Vancouver, is being stockpiled at higher elevations on Cypress. As it is needed it is ploughed down the mountain into position.
The snowboarding (halfpipe, snowboard-cross and the parallel giant slalom) and three skiing (aerials, moguls and skier-cross) events are all scheduled for Cypress Mountain. I have no idea how the athletes are getting in their training runs.
Vancouver is known for milder winters than the rest of Canada and usually gets rain rather than snow; hence the “Wet Coast” nickname. No doubt this is why the Winter Olympics Opening and Closing ceremonies will be the first ever held indoors.
In two previously hosted Olympics, the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Canada failed to win Gold. There is much anticipation this situation will change at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics; let’s hope it’s not just “white gold”.
While I don't have any expertise on green building, I have some views on how greening the construction process itself might benefit British Columbians.
"Green Building" generally refers to a set of principles that are used in the design, construction and function of homes that are intended to facilitate better performance related to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
As the BC Government develops a "green" component to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment, the chaos at our construction sites present "greening" opportunities that require serious consideration.
New homes being built using the traditional construction process model and project management can be very unhealthy, disruptive and extremely resource intensive. Outside of this paradigm are clear opportunities for efficiencies and serious "greening" to support sustainable building practices.
I believe that increasing modular or prefabricated buildings featuring cozy, modern design, functional amenities, and real value for money, would appeal to British Columbian buyers and enable the home building industry to increase efficiencies in ways that other major industries have for years.
There is no doubt that BC has the human assets, economic capital, technological competence and natural resources for more construction prefabricating.
With continuing industry skilled labour shortages, I believe it would just make sense to look at much more off-site prefabrication. This would create more on-site construction assembly jobs that require less-skilled workers.
While the construction site is being prepared the components are simultaneously being built locally in a controlled manufacturing environment in specially equipped factories that ensure superior quality and durability, lower construction costs and waste, and shortened schedules. The wood frame would also be less exposed to wet weather.
Over twenty percent of the material used to construct typical frame homes ends up as scrap. More prefabrication diverts this useful on-site construction refuse material from landfill sites and incinerators.
In addition, I believe that more prefabrication would reduce carbon emissions, have a significant impact on our local water supply, storm-sewers, and energy demands on our power grid.
City Hall needs to develop some incentives for responsible building practices that challenge the traditional model, which is broken and desperately needs overhauling. Prefabricated new homes that include more natural, non-toxic and sustainably derived materials would probably reduce the ecological footprint dramatically. What do you think?
Olympic Figure Skating Teams will be using the International Skating Rink at Port Moody Arena for practice.
Public viewing details are TBA for Canadian Athletes and those representing Great Britain
The teams have been unable to release information at this time; however, any scheduled public viewing opportunities will be posted on the Port Moody City website closer to the date.
The USA has declined a viewing opportunity for the general public.
Port Moody’s new international size [30x60m (100x200ft) ice surface] arena opened its doors in December 2006.
The arena also has a North American-size 26×61m (85×185ft) ice surface.
Port Moody Arena 300 Ioco Rd. Port Moody, BC V3H2V7
Port Moody Arena300 Ioco Rd. Port Moody, BC V3H2V7
604-469-4555 / 604-469-4556
As a part of the Olympic Torch Relay Celebration, on February 11, 2010, there will also be a Free Family Skate between 4:30-5:30pm, with tons of family entertainment, including face painting and temporary tattoos, with light refreshments.
The 2010 Olympic Torch relay starts bright and early at 6:00 a.m. on February 11, 2010, in Port Moody at the intersection of Ioco Road and April Road, travels on Ioco Road to Knowle Street, and then stops for briefly at City Hall.
Come out to Port Moody City Hall, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and cheer on the 2010 Torchbearers as the flame makes its way through the City.
To minimize traffic interruptions, streets along the route will be closed off a few blocks ahead of the torchbearer and will reopen after the runner passes.
The Torch then travels through Newport Village onto Ungless Way and leaves Port Moody on Guildford Way towards Coquitlam where it is expected to arrive at the Coquitlam City Hall between 6:45 and 7:15 a.m.
Past City Hall it will turn right on Westwood Street, and once the torch reaches the Lougheed Highway it will be picked up and will travel to Port Coquitlam.
Afterwards the torch will be dropped off at Schoolhouse Street and Lucille Star Drive at approximately 8:15 a.m. to complete the route through Maillardville before reaching Mackin Park and the Torch Relay Celebration Site.
The torch will arrive at the official Torch Relay Celebration site in Mackin Park, 1046 Brunette Ave., at approximately 9:00 a.m. as part of a convoy of vehicles, which will include torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, relay support vehicles and police cruisers.
Around the Celebration site at Mackin Park, King Edward Street will be closed from Seguin Drive to Brunette Avenue from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. for the Torch Relay Celebration.
If you’re not an early riser, show your Olympic spirit the evening of February 11 at the Port Moody Recreation Facility!There will be a Free Family Skate at 4:30-5:30pm with tons of family entertainment, including face painting and temporary tattoos, with light refreshments.
The Chinook SongCatchers from the Four Host Nations will follow the skate at 6 p.m. with a Welcoming Ceremony.A free Canada versus USA, friendly hockey match between the Minnesota Twin Cities Northern Lights Junior Hockey Team and the Port Moody Black Panthers follows.
Information savvy consumers have long expected a builder to provide specific maintenance and warranty details in a format that is easy to use and access. Besides, the warranty coverage itself will be dependent upon the homeowner being compliant and doing proper maintenance, which usually requires being able to refer to the manufacturer's instructions, and regardless of whether the warranty comes from a third party insurer or the manufacturer.
New homeowners receive only 10% of the information required for proper care, maintenance, and warranty coverage for the components in their new home, according to CONASYS Inc., a provider of information management services to the Canadian construction industry.
The release based on research from CONASYS Inc is available here [...]
A recent JD Power and Associates survey in Ontario concluded, "New home owner's satisfaction is low compared to other industries". The questions asked by JDP were very comprehensive and objective, and their sampling always surpasses requirements to be deemed statistically significant.
In BC, the record of the Homeowner Protection Office is pathetic; just look at the most recent survey here […].To make matters worse, the questions asked on behalf of the HPO are useless providing meaningless information and conclusions.
How could this be happening today when way back in 1976 BC home builders realized that they were faced with consumer issues on a scale that required the concentrated effort of a large number of dedicated merchant builders (industry types) to create a consumer protection plan, the New Home Warranty program (NHW)?
That industry-run, NHW went belly-up over 10 years ago. NHW falsely claimed, “New Home Warranty sets stringent, but workable criteria to measure technical competence and financial stability of applicant builders…”
Then in 2002’ish the provincial government once again put the fox is in charge of the hen house, handing over the governance of the HPO to an appointed board of directors consisting of these same industry types, the result being of course, no improvement.
Such incompetence in other private sector industries would be dealt with severely and swiftly; not at the HPO though.
Given the continuing home building problems in BC (see 2008 HPO survey results) and the failure of government and the industry, is it now time to expand the role for the Ombudsman in BC?
There is no way I'm passing on this much-blogged topic; without a REBLOG!
Unfortunately for the public, ‘listing volume' is a common way for defining successful REALTORS. If the professional obligation of a REALTOR is in fact to work in the best interest of a client then perhaps we need to do some serious navel-gazing on how we define success.
The failure rate (of expired listings) is not a measurement commonly used in the real estate industry. Now we must change this so we know how successful we are as individual REALTORS and as an industry in fulfilling customer expectations, and our professional obligations.
The task defined is to sell 100% of listings and all REALTORS should be measured against this standard if we are going to improve our professional perception.
Many of the recognized, so-called, “Top Producers” who rely on volume are also top producers of expired listings. So seeing a particular REALTOR’s “for sale” sign everywhere is not necessarily a good sign.
Our obligation as REALTORS is to protect the best interest (of the seller) by being honest with that seller. How is taking any over-priced listing in the best interest of the client (or our profession)? The goal is not to list, but to sell.
In reality, the REALTOR who chooses to focus their personal attention on one listing at a time might be far more effective.
Welcome to Port Moody - View our video open house online from the comfort of your home. If you like what you see or have questions be sure to visit us:
Open Houses 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, January 23 and 24.
We are uniquely situated on the Pacific North-West as Canada's gateway to emerging markets and with a reputation as one of the most liveable regions in the world. This helps to explain the continued net gains from in-migration and why the global spotlight of the 2010 Olympic torch is unlikely to stop the desirability or demand of West Coast living, and with Port Moody being at the top of the list for the younger crowd.
Encompassing the south shore, Moody Centre is the focus of much of the future development activity in Port Moody and " The Lighthouse at Rocky Point" is already there. Fronting on 84 Grant St. running between Clarke and Spring St. and closely located to all urban amenities; nothing compares!
With wide appeal and the ultimate urban lifestyle Moody Centre is envisioned to be a local "Yaletown in the Burbs".
We are very fortunate to have an unrivalled quality of life in Port Moody that is affordable, modern family-oriented, promotes sustainable and green practices, and caters to a vibrant and active outdoor lifestyle.
Stroll through the Heritage Conservation and Character Areas to the eclectic Queens Street Plaza. Bike, roller-blade, or walk the inlet trails. Exercise, play or relax at Rocky Point Park. Fish, kayak or sail the inlet itself. The "City of the Arts" has something for everyone.
Moody Centre promises nothing but upside, so we say, " Get in on the ground floor!" Make that the third floor, in a 2 bdrm & 2 bth modern appointed 781 s.f. suite in a class of its own. Listed at only $298,800.00.
The Lighthouse is fully rain screened with 6 years of the 2-5-10 warranty remaining and a 25 year maintenance operation plan in place. P.S. The Evergreen Line is also coming soon.
If you're sitting on the fence [still renting] you need to call John now for the inside track: 778-878-0778
Since 2002 the Port Moody Arts Centre Society has presented the Wearable Art Awards with support and sponsorship from volunteers, business and government.
The Wearable Art Awards attracts entries from artists of all mediums in the wearable art artistic genre from across Canada, the United States, and around the world, and encourages evocative, imaginative and thought provoking creations for the human body.
This year the Port Moody Arts Centre is gearing up for a special presentation of its unique annual Wearable Art Awards event showcasing over 120 garments which were created using the most unusual combination of materials such as wire, egg cartoon, soldered brass, seashells, corn husks, recycled sweaters and many more, submitted by artists from all over the world.
The 2010 Wearable Art Awards will be exhibited on a large-scale with new submissions displayed in the Port Moody Arts Centre Gallery. The retrospective works from previous years will be displayed from February 3 to March 21 in the City Hall Galleria, the Port Moody Library, the Port Moody Community Branch of Vancity, TD Canada Trust in Suter Brook Village, Pasta Polo Restaurant, Golden Spike Pub & Bistro, and many other locations throughout the Tri-Cities, for the whole community and the thousands of anticipated visitors to enjoy.
The 2010 Olympic Games will bring an estimated 2.3 million visitors from around the world to Metro Vancouver, so the organizing committee is leveraging the world’s attention being focused on British Columbia and the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
“Some 6,000 media members, not accredited to cover the games events themselves will be seeking newsworthy events to cover and we believe we can encourage many of them, as well as other visitors, to come to Port Moody to see our Wearable Arts,” said committee chair, Andrew Danneffel, of the Port Moody Art Centre.
By mounting this large scale exhibition of the Wearable Art Awards, the Port Moody Arts Centre will draw a significant number of international visitors to our city, ultimately helping our community and local businesses benefit from this influx of tourists and visitors.
Catch the Opening reception of the exhibition on January 21, 2010, 6-8pm at the Port Moody Arts Centre, 2425 St. Johns Street in Port Moody, where close to thirty artists will be attending. The reception and exhibition are free to the public.
The exhibition will be taking place in and around the City of Port Moody from January 21, 2010 - March 21, 2010 during the Games. Olympic guests and international media personnel in the Vancouver, British Columbia area for the Olympic Games are invited to see the exhibition (Port Moody is a suburb of Vancouver).
(formerly the Adoxographist's Blog)
...skilled writing about an unimportant subject, or is that unskilled writing about an important subject?
Well I don't know so as things unfold please judge for yourself...
...don't forget to leave a comment, and thanks for visiting.
John Grasty is a REALTOR® serving the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam - Port Coquitlam - Port Moody) real estate market.
Please check out John's website: http://www.RealEstateEvolved.com
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Some time ago, I did a post about realtors who
I'm a "Points Pig". If you like it, RE-BLOG it.
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