YVR Airport: Fly me to the moon (it's truly accessible)

Welcome to YVR

The Vancouver International Airport's website says the airport " is ready to ensure that travellers of all physical capabilities have a positive experience" and they are right.

YVR has everything to assist PWDs, but more importantly it is designed to aid independent use. Throughout the airport, accessible washrooms, way finding, TTY and hearing assist phones, elevators, ramps, moving sidewalks, service dog relief areas and more are provided to ensure a frustration-free experience. The areas in the terminals are spacious and decorated with art work. There are even two outdoor parks. In fact this airport offers anything a small city would: chapel, banks, post office, medical and dental care, restaurants, shops, services and a hotel.

Control Tower

The large park on Sea Island is fair distance from the terminal.and best accessed by car. If you are renting a car from one of the many airport rental operators, most companies can accommodate requests for modified vehicles if you reserve ahead of time. The park is a good place to spot planes or watch birds and other wildlife. The trails are packed gravel and there are benches and accessible washrooms. For more information on the Iona Beach Regional Park go to: www.metrovancouver.org/SERVICES/PARKS_LSCR/REGIONALPARKS/Pages/ionaBeach.aspx

Iona Beach  is a great place as you can planely see

The smaller Chester Johnson Park is located just outside the international arrivals terminal on level 2. The attractive little area is home to some of the airport's many totem poles.

If the weather is inclement there is lots to do and see indoors. The public observation area in the domestic terminal is a fun place to sip coffee and watch the flights come and go.The platform offers telescopes set at at various heights to accomodate folks of various sizes. All of YVR is a free Wi-Fi zone.

From the indoor public observation area

The domestic terminal is very accommodating to PWDs but you will notice the more recently constructed USA and international terminals are slightly better; they offer audio way finding in the elevators, more spacious walkways, etc. The Fairmont Airport Hotel, located in this section of the airport, gets high marks on our Lodgings page.

The day spa can be used for under $20

Take the Canada Line to YVR

You can take a self guided tour, check your flight or plan a day or an hour all by going to http://www.yvr.ca/ . For Canada Line information go to http://www.translink.ca/.

Next time: Christmas is coming and so is our holiday access guide to fun in the lower mainland.

Waterfront Station and Canada Place: getting there

Cool architecture

1920's style

Root beer served
in old chilled mugs

Enter at the east door

If you think of the Port of Metro Vancouver as as a single ship, then this area of waterfront in downtown Vancouver is the bridge. The port sprawls across 600 km of shoreline, 16 municipalities  and includes the Fraser River, the Pitt River and Pitt Lake. Goods are sent all over the world from Canada's busiest port, but this downtown Vancouver section is mainly concerned with passenger service. Passenger service in the area began with the construction of Waterfront Station by the CPR in 1914 to service its transcontinental railway. Next came the 1927 construction of the pier where Canada Place sits today to accommodate the CPR's steamship service. The buildings are linked by underground walkways that are not accessible. More on that later.

Old school

Waterfront Station is a major transit hub for Translink, the public transit provider. Trolley and bus service, SeaBus, West Coast Express commuter trains and all of the SkyTrain routes converge here. There's paid parking on the east side, curb cuts and wide fully automatic doors. The front entrance has one small over used semi-automatic door. The west entrance leads to a stairway. The building is a  Public WIFI hot spot and offers a mix of office space, services and restaurants. The old station has kept its facade throughout modifications and upgrades over the years. We can get an interesting perspective on the status of of PWDs and inclusion in our society over the decades simply by looking more closely at some of these changes. Obviously the 1920's building was  erected without thought of accommodation. In 1970's it was modified to include a SeaBus terminal. An elevator was installed. A washroom was built at the SeaBus terminal that remains inaccessible. The elevator is slow, small and dangerously isolated from the main traffic.

 In 1985 there was another major modification including an additional elevator installation for the SkyTrain. This newer elevator is still slow but a little bigger and closer to mainstream traffic for safety. It's difficult to access as you need to cross the heavy pedestrian traffic flow emerging from an escalator. In addition, this one elevator at the east end of the platform does not allow access to the Canada Place underground corridor at the train platform's west exit.

In the 1990's better elevators and accessible washrooms were added to the West Coast Express rail station. The completion of the Canada Line in 2009 saw the addition of two elevators that are are quick, large, out of direct traffic flow and safely transparent with multiple located call buttons for easy access, and auditory and other way finding. The track platform has a tactile strip to indicate danger. There is access to both the Waterfront Station and Granville Street exits. All the elevators are still used today; however, the older elevators have since been outfitted with audio way finding and all train lines have been fitted with tactile warning strips.

Lack of access to Canada Place at the west exit of the Expo Millennium Line platform means hiking up the street, but don't let that deter you. This area is a popular spot for Vancouver's emerging street food scene and a caravan of carts drop anchor here rain or shine. For transit info visit http://www.translink.can/. If you want to access the food court area in the underground corridor between Canada Place and Waterfront Station, use the elevator in the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel lobby.

Five sails light nightly

Canada Place is across the street from the Waterfront Fairmont Hotel. Much more than a busy cruise ship terminal, it's also home to the the Vancouver Convention Centre East, the Pan Pacific Hotel and more. Activities and events happen all year long. On Canada Day hundreds of new citizens are sworn in and events and parties go into the night climaxing with fireworks. Between November 24 and 27, 2011, Canada Place will host numerous free and paid parties during the Grey Cup and Vanier Cup festivities. After that Canada Place will undergo its annual transformation into a holiday wonderland just in time for the Christmas season. For a look at the events schedule and other info go to www.canadaplace.ca.

Ship on the dock

Beautiful views

Pan Pacific Hotel

Pier looking toward downtown

Check out the port exhibit and try your hand at operating the crane on the cargo loading simulator. There are numerous accessible washrooms throughout the facility. For information on the port including sailing scheduales go to www.portmetrovancouver.com.  

Memorial South Park and other places of remembrance

Old Wilson Road

With November 11 just a few days away, it seemed appropriate to check out Vancouver's first cenotaph. Originally located at South Vancouver Municipal Hall, the cenotaph was moved to its present location in Memorial Park in 1939. The park's history precedes the area's amalgamation with Vancouver in 1929. It was originally farmland that the South Vancouver municipality appropriated and opened in 1926 as a park in honour of those who perished in World War I. The park became a popular spot for sport and picnics and whippet dog racing. Today this 13.59 hectare area is also largely used for sports. It has an accessible pathway and many open grass fields. The washrooms are not accessible. There is a soft fabric running/walking/rolling track for exercise, an accessible artificial turf field, and a ball hockey rink that would be a great spot to use the city's newly acquired sledge boards. These sledge boards are like the ones used in Paralympic hockey can be used in an arena with ice or outfitted with wheels for paved area play. For details on sledges and the park check out www.vancouver.ca/parks.  There are many benches but the children's play area poses many barriers. The neighborhood has great signage and way finding and is serviced by numerous transit routes.

Accessible picnic tables
and coal barbeques near the duck pond

Duck pond

There is limited parking so take transit http://www.translink.ca/

The cenotaph itself is very humble and frequently used as a turnaround along Old Wilson Road. Enter off the 5900 block of East 41 Ave.

No wheelchair access

I set off to some of the other Metro Vancouver Area war memorials. The custom of war memorials is as old as war itself and most memorials have cenotaphs. The word cenotaph is Greek in origin meaning "kenos taphos" or empty tomb. Although we honour the dead, I think it's important to honour those who lives have been changed forever by returning from battle with a disability. In today's world helicopters, modern medicine, and other life saving technology increase the likelihood of sustaining a life altering trauma rather than being killed in combat. Many of the rights and freedoms Canadians enjoy today were made possible by the advocacy activities of returning war vets with disabilities. Cold comfort but true.

 Tribute to fallen Chinese Canadians

This tribute to fallen Chinese Canadian soldiers can be found across from the Columbia St exit of the Dr Sun Yat Sen Gardens (see post "Vancouver's Downtown Eastside Parks: calm in the eye of the storm").

Vancouver's main cenotaph can be found neaby in Victory Square at 200 West Hastings St. The site was used to recruit soldiers for World War I in 1914. When these soldiers returned home from the war they used this location to speak out against conditions in the trenches.  It was opened as Victory Square in 1922 and the cenotaph was added in 1924. Victory Park was extensively renovated in 2004 and is used as a gathering place in the Downtown Eastside all year long. Sadly the renovations did nothing to improve the inaccessible washrooms, but there are paved pathways and plenty of seating. For more info on this park go to the Parks Board link. While you're there be sure to see the list of Remembrance Day ceremonies taking place in Vancouver this week.
 

Serves as a public green space

Erected in 1924

Outside Waterfront Station

Korean War Monument thanking Canadians
can be found in Burnaby's Central Park

 Japanese Memorial Stanley Park

Japanese Garden commemorates
 Hastings Park's history as an internment camp

This Stanley Park monument honouring Japanese Canadians, who suffered high casuality rates in World War I, was erected in 1920. But on January 14, 1942 the War Measures Act was invoked and Japanese Canadians were considered the enemy so the light of the monument was extinguished. The monument was relit in 1985 by Masumi Mitsui, a decorated veteran from the infamous battle for Vimy Ridge. In 1942 Masumi had thrown his medal in disgust at the internment intake officer when he and his friends and family were taken into custody. He was 96 at the relighting. 

We owe it to our future to remember

"The soldier above all others prays for peace,

for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear

the deepest wounds and scars of war."

                                          Douglas MacArthur

This week, take time to remember this week. If you are among the men and women who serve or have served please accept my humble thanks. Until next time.

On point for accessible fun: Vanier and Hadden Parks year round destination

Lots of things to do

Lots of open space

Ocean vista

Great photo ops

This combined 20 hectare area offers something for every mood. Classical music recitals, laser rock shows, Shakespearean theatre and fantastic voyages. Whether you seek a trip back in time at the Vancouver Museum or a journey into space and far off constellations at the Space Centre, don't miss a visit to this busy Kitsalino hub. Be sure to check out our new "Attractions" page for information on the above indoor activities.

Who ever said space is the final frontier did not have a disability

Christmas carol ships, newly born baby eaglets and other wild life, sensational summer sunsets and colourful fall foliage are the backdrop of this well used space. Kits Point begins under the Burrard Bridge and ends at Kits Beach (see post "Down town at the beach"). There's plenty of paid and marked accessible parking throughout the area. The section of seawall that serves as the trail is very wide, well packed gravel. There are accessible public washrooms near the Burrard bridge at the beginning of Hadden Park and at Kits Beach. There are many benches and a beautiful view.
If you live in the Vancouver area and have not been to Kits Point in a while you will be happy to find several upgrades to curb cuts, way finding and cross walks in the area. Take transit http://www.translink.ca/ and avoid  heavy traffic and parking fees.

The winding trail along the ocean from beginning to end it is about 2.5 km one way. Bring your kite: the ocean breezes and wide open fields make this a favourite spot for kite enthusiasts.
For more information on these and other City of Vancouver Parks check out  www.vancouver.ca/parks.
While you are on the site, be sure and view the array of recreational disability services the Parks Board offers by clicking the "Access Services" link.

Next time:

A look at memorial park and other cenotaphs

Mountainview cemetary: a look at our past

Shhh! Do you hear it? That tap tap tap in the wind? You can hear it more clearly when the Pacific gales blow early around this time of year. If you hear it near October 25 take heed for that's when the taps turn to screams in the howl of the tempest... When power lines and trees topple... When all hell breaks loose.

 "You talk to me, so I know you are coming,"  beckons the hideous invitation from the grave of David Robinson. Mr. Robinson, a wireless operator on the Princess Sophia, was one of 75 crew and 268 passengers to perish off the Alaskan coast when the the CPR steamer travelling southward ran aground after losing its way in a sudden snow squall. Early reports over the wireless said the ship had struck a reef hard but firm and passengers were in no immediate danger. But over the next 40 hours the squall turned into a gale severe enough to block several rescue attempts. The wireless messages grew more urgent: "For God's sake hurry, the water is spilling into my room!" Radio rooms were located at the top of the ship next to the bridge. A ship nearby radioed the Princess Sophia instructing Robinson to save his batteries. The operator was the first and the last hear Robinson's final words: "You talk to me, so I know you are coming."

You might dispute what I hear in the wind when it blows early, hard and cold, but the sinking of the steamer and the last words of the radio man are all a matter of record which you can find for yourself at Vancouver's oldest cemetery: Mountainview. If you think I am being a little macabre skulking around cemeteries remember that before there were parks, cemeteries were often the only outdoor green space accessible to workers in an urban setting. Thus it was common for families to use these hallowed grounds as recreation areas for picnicing and so on. In many parts of the world this is still a common practice.
Mountainview cemetery has several graves of interest to see and frequently offers historical walking tours such as the upcoming Sunday, October 30 walk featuring the sinking of the Princess Sophia. The tour is organized in part by the Vancouver Maritime Museum . It's free and meets at Celebration Hall in the cemetery at 4pm. The cemetery is flat and there is paved pathway throughout. Getting to some graves means a slog over uneven grass. There are no benches except in the Masonic burial area and no public washrooms. Celebration Hall has accessible washrooms. Enter through the main gate near Fraser and East 35 Avenue as there are steps at many other entranceways along East 41 Ave to the south and on the North end along East 33 Ave.  You can also take self guided tours by using maps and brochures available in the main office at Celebration Hall. The cemetery is open from 7am to 7pm 365 days a year. Check out the web if you want to download walking tour maps and to get more information vancouver.ca/commsvcs/NONMARKETOPERATIONS/MOUNTAINVIEW/.

Aerial photo of Mountainview Cemetary
courtesy City of Vancouver

If you want more information on the October 30th walk event go to www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173563199391477.

Next time we'll feature more ways to celebrate Halloween and get your spook on in the Lower Mainland.

Thanks eh!

Roast brussels sprouts and beets
glazed with honey, garlic and dill and topped with roasted walnuts
(recipe at the bottom of page)

Pilgrims, Indians, turkey and pie. These iconic American images spring to mind this week as Canadians prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. However. the settler tradition of Thanksgiving first came to what are now Canadian shores by way of Newfoundland, long before the the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1621. Martin Frobisher celebrated a safe but fruitless trip through the Northwest Passage in search of a route to the orient. His was the first British expedition to return from the attempt, so he celebrated and gave thanks. The holiday became a more permanent event thanks to our French heritage as Samuel de Champlain and his compatriots formed the Order Of Good Cheer in 1606. The idea was to feast and party as way of lightening what was sure to be the hard winter ahead. The first celebration held November 14, 1606 included their First Nations neighbours in Nova Scotia's Annapolis County then known as Point Royal in New France. Of course the First Nations had many harvest celebrations long before the 1500s. The American influences came largely in the 1700s as Empire Loyalists left their revoluntary brethren and headed north of the 49th parallel bringing the Mayflower pilgrim theme to the celebration. The first Thanksgiving to be mandated by Canadian Parliament in 1879 was celebrated on November 11. After World War I it was combined with Armistice Day until the veterans got their own day in 1957, and Thanksgiving has since been celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Pick and eat

In BC celebrating our relationship with the earth and water that feeds us is easy, simply because there is so much bounty.

Dip and eat

Mother nature?

Farm fresh

Sausage

Ocean fresh

Community gardens

Great local cheese

All living things eat

The typical Canadian version of the holiday has continued to mimic that of our friends to the south who celebrate "turkey day" in late November. The CFL has football, turkeys fly from the freezers and butcher shops, pies are made and eaten. All good stuff. Whatever your plans, here a a few suggestions for accessible fun to stuff into your horns of plenty

If you want to see how the the harvest was celebrated in BC in the mid 1800s  head to Fort Langley. This historic national site was the home of the Hudson's Bay fur trading company. The fort hosts the harvest festival on October 8 with food, games and pioneer cooking demonstrations and recipe sharing. If you don't feel like cooking, check out the pioneer style Barrell Cafe for a special one day pioneer feast of turkey, heritage vegetables, homemade pie, cranberry bannock and the rest of the trimmings. The grounds and facilities are largely accessible. For information on both or to pre-purchase your tickets for the feast, go to http://www.pc.gc.ca/ and follow the links.

If you want your celebration to be a little more current, head to Richmond's London Heritage Farm and explore the grounds or take high tea at the farmhouse. Most of the grounds and bottom level of the farm house (where tea is served) are advertised as accessible. For more info go to www.venturevancouver.com/london-heritage-farm-richmond-bc

To tour some modern farms try the self guided Circle Farm tours around part of the Lower Mainland's farm belt. You can find artisan cheeses, organic free range turkeys and decent selections of wine, fresh vegetables and more in this celebration of all things harvest around Abbottsford, Agassi, Chilliwack, Langley and Maple Ridge. Accessibility varies between venues but the guide will steer you in the right direction. For the guide and information go to http://www.circlefarmtour.com/

Farm folk City Folk are hosting the Sustenance: Feasting on Art and Culture Festival at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown from October 8-19 (see post "Yaletown on the right track"). The event name says it all. For details go to farmfolkcityfolk.ca/events/sustenance.html 

I live in Vancouver's Champlain Heights, which was named after the French founder of the feast himself. I get a lot of good cheer walking my dog through the neighborhood's Everett Crowley Park (see post "Paradise recycled") to view the cranberry harvest in Richmond's Fraser River delta pictured below.

Cranberries float in the background ready for harvesting

I am grateful for my readers, friends and family who help make this blog happen. As a gift to you I would like to share my recipe for braised beets and brussels sprouts. Make lots for a main course if you are a vegetarian. My recipe serves 6-8 as a side to the rest of many trimmings. Play with the flavours by adding fresh squeezed orange juice or a cinnamon stick. Have fun, it's a celebration. I like to try different honeys. Buckwheat honey makes the dish a little darker, wild flower honey is great, and for a special treat try honey infused with black truffles.

Ingredients:

• one lb fresh beets cooked, cooled, skinned and cut thinly or 16 oz canned thinly sliced
• 3/4 lb fresh cooked brussels sprouts
• small can or 4 oz sliced water chestnuts
• 4 oz walnuts
• 3 oz butter ( add more to your hips parell)
• 3 oz honey
• 3 oz freshly chopped dill
• 1 clove chopped garlic
• salt pepper to taste

Coat a 9 inch  pie plate lightly with oil. Place beet slices around the sides and bottom of the pan. Add cooked brussels sprouts (sliced in half if large) and a drained can of sliced water chestnuts, Combine the remaining beet pieces with chopped butter that has been mixed with dill, garlic and 2oz honey in the pan. Add walnuts, salt and pepper and top with remainder of the honey. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake until throughly heated, (about 35 min).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Port Moody a beautiful retreat

In and out through the back way
of the Burrard Inlet

Port Moody first came to be in 1858 after the completion of a trail now known as the North Road. The North Road was constructed as a supply route and a means to escape "northward" in case of a frontal assault from America shortly after NewWestminster was named the capital of the new colony of British Columbia. See post "NewWestminster: the empire strikes back". Tents turned into a town and in 1886 the prospering port grew to it's greatest prominence as the original Pacific terminus of Canada's first national railway. In 1913 the town incorporated into a city. Port Moody's strategic location on the east end of the Burrrard Inlet plus the addition of a railway made it a popular spot for many industries that have come and gone over the years.

Canadian Pacific Railroad terminus now a  museum\in Rocky Point Park

Today, steeped in history as it is, Port Moddy calls itself the city of the arts . I didn't visit any galleries but I did check out sections of the Trans Canada and Shoreline Trail that takes you around Moody Inlet. This beautiful trail connects three main parks: Rocky Point Park, Inlet Park and Old Mill Park. In total it is 3 km; however, if you're driving don't forget the turn around. There are plenty of opportunities to cut it short or join later in if you take transit. www.translink.ca . If you are driving you can also find parking around around Murray Street 1 km along the hike.

The city of Port Moody's website www.cityofportmoody.com  hails this trail as "universally accessible". This is a lofty and laudable idea but the term universal is a little hard to quantify. Finding a definition of the term is even hard to do, but at the heart of all variations of the theme, is the willingness to make whatever it is barrier free for all citizens. Barrier free does have a strict definition in accessible terminology. So to put it bluntly, the city's heart is in the right place and with some more work these trails and parks can achieve a barrier free title . Does this mean PWDs should stay away? If you do you'll miss a mighty fine place to visit. Rocky Point Park is worth the trip alone.

Railway overpass to  to Rocky Point Park

This park is very close to being barrier-free and has it all: recreation pier, outdoor pool, water park, skate board/bike park, boat slips, restaurants, museums, art exhibits and entertainment.

Wheelchair access to the high tide mark
pier in the background

Breathtaking views

At the park's entrance there is bus service and paid parking with numerous reserved spots. Changerooms for the pool and water park are large, and washrooms are also accessible to a high but not barrier free standard. For example barrier free design would include automatic doors. I am not nitpicking simply making a point.

Boat docks for recreation
a little old school for barrier free designation

The boat docks are fun walk. If the tide is high you can access the boat slips below and there is also a large boat launch to the water. Boat docks modelled after the ones along Vancouver's False Creek would be a step toward the designation "barrier free".

Have a warm by the fire

The park is well thought out with community in mind. For example the fire pit above belongs to he Boat House restaurant a chain of middle to high end eateries. The fireplace can be enjoyed for free in a public section of the park with benches and views over looking the inlet. The children's waterpark is  barrier free and amazing. The children's non-water play areas have barriers.

Cool spot on a hot summer day

The trail heading around the inlet is marked for walking and cycling safety. The bike path is cement and pretty smooth sailing in this section. You can also take a walking trail for a closer look at the inlet, but you will want to find a connector trail to the bike path at about the 3/4 km mark as it gets steep along the dirt trail.

Be bear and barrier aware

Beautiful views of salt mud tidal flats
and many species of bird and marine life

When you get to Murray Street via the trail you may want to turn around because at that point the trail begins to pose challenges. If you want to bus back to other areas of Metro Vancouver, this is a good spot to do it. Neaby parks in this downtown core area are worth checking out. Pioneer Park in downtown Port Moody is small but very nice.

The labyrinth in the children's healing
garden in pioneer park

Inlet Park

Even in my big off road wheelchair, I couldn't find a safe path to the boardwalk along the shore of Inlet Park. I did see a few trails that could be converted. The bike path at the 2 km mark (as you turn off Murray St.) begins it's inevitable up and down climb along the mountain ridge. Even though the trail is paved and hugs sea level as much as possible, there are a few steep climbs and drops ahead.

Old trout hatchery trail

While you explore tthe rails in a chair or other such device you will experience some turn rounds and some gorgeous scenery. Eventually at 3 km the trial ends at Old Orchard Park. This park has accessible washrooms, but little else about it is accessible. The slopes are very steep and the trails very rugged. DO NOT attempt to catch the accessible community shuttle along Ioco Road at the park's entrance. Turn back along the trail to the downtown area. This busy truck route has no curb cuts,  no accessible cross ways, no accessible bus stops, and is treacherous to any pedestrian.

The beach at Old Orchard Park
looking across to Rocky Point Park

The community hosts Ghost Town Days on the first weekend of October to kick off  the many Hallowe'en festivities across the Lower Mainland. AccessEco BC will be letting you know about various events soon. Check out the Port Moody website link above for more on this one. 

Well we won't be posting for a couple of weeks, but we are on the job checking out new places to explore or outdoor fun to enjoy so check back in October for more.

Flew the coop