Blog

Christmas lights and delights across the Lower Mainland

With the arrival of December everyone is getting prepared for the Christmas season. The malls are crowded, the Christmas shopping is getting into high gear, kids are clamouring for pictures with Santa, and families are preparing to get together during the holidays between Christmas and New Year’s. This year I have selected what I think are really memorable sites to see with your family this month. There are some really spectacular light shows and fun events all around the Greater Vancouver area. Here is a selection in different areas of the Lower Mainland.

Langley

For families living east of Surrey, there is Glow Christmas in Langley, which is the only major Christmas attraction in the Fraser Valley apart from some smaller attractions in Chilliwack. This indoor event started last year and is certain to inspire some Christmas joy. Located in the Milner Centre Greenhouse at 6690 216th Street I Langley. Glow Christmas features a giant light tunnel and light maze, live music and market along with all sorts of displays. It will be operating throughout December and beyond to January 19, 2019 Hours of operation are from 4 pm to 10 pm (on Saturdays opening one hour earlier). Note that it closes at 9 pm on the final six days of the season and will also be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and every Sundays.

Coquitlam

For residents in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities area, the Lights at Lafarge is a beautiful event, and it’s free so families will certainly enjoy the evening event at Lafarge Lake in Town Centre Park at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way in Coquitlam. If you don’t want to drive, it’s easy to reach from the Lafarge-Douglas Skytrain Station. The spectacular array of lights all around the Lake should be on between 4:30 pm and 11 pm every day except New Year’s Eve, and is expected to run until mid-January.

Surrey

Starting with Surrey, I recommend the miniature train ride through the Christmas Forest at Bear Creek Park, 13750 – 88th Avenue. The Santa Express runs each day this month (except Christmas and Boxing Day) from 10 am to 4 pm. Younger children will be able to visit with Santa while waiting on the platform for the train ride, and for those who are old enough to stay up later, the Christmas Night Train will run from 6 pm to 10 pm Wednesdays to Sundays.

Burnaby

Deer Park Lake in Burnaby is a lovely place to go for walk with your family during December during the day time when it’s sunny; and an afternoon or evening stop at Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village will be a delightful occasion for everyone. It’s free at this time of year and will be open to guests until January You will certainly enjoy its festive feeling if you go in the evening when it’s brightly lit with seasonal lights.

Richmond

A bit farther south in Richmond, you can find Steveston Village’s Festival of Trees at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery. This National Historic Site has decorated trees at Christmas which are truly festive. There are also artistic showcases for local community and business and craft activity for the kids is regular activity each year. Cannery National Historic Site in Richmond’s Steveston Village in December. The event runs from December 1st to 31st every day except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 10 am to 5 pm (although until just 2 pm on December 24th and 31st). Admission (subject to change) is: Adults $11.70; Seniors (65+) $10.05; Youth under 17 free. Admission on (Sundays) December 2nd, 9th, and 16th between 10 am and 3 pm is free and there is also the Cannery Farmers Market.

Vancouver

Heading into Vancouver, you should not miss VanDusen Botanical Garden’s festival of lights at 5151 Oak Street. This Christmas display is awe-inspiring with over 1 million lights across 15 acres of gardens. It is a wonderful attraction for the whole family, young and old, running throughout December to January 6. I the New Year. Tickets are priced differently depending on when you go and for different ages: Around $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and youth, and $12 for children ages 3-12, all plus or minus when and how you purchase your tickets.

Also in Vancouver’s Stanley Park the magical Bright Nights in Stanley Park returns every day throughout December until January 6, 2019 (except Christmas Day). This is one of the most popular places in the whole lower mainland to take children so your family is sure to love this annual event. It is open from 3 pm to 10 pm. It is located in Stanley Park just off Pipeline Road in the middle of the park. Admission is by donation, ($5.00 suggested).

Open most days during the holiday season from around 3 until 10 pm, Bright Nights probably features the most lights of any attraction in Metro Vancouver, as well as wonderful Christmas character displays and festive cheer. Of course, the miniature train is the most eagerly desired attraction for the little kids. The 12 minute ride requires a purchased ticked but is fun for all ages. If you have a very young toddler you may want to catch a matinee train during the day. The evening train is a bit more expensive but includes live performers, and the lights are spectacular.

North Vancouver

Everyone knows about the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. But do you know that throughout December to January 27th 2019. It is fantastically decorated for its Canyon Lights festivities, with lights from the canyon ground and way up above the river among the trees. This is a incredibly beautiful attraction that is well worth the trip to the North Shore if you don’t already live there. For BC residents you can get an annual pass for the price of regular admission which will let you return to this spectacular place throughout the whole year, including next years Canyon Lights event.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

BC’s Referendum on Electoral Reform

For some reason I can’t stop thinking about something called the Pareto Principle these days. I guess it has to do with my training in statistics, and the current referendum on BC’s electoral reform. I’m not going to tell anyone here on how I think they should vote, but I do encourage all eligible voters to get their votes in the mail in time. The deadline has been extended from November 30 to December 7 because of postal service disruption. There is of course a good civic responsibility argument to made for voting, but that’s not the primary reason why I hope the referendum will get a high percentage of voter participation.

Let me explain why the Pareto Principle is important.

The 80/20 rule

Often called the 80/20 rule, the Pareto Principle refers to a division frequently-found in many fields. It is not really a rule, as that would suggest it must occur. It’s probably best described as an observation that holds true in an approximate way in many circumstances. For example, the man who discovered it, an 19th Century Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto, noticed that about 20 per cent of Italy’s population owned close to 80 per cent of the country’s land. A similar comparison was made by the United Nations in the late 20th Century that about 20 per cent of the world’s population controlled about 80 per cent of the world’s wealth. There have been lots of other similar observations. Generalized, these observations say that about 80 per cent of results come from about 20 per cent of the causes. As I mentioned, this is not an absolute rule, but this ratio does turn up in a lot of activities. So, will it be the case in BC’s current referendum on electoral reform?

BC referendum on electoral reform

I am hoping we get a large voter participation our province’s current referendum on our election rules. By this I mean, I hope a lot more than 20 per cent of eligible voters will cast their ballot. If we get only a small portion, say 20 to 30 per cent of eligible voters, and their vote determines the system which the large majority of us will then use, it doesn’t strike me as if the referendum for reform is any better than the election system that is being reformed. The reason we are having this referendum is that a lot of people think our elections typically elect governments which do not reflect the popular vote, that is the total number of votes cast. They point to the current system which is called First Past the Post as the problem. If you happen to be a horse racing fan you will recognize this term. In a race of say 10 horses, the one that passes the finish post first is the winner. That’s pretty simple to understand. In an election which has many electoral ridings, and various political parties represented by different candidates in each riding, it means the winner is the one that has more votes than any other individual candidate. But since there are typically more than two candidates in each riding, it is usually the case that the winner gets elected with less than 50 per cent of the popular vote. When this is extended to all the ridings across the province, then the party that forms the government often has the support of less than 50 per cent of the people who voted. Sometimes the governing party may have as little as 30 per cent or less of the popular vote.

The current Referendum is a vote on whether we should keep the First Past the Post system or if we should also have another way of adding more winners according to a method called Proportional Representation, or Pro-Rep for short. There are three versions of pro-rep a second question on in the Referendum and I am not going to attempt to describe these versions to you. I urge you to read the Referendum questions carefully yourself and make up your own mind. The important thing it that you send in your ballot. Let me explain why.

A spoiled ballot can be better than voter apathy

A big problem with all elections is voter apathy. When only 20 or 30 per cent of the eligible voters cast their vote, we don’t really know what the electorate wants. Regarding the current Referendum, I have heard many people say they don’t understand it and therefore they are not going to vote. For those who may feel the same way, I think it would be better if you mailed in a spoiled ballot rather than not voting at all. If you write on your ballot that you don’t understand it well enough to select from the choices offered, your opinion could still be publicly noted if officials informed the media. But if you don’t vote at all, it just leaves a big question mark about which system you want. A spoiled ballot may not be the best option as a general rule, but it is better than not voting at all because it can provide information on why people didn’t vote. It may not help with the final outcome of the election, but it would help to show that voter apathy was not the problem. It can show that don’t want the Pareto Principle to rule in the Referendum.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Umbrella Etiquette

The rainy season has returned. For the next six months we will once again see many days with grey skies and wet weather as we go about our daily business, as we residents in the Greater Vancouver area are used to doing every year. Aside from having to be more careful when we are driving through puddles and across roadside streams so we don’t unnecessarily splash pedestrians, I would like to recommend some practical tips in managing that other ubiquitous item that helps us stay dry (or a least a bit drier) at this time of year. I am talking of course about the Umbrella, a wonderful invention to provide us with some portable cover when it’s pouring rain. But without some common Umbrella Etiquette, these personal canopies can be socially frustrating and even dangerous when everyone is paying attention only to their own comfort. With scores of people holding an expanded umbrella overhead as they walk along any city block, it can almost feel confrontational without some agreed social protocols to follow. Let’s start first with the size of umbrella that is necessary.

Size is a consideration

I see more and more extremely large umbrellas used for typical rainy-day walking. One that I measured was a full four feet-wide when fully open. This is typical of what you might see on golf course, but on a crowded city sidewalk it takes up a lot more than most of the others vying for their fair share of space. On many streets a four-foot span is the entire width of the pedestrian sidewalk. Others have to fold their umbrellas or turn them sideways just to pass. Of course, that raises the issue of how high to hold your umbrella, and this is determined by the height of the person holding the umbrella. If you are six feet tall, you can hold a very large umbrella high enough to allow others to pass under, as long as you are the only person underneath. If you are shielding a second person from the rain, you will need to be careful not to block traffic behind you. On a narrow sidewalk it can back up a long way.

Take care on stairs and escalators

A time to be especially careful is when you are walking on stairs or standing on an escalator while carrying a long umbrella at your side while it is still closed. Here it’s important to remember not to allow your umbrella to swing forwards or backwards with your arm as you walk. On a staircase in particular, this action is quite dangerous. Often people grasp their closed umbrella with their fist around the top end and let the remaining length shoot backwards in a horizontal manner with each arm swing, oblivious to the thrust directly into a person’s face on a lower step.

Broken umbrellas can be dangerous

Another danger to avoid is using an broken umbrella with an exposed metal end protruding from the covering. On a busy sidewalk, this can easily scratch another person’s ace or worse, their eye. Like a car, an umbrella needs to be in good repair when it’s moving in traffic. A new umbrella is not so expensive that you can’t replace it when it’s worn out. You will feel better too, knowing that it’s not a danger to others.

Offer some cover to another

Not everything in umbrella etiquette has to be a negative thing. There are lots of times when an umbrella can be source of assistance with a kind gesture on your part. Have you ever arrived a street corner waiting in the rain for light to change, when someone comes alongside side and is getting soaked? This is a perfect time to extend a portion of your umbrella to cover them as well, and to help them to keep the rain off until they are across the intersection and under an awning again. And of course, walking in the rain can be most romantic thing for a couple, and sharing an umbrella makes it even more so. So, as annual rain rituals begin again, let’s try to think of others when we are under our umbrellas.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Halloween Events in Surrey

Halloween is nothing if not popular. Last year in this blog space I wrote about the history of this annual celebration, which is a favourite time for scary costumes and “trick or treating” kids collecting candy with door to door visits in their neighbourhoods. As mentioned before, I like this event because it has adapted to new customs throughout many countries since its origin in ancient times. It is now a mix of popular themes from the many ideas that make up the Canadian cultural mosaic. For families with children there are special events on Halloween in areas throughout Metro Vancouver. Whatever your favourite Halloween costume or party theme might be, I’m sure you will be able to find some fun for your whole family this October 31. Here is selection of some of Surrey events to choose from:

Bear Creek Park Train

Children can enjoy the Pumpkin Express at Bear Creek Park. This little train offers a thrilling ride through a forest decorated specially for Halloween. And kids will get a small pumpkin as a treat on the platform to remember the event. If you can’t make it on Halloween, or if you want to keep that day for your own door-to-door trick or treating, you can still catch Woo Woo the train on days leading up to Halloween. enjoy. Here are dates and address: Each day leading to and including Halloween from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm at Bear Creek Park. There is a ticket price of $10. (Address below)

There is also a more frightening train ride for older children called the Scream Train at Bear Creek. On this ride you will experience Chain Saw Charlie and other ghoulish characters. The special effects and sounds along the route through the forest will be just what a thrill-seeking person is looking for on Halloween, but it’s too much for younger kids so keep in mind you have choice depending on the age of your children. Tickets for the Scream Train are $13 per person. The Scream train runs between 6:30 pm and 10 om each day leading up to and including Halloween. Bear Creek Part is at 13759 88th Avenue in Surrey. For more information online: www.bctrains.com/halloween

Potter Houses of Horror

Another Surrey favorite is Potter’s House of Horrors. Once again, these will be two haunted houses to explore. The long-time favorite, Monstrosity 2.0 will be open again with its gothic scariness. This can be a lot of fun for older kids and adults, but I wouldn’t recommend it for young toddlers who could be too frightened by the creatures inside. For youngsters under 10 years old I would recommend the L’il Haunters. However, for the very young even this might be a bit too spooky so I suggest you check it out first before taking in your very young children.

The second haunted house at Potter’s is Devil’s Descent, which opened for the first time last year. This is a more rugged design into mine shafts with rotting wood and machines, along with zombies and other scary monsters. You will need separate tickets for both haunted houses. These are available online which is recommended to avoid line-ups. The Potter Haunted Houses are also open on days leading up to and including Halloween. They are open each day from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm (this time is recommended for younger kids as it is less scary) and from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm (for the full frightening version). Located at Potters House, 12530 72nd Avenue, Surrey. You can find more details online at www.pottershouseofhorrors.com.

Not everything on Surrey’s Halloween agenda is just for kids. For teenagers and even adults there are great activities to enjoy on October 31.

Halloween for Teens

At the Surrey Centre Library from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm teens from 13 to 18 years of age are invited to the free workshop where you can explore the spooky history of Halloween’s ancient origins. This is a free event so teens can enjoy learning about Halloween before they head out for an evening’s fun on October 31.

Halloween for Adults

For older adults 55 and older, there is a Halloween Tea at the Guildford Recreation Centre on October 31 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm The cost is only $15 and will get you tea and a light lunch of soup, sandwich and treats complete with live entertainment. And don’t be shy about coming in a costume. There will be prizes for the best ones. Register online at Guildford Recreation Centre with the registration code: 4632039.

Also in the afternoon on October 31, adults 55 and older are invited to the Fleetwood Community Centre for a Halloween Costume Party. This is a costume contest so get your best ideas on and show up between noon and 2:00 pm. There will be lots of fun with halloween music, games and entertainment as well as light food and refreshments. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at Fleetwood Community Centre with registration code 4626683.

However, you choose to enjoy Halloween this year, remember that there will be young children on our streets and we need to be extra careful as we drive on October 31. Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween 2018.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Prices continue down, inventory up

The trend I have been reporting for several months is continuing. Residential prices are continuing their overall decline across the lower mainland. With the astronomical price increases prior to this current period, even a relatively small price drop of 1.0 per cent can be attractive to a buyer who would surely enjoy a $10,000 savings on a $1-million property with just one month’s change. Nonetheless, many prospective buyers are holding off as they hope to see the downward trend continue. This may prove beneficial or not; it’s still a guessing game how long the trend will continue. There could be quick change in buyer psychology that creates a spurt in demand any time, which would send prices upward again. From the seller’s point of view, it is important to note that new listings are actually increasing at this time. While this might be seen as seller concern that prices will continue to drop, it is also providing a high supply of available properties on the market, which has a further dampening effect on prices. In short, it’s a buyer’s market right now so if you are seriously wanting to get into a home this is a good time to make an offer. The combined benchmark price for all property types in the Lower Mainland at the end of September was $1,003,500, a decrease of 1.2 per cent from the preceding month. Below is my monthly review of benchmark prices for each property type.

METRO VANCOUVER

Detached homes

The benchmark price for a single family detached home in Metro Vancouver at the end of September was $1,540,900, a decrease of 1.3 per cent from the preceding month. This average had the extremities of Vancouver West (not West Vancouver) at $3,254,200 and Maple Ridge at $864,500. The three municipalities with benchmark prices closest on the higher side of the Metro average were: South Burnaby at $1,589,600, a decline of 1.9 per cent from the preceding month; North Vancouver at $1,620,300, a decline of 1.8 per cent from the preceding month; and Richmond at $1,662,600, a decline of 0.4 per cent from the preceding month. Closest to the Metro Benchmark on the lower side of the average were: Port Moody at $1,504,300, a decline of 1.9 per cent from the preceding month; Vancouver East at $1,502,900, a decline of 1.7 per cent from the preceding month; and North Burnaby at $1,498,100, a decline of 0.2 per cent from the preceding month.

Townhouses

The benchmark price for a townhouse in Metro Vancouver at the end of September was $837,600, a decrease of 1.0 per cent from the preceding month. This average had the extremities of Vancouver West (not West Vancouver) at $1,229,300 and Maple Ridge at $558,800. The three municipalities with benchmark prices closest to the higher side of the Metro average were: Richmond at $862,400, a decrease of 0.4 per cent from the preceding month; Vancouver East at $873,400, a decrease of 2.3 per cent from the preceding month; and North Vancouver at $1,021,900, a decrease of 0.8 per cent from the preceding month. Closest to the Metro benchmark on the lower side of the average were: South Burnaby at $822,700, a decrease of 2.2 per cent from the preceding month; Ladner at $786,300, a decrease of 3.9 per cent from the preceding month; and Tsawwassen at $770,500, a decrease of 2.9 per cent from the preceding month.

Condominiums

The benchmark price for a condominium in Metro Vancouver at the end of September was $687,300, a decrease of 1.2 per cent from the preceding month. This average had the extremities of West Vancouver at $1,213,900 and Maple Ridge at $364,100. The three municipalities with benchmark prices closest to the higher side of the Metro average were: Richmond at $690,600, a decrease of 0.7 per cent from the preceding month; South Burnaby at $709,800, a decrease of 1.1 per cent from the preceding month; and Vancouver West (not West Vancouver) at $804,800, a decrease of 2.5 per cent from the preceding month. Closest to the Metro benchmark on the lower side of the average were: Port Moody at $666,400, a decrease of 0.4 per cent from the preceding month; North Burnaby at $644,600, a decrease of 1.0 per cent from the preceding month; and North Vancouver at $595,700, a decrease of 0.1 per cent from the preceding month.

 FRASER VALLEY

The trend in declining prices across the lower mainland is in all respects very much the same in the Fraser Valley. As in Metro Vancouver buyers are exercising the same hesitation as they watch monthly price declines, unsure when demand may suddenly surge again. My sense is that there is considerable pent-up demand by prospective buyers, so it’s likely going to be some price point in each property type that triggers a resurgent buying spree. In the mean time, as in Metro Vancouver, the inventory of Fraser Valley properties continues to grow, a sign that more sellers are wanting to get the best price possible in the current downward price trend. In fact, the overall supply at present is at its highest point for the year, so there’s a good choice for buyers right now. New Fraser Valley listings during the month of September reached nearly 3,000, which was more than a 14 per cent increase from the number of listings made in August. This brings the end of September inventory of properties on the market in the Fraser Valley to a total of 7,647. The combined benchmark price for all Valley-listed properties at the end of September was $860,300, a decrease of 1.3 per cent from the preceding month. Below is my monthly review of Fraser Valley benchmark prices in each property type at the end of September.

Detached homes

The benchmark price for a single family detached home in the Fraser Valley at the end of September was 988,900, a decrease of 2.0 per cent from the preceding month. This average had the extremities of South Surrey/White Rock at $1,397,400 and Mission at $668,300. The three municipalities with benchmark prices closest to the higher side of the Valley benchmark were: Cloverdale at $1,004,500, a decrease of 0.6 per cent from the preceding month; Langley at $1,027,000, a decrease of 2.2 per cent from the preceding month; and Surrey at $1,035,600, a decrease of 0.9 per cent from the preceding month. Closest to the Valley benchmark on the lower side of the average were: North Surrey at $969,300, a decrease of 2.7 per cent from the preceding month; North Delta at $931,000, a decrease of 2.0 per cent from the preceding month; and Abbotsford at $810,800, a decrease of 2.2 per cent from the preceding month.

Townhouses

The benchmark price for a townhouse in the Fraser Valley at the end of September was $546,100, decrease of 0.1 per cent from the preceding month. This average had the extremities of South Surrey/White Rock at $679,900 and Abbotsford at $407,300. The three municipalities with benchmark prices closest to the higher side of the Valley benchmark were: North Delta at $571,900, a decrease of 4.5 per cent from the preceding month; Surrey at $583,500, a decrease of $583,500, a decrease of 0.9 per cent; and Cloverdale at $593,000, a decrease of 0.5 per cent from the preceding month. Closest to the Valley benchmark on the lower side of the average were: Langley at $509,100, a decrease of 1.7 per cent from the preceding month; Mission at $444,100, a decrease of 0.4 per cent from the preceding month; and Abbotsford at $407,300, a decrease of 1.0 per cent from the preceding month.

Condominiums

The benchmark price for a condominium in the Fraser Valley at the end of September was $438,700, a decrease of 1.0 per cent from the preceding month. This average had the extremities South Surrey/White Rock at $502,700 and Abbotsford at $333,200. The three municipalities with benchmark prices closest to the higher side of the Valley benchmark were: Surrey at $456,100, a decrease of 2.0 per cent from the preceding month; Cloverdale at $494,900, a decrease of 2.4 per cent from the preceding month; and South Surrey/White Rock at $502,700, a decrease of 0.7 per cent from the preceding month. Closest to the Valley benchmark of the lower side of the average were: Langley at $431,900, a decrease of 1.6 per cent from the preceding month; North Surrey also at $431,900, a decrease of 0.3 per cent from the preceding month; and North Delta at $429,700, a decrease of 0.6 per cent from the preceding month.

I am here to help

I hope my review of residential prices this month is helpful to both buyers and sellers across the lower mainland. As I mentioned above, the trending decline in prices across all property types is being accompanied by a trend in the opposite direction, namely an increasing number of new listings each month. This current market is therefore a buyers’ market. With the high number of listed properties at this time, making an offer is much less likely to create a bidding war driving up the price. This makes your financial planning more predictable and less stressful, particularly when you have negotiated a mortgage ahead of time and know what monthly payments can be managed within your budget. I highly recommend for these reasons that if you really want to get into a home, this is an excellent time to make the move. Please feel free to give me call to ask for any further information for any area you are thinking about. I am happy to help in any way I can.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Surrey Election

Surrey’s election day is coming later this month and I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the important issues being championed by the various slates as well as independent candidates. If you can’t make it to the poll on October 20, you can find six advance polling stations on October 6, 10, 11 and 13 by clicking here on the voting location map.

All voting locations are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 20th. Surrey voters will be electing a mayor and eight city councillors as well as six school trustees for School District No. 36.

Surrey’s LRT Debated – Again!

I normally wouldn’t provide my own opinion on how to vote, but in the forthcoming election there is one issue that has been raised recently by a couple of mayoral candidates, and I feel compelled comment to on it. It is the re-opening of a debate that has not only been completed, decided, and finalized, but for which funding from the federal and provincial governments as well as Translink has been secured, allocated and announced, namely plans for the city’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. In fact, preliminary construction along some corridors has already begun, and finally after years of consultations and planning, we are poised to get going with a much-needed transportation system for our region. To me it nothing short of irresponsible for politician to sow seeds of dissent at this time for their own political agenda, particularly politicians who previously supported the LRT. The two mayoral candidates who are trying to turn the clock back on this issue should be ashamed of themselves. Both Bruce Hayne, leader of the Integrity Now slate and Doug McCallum leader of the Safe Surrey Coalition, have made a 180-degree turnaround from their former positions supporting the LRT when they were previously in political office in Surrey. What kind of integrity does this show? There has been so much consultation and planning on this issue, years being examined by Translink’s Mayor’s Council and in Surrey City Hall, it is truly amazing that any politician should have the audacity to try to stir it all up again. Now they are prepared to reverse their positions just to satisfy their political ambitions, to create publicity through controversy, even it causes a setback to Surrey’s critical transportation for many more years.

Last May I wrote in my blog about the benefits of the LRT system for Surrey, including reduced congestion, increased traffic capacity, time savings and as a catalyst to local development including attracting and creating more jobs. In cities all over the world, LRT is generally considered more aesthetically pleasing to trains elevated by massive concrete pylons. An LRT creates more a sense of community as it can be boarded easily at street level and encourages people to leave their cars at home for many short trips, reducing GHG emissions as well. Surrey is the fastest growing urban municipality in Canada and is earning a great reputation as a culturally diverse and sophisticated centre recognized for its international character. An LRT transportation system can only enhance our civic environment as it has in beautiful cities around the world like Adelaide, Dublin, Rio de Janeiro and Edinburgh.

One of the problems with planning public transportation systems is that big budget projects are often poorly executed because the political bodies that make the decisions have much shorter in their terms in office than the length of the completed project. Financial decisions are too often forced into the short-term expediency or a political agenda or budget. While I fully support an open and democratically governed society, there are sometimes when I see the advantages of a centrally planned economy like China. The tremendous transportation systems that work for very heavily populated cities there could only be achieved with the kind of long-term projects that keep to a plan once it is settled. We almost need a transportation Czar here to get things done.

Let’s keep moving forward, not backwards.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Image via Surrey Now-Leader

Labour Day and the Start of the School Year

Our Labour Day holiday this year is on the third day of September. For some reason I’m used to our annual Labour Day holiday coming about week later. It’s a bit of a shock to me, because the Labour Day holiday weekend is a family’s signal that summer vacation is over, and school is about to start. Some are returning to the city after a vacation at their summer cabin, while others are navigating the traffic in the city streets chasing about the stores and malls for all things their kids will need to start the school year. It’s a busy weekend for everyone each year, and when it arrives so suddenly after the end of August, I guess I just miss a longer transition week into September. That allows me mentally to prepare for the resumption of another schedule that revolves around our children’s education, a kind a week when we can all take a deep breath and say, “another year has gone by. Wow.” It comes with that mixed emotion of sadness at summer’s end and excitement about the new season coming along. It’s curious how family life ties its real year-end to the school year. But still, I like it starting about a week later than it does this year.

Labour Day itself is a federal holiday set by law as the first Monday in September each year. Obviously, that means it moves to different date each year, but if there’s any politician out there who might be willing to make a change, he or she will have my support. I would rewrite the Labour Day holiday to be observed as: the first Monday in September, except when the first Monday is one of the first six days of the month, in which case the holiday will be observed on the closest weekday to the seventh day of the month. There, not too complicated. I think that should ensure that we get a week at the beginning of each September to transition from the summer vacation to school year mode of activity. And just in case you’re wondering, next year Labour Day falls on September 2nd so it will arrive with even greater abruptness than this year. By 2020, however, it’s back to a reasonable date of September 7th, just where I like to see it.

Of course, Labour Day doesn’t have to be the holiday that ends our summer vacation period. In fact, I wonder how many people can actually name the holiday. I think a lot of folks would just refer to it as the September long weekend before school starts. That might not be very good citizenship because Labour Day is an important tradition not just in Canada but around the world. It recognizes the hard-working people of all countries who for many years in another age were under-represented in their rights and under recognized for their contribution to the economic life of society. But in many countries the annual Labour Day holiday is May 1st, which is known around the world as International Workers Day. This might cause some commotion though, because May Day, as it is also known, has its historical roots as a celebration in some communist countries. It could come across as a revision of the 19th Century revolutionary slogan of the philosopher Karl Marx: “Workers of the World Unite” – updated now to “Worker’s Holiday of the World Align.” I don’t really think there’s much chance of that, and besides, Canada has its current Labour Day holiday aligned with the same holiday weekend in the United States, so that also makes it possible for family members living in the neighbouring countries to get together at the end of the summer. But I’m will bet that a lot of families in the United States would agree with me that when the holiday arrives so early in September, they would also like to delay it for a few more days. Maybe I can get an international movement going to support my cause!

In any event, I want to wish all of you, my friends, clients, and casual readers, a happy start to the real new year for families with school age children. It all changes after the Labour Day long weekend.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Heat and Smoke: Some Tips to Cope

Between extremely hot weather a bit earlier this month and smoke-filled air in the city during the second half, it’s hard not to think that the effects of climate change are being realized even more rapidly than predicted. That’s a big question that I don’t want to presume to know the scientific answer to, but I can provide some space in the blog on some practical advice to deal with these issues. For most of us we can take some common-sense approaches that will help us, but let’s remember that there are others who may need our help, or at least a bit more attention to their well-being. I’m speaking of course about seniors and children.

Let me go first to some tips for dealing with extreme heat. It’s important to take some precautions so you don’t get over-exposed, dehydrated, or worse, faint-headed. I’ve garnered a list of tips from various reliable sources on some of the things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your pets extreme heat.

The Red Cross advises people to take the following steps when it’s extremely hot outside:

  • Never leave children or pets in your vehicle. The temperature inside can quickly reach over 30 degrees Celsius which is dangerous.
  • Keep hydrated. Drink lots of fluids – water is recommended – but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
  • Be careful when entering or leaving air-conditioned buildings; wear a sweater of jacket inside if it is extremely cool in contrast to outside.
  • Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing outside in the extreme hit. Light colors are better. Dark colors absorb the sun’s rays.
  • Don’t rush. Slow down and don’t engage in strenuous work in excessive heat. Also avoid vigorous games in the heat.
  • If working in the heat, use a buddy system and take frequent breaks.
  • Check on your friends and neighbors, especially if they don’t have air conditioning.
  • Check on your pets frequently, Keep them in shady or cool places, and make sure they have plenty of cool water.

If you don’t have air conditioning, try public places that may offer cool surroundings like libraries theatres and malls.

Now some tips for coping with poor air quality. This is very important for anyone who may suffer from conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart problems. It is also important for pregnant women, infants, and young children as well as the elderly to take extra precautions with wildfire smoke in the air. B.C.’s Coastal Health has some good tips which I will summarize for you here:

  • Try to reduce your physical activity. When you breathe hard you inhale more smoke.
  • Find a cool place and drink plenty of water, just as you would for extreme heat.
  • If you or someone you care for suffers from asthma or other breathing difficulties, be sure you have appropriate medications on hand.
  • Put off outdoor activities that you don’t need to attend or participate in.
  • Take advantage of air-conditioned areas like malls, libraries and community centres.
  • There are portable air cleaners that use HEPA filters. These are especially good at removing smoke from indoor air spaces.
  • Keep your windows and doors closed if possible. If a breeze is needed on a very hot day, try to limit the amount of time your window is open so you don’t let in too much smoke filled air.
  • Finally, Coastal Health advises you to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) regularly. You can use it to determine which actions you should undertake under different air conditions. There is also an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Canada app that will notify you when air quality changes.

As always, stay safe and please enjoy the rest of your summer!

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

August Events in Surrey

Last month I provided a list of things to do in Surrey during the month of July. In this first blog for the month of August, I am doing another list for this month. Our summer weather is encouraging families with kids love to get outside and enjoy activities during the summer vacation, so here are some of Surrey’s fun activities. There are also a number of excellent musical events this month. I have listed their dates and locations for you as well.

Learn to Fish

I often select activities at Green Timbers Urban Forest. It’s one of my favourite places in North Surrey. A quiet park and a lovely lake provide a respite from the traffic and bustle of the city centre and there’s lots of room for the kids to hike or run for healthy exercise. Now there is a instructional program which is a really great activity for parents together with their children aged 5 to 15 Through the efforts of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, you can take their Learn How to Fish lesson. A two-hour session will be beheld on in the evening of August 3 from 6:00 pm to 89:00 pm. The session is great for beginners and will cover the basics of freshwater fishing including hatchery roles, fish identification, tackle, rod rigging, casting and hands-on fishing. You don’t need to come with your own rod because a fishing rods are provided. The lessons will take place rain or shine, but remember that children must be accompanied by their parents. There is no fee, but the program gratefully accepts cash donations. You can meet in Green Timbers Park at the south end of the lake where there will be a blue tent. You must, however, pre-register. Call 604-502-6065 or register online at: https://webreg.surrey.ca/webreg/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp

Fun Fridays in Surrey Parks

Surrey’s neighbourhood parks have weekly events each Friday until August 24 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. These days are called “Fun Fridays” and the activities for kids are completely free. The activities are designed for young children and each week there is a different theme. There will be special guests and surprises each Friday so your youngster will be eager to attend. Here is where the Fun Fridays are happening: August 3: Theme: Farm Life: Location: Bear Creek Park, 13820 88 Avenue, and Sunnyside Park 15455 26 Avenue.

August 10: Theme: Go Green: Location: A.J. McLellan Park, 16584 62A Avenue, and M.J. Norris Park, 6539 128A Street.

August 17: Theme: Safety: Location: Forsyth Park, 10632 139 Street, And Fun Fun Park, 1472 128 Street.

August 24: Theme: Teddy Bear Picnic: Location: Holly Park, 10706 148 Street, (You may want to bring your favorite stuffed toy.) This is the final wrap up event for the summer.

For more information you can call: 604-501-5050 or email: partnersinparks@surrey.ca

Sounds of Summer Music Series

Free musical events continue throughout August and you can enjoy a variety of music styles at these free outdoor concerts. The music ranges from Bluegrass to New Orleans Jazz all in the beautiful setting of Surrey’s parks. Bring your own folding chair and a blanket if the evening is cool. You can find the performances on the dates below at their respective locations.

August 8: David Sinclair and Keith Bennett. Roots and Blues. 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Location: Sullivan Park, 6272 152nd Street.

August 15: Flint and Feather. Rocky Mountain Folk/Pop. 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Location: Surrey Nature Centre. 14225 Green Timbers Way.

August 17: True North Troubadours. Peter, Paul and Mary Tribute/60s Folk. 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Location: Francis Park. 15951 83 Avenue.

August 22: The Wheat in the Barley. Folk Fusion/Roots. 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Location: Historic Stewart Farmhouse, 13723 Crescent Road (additional parking west of 136 St. Crescent Road)

Note: All pets must be on leash  For more information: phone 604-501-5050 or email: partnersinparks@surrey.ca

Music on the Plaza

Here is a series of musical performances that will allow you to enjoy the civic plaza at Surrey’s City hall during August. These Tuesday evening performances are free of charge and feature Jazz, Cuban, Country, and Swing music from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Here’s the performance schedule for the rest of this month:

August 7: Kutapira

August 14: Paul Filek Duo

August 21: Sean Michael Simpson Duo

August 28: Taylor Rae & the Backseat Drivers

Bring your own folding chai and perhaps a blanket to enjoy these free evening performances. For more information contact: Briana Barone at 604-591-4012 or email: BBarone@surrey.ca

Lunch and Lyrics

Another series at the Surrey City Hall civic plaza this month is the daytime concert series from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on the following Mondays

August 13 – Bruce Coughlan

August 20 – Bruce Coughlan Duo

August 27 – Beauty Shop Dolls

Bring your lunch or try one of the different food trucks that will be on hand each week.

For more information contact: Briana Barone at 604-591-4012 or email: BBarone@surrey.ca

photo via dailyhive.com

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®

Surrey’s Fusion Festival 2018

Surrey’s 2018 Fusion Festival was once again a spectacular and successful event! This was the 11th annual Fusion Fest since it first appeared in 2008. Back then it was a three-day festival but today’s two day festival seems the right length for a fun-packed weekend. The crowds were huge. The prediction was for 100,000 visitors this year, and I’m sure it was at least that. Holland Park, where the Festival is located just south of the Surrey Central mall, it seemed like it didn’t have a square inch to spare. In fact, it was the largest Fusion Festival to date with 53 pavilions, and over 150 entertainers of all types – musicians, dancers, and other artistic performers – and of course the greatest variety of national cuisines you could imagine. Last year around this time I wrote about the 2017 Fusion Festival with an emphasis on the entertainment and the international pavilions. This year so this year I will put a nit more emphasis on the great selection of international food. I couldn’t possibly mention every dish that was available at this year’s festival, but if you didn’t happen to attend this year, the following list will give you an idea of what you can try next year. It’s a small sample of the food typical of nations around the world, but it hopefully it will give you a “taste” of what’s available at Fusion.

Foods from around the world

Afghanistan: several varieties of Kebabs; Argentina: Empanadas and Pastalitos; Barbados: fish cakes and Macaroni pie; Chile: Tostadas and Empanadas; China: dumplings and varieties of chow mein; Columbia: pineapples, chozado and Columbian coffee; Cuba: BBQ chicken and roasted pork; Ecuador: mangos and chocolate banana; El Salvador: Pupusa, tostadas and tamales; England: fish and chips, and beef and broccoli; Fiji: Curry chicken and BBQ lamb; France: Crepes both for meals and desserts; Germany: Roasted pork hock sauerkraut and German rye bread; Ghana Fried plantains, and beef and chicken meat pies; Greece: souvlaki wraps and Lukamodes; Guatemala: Tostadas and sugar cane juice: Honduras: Tamarindo and Loroco pupusas: Hong Kong: Hong Kong-style vanilla/chocolate shake and red bean ice cream. India: Fish pakora and chana patura; Indonesia: Chicken satay and corn fritters; Italy: Pasta,meatballs and chickpea salad; Jamaica: Jerk chicken and Curry goat; Kazakhstan: chicken drump steak and kawap; Korea: mango sticky rice and deep fried banana and ice cream; Metis: varieties of bannock and vegetarian chilli; Mexico: Burritos, Tacos and churros; Nepal: Chicken choyla and fish pakora; Nigeria: Jollof rice and cassava sticks; Pakistan: chicken tika with naan; Palestine: Falafel sandwich and Shawarma: Philippines: Chicken adobo and tropical fruits; Russia: Cabbage rolls and bortz. South Africa: Boerewors in a bun and goat stew with pap; South Sudan: Bahlawa and hibiscus drink; Sri Lanka: Panipuri and pao with fries; Taiwan: Deep fried tofu and pudding milk tea; Thailand: Deep fried squid and pad thai; Trinidad and Tobago: Roti (with rice and peas) and curry goat; Ukraine: Perogies with sour cream and cabbage rolls; Venezuela: Cocada (coconut smoothie) and Merengadas (milkshake); Vietnam: Lemongrass chicken and Banh mi.

Live entertainment

The live entertainment this year was outstanding: on Saturday evening the headliner performance by Walk of the Earth was absolutely great, and the whole audience seemed to come together as one. It was a phenomenal performance. Then on Sunday evening, there was another fantastic performance by Ranjit Bawa on the main stage. And all this was free. I don’t know of any other festival where the public could get such a great experience and not have to pay a cent.

Environmental consciousness

The Fusion festival is not only leading edge in cultural entertainment but it environmental awareness as well. This year the festival also continued its environmental protection and for the first time it did not have any plastic straws and used plant-based straws as well as wooden cutlery as well. This is a growing trend. You probably heard about Starbucks getting rid of plastic straws as well. It’s an important issue because plastic straws are not biodegradable and are very bad for landfills. The festival stopped using Styrofoam in 2014 so cups and plates are also more environmentally friendly now.

Great family festival

Before I close, I also want to commend the festival organisers for remembering that many visitors are families with little kids. They did another great job this year of ensuring there were lots of fun activities for little children and this made it a happy place for everyone. Also, with so many people in one place, you might expect some trouble, but the RCMP presence made it a safe and secure atmosphere without spoiling the festive mood. It was as great experience for everyone, and one of the main annual events that Surrey is now famous across Canada.

Just another reason I love this city.

Thanks for reading!

Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®