Happy New Year!http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/65/Happy New Year!Happy New Year!<div class="ExternalClass361AE51233EF46C9A69573CDDF3C4F59"><p>​Welcome to the Metro Vancouver Update, bringing you news and information from around the region. As the Metro Vancouver Board begins its first four-year term, Directors and staff anticipate a full and exciting year working on some of our region's most-important issues and projects.  This month we cover: a massive December rock slide in the Seymour River, our <a href="/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">new Metro Vancouver website</span></a>, keeping food waste out of the garbage, the awesomeness of Boundary Bay Regional Park, a new air management facility in Vancouver and information on wintertime air quality, and upgrades to the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. We also have information on Metro Vancouver cable TV programs and other events.</p><p>Metro Vancouver is a partnership of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans and delivers services throughout the region. Our core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management – garbage and recycling. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system, and provides affordable housing. Metro Vancouver is governed by a Board of Directors of elected officials from each local authority. </p></div>Welcome0 0

 

In this issue

 

 

2015 Metro Vancouver Board of Directorshttp://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/66/2015 Metro Vancouver Board of Directors2015 Metro Vancouver Board of Directors<div class="ExternalClass75449A4DF6DF4A018B0703169EBECDDA"><p>As the Metro Vancouver Board begins it first four-year mandate, Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore and Vancouver City Councillor Raymond Louie were again respectively acclaimed as Board Chair and Vice Chair in mid-December.  And in January, the 2015 Metro Vancouver Board <a href="/boards/membership/committee-members/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">committees</a> were <a href="/media-room/media-releases/board-information/384/2015-committees-announced-for-metro-vancouver-boards-first-four-year-mandate" target="_blank">announced</a>.</p></div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a1.jpgRead more...Metro Vancouver BoardFull
New Metro Vancouver Websitehttp://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/67/New Metro Vancouver WebsiteNew Metro Vancouver Website<div class="ExternalClassD0BEB264315F4929829C5297DC2642C5"><p>We know that increasingly people are accessing information on mobile devices so Metro Vancouver’s <a href="/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">new website</a> features responsive design for all mobile platforms, and enhanced search capabilities so that people can quickly get the information they need wherever they are.</p></div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a2.jpgRead more...Metro Vancouver BoardFull
Seymour River Slide - Emergency Response http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/68/Seymour River Slide - Emergency ResponseSeymour River Slide - Emergency Response <div class="ExternalClass3B30854EE9714FE9B83392DEF46FBC2B"><p>During an emergency, collaboration is vital and Metro Vancouver partners successfully collaborated on December 7 when a large rock slide partially blocked the Seymour River in the <a href="/services/parks/parks-greenways-reserves/lower-seymour-conservation-reserve" target="_blank">Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve</a>. </p> </div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a3.jpgRead more...ParksFull
Boundary Bay Regional Park Is Awesome!http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/69/Boundary Bay Regional Park Is Awesome!Boundary Bay Regional Park Is Awesome!<div class="ExternalClass943E1D12367043748DD8AE18B98DAF92"><p>We know that our Regional Parks and green spaces are awesome, and now the <a href="http://vancouverisawesome.com/" target="_blank">Vancouver is Awesome</a> blog has confirmed that by naming <a href="/services/parks_lscr/regionalparks/Pages/BoundaryBay.aspx" target="_blank">Boundary Bay Regional Park</a> the most awesome place in the region to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and the best place to take kids for a day trip!</p> </div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a4.jpgRead more...ParksFull
Food Waste Banned From Garbage in 2015http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/70/Food Waste Banned From Garbage in 2015Food Waste Banned From Garbage in 2015<div class="ExternalClassC3F1E0674F1A4B75B3C89A51E32FCAC1"><p>As of January 1, <a href="/services/solid-waste/bylaws-regulations/banned-materials/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">new rules</a> are in place to encourage residents and businesses in Metro Vancouver to separate food waste from regular garbage. The first six months will be an education period when no penalties will be charged in order to give residents and businesses additional time to implement effective plans for separating food waste from the garbage.  </p></div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a5.jpgRead more...Solid WasteFull
Upgrades to Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Planthttp://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/71/Upgrades to Iona Island Wastewater Treatment PlantUpgrades to Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant<div class="ExternalClassD9A003332AD146EAA37A6AD8FCCFE31C"><p>The 50-year-old <a href="/services/liquid-waste/treatment/treatment-plants/iona-island/Pages/default.aspx">Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant</a> provides primary liquid waste treatment to most of Vancouver, UBC, the University Endowment Lands, and small areas in Burnaby and Richmond where the plant is located. To comply with new federal regulations, it is scheduled to undergo a major upgrade to secondary treatment by 2030. </p></div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a6.jpgRead more...Liquid WasteFull
Air Management Facility and Public Amenityhttp://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/72/Air Management Facility and Public AmenityAir Management Facility and Public Amenity<div class="ExternalClassA9FDA4ADF9D645098036B4E1CF0C5D76"><p>When residents living near a Metro Vancouver sewage facility reported odour issues, our Liquid Waste Services staff found a solution with construction of an air management facility that will also provide a valuable public amenity.</p></div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a7.jpgRead more...Air QualityFull
Wintertime Air Stagnation http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/73/Wintertime Air StagnationWintertime Air Stagnation <div class="ExternalClass3154F7B5013F4289A6DDD76B6393ED3B"><p>Metro Vancouver generally enjoys good air quality. It occasionally deteriorates, however, even during the winter. A phenomenon called air stagnation happens during <a href="http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_a_temperature_inversion.htm" target="_blank">temperature inversions</a><strong> </strong>when pollutants can be trapped below the inversion, allowing them to build up. Air stagnation can cause elevated levels of <a href="/services/Permits-regulations-enforcement/air-quality/factors/contaminants/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">fine particulate matter</a> to build up.</p> </div>http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/Issue5-a8.jpgRead more...Air QualityFull

 

 

Metro Vancouver’s Television Programs: The Sustainable Region & Metro Vancouver Close Uphttp://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/74/Metro Vancouver’s Television Programs: The Sustainable Region & Metro Vancouver Close UpMetro Vancouver’s Television Programs: The Sustainable Region & Metro Vancouver Close Up<div class="ExternalClass464C7FFB72784AF5A52B04CD4362342B"><p> <strong>Metro Vancouver’s Television Programs: The Sustainable Region & Metro Vancouver Close Up</strong></p><p> Through February, programs on The Sustainable Region will focus on drinking water, which is one of Metro Vancouver’s major utility services. We provide high-quality drinking water to our member municipalities by acquiring and maintaining the water supply, treating the water to ensure it meets the highest standards, and then delivering it to the municipalities. Municipalities convey the water to residences and businesses in their areas.</p> <strong>Metro Vancouver Close Up looks at:</strong> <p> </p><ul><li style="padding-bottom:10px;">Delta's Rain Gardens where community members and municipal staff are working together to re-direct water flow. Water is an important component of soil along with minerals, organic matter and air.  However, paved roads and structures limit water’s contact with soil. Learn about the solutions in Delta’s Rain Gardens.<br> </li><li style="padding-bottom:10px;">The District of North Vancouver's Geoweb which features a map that provides a range of fascinating information from a property’s suitability for solar hot water heat to what the property’s landscape has looked like over the last 100 years.<br> </li><li>The expansion of car sharing in Richmond. Richmond’s 50 new car share parking spots are reflective of a trend supported by Metro Vancouver that recently published a <a href="/services/regional-planning/PlanningPublications/1507_PPE_MV_Car_Share_Study_14Oct20HR.pdf" target="_blank">comprehensive study</a> on the issue.</li></ul><p>These episodes air back to back on Shaw TV4, Delta Cable 4 and Novus TV4 through February.</p><p> Shaw TV 4: Wed 7:30pm; Sat 12:30pm; Mon 3:30pm; Tues 11pm<br> NVTV4: Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri at 8:30pm; Tues, Thurs, Sat at 9am & 3:30pm<br> Delta TV: Sun/Mon at 8am & 2pm; Mon-Fri at 11:30am</p><p> And they are always available <a href="/media-room/video-gallery/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">online</a>.</p></div>Read more...Sustainable Region TVSummaryBottom
Upcoming Eventshttp://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/75/Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events<div class="ExternalClass86A8F72B70044EB891DD9A1DAD6DFB53"><p><strong>Sustainability Community Breakfast</strong><br> February 19, 7:30-9 am<br> BCIT Downtown, 555 Seymour St., Vancouver</p><p>With speakers Robert Hicks, Senior Engineer, Liquid Waste Services Department, Metro Vancouver; David Matsubara, Design Engineer, Infrastructure, Engineering, Parks and Environment, City of North Vancouver; Carrie Baron, Drainage & Environment Manager, Engineering Department, City of Surrey.<br> <br> <a href="/events/community-breakfasts/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Information & Registration</a> <br> <br> <strong>2nd Annual Metro Vancouver Board Chair Address to the Vancouver Board of Trade<br> </strong>February 25, Noon-2 pm<strong>,</strong> Coast Coal Harbour, Coal Harbour Ballroom, 1180 West Hastings St. Vancouver<strong></strong><br> Hear Metro Vancouver Board Chair Greg Moore’s address <em>Creating Our Future – Working Together for a Livable and Prosperous Region</em>. Key Metro Vancouver plans, policies and projects will significantly affect residents and businesses in our region for generations to come. A moderated Q & A session will follow.<br> <br> <a href="http://www.boardoftrade.com/events/overview/1196281968.aspx" target="_blank">Information & Registration</a><br> <br> <strong>Winter Watershed Snowshoe Tours @ Mt. Seymour</strong><br> Enjoy a moderately strenuous snowshoe tour while learning about the role our mountains play in collecting and storing our drinking water. Learn about plants and animals that call the Seymour watershed home. Must be physically capable of hiking up and down steep terrain with snowshoes.<br> Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa at the end of the tour. <br> <br> <strong>Sundays: 9:30 am – 1 pm </strong><br> February 15, 22; March 8, 15<br> <br> <strong>Thursdays: 6 - 9:30 pm</strong><br> February 19, March 12 <br> <br> Ages 18+. $18 with own snowshoes; $25 includes snowshoe rental. <br> <br> <a href="/events/watershed-tours/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Registration required</a></p></div>Read more...EventsSummaryBottom
Did You Know?http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/issue-5/76/Did You Know?Did You Know?<div class="ExternalClass02015615F8CC4575A1427888847C6C88"><ul><li style="padding-bottom:25px;">Effective January 1, Metro Vancouver enacted new operating prohibitions for older <a href="/services/Permits-regulations-enforcement/non-road-diesel/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">non-road diesel engines</a>. Older non-road diesel engines with little or no emission controls are the main target of the bylaw. Currently, owners and operators must register their older engines with Metro Vancouver and pay fees based on the amount of harmful diesel soot the engine emits. As an incentive to retire these engines, Metro Vancouver is offering a rebate up to 80 per cent of what an owner or operator has paid into the non-road diesel engine program. </li></ul></div>Read more...Did You KnowSummaryBottom

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