THE TALK OF THE TOWN

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What Do We Have For You This Month?

Welcome to “The Talk of The Town” for May, 2026. Click on the following links to find:

  • West End News & Notes: … West End fountains working again - in time to be turned off again, a unique new pasta offering at The Sauce, an art exhibition at Performing Arts Lodge, the story behind Burnaby Street … and much more

  • West End Moments: … Our community has many talented photographers, and we share their images that capture our lives and time.

  • West End Street & Lane Names: … Vancouver’s streets and lanes each has their own history. Here’s the story of Burnaby Street.

  • Hidden Treasure Hunt: Be the first to email us identifying the location of this West End “Hidden Treasure” and win your choice of a $50 coffee shop gift card.

  • West End / Coal Harbour In The News: In case you missed it, here’s a round-up of news stories from our community.

West End News & Notes

(Click on images to enlarge)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE FORTES LIBRARY

This year both the West End Community Centre and Joe Fortes Library are celebrating their 50th anniversary. There will be a big day-long event in September (stay tuned).

Joe Fortes is collecting stories and tributes from patrons to display in mid-May.

Check out the poster (Moffat Clarke Photo) just across from the counter in the library, and add your thoughts and note of appreciateion.

ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN
West End Water Features Flowed Briefly

Neighbouirs enjoying the Bute min-park fountain. (James Oakes Photos)

In the last few days of April The West End Journal was ready to report that four of the outdoor water fountains located in our neighbourhood were finally flowing. Thanks to the efforts of TWEJ’s editor at large James Oakes, City Councillor Peter Meiszner, and Park Board general manager Steve Jackson the water features were activated early last month

These included the Bute mini-park fountain, the Barclay Heritage Square centennial fountain, the Nelson Park stone burbler, and the Davis Family centennial fountain at Beach and Pacific.

Just before we signed off on the May issue, the City announced that Stage 2 water restrictions will be in effect across Metro Vancouver from May 1 to October 15, due to drought concerns. The restriction bans all residential and non-residential lawn watering. Trees, shrubs, and flowers may be watered 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. (sprinkler) or anytime by hand. Infractions could result in a $500 fine.

the barclay heritage square fountain had a brief moment in the sun last month.

Key restrictions include:

  • Lawn Watering: Prohibited at all times (residential and non-residential).

  • Trees, Shrubs, Flowers: Permitted with a sprinkler from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. any day, or anytime if hand-watering/using drip irrigation.

  • Vegetable Gardens: No restrictions, can be watered anytime.

  • Hard Surfaces: Washing driveways or sidewalks with water is prohibited, unless for safety or preparing for painting.

  • Water Features: Filling or topping up decorative fountains or pools is not allowed.

  • Car/Boat Washing: Allowed only with a nozzle that has an automatic shut-off.

    City of Vancouver +3

These measures are implemented earlier than usual due to lower-than-average snowpack levels. Further, tighter restrictions are anticipated for early June if demand remains high.

We hope you enjoyed the brief period of working fountains in the neighbourhood. We’ll hope for better luck next spring.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PASTA LOVERS
The Sauce Introduces a Unique Menu Item

Richard and Kathy of The Sauce look on while west ender marlies davis samples her first pasta cone … she loved it! (KDM Photo)

When Kathy Korcsok flew out to Vancouver from her home in Ontario to visit her husband Richard Rowlands who was here working on a renovation project, neither of them imagined that they would be about to launch on a new venture, in a new town, in a field neither of them had any experience.

But that was eight years ago, and today their leap into the hospitality industry has brought the West End the tasty delights of The Sauce, featuring a wide variety of pastas and sauces (including of course Nona’s Meat Sauce from the family recipe). And now, it’s time to try the Pasta Cones!

Your choice of three pasta specials wrapped in a pita bread cone: Mac & Cheese topped with candied bacon; Alfredo Penne topped with a parm crisp; Nonna’s Meat Sauce Rigatoni topped with parm cream sauce; and Marinara Rigatoni & Meatballs topped with parm cream.

The Sauce is at 861 Denman (which most West Enders already know) and you can learn more and find their full menu here.

“I NEED A BIGGER VASE! “ (LAURA LANG PHOTO)

WHERE THE ART IS …
Judy Ginn Walchuck at PAL

Later this summer The West End Journal will introduce a new feature, “Where The Art Is” listing the many small art exhibitions that abound in our community. From the lobby of Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) to the windows of the Vancity Credit Union to the lobby gallery at the community centre, and not to miss several local restaurants and cafes that display local artists, we plan to include all we an find.

“Roses and poses”. (Judy ginn walchuck photo)

In the meantime, this month we draw your attention to the work of singer, songwriter, artist Judy Ginn Walchuck. A selection of her mosaic pieces will be display in the PAL lobby for the months of May and June, celebrating PAL’s 20th anniversary.

These are larger pieces, around 16” x 20”, that have been done in the three dimensional French style of mosaics. The artist rescued flowers from vintage bouquets by Coalport and other porcelain manufacturers. The show is titled “Timeless Spring”. First two photos are by my friend Laura Lang. Will have to send separately as my technical knowledge is lacking.

If you’re attending an event at PAL, visiting resident friends, or taking in Western Gold Theatre’s season opener, be sure to plan to linger in the lobby and enjoy these unique works by a beloved local artist.

West End Moments

Our community is blessed with many avid photographers, documenting moments that alarm, amuse, and inform. Click on each photo to see the caption. Send your latest photos to editor@thewestendjournal.ca.

West End Street & Lane Names

West End street names were established when Lauchlan Hamilton laid out the street grid in the late 1800s, and, while some are contemporarily contentious, they have remained. In 2017 the City named eight of the lane ways that run east and west through the West End in honour of notable Vancouver citizens, recognizing their achievements and contributions to our community.

BURNABY STREET

In 1853, Robert Burnaby of Miserton Leicester heard about the Fraser River gold discovery in British Columbia and entered a partnership with his friend Edward Henderson to found the Henderson and Burnaby firm. Henderson ran the office from London while Burnaby headed to the colonies to take care of the firm's interests there.

robert burnaby.

Burnaby arrived in Victoria with a letter of introduction from British Colonial Secretary, Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton, to Governor James Douglas. Despite that the letter vouched for his character instead of any qualifications for a public service job, Colonel Richard Moody appointed Burnaby as his private secretary. Not one to let public service get in the way of private gain, when Moody was sent to investigate reports of coal near Burrard Inlet Burnaby, he filed a claim for 128 acres in the vicinity. Later, when the Three Greenhorns staked a claim to land in the West End, Burnaby attempted to assert a prior claim, but the judge in the case determined that Burnaby’s letter of claim was “obviously written by a liar or a knave.”

By August of 1859, the colony's finances were on shaky ground and all government employees were dismissed.

When James Cooper resigned from the Legislative Assembly in October of 1860, Burnaby moved to Victoria and offered his candidacy for the seat of representative of Esquimalt and retained his seat until he resigned in 1865. Burnaby became active in banking and finance circles and was the chairman at the first meeting of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, where he was elected the first president.

As there was no Masonic Lodge in Victoria when Burnaby arrived, he helped establish the first one in Victoria in 1860. He was the master of that lodge in 1863 and again in 1865. In September 1867, a District Grand Lodge was formed and Burnaby was chosen to be the District Grand Master. In 1871, when the Grand Lodge was founded, Burnaby became the Immediate Past Grand Master.

Burnaby returned to England in 1874, where he died in 1878.

It’s not clear what Burnaby did to justify having at least 11 geographical and urban features named after him, other than being a consummate joiner and often managing to be in the right place at the right time.

Hidden Treasure Hunt

IDENTIFY THIS PHOTO …
And Win A $50 Coffee Shop Gift Card

The first reader to contact editor@thewestendjournal.ca and correctly identify the location of this image will win a $50 gift card to their choice of Blenz, Delaney’s, Melriche’s, Waves, J.J. Bean, or Greenhorn Cafe.

So if you recognize this unique piece of art write in now! Only the winning response will be notified.

The answer, and the clue to the next contest, will appear in our May issue.

The photos and the information in the answers were originally published in TWEJ several years ago as part of our “Hidden Treasures” series by Vancouver author Dianne Maguire.

Have you seen this unique feature? Tell us where! (click image to enlarge)

LAST MONTH’S WINNER IS …
Congratulations Janine Balogh!

At the corner of Broughton and West Hastings you’ll hear that familiar splash, and in a minute or two come upon a truly splendid installation set between two residential towers. These are the Harbourside Park apartments between Broughton and Jervis, facing Coal Harbour from above the Coal Harbour Community Centre.

The large area between the buildings invites residents and passersby to enjoy nature in the circle-within-a-square space. The fountain itself is in a raised square pool with planters which divide the surrounding black slate semi-circular seats. Beyond the fountain itself, larger semi-circular seats have Art Deco styled street lights placed to best invite evening strollers.

Harbourside Park is the creation of Canadian architect and urban planner Arthur Erickson. He is best known in Vancouver for his award-winning designs of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC and the Vancouver Law Courts and Robson Square Plaza with the ice rink.

West End / Coal Harbour In The News