What Do We Have For You This Month?

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

West End News & Notes: … An update on the tragic vehicle rampage through Nelson Park, a Town Hall with MP Hedy Fry, and your community centre Summer Recreation Guide.
West End Street & Lane Names: … Vancouver’s streets and lanes each has their own history. Here’s the story of Alberni 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

AUTO CHARGE THROUGH NELSON PARK
West End Senior Dies of Injuries

West End senior, 75-year-old Johnny Sudds, who was struck by a vehicle in a West End vehicle-ramming incidental 5:30 a.m. Friday, May 15, died in hospital on May 24.

**the aftermath of a vehicle rampage through nelson park**. *(VPD PHOTO)*
*(click images to enlarge)*

Police were called to the scene following reports of someone "driving erratically" near Comox and Broughton streets. According to police, the driver sped through a section of the park, deliberately driving along the sidewalk. Sudds, who was riding a motorized scooter, was unable to get out of the way.

Two police officers, one of them a recruit constable on his second day of work, were also injured. Police say that “several witnesses in the area had to scramble to get out of the way of the suspect’s Jeep.” Both injured VPD officers, were released from the hospital the same day.

The driver was caught after intentionally ramming a police vehicle that was responding to the scene. He destroyed the cruiser, and his Jeep flipped.

“He was trapped inside his vehicle and arrested near Comox and Bute streets. Multiple ambulances responded along with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, who were able to free the man from the wreckage,” police said.

In its statement, police said that mental health and drug issues are possible factors in the incident.

**Johnny Sudds and his grandaughter.** *(Photo courtesy of the sudds family)*

Tadd Bali, 34, is currently charged with four counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm. He remains in custody and at publication time May 29 police were in the process of submitting evidence for consideration of additional charges. Bali has had extensive interactions with police in B.C. and in Saskatchewan.

At this time, the investigation continues and anyone with video footage of the incident is asked to contact the VPD Major Crimes at 604-717-2500.

Following Sudds’ death his family released a statement saying that they had set up a small shrine at the corner of Comox and Bute streets, where Sudds was struck, and that friends and neighbours had been leaving notes and flowers in honour of Sudds.

"While Johnny was in hospital, we took the notes to him. It provided us much comfort, and the shrine continues to do so," the statement read.

"If you are feeling blue, we encourage you to visit the shrine. Johnny will be happy to see you there.”

YOUR SUMMER RECREATION GUIDE
Program Registration Starts June 9

The West End Community Centre Association’s (WECCA) Suimmer 2026 Recreation Guide will be available Thursday, June 4. Registration opens online and in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 and by phone at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 10.

WECCA manages the West End Community Centre on Denman, the Coal Harbour Community Centre on Broughton, and Barclay Manor on Barclay. The quarterly Recreation Guide lists programs and events for all three centres.

Be sure to register for classes early as space is limited and they do fill up fast. If you have any questions about any of the programs, drop by the Centre nearest you and speak to a staff member.

The printed guide will be available at all three centres and other community coffee shops and facilities starting Thursday, June 4. Registration opens online and in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 and by phone at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 10.

The website is here, and the main reception desk is at 604.257.8333.

TOWN HALL WITH MP HEDY FRY
Meet And Talk To Your Member of Parliament

Vancouver Centre Member of Parliament The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry will host a Town Hall on Friday, June 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the West End Community Centre in the Bidwell Room.

Dr.Fry was first elected to Parliament for Vancouver Centre in 1993, when she defeated incument Prime Minister Kim Campbell. Fry is the longest serving female MP in Canadian history.

She is a mother, human rights advocate, LGBTQ2S+ ally, and former Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Status of Women.

Fry was born in Trinidat and Tobago of Scottish, Spanish, Indian, and Chinese ancestry. She recieved her medical training at in Dublin, Ireland, and immigrated to Canada in 1970, establishing a practice in Vancouver. She applied her knowledge as a physician in her role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health from 1994 to 1995 and as a health advocate in cabinet and caucus. She currently chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Heritage and is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

She is head of Canada’s delegation to the 57 nations Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (OSCEPA) where she serves as Special Representative on Gender Issues and member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration.

Dr. Fry is the mother of 3 sons, Peter, Jeremy, and Douglas, and grandmother to Harrison, Avery, Maxim, and Sacha. Her eldest son is Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry.

If you would like to RSVP and receive a reminder of this Town Hall, please register using this the form here. If you have any questions about attending, do not hesitate to contact the constituency office by email at hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca or over the phone at (604) 666-0135.

West End Street & Lane Names

West End street names were established when L.A. 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. Here is the story behind Alberni Street

Named for Lieutenant Colonel Pedro de Alberni, the commander of the troops on Francisco Eliza’s expedition aboard the Concepcion to Nootka Sound in 1790, Alberni Street runs from Burrard to Lagoon Drive one block north of, and parallel to, Robson Street.

Colonel de Alberni was a noted gardener and was the first European to cultivate a garden on Vancouver Island. He also introduced the first cows to the island. The Alberni Inlet (previously known as the Alberni Canal) and Port Alberni were named after him, which gave L.A. Hamilton inspiration when, in 1885, he chose street names for much of the West End from a map of the coast. We were unable to find any images of Alberni, but his story as told here and here is a pretty interesting one.

Hidden Treasure Hunt

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

**can you identify the location of this unique feature? Tell us where!** *(click image to enlarge)*

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.