ommunity

EDITOR JEN ST. DENIS

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 7

Tower will
raise rents,
say residents

Developer says 19-story

condo building will boost
neighbourhood economy,
but activists warn tower
will change Mt. Pleasant

By DANA BOWEN

tower in Mount Pleasant will pro-

vide homes, but a community
group in Mount Pleasant warns taxes
will go up, rents will rise and local busi-
nesses may go under if the develop-
ment goes ahead.

“Tt’s a debate about the future face of
Mount Pleasant, and that’s why there is
such interest in this development,”
said Stephen Bohus of the Residents
Association Mount Pleasant.

The proposal by Rize Alliance is to
put four new buildings covering just
over an acre on the corner of Kingsway
and Broadway. Two of the buildings
will stand at five stories, another at
nine and the tallest
will be 19 stories.

Christopher Vol-
lan, vice president
of development at
Rize Alliance, said
that the primary
function is to pro-
vide homes, as

Aevem says a proposed condo

STEVE BOHUS- home
. there is a high de-
woe ieomont mand to live in

that area.

“The develop-
ment will support local business and
provide a big financial gain for the
community,” said Vollan.

The building is a mix-use project,
proposing retail space as well as 241
condominiums.

Vollan said since the proposal, over
2,000 people have come to Rize Alli-
ance’s Community Information Centre
to ask about it.

However, Bohus said that 80 per cent
of people at the public hearings were
opposed to the potential building.

One of the biggest issues with the de-
velopment, said Bohus, is the size and
density of it. It was originally proposed
to stand at 26 levels, but was reduced to
19 levels as of January.

Bohus explained that although there
are fewer levels, each one has been
raised by two feet per floor. He said
that, in total, the average height of the
building has been reduced by 31 feet.

The next public hearing is March 27.

By SASCHA PORTEOUS

hen a 25-year-old woman
dropped to the ground dur-
ing her workout at the Lan-
gara YMCA, aquatic direc-
tor Kendra Redekop responded with
the aid of an automated external defi-
brillator (AED) to save the young wom-
an’s life.

Last November the woman was in
the middle of working out when she
had a heart attack.

“She literally just fell over, know one
really knew exactly what the situation
was,” says Redekop. “We had to asses
it and figure out if she was breathing or
not.”

With help from her staff, Redekop
responded immediately.

“We delivered a shock that actually, I
mean between the CPR and the AED,
saved her life.”

During the situation she felt like “ev-
ery second [was] longer than normal.”

The B.C. Ambulance Service award-

ed Redekop with a Vital Link award at
the Langara YMCA on Feb. 22, in honor
of her saving a life.

The woman who had the heart at-
tack was very lucky - the YMCA staff
had been trained and certified to use
AEDs only two weeks before the inci-
dent.

“We only had the AED up on the wall
two days before this event happened,”
says Redekop.

The machine is easy to use, says
Redekop. “The machine directs you
through the entire procedure.”

Redekop, 28, was raised in Matsqui,
near Abbotsford, and studied recre-
ation management at the University of
Manitoba.

“ve been in aquatics since I was
eighteen,” says Redekop. “I love the
water and I also like organization and
management.”

Redekop lives in Langley, but her
second home is the diverse South Van-
couver neighbourhood where she
spends most of her waking hours.

Langara YMCA
aquatics director
Kendra Redekop
saved a life with
this. defibrillator.

SASCHA PORTEOUS
ne DU CEO odiccmmanenng

SASCHA PORTEOUS photo
Langara nursing instructor
Monica Parhar demonstrates how
a defibrillator is used. A defibrilla-
tor increases someone’s chances of
survival over just giving CPR.

BRANDON REID photo
A new thrift store supports former
foster kids and young moms.

Thrift store raises funds for foster kids

HOW T0

donate

Store helps fill the gap for
much-needed programs
that help young adults
avoid homelessness

By BRANDON REID

new thrift store in south Vancou-
A: is raising money to help foster
ids transition into adulthood.

“Once they turn 19 they lose all gov-
ernment support,” said Theresa
Frazao, director of communications for
Aunt Leah’s Place, a charity that sup-
ports vulnerable former foster kids.
“Tt’s too young of an age and they do
need more continued support.”

Money raised from Urban Thrift,
which is located at Broadway and Main
Street, will also go towards funding a
program for young mothers.

“When they have their babies at the

hospital, if they don’t have secure and
supportive housing, their babies are
then taken into foster care and so the
cycle continues,” said Frazao. “We
have eight suites right now for moms
and babies in those situations.”

Frazao said Aunt Leah’s decided to
open a thrift store because their stor-
age space was bursting at the seams.
Some furniture donations go directly
towards furnishing the supportive
housing suites Aunt Leah’s manages,
and some go to be sold in the thrift
store.

“We try to make the best use of a do-
nation,” said Frazao. “If we have a
piece of antique furniture we’d proba-
bly sell it in the thrift store because
that money will go back in the pro-
gram.”

Including Urban Thrift, Aunt Leah’s
has supported its programs through
fundraisers such as musical events,
Christmas tree sales and bowling.

Ali Andeku, Urban Thrift store man-
ager, said the store is building support
for the other programs the non-profit
offers.

“The cause is great,” said Andeku. “I
think it’s very no-
ble and needed.”

Andeku said he
would like to see
more donations of

Urban Thrift accepts
quality used cloth-
ing, accessories,
furniture, and
housewares

jewellery, artwork Hi Small items can
and men’s clothing. be dropped off at
The store is also the store (177 E.
looking for volun- Broadway)

ALI ANDEKU teers.

Manager of “Anyone _ inter- ME To donate larger

Urban Thrift ested in the thrift
store is free to ap-
ply to be a volun-
teer,” said Frazao. “We have volunteers
that help all year long with different
fundraisers and in total we have over
400 volunteers.”
Urban Thrift is at 177 E. Broadway.

items, call 604-525-
1204 ext. 232

Items not sold in
the store may be
used to furnish
suites for teens and
new moms

Source: www. auntleahs.org