Businessnews

‘CLOSED SUN.-

EDITORLINA CHUNG |

THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 2020 |

THE VOICE

Sam Shaer, owner of Vic's Styling Centre on Fraser & 45th, cuts hair and talks about the decrease in customers. Pay parking came into effect in the South Fraser area during the Thanksgiving Day weekend, October 12-13, 2019. Shaer has owned his shop for 16 years. iA CHUNG PHOTO

Pay parking hurting bottom line

Some small Fraser Street businesses reporting a 30% customer downturn

@ ByJACOB HOHEISEL mall businesses say pay park- ing on Fraser Street is taking its toll.

It’s been four months since the introduction of new park- ing meters and pay parking lots in the Fraser Street area between 43rd and 49th avenues and some small businesses are reporting fewer customers and a downturn in business.

Sam Shaer, owner of Vic’s Styl- ing Centre, a barber shop, said he has to speak out against the meters.

“Tt affects everyone on Fraser

Street ... especially in the back [lots]. People driving from other neigh-

bourhoods don’t stay as long now because they have to watch the | time.”

Shaer says his business is down 20 to 30 per cent.

“The big busi- ness takes over the little business. It’s like a shark eating all the small fish.”

Sam Shaer OWNER, VIC'S STYLING CENTRE

Weaving sparks

Students gain appreciation of Indigenous values

By SAFOURA RIGI-LADIZ

I angara’s Salish weaving course gives students an opportunity to learn a once-lost tradition

of B.C.’s Coast Salish people.

The history of the traditional weaving practice and its cultural applications are an important part of what students learn. Students are taught to prep the wool, which includes spinning and dyeing the wool using natural dyes, before using it for weaving.

Stephanie Aitken, chair of Langa- ra’s fine arts department, said instruc- tor Debra Sparrow teaches students

everything about the process. “There’s a huge component with Debra’s class about conversation,” Aitken said. “It’s a history class disguised as a weaving lesson in many aspects.” Aitken took the course last year.

Vancouver city council voted to end 60 years of free parking in the area at the recommendation of the city’s engineering services depart- ment.

A petition signed by 90 busi- nesses, representing about 50 per cent of the stores on Fraser Street, opposed the installation of meters. The city still went ahead despite the opposition.

The engineering service’s report cited revenue generation, an effort to cut emissions, and a way to rotate more traffic through the area as reasons for installing the meters.

Rob Nijjar, executive director of South Hill Business Associa- tion, said that North American studies about implementing pay parking in business areas show that although there is an impact to businesses at first, the benefit is more people come into the area and they’re able to find parking.

Theresa Nguyen, owner of Purple Rainbow Florist, said like the other independently owned shops in the area, her business is down since the meters went in. When people do come into her shop, Nguyen said they don’t stay

as long anymore.

MONEY FROM FRASER

STREET PAY PARKING LOTS

» Approximately 260 parking spots

Spread over12 parking lots.

» Approximately $851,760/year

To be collected by the city from above parking spots.

SOURCE: LINA CHUNG USING CITY COUNCIL INFORMTIONM

conversation, learning

student who has taken the course, has learned other aspects of traditional Indigenous culture by completing the weaving course.

“One of the most wonderful things that I’ve learned about Aboriginal people is their generosity,” Duttchen

Sparrow, a yan . said. “They Coast Salish artist, It'sa history class don’t measure specializes in di . d their wealth by weaving. Together 1SQuISEG as a what they have, with her sisters, o " they measure they revived this Weaving lesson... their wealth lost art of weav- ~ STEPHANIE AITKEN, by what they

ing, according to Aitken. Her art is currently being displayed at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

“It was really great to hear Debra’s experiences with her life and her life choices to revive this lost art,” said Leah Hille, a fine arts student who completed the course last semester.

Carolee Duttchen, another

LANGARA, CHAIR FINE ARTS

give away, and I think we could learn a lot from that.”

As a result, Duttchen said she wouldn't sell her art; she would give it away.

This is the third time Langara has offered Salish weaving. Classes are limited to 10 people, with five slots held for Indigenous students.

ee he

Carolee Duttchen shows off Salish weaving she created during Debra Spar- row's course, last semester. She will be gifting it to her daughter-in-law.

SAFOURA RIGILADIZ PHOTO