Maple Ridge - What's New
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Builders Forum
- A very small trickle from a garden hose for 4 hours
- Deep root watering attachment available from most nurseries
- 5 gallon pail with holes drilled in the bottom set under the tree to water slowly
- A ring of mulch around the tree to keep the water in
The District of Maple Ridge Building Department is hosting a Builders Forum on Wednesday September 22, 2010 from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. All Maple Ridge area builders, contractors, designers and developers are invited to attend. Due to limited seating please register on or before 4:00 pm Friday, September 17, 2010. Participation will be on a first come, first serve basis.
We will focus on specific concerns and issues that impact the building construction industry, focusing on code changes & their implementation, adaptable housing construction, slope assessments and we will introduce you to the new Director of Licences, Permits & Bylaws. Your input and participation is appreciated. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided.
Please register at the Building Department front counter, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC, OR telephone Jaci Diachuk at 604-467-7391, OR e-mail jdiachuk@mapleridge.ca
Bears and Our Community
Maple Ridge with its beautiful surroundings forms a natural habitat for bears and from spring until late fall many bears move down into the urban areas as they forage for food.
Bears are attracted by the smell of food, which in urban areas can be from garbage, compost, bird feeders, or fruit. More than 1,000 bears are killed every year in British Columbia because of bear-human conflicts. Almost all of these bears were attracted into neighbourhoods by improperly stored garbage and other attractants.
Once bears become accustomed to garbage they no longer hibernate as their food source never runs out and they also learn to associate the scent of humans with their new-found source of food. This eliminates all fear and in turn they may become aggressive, expecting food every time they see or smell people. Wherever possible store all garbage indoors or in a bear resistant garbage container, remove bird feeders, compost responsibly, pick all fruit as it ripens, store pet food indoors, and keep your barbecue clean. Feeding bears, even unintentionally, is against the law in BC - Dangerous Wildlife Protection Act-section 88.1.
Don't let a bear feel comfortable in your yard. Ensure the bear has a clear and safe avenue of escape. From a safe place (balcony or window) stand facing the bear; making yourself look as big as possible. Use a firm tone of voice to make it feel uncomfortable and encourage it to leave. You can also try banging together pots and pans.Once the bear leaves the area, remove any food sources that might have attracted it.
If you encounter a bear in your neighbourhood remain calm, keep your children and pets close at hand, make yourself look big, group together, speak calmly, and back away slowly preferably in the direction you came from. Don't run.
Resources
To report an aggressive bear (bluff charging, damaging property, etc), please call the Ministry of Environment Conservation Officer at 1-877-952-7277.
Ministry of Environment - Don't Attract Bears to Garbage Safety Guide to Bears at Your Home.
The Get Bear Smart Society (GBS)* is a registered Canadian charity that works hard to ensure people and bears safely and respectfully coexist wherever their homes and home ranges overlap.
Bear Aware™ is an educational program designed to prevent and reduce conflicts between people and bears in our communities.
Every Owner or Occupier of Property must ensure that all Standard Containers and Special Containers are kept lidded or closed when not being emptied or filled, and at all times secured against disturbance by animals - Bylaw 6533-2007 [PDF, 55KB].
Register NOW for Brush Chipping
Have You Seen Our Award-Winning Citizens Report?
Road Work and Closures (Updated Regularly)
203 Street, Telep Avenue, Abernethy Way/128 Avenue Area Survey Work - May 31 until further notice
Metro Vancouver is undertaking major water infrastructure projects and is conducting topographical survey work. View the Project Notice [PDF, 1.4MB]. For additional information, please contact the Metro Vancouver Information Centre at 604-432-6200.
216 Street and 128 Avenue Intersection Improvements - Week of August 16 until approx. October 15
Imperial Paving Ltd. is scheduled to begin the installation of a traffic signal system and a dedicated right-turn lane, westbound from 216 Street the second week of August and anticipate that the work will be completed within eight weeks, weather permitting. Construction will be Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information visit Neighbourhood Improvements.
224 Street between Spirit Square and Lougheed Highway & Lougheed Highway between 222 Street and 224 Street from April - November 2010
The Downtown Enhancement Project will improve the sidewalks, street furniture, trees, roads, streetlights and underground pipes. For more information visit Neighbourhood Improvements. The construction schedule is still to be determined for the next phase: 224 Street between Spirit Square and Dewdney Trunk Road.
240 Street Between 102 Avenue and 104 Avenue - August 4 to September 3
This work will be completed by 3:00 Friday, September 3 and the road will be completely opened.
Fern Crescent at 129 Avenue - Week of August 9 until approx. October 8
Construction of sanitary sewer across Millionaire Creek (at Fern Crescent and 129 Avenue), extending approximately 50m on either side of the creek, will commence during the week of August 9, 2010. The work will be on the south side of Fern Crescent and at times will require restricting traffic to single lane alternating. Regular hours of work are from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday for a total duration of approximately eight weeks. Every effort will be made to carry out the work with little inconvenience to the public, but some inconvenience and traffic delays are expected. Please obey construction signs and flag persons at the work zone.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to call the contractor, P.W. Trenchless Construction Inc, Denis Dias at 604-868-1167 or the District of Maple Ridge Engineering Department, Richard Wong at 604-467-7492. Thank you in advance for your patience during construction. For more information visit Neighbourhood Improvements.
River Road Sewer Construction (Darby Street to Carshill Street)
Double M. Excavating is scheduled to begin construction of the storm sewer on River Road the week of August 30, 2010 and anticipate that the work will be completed within 12 weeks. The work will require restricting traffic to single lane alternating. Construction will be Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. For more information visit Neighbourhood Improvements.
Street Lights - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The District of Maple Ridge maintains 3,000 ornamental street lights, which are the ones you see on metal poles. These street lights are repaired within 10 business days from the day it is reported. Exceptions might occur in difficult circumstances, such as motor vehicle accidents with damage to the concrete base, etc.
BC Hydro maintains 1457 hydro lights, which are the street lights that you see with a metal mast arm that are on wooden poles. These lights are reported to BC Hydro as soon as we get the complaint. After that it is up to BC Hydro to repair it.
Power cost for street lights is established as a flat rate, per light. So, if a street light is on 24/7 or is off (burned out) the cost to the District is the same.
Every metal street light pole has a hole to access the wires and fuses inside. This oval shape hole is covered with a lid. Many of the poles have this hand hole cover made special to be vandal proof as to prevent wire theft.
The District standard for metal street light poles is for them to be galvanized and then powder coated. This is estimated to extend the life expectancy of the poles to 50 years.
Every year the District replaces a number of street light poles. Replacement is based on the condition of the pole and not on appearance. The first to be replaced are the ones that are badly corroded and have holes at the base - this type of condition is usually thanks to our beloved canine companions!
Report any street light issues to the District of Maple Ridge Operations Centre for both metal and wooden pole street lights. When reporting an issue, please be prepared to provide information including the closest address or intersection, the condition of the street light and whether or not it is on a wooden or metal pole.
Please Water Boulevard Trees
Environment Canada is expecting a dry summer this year. To ensure the survival of the young street trees under these conditions, it is critical that they receive 15 gallons of water twice a week. We ask for your assistance in watering the trees in the boulevard bordering your home or business. Methods that work quite well:
The District gardeners take care of any pruning required so please do not prune the District trees or raise the grade on the trunk of the tree. Burying the trunk of the tree or building soil or mulch up on the trunk of the tree will kill the tree. Thank you for your support. Together we can keep Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows green. For more information please call Jane Baile, Parks & Leisure Services at 604-467-7364.
Giant Hogweed
Maple Ridge is no exception to the spread of Giant Hogweed and inquiries have begun to come in about what to do about it.
Giant Hogweed is a serious threat to natural ecosystems and human health. It contains a sap which can cause very serious burns and even temporary blindness if exposed to sunlight (photo dermatitis).
Please report any sightings to the Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia. They are attempting to create an inventory, staff and resources to deal with the growing issue. They cannot respond to complaints but do want to manage the scope of the invasive plant problem in general. They can be reached at 250-392-1400, or through their website and are an excellent source of information not only for the Giant Hogweed but other invasive species as well.
Sightings of the Giant Hogweed on road allowances should be reported to the Operations Department at 604-463-9581. Sightings in parks or on parkland should be reported to the Parks Department at 604-467-7346. Property owners should consult the Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia for Best Management Practices.
http://www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca/
Downtown Enhancement Project
Roadside Cutting
Flailing
Flail cutting is done along roadsides for safety purposes on defined routes. The roadside is flailed twice a year to reduce the height of the vegetation to ensure sight lines are maintained at intersections and driveways.
Further flailing is done in and around ditches so they can be inspected to reduce blockages. Vegetation growing in the ditch does not necessarily have to be removed, as this is considered in the design and aids in the over all health of the water quality and ecosystem integrity.
Generally the District will do one pass on the roadside, starting in the west working eastward to deal with sightless for safety. When finished the first pass, the tractors will go back and do subsequent passes for ditch maintenance purposes, again starting in the west and working to the east.
The District is not budgeted to mow grass. Once a year roadside cutting and brushing of vegetation is done for safety, not aesthetics. .
Brushing
Brushing along the road right of ways is done for safety purposes. The right of way is brushed reactively to reduce the height of the vegetation, so sightless are maintained at intersections and driveways. Further brushing is done along sidewalks for the safety of pedestrians.
The District cuts brush or hedges but does not trim them. Hedges and brush need to be maintained about 1m from sidewalks to 3m in height and around 3m from road edge and 5m in height. On corners, hedges and brush should not exceed 1.2m in height or 6m to 25m in each direction for sight lines and at driveways at least 6m on either side and 1.2m in height.
Surrey and Maple Ridge make the list of top places to invest in Canada
National Independent Real Estate Research Company Releases for the First Time the Best Canadian Cities for Real Estate Investment. The research analyzes current and future prospects for real estate investment opportunities and names the best 11 cities; cities that will outperform the rest in the coming decade.
The Top Canadian Investment Cities are:
1. Calgary, AB
2. Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, ON
3. Edmonton, AB
4. Surrey, BC
5. Maple Ridge, BC
6. Hamilton, ON
7. St. Albert, AB
8. Simcoe Shores (Barrie-Orillia), ON
9. Red Deer, AB
10. Winnipeg, MB
11. Saskatoon, SK
"Despite today's continuing market turmoil, our research indicates that there are more buying opportunities now than in the last few years, meaning more investment options and better yields," said report lead author Don R. Campbell, REIN President and author of the best-selling books Real Estate Investing in Canada and 97 Tips for Real Estate Investing. "With today's mixed market signals it is critical that investors and home-buyers complete that extra level of due diligence. Now we get back to market reality where economic fundamentals, not speculation, will once again play the key role in whether a property increases or drops in value. The years of skyrocketing prices are finally over; however, over the long term the economic fundamentals of these key cities will help their property values dramatically outperform other regions across the country."
Foreign investors know that Canadian Real Estate is a safe place for their money." The Canadian real estate market is seen by foreign investors as a safe place to put money. Our conservative lending practices have shielded us from economic crises experienced elsewhere and compared to properties in other countries, even Vancouver and Toronto seem like bargains!"
Don R. Campbell will be presenting the complete findings of this research at the Red Robinson Theatre at 8:30AM on Saturday, June 12 as part of the Real Estate Investment Network's ACRE Workshop. For more information on this event, email info@reincanada.com
Sprinkling Regulations
Albion Area Concept Plan Process
Important Fire Code Changes
Shaw Broadcast of Council Meetings
Regular meetings of Maple Ridge Council are broadcast on Shaw TV, cable 4, at 10:00 pm on the Tuesday meeting day and rebroadcast the following Saturday at 2:00 pm (times are approximate and are subject to change by Shaw).
Please note that customers in Maple Ridge with a digital box connected to their TV receive the Shaw TV channel originating from Vancouver so are not receiving local broadcasts. Customers with a TV connected directly to cable do receive the local Council Meeting broadcast. In order to be able to watch Maple Ridge Council Meetings with a digital box, Shaw can supply you with an A/B switch that will allow you to go from the digital signal to analogue to watch Council, and then switch back again to receive your full digital TV package. Call Shaw Technical Support at 604-629-8888 and they will provide a free service call to install the A/B switch. Or you can pick one up from a Shaw retail office and install it yourself.
Shaw indicates that this is a temporary solution and they are examining options for a long term solution to this problem.
How Are We Doing?
My Maple Ridge
Council This Week
2010 Legacies Now
Commitment to Hire More People with Disabilities
10 x 10 Challenge
There are currently over 360,000 working age people with disabilities in British Columbia. They have the motivation, education and abilities to be valuable members of our workforce and communities, yet they face an employment rate about 20% lower than the rest of the population - 56.5% versus 74.3% (based on 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey).
The Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities invites communities and organizations to join the 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment of persons with disabilities by 10%, or over 13,000 new jobs, by the year 2010.
www.10by10challenge.gov.bc.ca/
WorkAble Solutions
An initiative to connect BC employers to persons with disabilities by providing valuable employment resources and support. The goal of the initiative is to help employers turn potential challenges into workable solutions and increase the recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities.
All research points to the fact that persons with disabilities represent a large, growing, and as yet, largely untapped talent pool. In light of a looming skills shortage caused by lower levels of new labour force entrants and higher levels of retirement, it is essential that employers tap into this talent pool to access skilled workers. Hiring persons with disabilities will also help to reduce turnover costs, while building an inclusive and positive work environment.
Slow Down When Passing Stopped Emergency Vehicles - It is the Law!
Historic Agreement Signed between Katzie First Nation and District
At a meeting held on September 11, 2007 between the Katzie First Nation and the District of Maple Ridge, a historic document was signed pertaining to the Blue Mountain Provincial Forest.
The Memorandum of Understanding [PDF, 2.1MB], signed by Chief Diane Bailey of the Katzie Nation and Mayor Gordy Robson on behalf of the District of Maple Ridge, has been designed to maintain or enhance the cultural, environmental, economic, and social opportunities on Blue Mountain, a traditional territory of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations. Further, the Memorandum will lead to the formation of a coalition which will provide stewardship through sustainable management.
This new partnership addresses a concern long held by both parties that Blue Mountain is a significant resource that in the past has not been effectively managed. This Memorandum of Understanding is essentially a promise on behalf of both parties to build a sustainability plan for Blue Mountain.
Branding Story
Welcome to our exciting new website. We hope you enjoy your vist and ask that you provide us with your comments at enquiries@mapleridge.ca.
Maple Ridge Brand Story
Rich with agricultural roots and an exceptional natural setting and poised on the verge of a brilliant future, Maple Ridge is one of the fastest growing communities in the Lower Mainland. The brand platform for the District of Maple Ridge, and how we articulate that through our logo mark, is critical to our image as an outstanding community, an inviting destination, and a place to embrace and achieve a work-life balance.
With that in mind, a committee was formed to identify and create a renewed brand identity and logo mark for the District of Maple Ridge.
The Process
Starting in December 2005, the committee embarked upon a process of stakeholder engagement. The goal was to ensure that through dialogue and gathering input we would be inclusive as we updated the District's image and comprehensive as we identified our shared values as a community. These values then became the foundation for a "brand essence"- which is an articulation of what makes the District of Maple Ridge unique, and is a tool that was utilized by the graphic design team at Cossette Communication to help to create the final logo.
The Elements
The logo mark arrived upon is organic in nature and is a modern interpretation of Maple Ridge that updates our image and reflects several core elements of our community - elements that are a part of our past as well as our future.
Within the mark are waves and floating leaves. The waves were selected for both their organic form and how they mirror shapes in the environment, but also for how they denote motion. This motion comes from the shared value that we are a dynamic community and one that will continue to grow and flourish. This is particularly relevant today as we acquire assets that foster our growth including the Golden Ears Bridge.
The high reaching golden swoop represents the physical landmarks of the Golden Ears Mountains and Bridge but also, in its colour, suggests the aspiration to establish a foundation of ongoing increased economic prosperity for our community.
The middle green swoop stands for our green, open spaces and agricultural history. In addition, it echoes our shared value of preserving that green space and our rural community values as we "grow smart" and pursue a future that strongly embraces sustainability. We have deep roots in the land that is a part of our agricultural history. These "deep roots," much like those of the maple tree, provide us the strength of a solid foundation upon which we may grow to "greater heights."
The blue swoosh is characteristic of the abundance and passionate conservation of clean, blue water in our rivers, lakes and streams - a commitment we share for generations to come. It also symbolizes the plentiful fresh air, which is another cornerstone of the Maple Ridge lifestyle.
The two floating leaves are elements that represent in their colour, a nod to our former logo, and symbolically, the maple trees that shaped our heritage and our name. More subtly, the leaves signify our connection and inclusion in the broader community of Canada.
Finally, the simple frame and standardized type are contemporary elements indicating a fresh outlook while ensuring our new logo mark has longevity.
Next Steps
The District is excited to start incorporating the new logo mark into our daily operations. With our continuing focus on sustainability, the mark will be incorporated at natural junctures. For example, we will use all of our current stock of stationery with our old logo mark until we run out, at which time we will order new stationery with the new logo. Signs around the community will also be replaced within their natural lifecycle, and so on.
We hope you join us in celebrating our updated logo and identity!
If you have any specific questions about the process of new logo incorporation, please contact: Gary Manson at 604-467-7452.
Mayor Calls Important News Conference
