The Society purchased 240 copies of each, "The Book of Noise" (new edition), by R. Murray Schafer, and "Listen to the Raindrops", a booklet for young children, by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., with illustrations by Steven Parton. A copy of each was given to all B.C. public libraries, as we did in 1998 with our hand-book "What You Can Do About Noise In B.C.", edited by Peter Donnelly. We also had another 50 t- shirts and 250 bumper stickers printed.

During the summer months we ran our NOISE-ads again in several Vancouver community papers as part of our ongoing campaign. This contributes to the society becoming better known and also to getting new members. Throughout the year we disseminate information to a growing number of people by telephone, mail and e-mail, nationally and internationally.

One idea on how to generate more public awareness is to approach Canada Post about having a stamp issued commemorating INAD. The search for a member to take on this task is still on. Please contact us if you are willing to help with this.

The election of the board for the following year was conducted by Roy Silverson. The following members were elected by acclamation: V.D., Alice Fedorenko, Hans Schmid, Ilse Schnirch and Roy Silverson. Alice offered to check the possibility of our organization's participation in the open house of the Vancouver Public Library.

Speaker's Presentation:
This year, the Vancouver Richmond Health Board's senior noise inspector, Mr. Douglas Glenn, kindly joined us to give a talk about the noise bylaw in general and the newest amendments to it, as well as its enforcement. The City's noise bylaw is posted on their web site at City of Vancouver. Printed copies can be obtained from the clerk's office in city hall.

Different types of noise are regulated by different departments of the City. For instance, noisy mufflers, car alarms, etc. fall under the Motor Vehicle Noise Abatement Bylaw, enforced by police. Alarms in buildings fall under the Security Alarm Bylaw, also enforced by police. Businesses broadcasting their amplified sound on to a public sidewalk or street are regulated by the licencing department under the Licencing Bylaw and buskers need to be licenced by the engineering department under the Busking Bylaw. Buskers are not allowed to use amplification. The engineering department is also responsible for ice cream vendors. Barking dogs are looked after by the Pound.

City council may decline requests from staff regarding amendments to bylaws. Garbage collection in the downtown neighbourhood of Yaletown, formerly an industrial and now a residential area, is an example. Three quarters of recommendations have not been dealt with. Organizations and individuals can request amendments by writing the mayor and councillors.

Some of the more recent amendments are:

• Power equipment reduced from 77 dBA to 74 dBA.
• Commercial entertainment noise inside premises restricted to a maximum of 95 dBA and a warning must be posted.
• Use of gas powered leaf blowers restricted to between Oct. and Jan. From Feb. till Oct. they may not be used within 50 metres of a residential place. A complete ban goes into effect in Feb. 2004¹.
• Downtown emergency generator testing reduced from once a week to once a month.

Opinions of individual councillors were divided on the issue of the leaf blower ban. Four councillors were absent on July 12 when the decision was made. After such a decision, the legal department works out the legal wording, which can take a long time. The gardening and landscaping industry is lobbying Council to possibly get that ban rescinded¹.

Right to Quiet Society Newsletter, Spring 2002