Kate Mc Quaid

GINGER -- Project location: Strathcona, Vancouver

Vancouver -- 4818 Fannin

The 'TownShift: suburb into city' design competition attracted 138 submissions from 20 countries. Images from some of the 27 submissions selected as competition finalists are shown here, including a submission that won Renante Solivar of Vancouver the $15,000 grand prize and the $10,000 first prize in the Guildford category. His 'Return of Ritual' champions bold, brightly coloured construction along 152nd Street in front of Guildford Mall, with the images of dancers in a grand hall here representing just how bold and bright his imaginary Guildford is. 'Urban Typography' (Martin Liew and Martin Peter, Richmond) won the $10,000 first prize in the Fleetwood category. Right above, a finalist in the Semiahmoo category; right below, a finalist in the Newton category.

PETER SIMPSON -- peter

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Beneath Your Feet Landscaping was the recipient of a "Peoples Choice Award" at the recent Abbotsford home and garden show. The company news release contained a statement we could all bear to remember when we are pleased with ourselves. "I might add that we know most of the other landscapers quite well and some have some amazing talent," the company's Sherilyn Gale said. She also made a point about our diversity of wants and needs: "For some a garden is a place to welcome friends and family and enjoy company; for others it is a quiet place to meditate, relax and enjoy the time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life."

Project location: Broadway between Maple and Arbutus

A house-price tracking service says that Canadian home prices in December were 5.2 per cent greater than the previous December. "December was the third consecutive month in which prices were up from a year earlier, after 10 consecutive months of 12-month deflation," a news release from Teranet-National Bank National Composite House Price Index says. "The turnaround is due to eight straight monthly increases in the countrywide index." The Teranet etc etc etc index is based on prices of homes that have been sold at least once before the most recent sale.