Dear Ms. Lavoie,

I’m writing about the pilot schedule posted yesterday at the Granville Public Library. According to the poster, from October 7 to November 30, all weekday closing times will move from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and study rooms after 5:00 p.m. will require a $6 per hour reservation fee, paid online. I understand the need to manage costs and staffing, and I appreciate that this is a trial. However, I’m concerned that the combination of earlier closing and a new evening fee may unintentionally exclude the very people who rely on the library most after work and school.

Here’s why. I’m a project coordinator who commutes from Surrey to downtown Vancouver. Three evenings a week, I meet my younger sister Nisha at Granville to prepare for her CELPIP test. We usually arrive by 6:10 p.m. after her shift ends. With a 7:00 p.m. closing, we’d need to pack up by 6:45 p.m.—barely thirty minutes of real study time once we settle in. Paying $6 per hour for a study room on top of transit and test fees may not sound like much, but for many learners, it’s the deciding factor between staying and leaving. If we go to a café, we end up paying more than that in coffees, and the noise defeats the purpose. Is that truly the outcome we want for a public learning space?

I also volunteer on Saturdays for the Homework Club, and I’ve noticed that the busiest period for quiet study is between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. during midterms and language-test seasons. Several international students told me they don’t have stable internet or a quiet desk at home. An online-only payment system for rooms at 5:45 p.m. locks out anyone with a slow phone or a declined card—even when rooms are empty.

I’m not criticizing the need to experiment; I’m asking that the pilot measure the right outcomes. Could the branch keep two late evenings (e.g., Tue/Thu) until 9:30 p.m.? Or waive the evening room fee for students who show an upcoming exam date? Even a 15-minute grace period at closing would prevent the rush that sends people into the street mid-paragraph. I’m happy to volunteer on one late night to help with room checkouts if staffing is the issue.

Thank you for considering adjustments that keep the library affordable and welcoming, especially for learners who study after work. I’d appreciate a reply so I can plan Nisha’s schedule this month.

Sincerely,
Arjun Mehta
Library Member #482917

Concerns About Pilot Library Hours and Study-Room Fees

To request exceptions and adjustments to the pilot schedule.

To volunteer to run the Homework Club full-time.

To apply for a discounted CELPIP test fee.

Because many evening users are price-sensitive learners.

Because the library does not accept online payments.

Because the fee must be paid in cash at the desk.

It is between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. during exam seasons.

Students choosing cafés over the library due to cost and noise.

Keeping two late evenings open until 9:30 p.m.

Waiving evening room fees for learners with an exam date.

Adding a short grace period at closing time.

concentrates between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Dear Ms. Patel,

I’m writing regarding the appointment-booking pilot at Westside Community Health Clinic. According to the notice posted on October 3, from November 3 to December 20, all same-day appointments will be released at 8:00 a.m. through the mobile app, while the phone line will accept exception requests only between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The notice also states that a government-issued ID must be uploaded in the app to confirm a booking. I understand the need to streamline demand and reduce long lineups. However, I’m concerned that the combination of an app-only release and a narrow morning window unintentionally disadvantages several groups your clinic serves.

By way of context, I am the primary caregiver for my father, Rajesh Kumar, who has diabetes and needs periodic nurse consultations. I also work the night shift at the Sunset Bakery from 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. When I finish work, I’m either commuting home or trying to sleep at precisely the time the slots open. In the past week, the app showed “0 slots” by 8:03 a.m. on two different days (I took a screenshot on Tuesday). Some of our neighbours—especially older adults and newcomers—do not own a smartphone or have trouble with photo ID uploads. The phone line opens at 9:00 a.m., but it was busy for twenty minutes; by the time I got through, the staff member said all daytime slots were gone.

I am not criticizing the need to manage demand; I’m asking that the pilot measure the right outcomes and consider equitable access. Could the clinic try a staggered release (for example, a portion at 8:00 a.m., another at 12:00 p.m., and a small evening batch at 7:00 p.m.) so that night-shift and after-school caregivers have a fair chance? Reserving a few same-day slots—say, 3 out of 15—for chronic-care patients referred by a clinician would also help. For patients without smartphones, could an in-person kiosk at reception allow ID verification with a clinic card or a recent mailed letter? Finally, a short “hold” period (e.g., ten minutes) after a user selects a slot would prevent timeouts that push people back to the end of the queue.

I appreciate the effort your team is making to improve booking. My goal is the same as yours: safe, timely care without forcing people to choose between sleep, work, and access. If you need volunteers to help test the kiosk or translate instructions, I am available on Thursday afternoons.

Sincerely,
Maya Kumar
Apartment 3B, 2147 Oak Street

Feedback on App-Only Appointment Pilot and Morning Release Time

To request a waiver of government ID requirements.

To suggest adjustments to the booking pilot for equitable access.

Because all appointments require payment in cash.

Because many patients lack internet access and the release time conflicts with work or sleep.

Because nurses refuse to see night-shift workers.

Because the clinic no longer accepts government-issued ID.

Adding an in-person kiosk for patients without smartphones.

Reserving a few same-day slots for chronic-care patients with referrals.

Extending the phone line window beyond 11:00 a.m.

Releasing appointment batches at different times of day.

Dear Mr. Chen,

I am writing about the Westside Transit pilot announced on October 12 and scheduled from November 9 to January 5. The notice posted at Main Street–Science World indicates that after 7:15 p.m., Routes 14 and 22 will shift from every 10 minutes to every 20 minutes, and that the last eastbound trip on Route 22 will depart at 10:40 p.m. instead of 11:30 p.m. In addition, the fare transfer window will be reduced from 90 minutes to 60 minutes for all boardings after 7:00 p.m. The stated goals are to reduce bunching, match service with demand, and improve on-time performance during the winter period.

I understand the need to experiment and to make service reliable. However, the combination of lower frequency and a shorter transfer window may unintentionally penalize evening riders who depend on timed connections. I supervise closing shifts at Kitsilano Market and finish around 8:20 p.m. Two nights a week, I transfer at Main Street from Route 14 to Route 22 to get to my parents’ place on Victoria Drive. With a 20-minute headway, a late departure or a missed light can easily turn a 5-minute transfer into a 22-minute wait. Under a 60-minute transfer, a single delay can push the connection past the fare limit, forcing riders to pay a second time for the same trip.

Evening demand is not negligible. College classes at VCC and Langara let out between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., and many service workers finish shifts at similar times. On wet winter nights, asking people to stand at unprotected stops for 18–22 minutes encourages ride-hail use, which undermines your goal to retain ridership. The earlier last trip at 10:40 p.m. also creates a gap for people leaving late labs, community league games, or hospital visits.

I am not criticizing the intent of the pilot; I am asking that it measure the right outcomes and protect essential trips. Could you keep a 90-minute transfer **after 7:00 p.m.** for the duration of the pilot? Would Transit Operations consider a scheduled 5-minute “hold” at Main Street–Science World so Routes 14 and 22 can make a safe, reliable connection each hour? Restoring a single late eastbound departure at **11:10 p.m.** would cover most class nights without adding an entire late block. Finally, real-time displays at the eastbound platform (or at least temporary laminated signs that show the new timed meet) would help riders plan.

Thank you for considering adjustments that keep trips affordable and predictable while you test changes. If helpful, I can provide screenshots of missed transfers from last winter and speak with your planning team at a community session.

Sincerely,
Priya Sharma
Resident, 8th Avenue

Concerns About Evening Bus Frequency Pilot and Transfer Window

To request adjustments to the evening bus pilot for fairer connections.

To apply for a job with Transit Operations.

Frequency increases from every 20 minutes to every 10 minutes.

Frequency remains every 10 minutes all evening.

Frequency decreases from every 10 minutes to every 20 minutes.

Route 22 will run express every 15 minutes.

It would prevent transfers between any bus routes.

It could force riders to pay a second fare when delays extend their connection beyond the limit.

It requires riders to pay cash instead of using a pass.

It bans transfers at Main Street–Science World.

It includes students and service workers leaving around 8:30–9:30 p.m.

prompts riders to choose app-based car services instead

requires riders to share taxis organized by Transit

Add a brief timed hold so buses can connect reliably.

Restore one late eastbound departure at 11:10 p.m.

Increase the base fare to fund more service.

Keep a 90-minute transfer window after 7:00 p.m.

writing with specific, time-stamped feedback

Dear Grandpa,

Thank you again for the 35mm film camera you passed down to me. I finally took it out on a short cycling trip with my friend Leo last week. We rode the trails along the lakeshore for five days—nothing too intense, but enough to see if I could handle a camera without a screen. I brought two rolls of film with 36 pictures each and tried to remember your advice: hold steady, breathe out, then press the shutter.

I have to admit, I almost ruined the first roll. On the second day, I opened the camera back by mistake when I thought it was empty. A bright stripe ran across a few pictures. I took the rolls straight to the small photo lab on Queen Street. They said most of the shots survived, and they’ll have the prints ready on Wednesday after 4:00 p.m. The lab is closed on Monday because of the long weekend, so I have to wait a little longer than I hoped. Still, I’m excited to see what turned out.

Using the camera made me think about you a lot. The focusing ring is smooth, and the click of the shutter feels solid, like it will last for years. Inside the strap, I found your name lightly scratched into the leather. It sounds silly, but that small mark made me feel like you were right there, reminding me to be patient and pay attention to light. I kept a simple journal each evening so I could write down where I took the pictures and what I did wrong or right.

Before college starts on September 3, I have a full week free—from August 24 to August 31. If it works for you, I’d like to come stay for five or six days. I’ve saved $240 from my weekend job at the bookstore, which should cover a train ticket. There’s a 2:05 p.m. train that arrives in your town at 5:18 p.m. on Sunday. If I come then, we could pick up the developed prints on Monday, scan them, and start a small family album together. I also want to record your stories about when you first learned photography. Wouldn’t it be great to write a short caption under each picture, with the place and a note about why it matters?

Let me know which days work for you. If you’re up to it, I’d love to take a short walk by the river and try a few portraits. I promise to keep the camera closed until the film is finished this time.

Love,
Ryan

Thank You for the Camera—and a Plan to Visit

To ask Grandpa to repair the camera immediately.

To thank Grandpa for the camera, share the trip experience, and propose a visit.

To complain about the cost of film processing.

To request money to buy a new digital camera.

He discovered Grandpa’s name scratched inside the strap and remembered his advice.

He read a manual that Grandpa wrote last year.

He used the camera at the same river where Grandpa fishes.

He spoke to Grandpa on the phone during the ride.

photo frames or pictures on a roll of film

Arrive on Sunday afternoon, pick up prints Monday, and start a family album together.

Arrive Friday night and go camping for two weeks.

Start college earlier to avoid travelling.

I’ll be thrilled to host you for five or six days

Call me once you’ve booked, and we’ll plan the river walk.

Dear Dr. Alvarez,

I’m writing about the capstone lab access and booking changes posted on March 4 for the Engineering Design Centre. The notice states that beginning March 18, weekday lab hours will end at 6:00 p.m. (previously 9:30 p.m.), weekend access will be by appointment only, and all equipment bookings must be made through the web portal with university two-factor authentication and supervisor pre-approval submitted at least 48 hours in advance. Walk-ins after 5:00 p.m. will not be permitted. 3D print jobs must finish by 5:45 p.m., and storage lockers will be checked at closing. They will be cleared each night.

I lead capstone team A12 (smart irrigation). Our lectures finish at 5:10 p.m.; two teammates work part-time until 5:45. We usually arrive around 6:15 and build until 9:15. Under the new hours, we would have roughly thirty minutes once we log in and unpack. Many of our PLA print runs take 2–3 hours, so the 5:45 cutoff effectively prevents iterative prototyping in the evenings.

Delays outside our control also squeeze the timeline. Our sensor boards from the vendor are due March 22; the regional demo is April 11. Compressing evening access into daytime hours forces students to choose between skipping paid shifts or missing lab time. I understand the aim—safety, staffing, and predictable closing—but the combination of earlier closing and a 48-hour pre-approval window may unintentionally disadvantage teams who rely on post-class hours.

Could the department keep two late nights (Tuesday/Thursday) open until 9:30 p.m., with a graduate monitor on duty? On those nights, could the print-job cutoff extend to 8:45 p.m., and could lockers be retained for up to three days for projects with active bookings? For students whose phones die during 2FA, an on-site kiosk at the front desk would allow a temporary one-time code. Finally, allowing same-day supervisor sign-off until 2:00 p.m. would maintain oversight without blocking urgent repairs.

I appreciate the effort to make the space safe and sustainable, and I’m happy to volunteer for one late shift each week to help check bookings and walk the benches at closing. Thank you for considering adjustments that protect safety while keeping capstone work possible in the hours students actually have.

Sincerely,
Priyanka Singh
Team A12, Mechanical Engineering

Request to Adjust Capstone Lab Access and Booking Rules

To ask for adjustments to lab hours and booking rules so evening work remains possible.

To complain about a teammate’s schedule.

Lab hours will end at 6:00 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m.

Students can walk in at any time after 5:00 p.m.

Weekend access will be open without appointment.

It would let students bypass supervisor approval.

It would help students who cannot authenticate on a phone.

It would replace the web portal entirely.

requesting personal storage space for the semester

Dear Parking Services Team,

I’m writing about the West End Residential Parking Pilot announced on September 28 for Zone W-13, scheduled from October 15 to December 31. The notice on our block states that each household may register one resident vehicle and obtain up to two digital guest e-permits per month. Guest permits can only be purchased through the mobile app; the phone line will take exception requests on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Evening guest parking is $4 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; overnight is $8 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. On-street resident parking for a second household vehicle is not permitted except on weekends. Enforcement begins at 6:30 p.m.

I understand the goals—reduce cruising, keep curb space available, and align payment with use. However, the combination of a strict two-permit limit and app-only purchases may unintentionally exclude visitors who come regularly for caregiving or shift work. My mother-in-law visits twice a week to help with childcare; our neighbour, Mr. Lam, receives a home-care nurse three evenings a week; and a night-shift friend often arrives around 11:10 p.m. after closing at the hotel. Most of our guests arrive between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. If a caregiver’s phone dies or a card fails, they must call during the 10:00–2:00 window on a weekday—which is impossible in the evening. Officers check plates and, if a valid permit isn’t found, they place a warning on the windshield. They’ll then issue a $50 ticket on the next pass. This combination nudges people to risk fines or skip essential visits.

I’m not criticizing the pilot; I’m asking that it measure the right outcomes and protect essential trips. Could the monthly guest limit increase to six, with unused guest permits allowed to roll over into the next month? A web portal and a small kiosk at the community centre would help visitors without smartphones, and paper scratch-cards (sold at the desk) could serve as a simple fallback during outages. Extending the phone support to 7:00 p.m. and adding a 15-minute grace period after 6:30 p.m. would prevent accidental tickets while people park and pay. Finally, a caregiver exemption—verified by a brief letter from a clinic or a signed declaration—would keep medical or childcare visits predictable without opening the door to abuse.

Thank you for considering adjustments that keep streets orderly while ensuring that caregiving, health, and late-shift visits remain feasible for residents.

Sincerely,
Aditya Rao
Apartment 2C, 1180 Haro Street

Request to Adjust Guest Permit Limits and Purchase Options in Parking Pilot

To ask for adjustments to the parking pilot so essential evening visits are not penalized.

Because officers only accept cash payments on the street.

Because support calls are limited to 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on weekdays and purchases are app-only.

Because permits must be bought a month in advance.

formal, respectful, and solution-oriented

Dear Mr. Dupont,

I am writing on behalf of Cedar Court Housing Co-op (16 units) about the ‘pay-as-you-throw’ pilot described in the October 28 notice. As I understand it, starting December 1, each household will be allotted ten standard garbage lifts per month at no charge; additional lifts will be billed at $3.25 each. Organics and recycling remain free. The notice also states that bins are now RFID-tagged to the unit, contamination incurs a $25 penalty per occurrence, and any exception request must be filed online two business days in advance. November is a grace period for education only.

In principle we support waste reduction. Our concern is how unit-linked counting behaves in a shared-infrastructure building. Cedar Court has a single chute per floor and a night cleaner who consolidates bags and wheels out whichever cart is nearest. Several households share childcare and swap chores, so bags do not reliably travel with a specific unit’s bin. Two residents receive home-care twice weekly; medical packaging not eligible for recycling accumulates unpredictably. One foster family currently hosts siblings for three weeks each term; they generate spikes that are impossible to forecast two days ahead. Under the pilot, a full cart moved by the cleaner could register as two lifts for Unit 3 because that tag happened to be on the cart at the time. Those misattributed lifts would then trigger overage fees and, if a neighbour mis-sorts, contamination penalties as well. For low-income renters without utility accounts, the quarterly credits described in the FAQ are contingent on paperwork that our co-op cannot submit on their behalf.

To keep the pilot fair while still driving diversion, may I propose: a building-level pool of lifts equal to the sum of unit allocations, viewable in a dashboard by the property manager; contamination ‘first strikes’ logged as warnings with photo evidence before charges apply; an optional schedule upload so moves by cleaners are recognized as operational, not household behaviour; and a modest increase in the grace period to 60 days for multi-unit sites only. In addition, a simple caregiver exemption (clinic note or signed declaration) would protect essential visits. Finally, one included bulky-item pickup per month would remove the incentive to hide items in bags.

We are ready to participate constructively. However, without pooling and recognition of shared handling, these charges risk punishing co-operative practices rather than wastefulness. I would appreciate a response this week so we can brief members before the December 1 start.

Sincerely,
Elena Moroz
Property Manager, Cedar Court

Concerns About RFID ‘Pay-as-You-Throw’ Pilot for Multi-Unit Co-ops

To request adjustments so the pilot accounts for shared handling in a multi-unit co-op.

To dispute the cost of organics collection.

Because organics and recycling are billed at higher rates.

Because bags are consolidated and any nearby cart may be wheeled out by staff.

Because residents refuse to use the chute system.

Because RFID tags do not register lifts at night.

overage fees and contamination penalties under unit-linked counting

the cost of bulky-item pickup included monthly

providing a detailed analysis with concrete examples

requesting additional recycling totes only

asking for immediate fee waivers without data

Hey Jasper,

Curveball: my manager moved the Toronto workshop up a week, so I’m flying out this Friday at 18:20 and won’t be back until next Thursday on the 23:40 from YYZ. I was going to ask you to check in just once, but now I need a proper house-sit on three evenings—Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday—plus a couple of quick morning drop-ins for Nova. I’ll owe you big time.

Cat logistics first. Nova eats at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; her pills are half a tablet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings—score the line and press gently into cream cheese or she spits it out. If she hides, rattle the tin by the window and she’ll appear. Please scoop the box each night. If she vomits (rare), it’s usually hair. There are lint rollers under the sink.

Plants: water the pothos and herbs every second day, but skip the snake plant unless the soil is totally dry. If it rains hard, you can delay a day—the balcony drains slowly. I left a sticky note with dates on the fridge. Also, the building’s doing a planned power cut on Wednesday from 6–8 p.m.; the emergency lights stay on, but the elevator pauses at 6 sharp, so arrive before then or you’ll be stuck taking the stairs to 11.

Keys used to live with Auntie Lin, but she flew to Hong Kong yesterday. The super (Mr. López) has the master, yet he won’t release it without me present. So I put a small lockbox on the bike hook outside my door; code 1968. The dial’s a bit sticky—push down before turning or it won’t catch. Please scramble the code after you close it. Don’t prop the fire door; the alarm chimes.

The tricky bit is a courier: a camera lens I sold is being picked up Tuesday sometime between 10:00 and 14:00, and it needs a signature. They usually buzz around 11. If you can’t make that window, Amal can cover Monday or Tuesday (I texted her already), but she can’t do evenings. I’ll be in the air after noon Friday with my phone in airplane mode, so assume I’m slow to reply until a layover. There’s $40 on the bookshelf for groceries or Ubers if it pours. Spare ice packs are in the freezer—use them under the lens box if the hallway gets warm.

If any of this collides with your class, tell me what you can’t do and I’ll reshuffle. Thanks for saving me—again.

—Mia

Trip change—could you cover Nova, plants, and a delivery?

Ask Jasper to house-sit with specific tasks.

Nina,

I’ve been bursting to tell you: I got promoted to Regional Product Lead for EMEA, and the role is based in Lisbon, Portugal. It’s an 18-month assignment with a renewal option. When the offer came through on Monday, it still felt unreal—like the kind of thing we imagined over late coffee and sticky notes, not an actual email in my inbox. But it’s real, and I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled.

Timeline first. I fly out on October 1 at 13:10, onboarding is October 3–4, and my first official day is October 7. The company is putting me in a serviced studio near Alcântara for 30 days while I hunt for a place; I’m eyeing Graça or Campo de Ourique because I want hills and bakeries within walking distance. I’ll be working 8:30–4:30 Lisbon time, which means I’ll ping you before your lunch back home.

Logistics: I’m shipping six boxes (books, winter clothes, kitchen gear) and storing the rest. I’m selling the Civic—photos are ready, I just need the listing live. Mochi will stay with Zara for the first two months while her pet passport clears the rabies window; if all goes well, I’ll bring her in early December. HR covers language classes, so I signed up for evening A2 Portuguese twice a week. Salary is a modest bump with a cost-of-living allowance; the exciting part is the scope.

I’m trying to leave without turning my apartment into a tornado. I’ll host a tiny send-off at Patio 99 next Thursday at 7 p.m.—no speeches, just tacos and loud hugs. If you can help me label the “ship vs. store” piles this weekend, I’ll buy your cinnamon buns for a month. Also: if you have Marketplace energy, I would love help listing the car and a spare dresser.

I know it’s far and new, but it feels like the kind of stretch I’ve been working toward. Text me your questions; I’m keeping a shared doc with passwords, flights, and “don’t forget” items. Lisbon, here we come.

—Aisha

Big news—promotion and a move!

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m writing to ask you to accept my application for the position of Floor Supervisor – Home & Lifestyle at Harbourview Department Store (Job ID HV-2143). I learned about the opening on September 20 from your careers page and spoke briefly with an associate at the Granville location about the team’s goals for holiday readiness. The role’s mix of customer leadership, visual standards, and inventory accuracy matches my experience and the kind of work I love.

For the past three years, I’ve been a Senior Sales Associate at RiverPoint Home, where I regularly led the evening team of 12 associates on weekends, coached new hires on POS and BOPIS pickup flows, and partnered with Loss Prevention to reduce shrink by 18% over two quarters through cycle counts and tidy back-stock practices. I’ve built end-cap planograms that lifted seasonal pillow sales by 14% and kept on-shelf availability above 98.5% during peak weekends. On the service side, I handled escalations with empathy and closed the loop; our post-purchase surveys averaged 4.8/5 across 320 responses last winter. I hold current Emergency First Aid and WHMIS.

I’m comfortable with rotating shifts and late closes (to 10:00 p.m.). My availability is Monday–Thursday plus alternating Saturdays; I’m currently completing a part-time merchandising certificate (Mon/Wed 6:30–8:00 p.m.) that ends October 16. I can start on October 21 after two weeks’ notice. If helpful, I can interview next week: Tuesday 10:30–12:00 or Thursday 3:00–5:30.

Tools I use daily include RetailPro and Square; in Excel I’m comfortable with filters, countifs, and basic VLOOKUPs for discrepancy checks. I enjoy tidy, shoppable tables, clear signing, and quick resets when priorities change. Colleagues describe me as steady under pressure and kind with feedback.

I’ve attached my resume and a one-page sample floor map; references include my current Store Manager (Elena Ortiz) and our Loss Prevention lead (Daniel Cho). Thank you for considering my application. I’d be proud to help Harbourview deliver a welcoming floor and a smooth omnichannel experience this season.

Sincerely,
Kavita Rao
kavita.rao@email.com • 604-555-0198

Application: Floor Supervisor – Home & Lifestyle (Job ID HV-2143)

Apply for Floor Supervisor at a department store.

applying for the Floor Supervisor – Home & Lifestyle role

Please wait at the loading dock overnight

Dear Mr. Ahmed,

I write on behalf of Harbour Light Arts Society regarding your 10 March notice revising the renovation closure at Seaview Civic Arts Centre to 5 April–15 June. Under our executed licence (reference HLAS–SCAC–24/017), the Main Hall and Black Box were reserved for our community dance festival on 10–12 May, with rehearsal access beginning 8 May. We remitted a $3,500 deposit on 21 February and accepted the contract’s minimums (two technical staff on duty, and a $4,000 food-and-beverage spend with Centre catering). As of today, we have issued 420 presale tickets and contracted a sprung-floor supplier specifically for your stage dimensions. The revised dates, if applied as stated, would curtail access to both rooms during our event window.

Your notice describes a sprinkler retrofit and rigging replacement. The October planning memo characterised those works as non-emergency, to be scheduled “when practicable.” We therefore ask the Centre to clarify whether the present closure is force majeure under clause 9(b), or elective maintenance governed by clause 12. If the retrofit schedule is discretionary, it would be treated as elective maintenance; in that case, clause 12 provides for a prorated abatement of rent, prompt refund of the deposit, and reasonable relocation costs. We request the Centre’s written position on this point.

To preserve our program and community goodwill, we propose mitigations that keep the pilot project on track while allowing performances to proceed: evening access to the Black Box (18:00–22:30) on 10–12 May; Main Hall for 11:00 and 14:00 matinees on 11–12 May; waiver of minimum technical staffing other than one duty manager; south-door load-in 07:00–09:00; sound-check curfew relaxed to 17:30; loan of risers and a portable wardrobe rack; and reimbursement of incremental costs up to $2,000 (e.g., revised floor install). We will maintain your safety protocols and provide a daily call sheet.

If full closure is unavoidable, we request: refund of the $3,500 deposit within five business days; a written waiver of cancellation penalties; a letter of support explaining the cause of venue change that we can share with ticket-holders; and a credit for three spring weekends in 2026 at current rates.

Please provide a written response by 18 March so that our board can brief stakeholders and adapt the production plan. We appreciate the Centre’s goals and seek a solution that protects safety without eroding public trust.

Sincerely,
Elisa Morgan
Festival Director, Harbour Light Arts Society

Request for Remedies re: Revised Renovation Closure — Seaview Civic Arts Centre

Seek remedies/mitigations for a revised closure.

Hey Priya,

Favour to ask! Riverstone Fest bumped us from the café tent to the Maple Stage, and I’m thrilled—but it means I need a steady human at the board. Could you run sound for our set on Saturday? Our slot is 6:40–7:25 p.m., with load-in at 5:25 and a tight line check at 5:50. Stage manager Lia is friendly but strict about times.

Gear: the festival crew says they’ll have an Allen & Heath ZED mixer, four vocal mics, a cajón mic, and two DIs (guitar + bass). They’ll set stands and snakes, but can you bring three spare XLRs, one fresh 9V for my tuner, and a roll of gaffer? If rain shows up, the Maple Stage is covered; only lightning pauses the set. I’ll email the stage plot and the setlist PDF tonight—new song “Shorelines” (key of D, 92 bpm) comes third, so please ride the lead vocal there.

Parking: volunteers use Lot P3 by the south gate. The QR code in this email gets you in, but the gate locks at 5:00; if you’re cutting it close, text Lia and she’ll wave you through the service lane. You can crash on my sofa Friday or grab a tent spot in artist camping; I’ve got an extra sleeping pad either way. Food tokens: you get two, and the stipend is $120, e-transfer Sunday night.

A couple extras: after our set, could you watch the merch table for 15 minutes while I pack the pedals and settle with the stage? We’ll use my Square reader; I’ll leave a float and labels. Also, if your back is grumpy, I’ll handle amps—mostly cable wrangling and levels for you. Rehearsal is Thursday 7:00 p.m. at Warehouse 12B (roller door by the mural); I’ll bring tea and earplugs. If you want someone to tag along Sunday, your comp wristband covers the full weekend; I also got a single-use code “crew15” that knocks 15% off a GA ticket until Wednesday at midnight.

Say yes and I owe you churros forever.

—Anika

Could you run sound for our set at Riverstone Fest?

Dear Ms. Laurent,

I write on behalf of Northbridge Settlement Council regarding the reporting circular issued 5 January for the Community Resilience program. The circular advances the final report due date from 31 March to 15 February and states that submissions must be lodged via the GrantSync portal only; email delivery will not be accepted. Uploads are limited to 25 MB per file and must follow the prescribed naming convention. We support fiscal discipline; however, the revised timetable intersects with activities already contracted under our agreement (Grant ID CR-2024-118, value $96,000).

Our work plan comprises three streams: (A) fourteen outreach workshops; (B) a translation toolkit (twelve languages); and (C) an evaluator’s outcomes report linked to pre-/post-surveys. Thirteen workshops are complete; the fourteenth is scheduled for 12 February at Parkview Library. Our independent evaluator (contracted 22 January) advised that fieldwork closes 20 February, with the signed report due 28 February. The translation vendor’s consolidated PDF is due the same week. The portal requires the evaluator’s certificate at submission; under the new date, we cannot furnish the signed report without truncating data collection and undermining validity. Compounding this, the GrantSync outage recorded as Incident #INC-2317 (30 January–2 February) delayed our preparatory uploads.

Section 5.4 of the contribution agreement permits a variance “with prior written consent.” Section 7.2 specifies that “reporting shall be in the form prescribed by the City unless the City system is unavailable,” in which case alternate means may be used. In light of the above, we respectfully request either: (1) a 21-day extension to 7 March; or (2) a phased submission—financial statements and inventory by 15 February, with the narrative, evaluator’s report, and translation toolkit by 7 March. If portal constraints persist, we ask to transmit the oversized deliverables by SFTP. We further request that late penalties be held in abeyance during any verified outage, and that the 25 MB limit be relaxed for the toolkit.

To expedite review, we can provide a draft narrative by 14 February and meet for a pre-submission check on 8 February at 10:00. We appreciate the program’s objectives and seek a remedy that safeguards methodological integrity without compromising fiscal close.

Sincerely,
Amara Voss
Program Director, Northbridge Settlement Council

Request for Deadline Variance and Clarifications — Community Resilience Grant CR-2024-118

Request an extension/clarifications on reporting.

Evaluator and translations complete after 15 Feb.

your detailed request regarding the revised deadline

financials by 15 Feb; narrative, evaluator report, and toolkit by 7 Mar

Dear Director Chan,

I write on behalf of Atlas Fare Systems regarding your 26 August notice of intent to award RFP IT-2025-044 to MetroPay Inc. The solicitation (issued 5 July; closed 5 August) identified weighted criteria of Technical 60, Price 30, and Experience 10. Our notification shows Atlas scored 48/60 (Technical), 18/30 (Price), and 9/10 (Experience), for 75/100. The posted summary lists MetroPay at 81.5/100. We request a debrief and certain clarifications before your office executes the agreement.

First, Addendum 2 (19 July) revised the API requirement from “REST-only” to “REST or GraphQL,” and indicated SDKs could satisfy non-critical endpoints where latency was demonstrated. The conformance matrix appended to the award summary still references the superseded formulation. If the matrix continued to map against “REST-only,” it could have depressed T3 (Integration) scoring for proponents, including Atlas, who proposed GraphQL for selected modules. We ask that the evaluation file confirm which version of the requirement governed scoring at consensus.

Second, the price workbook states that totals were normalized “to the lowest compliant bid using a linear formula.” We request the exact normalization equation, the identified lowest compliant total, and the point allocations derived for each proponent, so that our unit-price structure can be reconciled with the 18/30 assigned.

Third, we request (a) the redacted consensus evaluation report; (b) the rubric-to-requirement crosswalk used by the panel; and (c) the signed conflict-of-interest declarations. One evaluator’s LinkedIn profile indicates a consulting engagement with MetroPay within the last 18 months; we are not alleging misconduct, but seek assurance that any prior affiliation was declared and screened in accordance with your by-law.

Given the above, Atlas requests (1) a debrief within ten business days under §12.4; (2) reconsideration or re-scoring of item T3 where Addendum 2 applies; and (3) a short stay of award milestones until your office concludes its review. We remain prepared to keep our bid security valid for 30 days. Please advise of available times the week of 2 September; we can attend in person or via videoconference.

Respectfully,
Elena Park
Director, Public Sector Programs, Atlas Fare Systems

Request for Debrief, Clarifications, and Stay — RFP IT-2025-044 (Digital Ticketing Platform)

To withdraw Atlas’s proposal from consideration.

To request a debrief, seek clarifications on scoring and price normalization, and ask for a short stay pending review.

To demand an immediate cancellation of the RFP and re-tender.

To negotiate a lower subscription price with MetroPay.

It changed the requirement from REST-only to REST or GraphQL and allowed SDKs for certain endpoints.

It allowed proprietary APIs with no documentation.

MetroPay’s confidential unit prices and staffing plan.

The exact normalization formula, the lowest compliant total, and the derived point allocations for each proponent.

Only the average of all bids without formulas.

The conformance matrix still referencing the old requirement

Individual evaluator notebooks and unredacted résumés

Redacted consensus report, rubric-to-requirement crosswalk, and signed conflict-of-interest declarations.

Bank statements and tax filings for all proponents

A debrief meeting within ten business days.

Re-scoring of the Integration criterion (T3) if Addendum 2 applies.

A permanent cancellation of the award and re-issuance of the RFP.

A short stay of award milestones pending review.

your detailed request for debrief and clarifications

the signed conflict-of-interest declarations

re-score the affected criterion and issue a written addendum to the debrief

cancel the procurement immediately without review

have already been executed and cannot be paused

Dear Kieran,

I feel awful about not being there for your birthday today—sweet sixteen! At last you can start learning to drive. A small package is already on its way to you; I won’t spoil the surprise, but it has something to do with music. I picked it up in a night market here and thought of you immediately.

Speaking of music, Mom and Dad say you’re getting really good at guitar. I guess those lessons were worth every minute. I always wanted to learn too, but I was never as dedicated as you. You’ll have to show me a few chords when I get home next month.

Travel has been wild and wonderful. I spent the last week trekking in Cát Tiên National Park in southern Vietnam with local guides. At first, the forest honestly scared me—the heat was heavy, the rains switched on and off like a tap, and I kept imagining everything that could sting or bite. But the longer we walked, the more I started noticing the magic: hornbills beating their wings over the canopy, neon dragonflies in the clearings, and a green lizard sunning itself on a mossy log. I did get stung by a small scorpion that wandered into my shoe one afternoon. The ranger cleaned the sting and told me it would pass. It hurt more than anything I’ve felt before, but I’m fine now—and yes, I took a picture of the tiny culprit and my puffy ankle for the album.

Right now I’m in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital and my final stop. It was a short flight from Bao Lộc. The weather here is a relief—dry and cool in the evenings—and the people are incredible. When I first arrived, I didn’t have a map and my phone battery died. I ducked into a stationery shop and asked the owner for directions. She couldn’t really speak English, but she locked up her shop and actually walked me all the way to my hostel—almost two kilometers! Imagine someone doing that back home.

I can’t wait to see you. We’ll celebrate properly when I’m back, and you can laugh at all my bug stories while I try to keep up with your guitar.

Love,
Lena

Sorry to miss your big day—package on the way!

She sent a birthday gift related to music.

Kieran is teaching guitar classes at school.

Kieran hopes to start learning an instrument next year.

Kieran received a guitar from Lena’s parents.

With local guides in Cát Tiên National Park.

She loved it immediately with no worries.

She enjoyed the heat and sudden rain most.

She disliked the animals and wanted to leave.

She was afraid at first, then began to appreciate it.

In Hanoi, enjoying the last stop of her journey.

From: <a.haddad@email.com>
To: <maria.ortiz@willowps.ca>
Subject: Requesting Extra Help for Social Studies

Dear Ms. Ortiz,

My name is Arman Haddad, and I am Leila’s father. Although I have waved hello at pick-up a couple of times, we have not had a chance to formally meet.

Leila has spoken very highly of you since the first week of school. Nearly every evening, we hear a “Ms. Ortiz story.” Sometimes it is something funny you said; other times it is the creative way you teach—for example, the day you turned fractions into a recipe activity in math, or when you had the class create a “walk-about museum” for history vocabulary. She may be your biggest fan.

The reason I’m writing is that I’m concerned about Leila keeping up in Social Studies. Our family immigrated to Canada from Iran last spring. Leila has made strong progress with English since September, but the reading in Social Studies seems especially difficult—maps, timelines, and many new words. When we ask how that class is going, she lowers her head and says she does not want to talk about it. We want to support her before small gaps become big ones.

I called the main office and spoke with someone, but I did not catch the Social Studies teacher’s name. Could you please let me know how to contact them? Also, because you are clearly a passionate educator, I would be grateful for any suggestions so Leila does not fall behind. I realize the year is just getting started, yet I would rather not wait until it is too late to catch up. I have heard that some families use after-school programs or private tutors. Would you be able to recommend either a class or a tutor? She could also use some help with science vocabulary.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer. If you think it would be helpful, I would be happy to meet with you or the Social Studies teacher sometime this week to discuss Leila’s needs.

Sincerely,
Arman Haddad

Requesting Extra Help for Social Studies

They know each other well and have met often.

They do not personally know each other yet.

They already scheduled a conference last month.

She pays attention and talks about the lessons at home.

She often skips class and avoids homework.

She dislikes Ms. Ortiz’s teaching methods.

She is teaching other students after school.

She looks forward to it and talks about it.

To obtain information and advice to support Leila.

To ask for missing assignment details only.

bringing to my attention Leila’s love of science

your kind words about my efforts to engage the class

sharing Leila’s recent exam scores with me

your suggestions about teaching through storytelling

From: <m.leung@email.com>
To: <manager@harborviewcondo.ca>
Subject: Water Shutoff Schedule — Notice and Accommodation Requests

Dear Building Manager,

I am writing as an owner in Suite 1203 about the daytime water shutoffs scheduled for Stack B next week (Tuesday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) for valve replacements. I appreciate that this work is necessary. However, the combination of short notice and a six-hour window on three consecutive weekdays presents challenges for several residents, including caregivers and those working from home.

The notice was posted in the lobby at approximately 5:00 p.m. yesterday; many residents on our floor did not see it until this morning. A 48-hour lead time is helpful, but when the outage spans most of the day, families need additional time to plan—especially anyone caring for infants or elders, or arranging home health visits. Several neighbours have also mentioned they receive deliveries of weekly meal kits on Wednesdays; without potable water during prep time, food safety becomes a concern.

I am not questioning the need for repairs; I am asking that the work be organized in a way that reduces avoidable hardship. Could the contractor shorten each day’s window by staggering the work (e.g., 9:30–12:30 for floors 2–8, 12:30–3:30 for floors 9–15), so that residents have at least half a day with water? If that is not feasible, would the strata consider setting up a potable-water station in the loading bay with labelled jugs, plus a handwashing station near the mailroom? Clear signage inside both elevators would also help those who miss the lobby board.

For transparency, a brief email the evening before each shutoff confirming the exact floors affected the next day would prevent unnecessary stockpiling. Finally, for households with documented medical needs (e.g., dialysis supplies or wound care), a simple accommodation—such as offering an alternate laundry room hour or a one-time credit for bottled water—would go a long way toward keeping the community on side while the work proceeds.

Thank you for organizing essential maintenance and for considering these adjustments. Please let us know what accommodations will be in place so we can plan accordingly for next week.

Sincerely,
Mei Leung
Suite 1203

Concerns and Suggestions Regarding Daytime Water Shutoffs

To demand that the repair work be cancelled.

To request adjustments and accommodations to reduce hardship during water shutoffs.

Yesterday at around 5:00 p.m. via a lobby posting.

Split the shutoff times so different floors lose water at different hours.

An email the evening before each shutoff confirming affected floors.

Caregivers and people working from home are affected by long daytime shutoffs.

writing with specific, practical suggestions

From: <rohan.patel@umail.ca>
To: <advising@csdept.umail.ca>
Subject: Enrolment Options for CPSC/PHIL 482

Dear Dr. Lavoie,

I’m writing about CPSC 482 (cross-listed as PHIL 482) and my options for joining the course this term. On September 12 the department notice in the portal said the cap was lowered from 120 to 90 due to a room change, that 15 seats are reserved for the co-op cohort, and that students auto-drop from the waitlist after October 2 if they miss the first lab. I’m currently waitlist position #2 for CPSC 482, but the system blocks add with the message “Reserve Cap (major) full,” even when the main seat tally shows 1–2 seats opening intermittently.

For degree planning, 482 is the prerequisite for our January capstone, and my fall co-op offer is contingent on me finishing it. Labs are L1 (Wed 08:30) and L2 (Fri 14:30). I can attend L1; L2 conflicts with my off-campus job (permit-compliant, 5–9 p.m. shifts). Next Wednesday morning I have a specialist appointment booked months ago; if L1 attendance in week one is mandatory, could I complete an equivalent check-in remotely (e.g., a brief quiz and TA confirmation) and attend in person thereafter? I’m happy to provide documentation.

Because PHIL 482 shares lectures with CPSC 482, one route might be a seat swap from the philosophy side if they open cross-list capacity. Alternatively, would a permission number allow me to over-enrol by one if the fire code occupancy is still respected? If that is not possible, could the reserve-cap be adjusted temporarily so the two co-op-held seats roll to the general pool after the first class?

I realize academic integrity and safety are non-negotiable. I’ve reviewed the syllabus policies on attendance, proctoring, and device use. I can meet any extra conditions (e.g., first-week quiz window, signed lab safety form). My add/drop deadline is September 18 at 16:00, so I’m hoping for guidance before then.

Thank you for considering these options. If a short call helps, I’m free today after 15:30 or tomorrow 12:00–13:00.

Sincerely,
Rohan Patel
Student #30148726

Request for Enrolment Path in CPSC/PHIL 482 (Data Ethics) — Waitlist, Reserve Caps, and First-Week Labs

To cancel the co-op reserve and increase the overall course cap permanently.

To obtain a viable path to enrolment (e.g., permission number, cross-list seat, or temporary reserve adjustment).

To replace CPSC 482 with a different course for the capstone prerequisite.

To move both lab sections to evening times for the entire class.

The cap increased to 120 and all reserves were removed.

The cap was lowered to 90, 15 seats are reserved for co-op, and wait-listed students who miss the first lab are auto-dropped.

Only philosophy majors may enrol, and labs are optional in week one.

The course is no longer cross-listed and no labs are offered.

He has an unavoidable medical appointment that conflicts with Wednesday morning.

He is travelling out of the country for a conference.

He has evening shifts that conflict with Wednesday nights.

He is already enrolled in another Wednesday morning lecture.

All general seats are available but the course is cancelled.

Seats are being held for a designated group and those reserved seats are currently exhausted.

Only cross-listed seats are open to the public.

The student’s program has been suspended.

The Philosophy Department or scheduling office controlling the PHIL 482 seat pool.

It is unrelated to academics and already guaranteed.

It is contingent on successful completion of the course.

It requires him to withdraw from the course.

a clear, detailed summary of your constraints

asking to waive the capstone prerequisite entirely

From: <l.singh@email.com>
To: <billing@citypower.ca>
Subject: Request for Review of July Billing and Meter Accuracy — Account 4578-2291

Dear Billing Department,

I am writing to request a formal review of my July 15–August 14 electricity bill for Account 4578-2291 at 22 Oakridge Crescent. The statement issued on August 18 shows 1,260 kWh of consumption and a total of $296.14 before taxes. For the past two summers (2023 and 2024), my usage during the same period averaged approximately 420–480 kWh with bills in the $110–$135 range. This sudden tripling warrants investigation, particularly because a smart meter replacement occurred on July 16 following a neighbourhood outage the previous evening.

I phoned Customer Service on August 19 and spoke with an agent named Marco. He confirmed that the old meter (serial AQM6931) was removed at 10:12 a.m. on July 16 and replaced with unit BQ4-7719. He also advised that the account is now billed from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) interval data rather than monthly estimates. However, the timing still appears inconsistent with our actual occupancy. My family was away visiting relatives from July 20 to July 29; the house was locked, blinds were drawn, and our gas water heater was set to vacation mode. The only appliance on a daily schedule is a programmable thermostat set to 24 °C for cooling. We have not added any high-load devices (no portable A/Cs or space heaters), and our stove and dryer are gas.

Respectfully, I request: (1) a copy of the hourly interval data for July 15–August 14; (2) a billing review to remove any duplicate reads that may have been captured during the swap; (3) a meter bench test in accordance with Measurement Canada procedures if the interval data cannot be reconciled; and (4) an interest-free instalment plan pending the outcome, as the agent suggested I pay in full first and wait for adjustments. If a site inspection is required to check for a ground fault or a continuously running condenser fan, I will make the property available at your earliest convenience.

Please acknowledge receipt of this request and advise of next steps and expected timelines. I appreciate your assistance in ensuring the bill reflects actual consumption.

Sincerely,
Lina Singh

Reading Task 1- Reading Correspondence