Speaking of fluff: Too good not to share

via Sandra Thomas, Courier Staff Writer July 9, 2012

Duck walk
Former Courier writer Pat Johnson sent us a YouTube video to enjoy and we thought it was too great not to share. According to the story, a mother duck and her many ducklings were wandering around the parking lot of the Jewish Community Centre on West 41st Avenue at Oak Street this past weekend when Kyle Berger and building manager Jason Marques became concerned the birds were going to be killed by a car.

The men scooped up the babies and placed them in a cardboard box with a plan to drive them and the mother to VanDusen Garden. But when the mother duck refused to get in the car, the men walked the entire family over. The journey included harrowing trips across both Oak and West 41st, all caught on video. Enjoy.

sthomas@vancourier.com
Twitter: sthomas10

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Read more: http://www.vancourier.com/Central+Park+eagle+landed/6907285/story.html#ixzz20F46LrRF

More fluff than substance at Park Board meetings

Last night the Commissioners of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation passed two more fluff resolutions that could have been left to staff directions. The first, concerning a review of the golf courses, is something that staff regularly reports on. Each year I was a Commissioner a report on the state of revenues and maintenance was brought by staff to the Board. It would have been easy to ask staff to add a review of usage and alternatives to that regular report.

The second concerning the level of chlorine used in public pools--to cap at 3 times the minimum required--could also have been a direction to staff through its regular reporting schedule. A pool report is also done on a yearly basis.

These motions would appear to be simply exercises in public relations and getting Commissioners names in the news. Aaron Jasper often accuses his detractors of 'political grand-standing'. These motions are little more than that. Despite fierce opposition to the golf motion, there was little chance that it would not pass. With a majority on the Board, Comm. Jasper and his Vision colleagues can pass whatever motion they choose. Decisions are rarely made around the table. By the time a resolution gets to the Board it is generally fait accompli. The rest is just theatre.

Are we any further ahead for having these debates at the Board? I don't think so. The system is broken and the more broken it becomes the more the general public turns off. This is seen with each election as fewer and fewer people vote. But as long as the system works for the party in power, there will be no change-- the status quo is the only winner.

Reality Check: Langara Golf Course

There is a lot of misinformation floating around about Langara Golf Course.

Some say it is private--wrong. It is a public course owned and operated by the Vancouver Park Board.

Some say that it is open only to golfers--wrong."Langara Golf Course’s treed greens are surrounded by a popular walking and jogging trail. Along with the tennis courts and playground along the way, the tree-lined trail has wonderful filtered views of the golf course and surrounding neighbourhood."

Some (the mayor of Vancouver for one!) say there is a dearth of bio-diversity--wrong. There is a huge variety of trees, shrubs and flowers. It teems with birds, mammals and insects. I would venture to guess that there is far more bio-diversity there than most playing fields in the city.

By all means let's have a debate about the land, but let's get our facts straight. Personally I have no objection to some or all of the land being converted to parkland--though the golf course does bring in much needed revenue to the park system--money that would otherwise come from tax dollars. But the idea that this land could simply be usurped by the city to build housing is wrong--unless of course they would trade land on a 2 to 1 basis for land of equal or better value. Then we could talk about housing. But that will never happen because land values are far too high. The very reason we should not lose this parcel. It would be impossible to ever replace it.

Stanley Park: An Urban Wilderness Teaser Trailer

The good folks at Beautiful Earth productions are completing a documentary film on the history of Stanley Park. Here is the first of what they promise to be several trailers. Please watch and enjoy.

Does Mayor Robertson really want to build condos on parkland? (Updated)

A story in the Straight quotes Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson of supporting the idea of building housing on a portion of the Langara golf course.

"Meanwhile, Vision mayor Gregor Robertson told the Vancouver Sun last week that he's open to the idea of putting housing on the Langara course, which is just south of a Canada Line station. 'At this point, it is debatable as to whether that is valuable green space,' Robertson told the Vancouver Sun. 'The public can't access it, it is not biodiverse and there is no strong business case'."

Does the mayor really believe that parkland isn't valuable? Does he honestly think a public space isn't open to the public? Does he think that the trees, shrubs and grasses don't clean the air and produce oxygen for the city? Has Vision Vancouver really strayed so far from its origins that the Mayor doesn't think green space is valuable?

Jordan Bateman with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told the CBC he also supports the idea of developing the land.

"If you even developed half of one of those courses, you’d probably generate enough revenue to hold taxes in line for probably another two or three years, or you could use that money for other infrastructure, things that people actually need and expect municipalities to provide," Bateman told CBC News Tuesday.

What Bateman doesn't seem to realize or care about is that after those 'two or three years' any gain would be lost and the parkland gone forever. He also doesn't seem to think that parkland is an important part of urban infrastructure. He seems to believe that somehow people don't need or want parks and green space.

One can only imagine that they all have become so beholden to the idea of development at any cost that they would sell off public parkland for a quick buck. Even the NPA never advocated selling off parkland for development.

What a sad commentary on civic governance. What a sad state of affairs.

It’s a water sport–enjoy it!

Stuart Mackinnon June 16, 2012 citycaucus.com

The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival brings paddlers on False Creek

Why not enjoy the 24th Annual Dragon Boat Festival in all this wet weather?

The 24th Annual Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival has begun under grey skies and intermittent rain showers down at False Creek near Science World. One hundred and eighty teams from Canada, the USA, and far away countries are here to enjoy Vancouver' hospitality and some fine competition. Youth, women’s, men’s and mixed teams compete for medals and bragging right. There are cancer survivor teams, teams with vision impairments, teams with mental health issues, recreational teams and the best competitive teams in the world. Mostly they compete for the camaraderie and the pure joy of an amazing water sport.

This year because of the on-going labour dispute my high school team is racing under new colours and with a corporate sponsor. Clarkdale Volkswagen (Main & 29th) stepped up to sponsor us as the Jetta Dragons. It is great that local companies like Clarkdale Motors help kids stay safe and learn new skills.

There is something for everyone at the Dragon Boat Festival with live music, food and a variety of specialty vendors. For adults there is also a beer garden.  So come on down and join the fun. Public transit is easy. Take the Millennium or Expo lines to Main st./Science world and walk across the street.

Some might complain about the weather here in Vancouver but it won’t be a dragon boat racer. Dragon Boat racing is a wet wild and wonderful workout. As the teams come off the water soaked and smiling you can always hear someone say: Hey it's a water sport!
- post by Stuart Mackinnon

Fraserlands Strikes Back: Take Back the Path!

Park neglect resonates within the community

My article on the reduction of maintenance at Riverfront Park has resonated within the community. As well as being published on the City Caucus blog, it has now been pick up by the Vancouver Courier's Readers Soapbox feature. If you see your neighbourhood park is neglected and deteriorating, you should take a picture and send it to the Park Board at: pbcomment@vancouver.ca

A crappy way to treat a neighbourhood

Stuart Mackinnon May 30, 2012 CityCaucus.com

Riverfront Park, seen from Romer's Burger Bar

A former park commissioner watches a waterfront park lose its lustre

The Fraserlands neighbourhood in southeast Vancouver is truly a hidden gem. Riverfront pathways meander along the Fraser and awesome bike paths make access to the outdoors very easy. The neighbourliness is something I have not experienced anywhere else in the city. This camaraderie might be due to the accessibility of outdoor activities, so that one tends to see more of their neighbours.

When I moved here the City, through the Park Board, had a dedicated gardener for Riverfront Park—a green space extending along the Fraser from the foot of Victoria Dr. all the way to Kerr St. The paths, verges, lawns and fields were well maintained and the gardens bloomed throughout the summer with a riot of colour. Picnickers and sports enthusiasts flocked here year round. Along the bike path, which runs the length of the railroad tracks, the grass was trimmed and the shrubs were pruned regularly – 3 to 4 times per season – making this a model neighbourhood.

Riverfront Park view

This all changed with the election of a Vision Vancouver majority to both City Hall and the Park Board. Since Vision was elected in 2008 they have cut the parks maintenance budget every year. In my neighbourhood this has meant that the dedicated gardener has vanished, the gardens are neglected and the lawns and fields have been cut fewer times. The picnic area is often covered in litter and the garbage cans overflow. Along the boulevards and verges the grass and shrubs have not been maintained at all. This has resulted in a sharp increase in the amount of litter and even household garbage piling up.

When the City no longer takes pride in its property, people tend to disrespect it as well. Several times I have seen individuals urinating on the verges and in the park, and this morning I saw someone defecating along the bike path—simply because he thought he could not be seen hidden by the uncut grass. A few years ago the Park Board talked about closing washrooms—seems some people thought they had.

I called 3-1-1 (thanks Sam!) and was told a Streets crew would come out within the next week to ‘take a look’, but I really don’t think it should take someone defecating in front of my home to get the city to clean up its land. Some of my neighbours are so disgusted by the lack of maintenance that they have started guerrilla gardens—a move I applaud. A motion I brought to the Board last term allows them to do this, but unless they are granted approval from the City they run the risk of losing their flower beds.

I have always encouraged people to help keep their neighbourhoods clean. I have participated in neighbourhood and beach clean-ups and I have supported neighbourhood gardens. However, if the City doesn’t do its part in keeping neighbourhoods clean, trim, and safe, neighbourhoods will continue to deteriorate. Then citizens will become increasingly alienated from each other and our gorgeous city will lose its charm and beauty. It’s time the city made neighbourhoods a priority. We pay taxes for a safe, clean and beautiful city, let’s spend them to keep Vancouver a livable city.

published 30 may 2012 @ www.citycaucus.com

World Migratory Bird Day celebrations in Vancouver

from the Park Board:

 

Vancouver—with some of Canada’s most important bird habitat—is the perfect place to lead the country in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day.

 

To recognize the importance of birds to a healthy ecosystem, a series of events will be held across the city on May 12.

 

9:30 am Proclamation
Vancouver Park Board Chair Constance Barnes will make a proclamation of World Migratory Bird Day in Vancouver, and will be joined by Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert and ornithologist and author Dr. Rob Butler, who will talk about the significance of birds in our city, at the heron colony in Stanley Park, 2099 Beach Avenue

 

10 am    Bird Walks Around Town
Bird experts will lead bird walks in five different Vancouver parks

• Stanley Park (leave Heron colony at 10 am; three walks, one in Punjabi)
• Everett Crowley Park (meet in Kerr Street parking lot at 9:45 am)
• The Sanctuary at Hastings Park (meet on the N.E. corner of Hastings and Renfrew streets at 9:45 am)
• Jericho Park (meet in east side parking lot at 9:45 am)
• Queen Elizabeth Park (meet in front of Bloedel Conservatory at 9:45 am; two walks, one in Mandarin)

 

1 – 4 pm         Open Bird House

Exhibits and activities for all ages in the Alice MacKay Room of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street

 

2 pm             Feature Presentation

Bird biologist Russell Cannings in the Alice MacKay Room of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street

 

There is also a birding display at Tourism Vancouver’s downtown Visitor Centre, 200 Burrard Street through to May 31 (daily 8:30 am – 6 pm).

English Bay and Burrard Inlet are designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada. The IBA program is coordinated by BirdLife International and aims to identify conserve and monitor essential bird habitats around the world. Numerous waterbirds use the protected waters of Burrard Inlet for feeding. Waterfowl numbers peak in midwinter here, while species diversity of waterbirds peaks in October.

 

World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 and is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and bird watching excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day.

 

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Media enquiries: Daria Wojnarski, Communications Coordinator, at (t) 604-257-8440 or (c) 604-561-6925