What’s that smell? Rare corpse flower set to bloom at Park Board’s Bloedel Conservatory

July 10 2018

“The Park Board was very fortunate to acquire this rare plant a few years ago,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon. “Any day now residents and visitors will have a chance to witness one of nature’s strangest displays.”  

 




A rare, exotic tropical plant known for its putrid bouquet is set to bloom under the dome at the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park.

The titan arum (or corpse flower) is the largest flower on earth. When it blooms, it unleashes the smell of rotting flesh. Some have also described its unmistakable scent as similar to discarded diapers or hot garbage.

No wonder the suspense is building at Bloedel, where the titan arum or corpse flower looks ready to unfurl its giant petal any day now.

Rare and unpredictable

Corpse blooms are very rare and unpredictable.Bloedel’s specimen is now six years old and showing signs it will bloom imminently: its bud has grown rapidly over the past few weeks, with the flower ‘spike’ rocketing to five feet tall in the last six weeks.

When it blooms, it will unfurl its large flesh-coloured petal and start to emit rancid fumes to attract pollinator insects like carrion beetles and flesh flies that feed on dead animals. The public doesn’t need to worry about encountering such insects at the Bloedel Conservatory.

“The Park Board was very fortunate to acquire this rare plant a few years ago,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon. “Our excellent horticultural staff have lovingly tended it ever since. Any day now residents and visitors will have a chance to witness one of nature’s strangest displays.”

Bloedel Conservatory is planning to extend its hours for a “smell it while you can” experience during the fleeting blooming spectacle which will last just 24 to 48 hours.

First corpse flower in BC

In cultivation, the titan arum generally requires 7–10 years of vegetative growth before blooming for the first time. Some plants may not bloom again for another decade while others may bloom every two to three years. The stinky flowers are native to the equatorial rainforests of Sumatra in Indonesia and are classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of threatened plants

Vancouver joined a handful of North American cities to possess a corpse flower when the Vancouver Park Board acquired its own in 2016 from a North Carolina nursery. This will be the first time a titan arum has bloomed in British Columbia. Earlier this year, a corpse flower dubbed “Gagnes”  bloomed at the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton.

Local residents will have a chance to name the Bloedel specimen in an online competition over the next days.

Park Board Press Release: 10 July 2018

10,000 square-foot Killarney Seniors Centre now officially open

June 28 2018

 "As we open this modern and vibrant facility, we are making good on our commitment to provide the seniors in southeast Vancouver with a place to socialize, exercise, relax, share meals together, and have access to a broad range of programs so that they can lead fulfilling lives,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

 

Almost two decades after the dream was launched by a dedicated group of southeast Vancouver seniors, the long-awaited Killarney Seniors Centre opened today with a community celebration attended by hundreds of seniors, family and friends.

Features

The 10,000 square-foot, LEED Gold certified centre provides opportunities for socializing, healthy meals, and physical activity.
It has five multi-purpose rooms, a roof-top patio, lounge with fireplace and TV, commercial kitchen and accessibility features including an elevator, hearing loops, auto door openers in washrooms and distress buttons.

Serving the growing population of seniors

The new centre is attached to the existing Killarney Community Centre, situated in a neighborhood that is home to fully a third of the City’s 27,000 seniors. While there are seven seniors centres west of Cambie Street,  Killarney is the first community facility dedicated to serving the growing population of seniors in southeast Vancouver.

"As we open this modern and vibrant facility, we are making good on our commitment to provide the seniors in southeast Vancouver with a place to socialize, exercise, relax, share meals together, and have access to a broad range of programs so that they can lead fulfilling lives,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

Funding

Funding for the $7.5 million centre came from the Government of Canada, Government of British Columbia, and City of Vancouver. The Vancouver Park Board provided the land. The Southeast Vancouver Seniors Arts and Culture Centre Society has been a key supporter of the project.

Programs

More than 2,000 seniors currently use the Killarney Community Centre. The number is expected to grow by 15 percent with the new facility.
Once the programs are up and running in August, the new Killarney Seniors Centre will offer:

• Instructor-led recreation programs and drop-in recreation activities
• A hot lunch program with a restaurant-quality kitchen
• Off-site excursions and outings
• Special events
• A variety of support services for seniors 

Programs running in the centre already this summer include bingo, cribbage, sewing, art, choir and exercise programs. New programs such as pet therapy and  Latin dance will be added in the fall.
A Colombia Institute report  says municipal services are becoming increasingly important in providing the support seniors needs to live in the community and are usually the first line of defense in maintaining good health.

Quotes from funding partners

 

Minister of National Defence and MP for Vancouver South Harjit Singh Sajjan

“Our government is committed to providing opportunities for seniors to participate in meaningful programs that contribute to their overall wellbeing and encourage personal growth. We are proud to announce the ‎opening of the Killarney Seniors Centre, which will bring much-needed programs and support services to seniors in southeast Vancouver. This new facility will ensure that Vancouver's seniors continue to thrive.”

MLA Vancouver-Fraserview and Minister of State for Trade George Chow

“It is vital that we continue to make investments in infrastructure that keep our communities livable for everyone. With such a beautiful new centre, seniors in Killarney and Southeast Vancouver have a place that supports a healthy, connected and interactive lifestyle for years to come."

City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

“Making sure that seniors are active, healthy, and engaged in the community is a key part of building a happy and inclusive city. The new Killarney Seniors Centre will help ensure that seniors can continue living close to the services, amenities and southeast Vancouver community that they call home for many years to come.”

Park Board Press Release: 28 June 2018

Vancouver Park Board and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra present first-ever ”Symphony At Sunset,” a free, open-air concert July 14th at Sunset Beach Park

June 21 2018

 “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the VSO to bring symphonic music to the Vancouver public in this first-ever Symphony At Sunset,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

 

Vancouver Park Board and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra present first-ever "Symphony At Sunset,” a free, open-air concert July 14th at Sunset Beach Park.

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and Vancouver Park Board (VPB) today announced a unique collaboration to present a free, open-air concert at Sunset Beach Park the evening of Saturday, July14th. “Symphony At Sunset” will kick-off the VSO’s 100th anniversary season with a concert for all ages set against sweeping views of English Bay in one of Vancouver’s most spectacular parks.

Free family event

The concert will be a free and accessible family event and will be alcohol and smoke-free. It will consist of a pre-concert program performed by student ensembles from the VSO School of Music at 7:15pm, and a sunset concert performed by the VSO from 8:30pm to 10:00pm. It includes a broad selection of symphonic hits including music by Leonard Bernstein, excerpts from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and John Williams’ scores to Star Wars.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the VSO to bring symphonic music to the Vancouver public in this first-ever Symphony At Sunset,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon. “We encourage young and old to enjoy this free family event and we hope the musicians are uniquely inspired by the beauty of this iconic park.”

This will be the first free outdoor VSO concert in Vancouver since 2011, when the VSO played in Stanley Park for the 125th Anniversary of the City. The VSO performs only a handful of free outdoor shows each year; the others this season being in Whistler over Canada Day weekend and Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park on July 8th. Both the VPB and VSO hope Symphony At Sunset will become a sustainable annual event and a gift to the people of Vancouver for years to come.

100th anniversary celebration

"We are thrilled to kick off the VSO's 100th Anniversary Celebrations in partnership with the Vancouver Park Board in a setting that will combine the scenic assets of our city with the cultural assets of our symphony," said Kelly Tweeddale, President of the Vancouver Symphony Society and VSO School of Music. "In the great cities of the world, free concerts like this become a place where families can come together and experience the magnitude of a symphony performance and build lasting traditions. As we embark on the VSO's next century, we hope that this will become a Vancouver tradition."

The collaboration between the VPB and the VSO began several years ago when the VPB unanimously approved a motion  (90 KB) toward the delivery of a free open air symphony concert at Sunset Beach Park. Performing over 150 concerts a year, the VSO is dedicated to enriching and transforming lives through music by presenting passionate, high-quality performances of classical, popular and culturally diverse music.

There will be food trucks on site for the event, and the public are encouraged to bring a picnic, a blanket and to make an evening of it at Sunset Beach Park. Concertgoers are asked to bring low chairs so as not to obstruct the view of other audience members.

Up to 8,000 could attend

The VPB and VSO estimate that more than 7,000 people will attend Symphony At Sunset. As in all major events in Vancouver’s downtown core, the public are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transit to Sunset Beach Park as traffic in the area will be restricted and parking will be at a premium in the West End.

Preserving and protecting parkland in an urban landscape is our duty

 This is a letter I wrote to the Regina Leader Post after a resident of Regina contacted me concerning the proposed building of a commercial development in Wascana park. You can find some background information from this CBC link.

Park should be preserved

Letter to the Editor of the Regina Leader Post  June 19, 2018

I love Saskatchewan. I don’t visit as often as I would like, but when I do, it always feels special: The wide-open spaces, the slower pace in many parts and the sheer beauty of every part. Regina fills my heart because of the wise decision made years ago to surround the legislature in a beautiful park. Anyone who visits Regina knows Wascana Park. Anyone lucky enough to live in Regina knows that it is part of what makes the city so special.

I have the honour to be an elected Commissioner of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. My duty is to preserve and protect our parkland including Stanley Park. It is a responsibility I take seriously. For me, our parkland is sacred. It is held in trust not only for today, but for the generations that come after.

Preserving and protecting parkland in an urban landscape is our duty because once we give it up it is gone forever. Land is limited and so is money. To give up any portion of a park is to betray those that come after us; to deny them the opportunities that we have had.

The business of Saskatchewan lies with the people, and I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your governance, but when I heard that parts of Wascana Park were being given over to commercial development it broke my heart. Such a beautiful place, that so many love and enjoy, should be preserved for all, and for always.

Stuart Mackinnon, Vancouver

Vancouver park board rejects separate review of Langara Golf Course

Commissioners will continue with long-term strategy of looking at future of all parks

Justin McElroy · CBC News ·
 

Vancouver's park board has decided a separate review of its oldest golf course is out of bounds. Commissioners voted to continue with the current path of examining Langara Golf Course through a review of the entire park system that's already underway, effectively rejecting a request by city council.

In March, council asked the park board to consider different uses for Langara, which is approximately 120 acres in size.

"I know we've had park board people and many people in the community talking about track and field and an international competition facility that would be fantastic," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson at the time.

"We've had cricket and kabaddi people saying, 'why do we have no facilities in South Vancouver that the community can use?'"

'Different ways we could use that much space'

Park board commissioner Michael Wiebe understands there are plenty of potential options.

"Would we make it a nine-hole course ... and then bring in different parkland and a nature area and track and field facilities? Those are the types of discussions that are being brought to the table, different ways we could use that much space," he said.

But he said there are ways the land can stay devoted to golf while becoming more accessible to the general public.

"Should we have a driving range and a putting green and have more accessible free golf things to get people involved in the sport? There's an opportunity to look at what the best use is from a golfer standpoint and a citizen standpoint."

Larger review underway

However, there wasn't an appetite among park board commissioners to have a unique review.

Park board chair Stuart Mackinnon said a separate review would likely have to be independent.
"We'll probably have to go to outside consultants, because our staff is overloaded with work ... and that's very expensive," he said.

Staff is currently in the midst of creating a 25-year parks plan dubbed VanPlay, the city's answer to calls for better park planning as the demand for public recreational space increases.

The review includes new ways to use public spaces such as adding concrete ping-pong tables, parkour courses and more interactive playgrounds such as the recently completed Empire Field in Hastings Park.

Whatever path the park board ultimately takes, Mackinnon says it's already generated plenty of discussion.

"The golfers of course would like to keep it as a golf course. Other people are thinking we need more park space, especially in the Cambie Corridor ... people from Langara college and the neighbourhood would like more fields, so there's a lot of different uses that space could have, if it wasn't golf," he said.

"But golf is very popular."

Plant thieves still at work at Vancouver's parks

by Monika Gul News 1130.com

Posted Jun 10, 2018 5:50 pm PDT

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It appears some people are doing more than ‘smelling the roses’ while strolling through Queen Elizabeth Park.

Several flowers were recently stolen from the rose garden at the park with someone putting an ‘I was stolen by a plant thief’ sign in their place.

Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart MacKinnon doesn’t know who put the signs up but says the theft of plants is an ongoing concern.

“It’s an unfortunate fact of city living that some people will come in at night and take things that don’t belong to them,” he says “We rely on the public to be honest and to enjoy the plants that are in the park and to let others enjoy it as well.”

He says their parks are not policed at night and while they tell people not to go in them, some disregard the rules, adding when people steal from parks, they’re stealing from the community.

His message to the thief or thieves: “Be respectful and mind that other people come into our parks to enjoy the plants as well,” he says “You can always go to your local nursery and buy a plant for your garden and leave the ones in our parks for everyone to enjoy.”

News 1130

Vancouver Green Party to nominate candidates on June 27

The Vancouver Greens will nominate their slate of candidates on Wednesday June 27 at the Heritage Hall (information here). At that meeting the membership will also vote on whether to support the Vancouver and District Council (VDLC) proposal on electoral accommodation with the other progressive forces in Vancouver. The proposal calls for 9 Green candidates, 3 each at Council, Park Board, and School Board (3-3-3). The VDLC will endorse a Mayoral candidate at a later time.

There are 17 seeking Green nomination, including 7 for Council, 4 for Park Commissioner, and 6 for School Trustee, thus ensuring a contest for all 3 levels of civic government.

At Council the nominees are:

Denise Brennan

Terry Martin

David Wong 

Pete Fry

Michael Wiebe

Adriane Carr

Francoise Raunet

 At Park Board the nominees are:

Stuart Mackinnon

Dave Demers

Mash Salehomoum

Camil Dumont

 At School Board the nominees are:

Lois Chan-Pedley

Alex Dow

Estrelitta Gonzalez

Nicholas Chernan

Janet Fraser

Ralph Fraatz

You can learn more about the prospective candidates here and you can meet them on Friday June 8 at a special 'meet and greet' event at the Performing Arts Lodge, 581 CARDERO St, Vancouver, BC from 6- 9 pm. Just follow the link to RSVP.

I am one of the nominees for Park Board Commissioner. I actively seek your support. You can support my nomination by joining the Vancouver Greens here and coming out to vote on June 28.

For more information about me visit: www.stuart4parks.ca

Candidate names to be listed in random order on 2018 election ballot

City of Vancouver

Information bulletin

June 6, 2018

 

 

Vancouver City Council has voted today to list mayoral, councillor, and Park Board commissioner candidates in random order instead of alphabetical order on Vancouver’s municipal election ballots.

 

The update to the election by-law was requested by Council to create a more even playing field for candidates. Research has shown many voters are more likely to vote for those listed first on a ballot, meaning that candidates at the top of an alphabetical list are perceived to have an advantage over those lower down.

 

As this will be the first year Vancouver voters will vote with a random order ballot, Council has approved $235,000 for strategies to prepare voters for the change.

 

The confirmed randomized list of names will be circulated well ahead of the election, supported by additional communications to ensure voters feel informed and know what to expect at the voting place. Voters will also be strongly encouraged to vote in advance in anticipation of longer vote times expected on Election Day.

 

As well, more staff and more voting booths will be available at voting locations wherever possible, to offset longer vote times and ensure assistance for those who may need extra support to vote.

 

The City does not have control over the list order of candidates for school board trustees. The school board has authority under the School Act, and the City’s Election Office will seek direction from the board on their desired order of names for the 2018 election ballot.

 

For more information, read the full report to Council:

http://council.vancouver.ca/20180606/documents/cfsc4.pdf

 

 

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Media Contact:

Corporate Communications

604.871.6336

Vancouver files claim over 2015 fuel spill in English Bay

Denise Ryan 
Vancouver Sun

Published on: May 27, 2018 

 

 Vancouver is still fighting to recover $550,000 in costs incurred by the city to clean up after the MV Marathassa spilled 2,700 litres of bunker fuel in English Bay three years, Mayor Gregor Robertson said on Sunday.

Vancouver’s concerns about oil tanker traffic in our harbours have been ignored, said Robertson, and he said the inadequate response highlights the dangers raised by the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.

“This is a clear example of where the federal government and the international oil tanker program is not safe, not dealing with the damages appropriately and where we have great concerns,” said Robertson.

Robertson slammed the federal Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund, which has disputed some of the costs associated with the city’s claim.
The SSOP fund was established in 1989 to act on behalf of impacted municipalities, companies and individuals in pursuit of compensation from shipowners in the event of a spill and provide additional compensation.

Robertson said the city has received an “absolutely unacceptable” offer from the Ship-source Oil Pollution fund of 27 per cent of the $550,000.

On April 6, 2018, the city filed a direct claim against owners of the Cypriot-registered vessel in Federal Court in the hopes of further cost recovery.

“Typically these ship owners are very difficult to go after when there is a spill, and the costs are never quite recovered by taxpayers, citizens and government who are paying for the impact,” said Robertson.

The lack of compensation leaves taxpayers and municipalities on the hook for costs incurred by the spill, and raises concern over what might happen in the case of a diluted bitumen spill along B.C.’s coastal waterways.

“Vancouver’s primary concern with the Kinder Morgan pipeline is the oil tankers — seven times the number will go through our harbour — and the oil spill we expect will happen over time and dramatically impact our environment and our economy,” said Robertson.

Stuart Mackinnon, chair of the Vancouver Park Board said English Bay is an “iconic spot” not just to Vancouver, but for the whole world.

“The federal government needs to step up and take responsibility for their jurisdictions,” said Mackinnon.

“We are terribly concerned about the amount of oil that will pass through here should the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion go through.”

Mackinnon said a diluted bitumen spill is not easily cleaned off rocks and sand, and would be much more difficult to remediate than the bunker oil.

“I can’t imagine what would happen in Burrard Inlet if a spill were to happen there.”

Transport Canada and representatives from SSOP were not able to respond to Postmedia inquiries on Sunday.

dryan@postmedia.com
 More from Denise Ryan

Access for All: Park Board improves beach experience with second Mobi-Mat and new water wheelchairs for those with mobility challenges

 

Vancouver Park Board

News Release
May 25, 2018

 

 

The beach is calling …. and this year two of Vancouver’s most popular beaches will be fully accessible to people with mobility challenges.   

 

It’s the second phase of the Vancouver Park Board’s commitment to a better, more inclusive beach experience for all residents.

 

This week, the Vancouver Park Board installed a Mobi-Mat, a non-slip beach access pathway, at Kitsilano Beach. It’s the second beach mat in Vancouver with the first installed at English Bay Beach last summer. In addition, 10 new water wheelchairs will be available at beaches across the city. The floating wheelchairs will provide persons with disabilities safe access to the ocean, with the assistance of an attendant. 

 

“Inclusion and access are core values of the Vancouver Park Board. In addition to our commitment to accessible beaches, the Board has removed barriers to recreation based on income, race, gender, and mobility and has forged a new relationship with community centre association partners through a shared commitment to equitable access to recreation for all residents,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

 

“Feedback from the beach mat at English Bay Beach has been extremely positive. If you’re in a wheelchair, going to the beach can be an ordeal as you need the help of a strong friend or a lifeguard. Beach mats give those with mobility challenges the freedom to visit the beach on their own if they want,” said Mackinnon.

 

Jacques Courteau, Co-Chair of City of Vancouver Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, used the Mobi-Mat at English Bay last year and again last week.

 

“I got out of my chair and lowered myself onto the ground. It was awesome to just stretch there on the warm sand. I stayed about one hour. It was glorious! I will certainly do this more often this year,” he said.

 

Water wheelchairs will be available as of June 1 at Kits, Second Beach in Stanley Park, and New Brighton pools and the following beaches: English Bay, Kits, Jericho, Second Beach, Spanish Banks East and West, and Trout Lake. The chairs require an attendant and are available on a first come first served basis, at no charge, at each location’s lifeguard station between Victoria Day and Labour Day long weekends from 11:30 am – 8:00pm. More information at vancouver.ca.

 

The Park Board offers many adapted and integrated recreational activities for children, youth, adults, and seniors with mobility challenges. These activities include aquatic lifts, wheelchairs and assisted entries at pools and ice sleds at rinks. In addition, the Board provides free access to facilities for attendants who support persons with disabilities to swim, skate, exercise in fitness centres, participate in recreation programs and visit parks. Support is defined as assistance of a physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual or sensory nature to ensure that the patron with the disability is able to participate. Information on the full range of adapted and integrated Park Board programs can be found at vancouver.ca.

 

Every year the Board is doing more to make our facilities, parks and beaches more accessible. Two years ago, the Board opened the Southeast False Creek paddling centre. It provides Vancouver’s paddling community with a permanent home and has ramps to allow paddlers with mobility challenges easy access to their boats.

 

Current estimates are that about 15 percent of Vancouver residents have some form of physical disability or mobility restriction. This includes people using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and strollers. When you add family and friends, approximately 50 percent of Vancouver residents are affected by barriers to accessibility. 

 

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Media contact:

Park Board Communications

604.257.8440