A City for Everyone

I recently received a letter asking me to donate money to Vision Vancouver. In it the writer says “I don’t want to live in a city that puts ice skating ahead of the working poor". This made me so angry. This from a party that spent ¾ of million dollars on renovations to the mayor’s office, and then voted to charge fees for the first time to toddlers for recreation. Do they think the working poor don’t use or deserve to use recreational facilities? It is the working poor who need our public community centres, pools, and ice rinks most of all. In times of economic uncertainty we all need our public amenities more than ever.

We need a change of attitude in our civic governance. We need to elect Councillors and Commissioners who are in touch with what Vancouverites want—and that is a clean, beautiful, affordable, and safe city. A city that has amenities for everyone. A city that has recreational facilities available to all. A city where public spaces are for the public, not private interests. We need public washrooms that are open year round. We need affordable recreation in buildings that are safe and secure. We need green spaces that not only are great to play in but also are great just to be in.

This is why I am running for re-election to the Park Board; why my friend and running-mate Adriane Carr is running for Council; why my colleague Louise Boutin is running for School Board. This November 19 make your vote count. Vote for the city you want. Vote for a better Vancouver. Vote Green for Council, Schools, and Parks.

A letter from Ann Phelps, General Manager, Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

Dear Paddlers and Supporters,

On October 6th, at 2 pm, Vancouver City Staff will present the newest Northeast False Creek planning recommendations to Council for approval. The report includes a list of community amenities contributions (CAC’s) that developers might fund in return for profitable changes in zoning. The Dragon Boat Society has long been lobbying to have the city include a boathouse as a bona fide CAC on this last piece of undeveloped waterfront land on False Creek. Unfortunately, though the report pays lip service to paddling with support for a future home for paddling, the boathouse has been left off the CAC list once again. The appearance of support is meaningless if it’s not backed up with action. A boathouse must be put on the list of approved CAC’s if we want it to be built. It’s that simple. We have support from a developer but they aren’t going to do it all for free. The estimated cost of a boathouse is $5 million dollars.

We are worried that this last piece of land will be developed without a boat house because of conflicting interests. If you’d like to read the whole report, cut and paste this link: http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20111006/documents/penv1.pdf

So, what can you do? You have lots of options.

1. Write a letter to City of Vancouver Mayor and Council telling them you support a permanent home for paddling and rowing in Vancouver and encourage them to put a community boathouse on the list of CAC’s.
You can email your letter to mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca. I’ve listed some points you can use to customize your letter below.

2. Speak on October 6th at 2 pm.
Don’t worry. You don’t have to speak for a long time and anyone of any age can speak. You can even speak as a team. Just get up and tell them who you are and why you think a boat house and permanent home for paddling and rowing is important. You can register to speak by emailing pat.boomhower@vancouver.ca .

Please send this to as many people as you can. Hope to see you on Thursday.

Ann Phelps
General Manager
Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival

Points you might like to put in your letter:

Dragon Boat Festival is a legacy of Expo ‘86.
Council must back up their support of dragon boat and other paddling sports by making a community boathouse a bona fide CAC (Community Amenity Contribution)
There are approximately 8500 dragon boat paddlers using False Creek.
A boathouse will be a lasting legacy for Vancouverites for years to come
The Northeast corner of False Creek is the last piece of undeveloped waterfront land. Once it’s gone, the city loses the opportunity to have a boathouse in False Creek.
If a permanent home is not found soon, paddlers will be forced to go to other nearby cities, or stop paddling.
Vancouver is a maritime city yet offers its citizens very few opportunities to be on the water.
Paddling is part of a healthy active life and can be enjoyed at any age.
The Dragon Boat Society receives less than 3% of it’s revenues from government sources.
Regardless of physical and mental ability, anyone can be a paddler.
Teams from Vancouver compete on the world stage, winning world championships.
Paddling is the ultimate in green sports, with almost no negative impact on the environment.
The Dragon Boat Society introduces 3500 children to dragon boating every season.
The Dragon Boat Society sponsors many teams with free or low cost paddling programs.
Every year approximately 1500 tourists spend an estimated $1,042,500 in Vancouver because of the dragon boat races
The economic impact of the Dragon Boat Festival and Dragon Zone activities is just under $4 million dollars.

Governance of Hastings Park debated by Vancouver politicians

Straight, Publish Date: October 5, 2011

Hastings Park is a park, so it falls under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver park board, right? Well, it’s not, and Coalition of Progressive Electors park-board candidate Brent Granby and Hastings-Sunrise resident Barry Sharbo think that situation should change soon.

But according to Vision Vancouver city councillor Raymond Louie, it’s “premature right now” to determine the appropriate governance model for the site.

Louie is seconding a motion on the October 6 agenda of council asking staff to consult stakeholders about the future governance structure for the city’s second-largest park.

In a phone interview with the Straight, Louie maintained that the 66-hectare city-owned area is not just a park but a multifaceted space. It’s the site of the annual fair at the Pacific National Exhibition and the Playland amusement grounds, which are administered—along with other civic buildings like the Pacific Coliseum—by the board of the PNE, of which Louie is the chair.

It hosts the Hastings Racecourse, for which the Great Canadian Gaming Corp. pays a lease to the city. It’s the home of E-Comm, which provides 911 service and emergency dispatch service, mostly for Metro Vancouver. South of East Hastings Street, and also part of the parkland, is the Hastings Community Centre.

“All of these are currently controlled by council, ultimately by council,” Louie said.

For COPE candidate Granby, that’s not an ideal arrangement. “Is it an amusement attraction or a park?” Granby asked in a phone interview with the Straight. “I think it’s a park.”

Sharbo will address council on October 6. He has previously criticized what many consider as the PNE’s control over Hastings Park.

“It’s like a fiefdom,” Sharbo told the Straight by phone. “It’s a self-perpetuating entity like any big bureaucracy. And, unfortunately, what happens is that organized labour and this group, they’re in harmony with each other.”

Park commissioner Stuart Mackinnon of the Green Party of Vancouver is reserving his final opinion. “Many people in the community, and I happen to be one of them, think that Hastings Park should be governed as a park,” Mackinnon told the Straight. “But I’m wanting to hear what the community at large has to say.”

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Source URL: http://www.straight.com/article-478691/vancouver/governance-hastings-park-debated

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the NEFC Development Plan

A new North East False Creek development report goes before council on Thursday. It has a lot of people talking and it isn't all favourable. Somehow over the many drafts a new boathouse/dock for the dragon boaters was left out. Dragon boating in False Creek is a legacy from Expo 86 and there was always the promise of a permanent home when Creekside park was finished. The Dragon Zone, as it is called, has been using the dock on the south side, which has caused no end of problems as dragon boaters compete for space with the false creek ferries.

Also missing is a big chunk of parkland--well not so much missing as moved. The new plan calls for a reconfiguration of Creekside park extension from one suitable for a playing field, to a linear one not suitable for a playing field. This change was previously presented to the Park Board and the elected Commissioners defeated a motion to reconfigure the park.

The question now is will the Commissioners break their promise to the community and rescind their motion to not reconfigure? I certainly will not. And I will continue to advocate for a new home for paddlers on the northeast side of false Creek.

Parks and recreation must be open to all in Vancouver

by Stuart Mackinnon
Straight.com
Publish Date: September 30, 2011

Vancouver’s natural beauty is worth protecting. Our children not only need places to play, but also places to enjoy and explore nature. We all need places of tranquil refuge from our busy lives. People and nature in balance is my vision for Vancouver’s parks.

Parks should be available for all to enjoy and should not be exclusive to any one group. Parks and community centres are the life-blood of any city. They are where we meet to play, to learn, and to socialize. We must continually re-examine recreation policies to ensure fairness and equal access. We must ensure facilities are available in every neighbourhood.

We are so blessed to live in the natural splendour of Vancouver. However, with recent budgetary constraints our parks have been under threat from neglect due to the lack of proper funding. In 2008 I was honoured to be elected as a park board commissioner and since then have worked to be your voice for parks and recreation in Vancouver. During my term, I have advocated for a management plan for Stanley Park and the return of Hastings Park to the community. I have worked to keep neighbourhood services open, to save the Bloedel Conservatory, and to keep recreational fees reasonable and fair.

I would like the opportunity to continue advocating for parks and services that are important to you and your family. If re-elected, I intend to continuing working towards:

Improving parks and recreation accessibility

Recreational facilities must be open to all. We must re-examine the recreational fees charged to ensure fairness and equal access. Our parks are the refuges of the city for people and wildlife. Our parks are not only places of recreation but also of meditation, and where children can learn about their natural environment. We must preserve and promote them as green spaces.

Ensuring maintenance and safety of our facilities

Our aging infrastructure is quickly deteriorating. Community centre renewal for the Hastings, West Point Grey, and Kerrisdale neighbourhoods is long overdue, yet there is no money in the capital plan to address these needs. Kerrisdale pool and arena are near breaking point and must be either replaced or closed soon. Marpole, which is on the capital plan, has only half the funding necessary, meaning that it will not be replaced during the next term.

Strengthening communication and relationship between park board and unionized staff

Our unionized workers in the parks system have a vested interest in promoting and preserving the parks of our city and should play an active role in their management. This next term will see the renegotiation of a collective agreement, which must be done in a fair and respectful manner.

On November 19, I hope you will vote for natural spaces, renewed facilities, and a parks and recreation system for everyone. People and nature in balance is the Green Party of Vancouver’s vision for our parks and recreation system. I hope it is yours as well. On November 19 please vote to re-elect Stuart Mackinnon.

Stuart Mackinnon is seeking re-election as a Green commissioner on the Vancouver park board.

Source URL: http://www.straight.com/article-475911/vancouver/stuart-mackinnon-parks-and-recreation-must-be-open-all-vancouver

Capital Plan passes - No pool for Mount Pleasant

The Park Board passed the Capital Plan last Monday with one amendment regarding tennis courts at Kits Beach. The plan includes a new annex for Kensington CC and the chance of a new community centre for Marpole, though only half the financing was approved and it is contingent on finding new land to build it, along with a new library, within the central business area of the neighbourhood. An amendment by Commissioner Ian Robertson saw some money moved from new street trees to rebuild the tennis courts at Kits beach--something that was included in the last capital Plan but got taken away as other priorities superseded it. I attempted to make another amendment, to add $1 million dollars to start the process of re-building an outdoor pool in Mt. Pleasant, but it died when there was no seconder for the motion. The Capital Plan then went to City Council where it was passed and now will be presented on the November 19th civic ballot.

I'm not happy with this plan. I don't think the public process was transparent nor fair, and the input of the elected commissioners was limited at best. Kerrisdale, Hastings and West Point Grey are in dire need of new community centres. The Kerrisdale pool and arena are both well past their best before date and should be replaced soon. A lot of new street trees will be added to Vancouver, which is a good thing, but no new money for their maintenance was included (maintenance is operational rather capital expenditure, but we shouldn't be adding to the infrastructure of the city without the assurance of money to maintain it). However, I will support this plan throughout the election period and hope you vote yes, as something is better than nothing. But please tell your candidates that they must do much better in consulting the public. It is after all your money, your city and your future.

Also on Monday the plan to sell alcohol on the greens and fairways of Vancouver's public golf courses passed by a 5-1 vote, with one commissioner absent for the vote and mine the vote against. I believe this is a short-sighted opportunistic move driven by the desire for profit at the expense of public space.

Noise and Nonsense: Setting the record straight

There has been a lot of silliness in the media recently about the Green Party of Vancouver - and myself in particular - in an alliance with other civic parties. This is nothing more than noise and nonsense. The Green Party of Vancouver (GPv) is not in an electoral accommodation of any sort with any other civic political party. At the spring Special General Meeting the GPv membership voted to work with COPE if that party turned down a deal with Vision Vancouver. They did not and so the GPv is running as an independent group. We are not formally or informally aligned with COPE, Vision, or the NPA.

During this term I have worked with Vision, COPE and the NPA on motions I felt were in the public good. As I wrote in an earlier blog, I will continue to work with any other individual or group who shares my values and the Green perspective on individual initiatives. To rule out cooperation because of differences in other areas would be petty and foolish and would be against the public good.

Summer fun continues till September 18 at Kits Pool!

Kitsilano Pool will remain open an extra week to take advantage of the warm summer weather, which is forecast to continue past mid-month.

The outdoor seaside pool located on Cornwall Avenue will now close September 18. The Vancouver Park Board had originally scheduled it to close on September 11.

The extended hours of service are:
Monday, September 12 to Friday, September 16: 3 pm – 7 pm
Saturday, September 17 to Sunday, September 18: 9 am – 7 pm

Kitsilano Pool, which is one of four large outdoor pools in Vancouver, is heated and is accessible to persons with disabilities. It is the only salt water pool in Vancouver and one of the largest in the world. A smaller outdoor pool at Hillcrest Centre near Queen Elizabeth Park will remain open until further notice.

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For more information contact Daria Wojnarski Communications Coordinator, at (t) 604-257-8440 or (c) 604-561-6925.

Special visit for Coquitlam seniors

Coquitlam NOW September 2, 2011
As part of the Gentle Giant Visit program, Gerry O’Neill brought his horse Pepper to visit residents at Belvedere Care Centre in Coquitlam. The program is designed so retirement homes and other extended care facilities may invite draft horses to visit with residents, who might not otherwise have a chance to see these animals face to face.

Pepper is one of the star dapple grey Pecherons that pulls a carriage in Stanley Park. The breed originated in Perche, France. These large, strong horses were created for agricultural work and to carry knights into battle.

Pepper stands 18.3 hands tall (six feet three inches) at the shoulder and weighs more than 2,200 pounds.

© Copyright (c) Coquitlam Now

Read more: http://www.thenownews.com/PHOTOS+Special+visit+Coquitlam+seniors/5347932/story.html#ixzz1WzwfCtLy

Stanley Park cycling plan open house

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is embarking on a process to evaluate and resolve issues with cycling in Stanley Park to enhance the park experience for all users.

Everyone is invited to drop by a public open house to provide their comments which will be used to develop options to improve cycling in the park. The public will be invited to discuss and comment on these options through a public consultation later in the fall.

Open House
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011

Time: 10 am to 4 pm

Location: There will be two open house locations in the park—one on the plaza on the north side of Georgia Street near the underpass at Chilco Street, and the other at the Ceperley Field playground near the Second Beach Pool concession. Look for the tent and Park Board signage.

For more information on this project please visit:
http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/planning/cyclingplan/index.htm

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Have Your Say on the 2012-14 Capital Plan

The proposed 2012-14 Capital Plan for the City of Vancouver has gone out for public consultation. You can join in the conversation here - but only until August 31st. This year's plan calls for a smaller borrowing, which means fewer projects. In tight financial times this might be a good idea, but it does come with some trade-offs. Much of Vancouver's infrastructure is rapidly aging, with some well past their 'best before date'.

The Capital Plan is also being presented in a different manner, with many projects falling into cross departmental categories. In the past the Park Board was given an envelope of money and asked how they proposed to spend it. This year there is not a specific Park Board category. Instead there are revised categories for capital assets, moving away from assets identified by department to categories which identify assets by function:
-Community Facilities
-Housing
-Parks And Open Spaces
-Public Safety
-Transportation
-Utilities And Public Works
-Civic Infrastructure

The document states that the "benefits of the new approach include improved transparency and greater accountability along with a more holistic, city-wide approach to long-term capital investment decisions." This has yet to be seen, but what it does mean is that the input of the elected Commissioners at the Park Board will be reduced as many projects cut across departments and entities. An example of this is the funding for a new community centre in Marpole. The new plan calls for a multi-use facility including a new library. A great idea, but it means that decision making - especially over the location will not be the responsibility of the Park Board, even though community centres fall under its jurisdiction.

A 10 year strategic outlook has also been prepared in conjunction with the Capital Plan. In this it states that there will be 8 recreational facilities upgraded or replaced, and 3-4 new ones built, yet this Capital Plan only calls for half the funding of the new Marpole centre. At this rate replacements will more likely be in the 30-40 year range, while new facility building will have to be put on hold indefinitely. Facilities like the Kerrisdale arena and pool do not have anywhere close to 30 years left in their life--in fact they are in danger of being closed sooner rather than later. Hastings, West Point Grey, Dunbar, and Britannia community centres are all long over due for replacement, yet this document does not address these problems.

When the Capital Plan comes before the Park Board in the fall our input will be more limited and our priorities will become mere suggestions, as City Council will have a far greater say than before. Please take the time to read as much as you can concerning this plan and participate in the discussion. This plan is not just for 2012-2014 - the decisions we make this year will have a great effect on our city and its direction for many years in the future.

Green Parks Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon To Seek 2nd Term

PRESS RELEASE: 2^nd August 2011

Stuart Mackinnon, Green Party of Vancouver (GPv) Park Board Commissioner, announced today that he will seek a second term on Vancouver’s Board of Parks and Recreation. Elected in 2008, Stuart has been a champion of parks as places for play and relaxation, and has fought against the continuing cuts to the Park Board budget, as well as the increasing commercialization of public spaces.

“The past 3 years have seen the severest cuts to the Park Board ever. I believe that parks and recreation deserve better and I want to continue the fight to preserve, promote and protect our public spaces” said Mackinnon. “A strong voice for parks as places of natural refuge and healthy play is necessary to keep Vancouver amongst the greatest cities in the world. I want to continue to be that voice.”

Mackinnon will seek the Green Party of Vancouver’s endorsement at their nomination meeting scheduled for early September. Mackinnon believes in cooperation at the municipal level but supports the Green Party’s independence. “I will continue to work with any other individual or group who shares my values and the Green perspective on individual initiatives. To rule out cooperation because of differences in other areas would be petty and foolish and would be against the public good” commented Mackinnon. Earlier in the summer the Green Party of Vancouver chose to run candidates independent of an electoral alliance with other municipal parties.

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Stuart Mackinnon brief bio:

Stuart Mackinnon, a secondary special education teacher at Killarney Secondary school, was born and raised in Vancouver. After travel and work in diverse areas of the world including Malaysia, China, and Quebec’s James Bay region, he settled in the Killarney/Fraserlands neighbourhood of Vancouver. Stuart is the board secretary of the Axis Theatre Company, as well as a director of the Wilderness Committee. He is involved with his professional association, the BCTF, as a member of his local school team. Stuart has been a Trustee of the Vancouver Public Library, a member of the Canada-China Education Association and was formerly Chair of the BCTF Assistance Society and the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC). Stuart was elected to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation in 2008 representing the Green Party of Vancouver.

For more information – contact: Stuart Mackinnon: 778-389-1956 or

Green Party of Vancouver Chairperson: Desmond Rodenbour: 604-512-4487

The Silly Season

Summer is often called the silly season in politics. Not enough news so news has to be manufactured. The summer before a fall election seems to be the silliest. Here in Vancouver we have an abundance of announcements coming out of city hall, with politicians all over the radio and TV. Letters flying decrying this or that, accusing each other of what not. It seems to me that a lot of people need a vacation.

As the election approaches I wanted to share with my readers something that was posted on another blog. An anonymous blogger who calls himself Glissando Remmy said that if he ever ran for anything this would be his platform:

‘I’ll do the best I can, with the resources at hand, for all the people of Vancouver. Period.’

Now that's a platform I think we could all support. I'm checking out for much of August. For the first part I'll be attending a mindfulness retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh called 'Awakening the Heart', and then hopefully heading out of town for a well earned rest. When I return I'll let you all know my plans for the autumn.

In the meantime try to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

A Martini with your putter?

The Vancouver Board of Parks & Recreation is considering serving alcohol on the greens and fairways of the public golf courses. I am very much looking forward to the staff report that will accompany this recommendation. According to park board by-laws consumption of alcohol is prohibited in our parks, however section 4 (a) (i) of the General Requirements allows the Board to grant permission to sell any food or beverage. So while it would appear that it is possible to sell alcohol on the courses, the question becomes is it good public policy to do so?

Advocates say that many golfers already consume alcohol on the courses and this will just legitimize this. They also point out that private courses have been doing this for years. I have a problem with both of these arguments. In the first case, some people drink and drive which is illegal. Do we change the laws just to suit those who break the rules? Of course not. As far as the argument that private courses offer this service, I compare this to the difference between serving alcohol in your backyard and in a park. Your backyard is a private area whereas a park is a public area. I don't think many people would advocate selling alcohol on our playing fields or picnic areas.

So then the argument comes down to money. Profit. The argument becomes one of the loss of potential revenue. I contacted MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) to see what they thought about this. They recognized that this is already happening on private courses, and that with proper procedures such as not serving anyone who has already been drinking, limit the hours of service, limit maximum number of drinks served to 2 per 18 holes, cost the drinks higher than the cost at the bar, and have a program to offer alternative transportation if needed, it was possible. However, they also said if these were not put in place and it is being done for profit they would not be supportive. The last bit was what caught my attention.

Why would the Park Board serve alcohol on the courses? Does alcohol somehow enhance the game or make players play better? Do golfers avoid public courses because alcohol is not served on the greens? If not then why, other than profit, would we serve alcohol? These are some of the questions I am looking forward to hearing answers to.

Often we hear about the slippery slope - that if you do something in one place it will be continued in another. I am quite concerned as alcohol is often seen on our public beaches. Would we next be setting up bars or liquor trolleys at Jericho or Kits beaches simply because people are already drinking there and we are losing out on an opportunity to make money? I think public spaces should be free from alcohol sales and consumption. These are places that belong to all of us. There are plenty of places to enjoy a beverage, including the clubhouses at our public golf courses--do we need to extend this to fairways and greens?

I look forward to the staff report and input from the public.

Meadows in our parks?

There has been a spin attempted on the lack on maintenance in some of our parks and public spaces. It is being called the 'meadow look'. Well just for the record, to me this is what an urban meadow should look like (click on the picture for a better look). This is an area behind the sales office for the New Water development in my neighbourhood of East Fraserlands or the River District as it has been re-branded. This 'meadow' took a bit of thought and care. It wasn't simply abandoned or neglected parkland. If it had it would be full of weeds and brambles.

City council's budget cuts create 'meadow look'

By Stuart Mackinnon, Vancouver Courier July 20, 2011 8:02 AM

To the editor:

Re: "Central Park: Thigh high," July 13.

The "meadow look" is just a euphemism for budget cuts at the park board. Parks and boulevards look unkempt because the money needed to keep them tidy and trim was cut by city council in last November's budget, something I fought against. If the park board wanted to make some park areas into meadows I would support the idea going out to public consultation.

The problem is making them into meadows would cost money--money to dig up the grass and then plant native species. Instead we have invasive species like morning glory, Himalayan blackberry and English ivy running rampant. We don't have meadows full of wild flowers, but unkempt parks full of weeds. Meadows? Absolutely, but let's have that discussion. And let's have full funding for parks and recreation in the meantime.

Stuart Mackinnon,

Green Party park commissioner

Neighbourhood Flower Gardens: UPDATE

The Park Board passed unanimously my motion to allow neighbourhood groups to plant flowers in unused public spaces. With a slight tweak to the costing sources, all commissioners spoke in favour of the motion. My thanks to all the folks who spoke wrote and otherwise supported this initiative. Thanks also to the COPE, Vision and NPA commissioners who saw the value in this.

Also at last night's meeting, motions on using underused indoor and outdoor park spaces for community groups passed, as well as support for childcare. Last night was an example of how a Board of disparate groups can work together for the common good. let's hope this spirit can continue.