Vancouver Park Board to undergo ‘colonial audit’

Board also looking to formally apologize to Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations

Jessica Kerr Vancouver Courier  July 24, 2018

 

Vancouver Park Board is looking to formally apologize to Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations for “core acts of colonialism” including dispossession and theft of ancestral lands in traditional Coast Salish territories including Vancouver beach areas and the area that came to be known as Stanley Park in the years after the park board was formed in 1888.

Vancouver Park Board is looking to formally apologize to Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations for “core acts of colonialism.”

Board chair Stuart Mackinnon recommended making the formal apology Monday night as commissioners approved a colonial audit of the board’s history and actions, including dispossession and theft of ancestral lands in traditional Coast Salish territories including Vancouver beach areas and the area that came to be known as Stanley Park in the years after the park board was formed in 1888.

“The occupation of unceded territories has produced the uncomfortable question of what it means for the park board to hold jurisdiction over the federally and internationally recognized territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples,” Mackinnon said.

“To move forward we must come from a position of truth and humility and acknowledge that our colonial past requires us to take responsibility,” he added. “This responsibility means we must be willing to admit fault and seek an opportunity to formally apologize to the local First Nations.”

Commissioners approved the colonial audit and directed staff to undertake a more comprehensive audit for a deeper analysis of all areas of colonial impact, fully documenting long-term practices, impacts and the ways in which colonialism is woven into the day-to-day operations of the park board.

The park board started its reconciliation work at a meeting in 2015 between the commissioners and the three First Nations, marking the first time the board officially acknowledged the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples are rights holders and launching a joint process to develop a long-term plan for Stanley Park.

In 2016 the board approved 11 reconciliation strategies and hired the first municipal archeologist in Canada, Geordie Howe, to work exclusively on Indigenous issues. And late last year, the board approved hiring a reconciliation planner.

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com

Vancouver Park Board stops the music at fitness centres and pools

Tunes will no longer be played in gyms or during public swims

CBC News · Posted: Jul 26, 2018


The Vancouver Park Board announced Thursday that its fitness centres and indoor pools will no longer play music as of Aug. 1.

Donnie Rosa, director of recreation with the Vancouver Park Board, said the decision was made after they received some feedback.


"People with auditory impairments, they wouldn't come use our facilities because of the background music," Rosa told On The Coast's Gloria Macarenko.

It also caused arguments between patrons and staff, who disagreed about what should be played over the speakers, Rosa said.

"Really, it came down to creating a space that was welcoming and inclusive for everybody."
A bit of backlash is expected, but Rosa said being inclusive is the priority.

 With files from On The Coast

Vancouver Park Board approves landmark audit into past actions and colonial roots

Truth telling is the first step towards reconciliation, says park board chair

Clare Hennig · CBC News · Posted: Jul 24, 2018

 The area that is now called Stanley Park was federal territory, given to Vancouver on a 100-year lease that was recently renewed but never ceded by the First Nations who lived there. (David Horemans/CBC)


The Vancouver Park Board is focusing on its own role in colonialism, having voted Monday night to proceed with an unprecedented audit scrutinizing past actions stretching back to 1888.

The approval of the audit follows 11 reconciliation recommendations the park board adopted in 2016.

• Vancouver Park Board hires reconciliation planner

"The first step towards reconciliation is truth telling," said board chair Stuart Mackinnon.

"We have to look at our past practices to understand how we've got to where we are."

That includes past actions like the dispossession of people and the theft of traditional territories, such as the area now called Stanley Park, disturbance of archeological sites and discounting local Indigenous knowledge.

• A guide to First Nations plant use in Stanley Park

Mackinnon also recommended a formal apology to the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations as part of the colonial audit.

"There has been no recognition that people have lived in that area for thousands of years," he told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition.

"We have to recognize that with that colonial history, there have been some costs."

Taken in 1889 or 1890, this photo shows a man in a canoe paddling past Siwash Rock. The Vancouver Park Board voted unanimously to work with First Nations to rename Siwash Rock last year. (City of Vancouver Archives)

Names that 'negate the very essence'

One way of recognizing the people who were in the area first has to do with the names of locations, as one example.

• Vancouver Park Board votes unanimously to work with First Nations to rename Siwash Rock

"The idea that a place they have been for millennia is called Spanish Banks — named after some folks who came in here a couple hundred years ago, looked around and left — it negates the very essence of the people who have always been here," Mackinnon said.

In Monday's meeting, he also submitted a motion on notice for September to work with First Nations in Vancouver on acknowledging and accepting place names.

• Analysis
  'Who owns this city?': why debates around Vancouver place names are divisive

Collaborating with First Nations on the issues of the audit is key, he emphasized.

"Truth telling means that we are listening," he said.

The Early Edition

Beat the heat at Vancouver beaches, parks, and community centres

July 25 2018

 “We continue to look for ways to help people stay cool during this spell of heat and we hope that people will take advantage of the extended operating hours at pools and water parks,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon

 

The Vancouver Park Board is offering more ways for residents and visitors to cool off during this heat wave.

Second Beach, New Brighton, Maple Grove, and Hillcrest outdoor pools will open an hour earlier at 9am. Kitsilano Pool already opens at 7am.

Extended hours at all spray parks and outdoor pools 

 

Hours of operation at 14 water parks will be extended from 9am to 10pm. Staff are currently in the process of adjusting timers at each water park and the new hours should be in effect by the end of the day today. Normally the water parks operate daily from 10am to 8pm.

Last year, all water parks were modified to push button to conserve water. Each push of the button provides a five-minute cool down.

Park Board staff will review the hours of operation at pools and water parks when this heat wave has ended.

“We continue to look for ways to help people stay cool during this spell of intense heat and we hope that residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of the extended operating hours at pools and water parks,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

“We’ve also installed misting stations at four parks—And Livingston, Emery Barnes, Oppenheimer, and Thornton—and activated cooling centres at Britannia, Hillcrest, Kerrisdale, Mount Pleasant, Ray-Cam, Roundhouse, and West End community centres.”

In an effort to ensure that pools and life-guarded beaches are accessible to everyone, the Park Board has purchased 10 water wheelchairs. They are available on a first come first served basis at no charge at beaches and pools across Vancouver. Book a water wheelchairs can be booked in advance.

Accessible beaches

 

Beach mats or Mobi-Mats have also been installed at Kits Beach and English Bay for people with walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters.

Park Rangers are increasing patrols and looking out for people showing signs of heat-related illness, as well as distributing maps with cooling centre locations.

And dogs need to stay cool, too. The following off-leash parks have access to water, but hours vary:

• New Brighton Park
• Crab Park at Portside
• John Hendry Dog Park
• Sunset Beach
• Devonian Harbour
• Hadden Park
• Spanish Banks

 

Cooling centres, more water fountains, and misting stations

 

The City of Vancouver is also taking additional measures to help people stay cool in the heat, including installing additional temporary water fountains, activating community centres and libraries as cooling centres, and providing increased support to vulnerable residents in non-market housing and the Downtown Eastside.

Park Board approves landmark colonial audit

News Release

Vancouver Park Board

July 24, 2018  

The Vancouver Park Board has approved an unprecedented audit outlining its own colonial history and actions and will seek an opportunity to formally apologize to the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations for “core acts of colonialism”.

These actions include dispossession and theft of ancestral lands in traditional Coast Salish territories, including Vancouver beach areas and what came to be known as ‘Stanley Park’ in the years after the Park Board was formed in 1888. 

The recommendation for an apology was introduced by Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon, as part of a colonial audit of the Board’s own history and actions. The audit outlined the Board’s colonial roots and the ways in which colonialism has been embedded in the structure and policies of the only elected Park Board in a Canadian city.

“The occupation of unceded territories has produced the uncomfortable question of what it means for the Park Board to hold jurisdiction over the federally and internationally recognized traditional territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples,” said Chair Mackinnon.

“To move forward we must come from a position of truth and humility and acknowledge that our colonial past requires us to take responsibility. This responsibility means we must be willing to admit fault and seek an opportunity to formally apologize to the local First Nations.”

In approving the audit and recommending an apology, the Park Board acknowledged its own colonial history and responsibility in acts of dispossession, theft of lands and removal of entire First Nations communities from their traditional territories with the declaration of jurisdiction over ‘Stanley Park’ and Vancouver beach areas where local First Nations lived for millennia before settlers arrived.

The report cites the widespread disturbance of significant archaeological sites by the Park Board and the erasure of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh history and presence in areas currently under Board jurisdiction. It also states that—throughout the history of Park Board decision-making—local indigenous knowledge of the land has been overlooked and dismissed.

The Board also directed staff to undertake a more comprehensive colonial audit for a deeper analysis of all areas of colonial impact. This audit would contribute to the truth-telling phase of Truth and Reconciliation and lead to actions to embed a decolonized perspective into Park Board policies and practices.

  

The comprehensive colonial audit approved by the Board on Monday, July 23, 2018 will more fully document long-term practices, impacts and the ways in which colonialism is woven into the Park Board from strategic levels to day-to-day operations. Next steps and meaningful actions will only be possible once a more complete audit has been completed. 

The recommended apology and colonial audit are extensions of the reconciliation work begun in the early days of this Park Board’s tenure at a historic meeting in 2015 between the three First Nations and the elected Board. At that meeting, they launched a joint process to develop a long-term comprehensive plan for Stanley Park. This marked the first time the Board officially acknowledged the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples as rights holders.

In January of 2016, the Park Board approved 11 reconciliation strategies, setting a framework for initiatives across the organization including: 

•  language and culture
• commemoration
• professional development and training for public servants
• education for reconciliation
• youth programs
• sports

Also in 2016, the Park Board worked with the Nations to hire the first municipal archeologist in Canada, Geordie Howe, to work exclusively on indigenous issues. His responsibilities include a review of current archeological practices to ensure that aboriginal protocols are respected in all park developments.

In late 2017, the Park Board approved a reconciliation planner position to support an ambitious agenda. The planner, Rena Soutar, works with colleagues at the Park Board and City to advance mutual goals and create lasting relationships between municipal governments and indigenous communities.

The reconciliation planner also works with park research, planning and development teams on significant projects such as park naming and review of monuments, memorials and public art processes and policies to ensure integration of Indigenous history, heritage values and memory practices.  

The comprehensive colonial audit approved by the Park Board on Monday will be conducted over the next year by staff in collaboration with First Nations intergovernmental partners.  It will come back to the elected Park Board for further review sometime in the next two years.

-30-

Park Board Communications

PB.communications@vancouver.ca

604.257.8699

Vancouver Park Board approves new three year capital plan to improve city parks, facilities

By Michelle Morton Reporter/News Anchor  CKNW 

July 20, 2018 3:30 am 

A new capital plan for the next three years has been approved by the Vancouver Park Board.

Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon said it was a unanimous vote to invest more than $399 million for parks, open space, recreational facilities and service yards.

“Key features of this capital plan are renewal of our infrastructure and expansion of parks. I think that the people of Vancouver will be pleased with what they see and we’re hoping that in October, when the civic election occurs, when people vote for mayor, council and park board, they’ll also support the capital plan.”

“Well this means that a lot of our aging infrastructure can be looked at and improved, it means a new community centre for Marpole with an addition, perhaps, of an outdoor pool, it means expansion we hope of park land and public spaces along the Fraser River and it means renewal of a lot of our aging parks.”

The 2019 – 2022 capital plan is three times the $91.25 million dollars that was allocated in recent years because the board says the city is entering a new era of development in anticipation of more people moving to Vancouver.

© 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

City of Vancouver hits local food goals two years early

By Melanie Green StarMetro Vancouver

Thu., July 19, 2018

 

VANCOUVER—Vancouver has exceeded its local food target two years earlier than expected.

The city created more than 5,000 food projects, which include community gardens, kitchens, composting facilities, farmers markets, community orchards and urban farms as part of the Greenest City Action Plan developed in 2011.

The plan “guides the City’s actions in achieving zero carbon emissions, zero waste and healthy ecosystems,” and is complemented by the Vancouver Food Strategy which works to support sustainable systems, according to a news release.

Both strategies attempt to make Vancouver a global leader in creating a resilient food system.

“The local food movement is booming,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “It’s never been more popular for residents to grow their own food, buy local and support local food programs.”

Since 2007, the GCAP has seen a 20 per cent decrease in ecological footprint, 36 per cent decrease distance driven per person, and a 43 per cent decrease in carbon pollution intensity from new buildings. In addition, there were 106,000 new trees planted since 2010, Robertson said.

Robertson said that he hopes the next council will continue the goals of each strategy.

But Vancouver’s growing movement of urban farmers have been calling for reductions in red-tape and access to affordable land for several years, according to previous StarMetro reports.

“We’ve seen a massive increase in the amount of land the city has made available and we are looking for more opportunities to do that,” Robertson said. “There is private land opportunities as well.”

Robertson noted that there are many urban farming organizations and networks that are helping connect people to establish more farms.

“We are seeing an unprecedented amount of growth,” he explained. “Certainly if there are barriers and red tape slowing down that process, we will look into it.”

With land pressures so “intense”, protecting the Agricultural Land Reserve should also be a priority, he added.

The province has some of the best soil in the world, he explained.

Through the Local Food Action Plan adopted in 2013, the Vancouver Park Board helped initiate a range of urban agriculture projects at parks and community centres across the city, the release stated.

That plan will undergo a review and update in 2019 to incorporate “new directions,” such as equity and reconciliation, the release read. On Thursday evening, the Park Board will review a draft of the 2019-2022 Capital Plan which includes a proposed $400,000 for community gardens and other local food projects.

“The fruits of our labour are evident all over Vancouver,” said Park board chair Stuart Mackinnon, who thanked all of the “green thumbs” and a strong partnership with Little Mountain Riley Park Neighborhood Food Network.

The grassroots network is one of 13 neighborhood food networks committed to promoting food security by supporting equity and access, education, skill building and advocacy, particularly for community members who are struggling economically, the news release stated.

There is an incredible value to an integrated approach, which brings intergenerational and cultural initiatives in communities to access healthy food choices, said Roy Millen, the board president.
Education and raising food literacy is key, Millen added.

On July 25, a report will be presented to council on successes and lessons of the Greenest City Action Plan.

Melanie Green is a Vancouver-based reporter covering food culture and policy. Follow her on Twitter: @mdgmedia

(c) 2018 Toronto Star Newspapers

Vancouver & District Labour Council Endorse 3 Greens for Park Board

I am proud to receive the endorsement of the Vancouver & District Labour Council (VDLC) for my re-election to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The VDLC also endorsed my running mates Dave Demers and Camil Dumont. Along with the 3 Vancouver Greens, the VDLC also endorsed Gwen Giesbrecht and John Irwin of COPE, as well as Shaman Shivji and Cameron Zubko of Vision Vancouver.

Other Vancouver Greens endorsed by the VDL include Janet Fraser and Estrellita Gonzalez for School Board, and Adriane Carr and Pete Fry for City Council.

 The VDLC represents 60,000 workers from over 100 affiliated unions in our community. Labour council members work at food stores, on the docks, in public services, construction and much more. As a teacher represented by the Vancouver Secondary Teachers Association (VSTA) I am a member of the VDLC.

Elections will be held in Vancouver for Mayor (1), City Councillor (10), School Board Trustee (9) and Park Board Commissioner (7) on Saturday, 20 October 2018.

Be sure to visit my website for more about my campaign.

Park Board approves new nine acre roof-top park for redeveloped Oakridge Centre

 

July 10 2018

 “This new park will be a tremendous addition to our network of outstanding public parks with access for all. There will be something for everyone, from public spaces and a water park, to a woodland and a meadow,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

The Vancouver Park Board has approved the concept plan for a new nine acre public park, which will be the first of its kind in Vancouver, located partially on the roof-top of the mall and partially at ground level.

The new park will offer a unique experience for residents and will be a destination park for the rest of the city. It will feature six distinct park areas with a rich Pacific Northwest landscape and a balance of active and tranquil spaces. The new park will redefine what is possible for a landscape on top of a building. It will feature areas for contemplation, socializing and large gatherings and will have an 800 metre jogging and walking track.

Read the staff report and approved concept plan  (10 MB) 

Outstanding public parks

“This new park will be a tremendous addition to the Park Board's network of outstanding public parks with access for all. There will be something for everyone, from public spaces and a water park, to a woodland and a meadow,” said Park Board Chair Stuart Mackinnon.

In the redevelopment plan by QuadReal Property Group and Westbank Corporation, the existing Oakridge mall area will be transformed to include a mix of modern condo towers, townhomes, community facilities and green space.

Community centre provided by developer

The Park Board community centre in the new civic facility will be provided by the developer at no cost to the City. The community centre will be co-located with a library and daycare, and will include a fitness centre, seniors centre with kitchen, youth centre and spaces for arts and culture.

In addition to the park, the redevelopment plan by QuadReal Property Group and Westbank Corporation will transform Oakridge Centre through the addition of 10 towers and three mid-rise buildings with commercial, office, and residential uses, including market and social housing. The plan calls for more than 2,600 residential units. Of those, 290 will be market rental and another 290 will be social housing.

 Park Board Press release: 10 July 2018

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."