The following is a letter sent to the PB Chair and Mayor. Please join us in writing to our elected officials to stop the destruction of one of the last natural foreshore in Vancouver. Dear Sarah and Gregor. I have a simple question for you. How does destroying one of
Continue readingAuthor: Stuart Mackinnon
BetterParks for Vancouver: KEEP KITS BEACH WILD. Say NO to the Point Grey Foreshore Seawall
Please visit the KEEP KITS BEACH WILD website to sign the petition. The following information is from the website. The Vancouver Parks Board is proposing to extend the seawall from just west of Kitsilano Pool along the quiet wild beach to Spanish Banks. Vision Vancouver has lined up a private
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Just because we can build a seawall extension doesn’t mean we should
July 12, 2012. 4:00 pm • Section: OpinionThe Province, Vancouver BC There has been some discussion at Vancouver city council about an extension of the seawall. A motion is coming to the parks board on the feasibility of extending the seawall from Kitsilano Beach to Jericho Beach. This is on
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Developing Vancouver’s municipal golf courses could be "disastrous for biodiversity"
By Matthew Burrows, July 12, 2012 Straight.com Mayor Gregor Robertson may downplay the value of city-owned golf courses such as Langara for their green space and biodiversity—and dream of housing developments on bulldozed links—but nature experts disagree. “In recent years, a lot of the golf courses, particularly in Vancouver, have
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: TEDxBelfast — Colleen Hardwick — Authenticating Public Consultation
Vancouver’s Colleen Hardwick is revolutionizing how public consultation takes place. She is trying to reconnect people with their government so that government reflects the will of the people. Here is a TED talk she made in Belfast Northern Ireland “There is a crisis in public consultation; people don’t trust the
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Speaking of fluff: Too good not to share
By Sandra Thomas, Staff Writer July 9, 2012 Duck walkFormer Courier writer Pat Johnson sent us a YouTube video to enjoy and we thought it was too great not to share. According to the story, a mother duck and her many ducklings were wandering around the parking lot of the
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: More fluff than substance at Park Board meetings
Last night the Commissioners of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation passed two more fluff resolutions that could have been left to staff directions. The first, concerning a review of the golf courses, is something that staff regularly reports on. Each year I was a Commissioner a report on
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Reality Check: Langara Golf Course
There is a lot of misinformation floating around about Langara Golf Course. Some say it is private–wrong. It is a public course owned and operated by the Vancouver Park Board. Some say that it is open only to golfers–wrong.”Langara Golf Course’s treed greens are surrounded by a popular walking and
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Stanley Park: An Urban Wilderness Teaser Trailer
The good folks at Beautiful Earth productions are completing a documentary film on the history of Stanley Park. Here is the first of what they promise to be several trailers. Please watch and enjoy.
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Does Mayor Robertson really want to build condos on parkland?
A story in the Straight quotes Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson of supporting the idea of building housing on a portion of the Langara golf course. “Meanwhile, Vision mayor Gregor Robertson told the Vancouver Sun last week that he’s open to the idea of putting housing on the Langara course,
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: It’s a water sport–enjoy it!
Stuart Mackinnon June 16, 2012 citycaucus.com The Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival brings paddlers on False Creek Why not enjoy the 24th Annual Dragon Boat Festival in all this wet weather? The 24th Annual Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival has begun under grey skies and intermittent rain showers
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Park neglect resonates within the community
My article on the reduction of maintenance at Riverfront Park has resonated within the community. As well as being published on the City Caucus blog, it has now been pick up by the Vancouver Courier‘s Readers Soapbox feature. If you see your neighbourhood park is neglected and deteriorating, you should
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: A crappy way to treat a neighbourhood
Stuart Mackinnon May 30, 2012 CityCaucus.com Riverfront Park, seen from Romer’s Burger Bar A former park commissioner watches a waterfront park lose its lustre The Fraserlands neighbourhood in southeast Vancouver is truly a hidden gem. Riverfront pathways meander along the Fraser and awesome bike paths make access to the outdoors
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: A Crappy Way to Treat a Neighbourhood
The Fraserlands neighbourhood in south east Vancouver is truly a hidden gem. Riverfront pathways meander along the Fraser and awesome bike paths make access to the outdoors very easy. The neighbourliness is something I have not experienced anywhere else in the city. This camaraderie might be due to the accessibility
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: World Migratory Bird Day celebrations in Vancouver
from the Park Board: Vancouver—with some of Canada’s most important bird habitat—is the perfect place to lead the country in celebrating World Migratory Bird Day. To recognize the importance of birds to a healthy ecosystem, a series of events will be held across the city on May 12.
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Cherry Blossom Festival Walks and Talks in Vancouver Parks
More info from the Vancouver Park Board Apr 19, 2012 (No. 16) – Celebrate the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival in Vancouver parks this weekend by participating in Tree Talks and Walks hosted by Vancouver Park Board. Stanley Park Saturday, April 21, 2:00 – 3:30 pm Meet at the Rose Arbour
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Earth Day celebrations in Vancouver parks
From the Vancouver Park Board website: Apr 18, 2012 (No. 15) – Celebrate Earth Day festivities in various Vancouver parks starting this weekend. Everett Crowley Park Saturday, April 21, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Vancouver’s longest running Earth Day celebration takes place at Everett Crowley Park. Hosted by the Everett
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: a little shameless promotion…
The school I teach at has a terrific film program with an outstanding teacher, Mr. Jonathan Friedrichs. Each year they make films and send them off to contests. They have one some national competitions in the past, with some pretty amazing films. This year they have entered a film in
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