One of the great pleasures in my life is walking with my dog along the Fraser River, at Riverfront Park. There is a path that starts just east of the Knight Road bridge and follows the river to Boundary Road, where it becomes the riverside path that fo…
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BetterParks for Vancouver: Summer’s coming: beaches and beachside pools open, park rangers on duty beginning this weekend
Park Board NewsMay 17, 2011 | No. 20Vancouver’s official start of summer is Saturday, May 21. That’s when beachside pools open, lifeguards are on duty at city beaches and park rangers begin their work in parks. Seaside heated outdoor pools locat…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Vancouver park board resurrects summer camps
By Sandra Thomas, Staff writer May 5, 2011Seven Vancouver parks will see the return of summer day camp programs this year, albeit part time. Vision Vancouver park board chair Aaron Jasper told the Courier he’s wanted to have the summer playground c…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Canucks win game 7 in OT
’nuff said. On to Nashville!
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Getting results means being interested
Before being elected, it always puzzled me what commissioners and councilors did around the table. Some looked interested, some looked bored and some looked like they were busy doing other things. Now that I am elected I have a better understanding of …
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Working cooperatively for better parks
Some pundits in the blogosphere have taken me to task in the past for working with the NPA on certain issues–Jericho wharf for instance–yet never for working with COPE or Vision. As the lone Green Party representative I have a unique outlook on the B…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: “Please remember the animal victims in Japan“
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Please remember the animal victims in Japan“, (Vancouver), Park Board Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon is asking Vancouver residents to remember the animal victims of the Japanese tragedy. “Along …
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: helping our animal friends in Japan
Further to my previous Blog about Ultimate Loyalty, anyone wishing to help our four-legged companions in Japan can contact any of the following volunteer agencies. They too need our help and donations.Heart Tokushima Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK) (PayPal …
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Skip to the Loo: Why public toilets matter
Here is a link to a great article in The Walrus. I’ve made public facilities one of my priorities for the Park Board. Staff should be reporting back soon on the future of our public conveniences. Here is a link to my blog about public washrooms: When Y…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Ultimate Loyalty
Japanese Dog Refuses to Leave Injured Friend BehindIn all the news about the terrible tragedy of the earthquake & tsunami in Japan, pets and other animals are the forgotten victims. This video shows the incredible compassion animals possess. When you t…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Canadian banks accepting donations for RED CROSS relief efforts in Japan
(Ottawa, March 14, 2011) – The Canadian Red Cross is pleased to announce that ten banks in Canada are accepting cash donations in support of Red Cross relief efforts in Japan. On Friday March 11, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan causing ma…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Tweets and twitters; robbing Peter to pay Paul
I have entered the world of Twitter (for those interested you can find me @betterparks) and have found a whole new world. Tonight Brent Granby of COPE was twittering at the Board and tweeted that I did not support the Board funding the Homeless Shower …
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Vancouver Not Vegas!
I have signed the petition and joined the coalition to stop the building of a mega-casino at BC Place. Please read the petition and sign up to show your support for Vancouver Not Vegas!Position Statement of the Vancouver Not Vegas! Coalition Our positi…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Enquiring minds want to know…
I just had a call from a member of the press asking if it was true that I would be running for City Council in the next election. My response was that it was news to me! I have not yet decided if I will run at all, let alone for City Council. This is t…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Stay off the ice on Vancouver’s lakes and ponds
The Vancouver Park Board is asking would-be skaters not to venture out onto frozen lakes and ponds in city parks. Most ice is too thin to support people or even pets. Recent cold temperatures have allowed ice to form on lakes and ponds; however the…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Six goals for 2011
It is hard to believe that this is the last year of my mandate from 2008. Time flies! With about 11 months left in this term I have 6 major goals for the year.1) Management restructuring of the Park Board to make it more efficient and responsive. The P…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Happy Holidays
A happy holiday and the best for the new year to all my readers. If you have some extra time, why not check out Bright Nights in Stanley Park, the Bloedel Conservatory’s Jewel Box of Lights and Vandusen Garden’s Festival of Lights. Each of them is uniq…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Parks Budget passes 4-2-1
There was little doubt as to the outcome as the Park Board budget passed its first hurdle last Thursday night. It was also quite anti-climatic City Council announced that an additional amount would be set aside to keep washrooms open and field use for …
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: Five reasons why Vision Vancouver badmouths Green commissioner Stuart Mackinnon
By Charlie Smith, The Straight Publish Date: December 16, 2010 This week, Vision Vancouver park commissioners ramped up their attacks on the lone elected Green in Vancouver, Stuart M…
Continue readingBetterParks for Vancouver: $7 million for a birthday party but not enough to cut grass or plant flowers?
On the Global news tonight they had a report of the plans City Council has for celebrating Vancouver’s 125th anniversary next year. Two birthday ‘bashes’ are planned, one in the spring and another (for 3 days) in the summer. The total cost is reported …
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