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.…
Stuart Mackinnon
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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...
$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…
Washroom closures? Probably not, but what about the rest?
As you know by now, the Park Board budget reductions include the closure of many park washrooms. This seems to have resonated in both the media and the public mind.…
My presentation to City Council
Although I requested to speak to Council late on Wednesday, I was the first speaker on the list for the Thursday meeting. After I had made my presentation, one of…
Budget Notes
I made my brief presentation to City Council last night, asking once again for full funding for the Park Board. After more than $4 million in reductions over the past…