Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Volume 1, Issue 3
July 2010
Talk at Land Use Meet Turns to Protection Of UBC Farm
PHOTO: PAVEL TOMPKINS
Land Use Plan amending process is underway; kick-off workshop is well-attended
Elaine Butler (right) enjoys lunch at the UBC Blueberry Fest. Ms. Butler works in placement supply at the school of nursing on campus. UBC Food Services staff members Warren Harshenin and Nadira Choudhury gladly served her. Blueberry Fest lasted four days in July. SEE UBC BLUE BERRY STORY PAGE 12
UNA Adopts Municipal-Like Election Process Voters will be directed to ‘polling stations’ around campus; allcandidates meeting will be held before AGM A decision by the UNA board June 13 paves the way for a system of collecting and returning ballets based on the Canadian municipal ‘polling station’ model. Jan Fialkowski, UNA executive director, said that implementing the new system should lead to campus residents becoming more informed about the UNA elections, which in turn should lead to increased UNA membership—and ultimately greater voter participation; previously, under the old system, balloting took place only during the meeting itself. As well in the coming election, the
residential community will have the opportunity to listen to candidates speak—and question them—at an all-candidates meeting organized by the UNA before the AGM. This also represents a major departure from the past when candidates gave short talks just prior to ballots being cast at the AGM. Ms. Fialkowski said, “Candidates will be given more opportunities to engage residents”. The solid premise of seeking to better serve the community and UNA members drives the initiative, Ms. Fialkowski said. ELECTION cont’d page 8
The government-mandated rewrite of the UBC Land Use Plan (formerly Official Community Plan) got underway July 15 with a pair of well-attended public workshops at which speakers placed heavy emphasis on the need to protect UBC Farm from future housing development. A spirited discussion took place over the UBC proposal to change the designation of the 60-acre farm in South Campus to ‘Green Academic’ from ‘Future Housing Reserve’ with most speakers approving the change, which would be written into an amended Land Use Plan if it is accepted by the provincial government, which took charge of land use planning oversight at UBC April 29. However, one speaker—a young man who described himself as a student helping run UBC Farm—wondered if changing the designation to Green Academic (as the UBC board of governors proposed in November, 2008) would save the farm if a future board decided to change its designation back to future housing reserve. “How long will the Farm stay ‘Green’?” he asked. “We want a designation which is irreversible. We want the Farm protected in perpetuity. Can we have a 99-year lease attached to it?”
The passionate talk of ‘green’ did not end with the farm. A number of other outdoor UBC spaces deserve to be protected from future housing development by re-classing them ‘Green Academic’, speakers said. Spaces mentioned included Totem Research Fields, a large swath of land bordering Southwest Marine Drive, the Horticultural Greenhouses in mid-campus where agriculture at UBC has flourished since the 1920s, the UBC Botanical Garden, also bordering Southwest Marine Drive, and even the iconic Nitobe Memorial Garden, a traditional Japanese Tea and Stroll garden considered to be the one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America. The frequent reference to ‘academic’ among speakers generated what amounted to a discussion within a discussion. A team of UBC staff pointed out that there are already eight different types of academic land on the 1,000acre campus (nine if Green Academic is added), and wondered what workshop participants thought about reducing the number. This led some speakers to backtrack on their call for UBC Farm to be re-designated ‘Green Academic’ on the grounds the new title would insufficiently identify the uniqueness of the farm. WORKSHOP cont’d page 2
UBC Athletics Asks for UNA Support in Gaining License Liquor would be sold at musical events until 1 AM; arena would be open until 2 AM The express need of UBC for a license to sell liquor at musical events in the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre became a topic for discussion at the July 13 meeting of the University Neighbourhood Association board of directors. A senior administrator from UBC Athletics department, associate director Alnoor Aziz, indicated to UNA directors that due to a profound change in the musical production business of late “all our revenues (at the winter sports centre) have dried up”, leaving the department “financially desperate” with the $45 million centre— which was a venue during the FebruaryMarch Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games—generating a utility bill alone of $50,000 a month. UNA board members appeared sympathetic to the plight of UBC Athletics, but declined to provide the department with the kind of support asked for at this time; instead, they asked Mr. Aziz to return to
their August meeting with a less ambitious proposal they might be able to accept. The profound change in the musical production business referred to by Mr. Aziz has resulted in UBC Athletics having “no confirmed concert bookings for fall and winter,” and having had only one summer concert (June 5) since receiving the area back from the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympics. “The musical promoter business is very risky, and the largest promoter, Live Nations, is no longer doing mid-level concerts that are not in the venue they own or in venues where they are not getting a significant financial concession.” Mr. Aziz said. “Meanwhile, smaller promoters have not picked up the mid-level concerts, as they have no ability to absorb the financial losses.” LIQUOR cont’d page 11
page 2
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
UBC associate vice-president, campus and community planning, Nancy Knight (third person from left, seated) listens to member of public speaking during round-table discussion of land use planning issues at the University of British Columbia July 15. Ms. Knight leads the process of updating campus Land Use Plan to satisfaction of provincial government.
Garden Grows to Twice
WORKSHOP from page 1
“Why not drop the word ‘academic’ and classify the farm ‘UBC Farm’, the research fields ‘Totem Research Fields’ and so on,” one said. The forceful presence at the meeting of members of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society, Friends of UBC Farm, Pacific Spirit Park Society and other environmental-activist groups took place as expected though, since they generally approve of what UBC has done in protecting UBC Farm from potential development (by essentially rezoning it), their comments did not carry the bite of public meetings of times past when disapproval of UBC decisions was the norm. A senior UBC administrator, associate vice-president, campus and community planning Nancy Knight, introduced the Open House/public workshop to four issues which had been detected during recent formulation of the in-house Campus Plan (not to be confused with the government-regulated Land use Plan), and invited discussion on them. Well over a 150 people then sat in back-to-back 90-minute workshops moderated by Ms. Knight and her staff: debating the following issues: •What are the most important elements of ‘Green Academic’?
•What are your thoughts on how Cultivating Place (an academic plan for South Campus) proposes the UBC Farm lands be used? •How can UBC create affordable housing and become a more completely sustainable community? •How would regularizing (amending) the academic land use designation better support the integration of teaching, learning and research The central group of UBC planners facilitating this discussion under the direction of Ms. Knight proposes to continue it via the Internet for the balance of July before returning to debate-in-person when UBC students return to campus in the fall. A meeting of the UBC board of governors in late June triggered the Land Use Plan amendment process after government intervention in land use planning oversight at UBC in late April. The governors say they are seeking to engage as many people as possible in the amending process and hoping as many ‘interested parties’ as possible will come forward from both on and off campus to express their views. The on-campus list of persons with a probable interest in participating in
the plan rewrite includes students, faculty, staff, alumni, emeriti, campus residents and other employees on campus, while the off-campus list includes residents of the University Endowments Lands. The long list of on-campus organizations and authorities includes the Alma Mater Society, the Graduate Student Society, the Senate for the Vancouver campus, the University Neighbourhoods Association, Alumni Association, Friends of UBC Farm, and Friends of the UBC Botanical Garden. Meanwhile the equally-long list of off-campus organizations and authorities includes the University Endowment Lands administration and community advisory council, the City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, the Vancouver School Board, provincial agencies such as the ministry of transportation and infrastructure, TransLink, Musqueam, the Pacific Spirit Park Society (which includes the Wreck Beach Preservation Society), the Southwest Marine Drive Ratepayers’ Association and the Dunbar and West Point Grey neighbourhood associations.
Original Size The popular community garden organized by the University Neighbourhooods Association (UNA) in the mid-campus part of the University of British Columbia recently almost doubled in size to 78 lots from 40. Moreover, another 15-plus lots should become available for gardening by campus residents in the fall at a site nearby. Heather Friesen, chair of UNA gardening committee, said yet another block of lots will become available for gardening by campus residents when UBC opens Nobel Park in the Wesbrook Place residential neighbourhood in South Campus. The original garden opened in the spring of 2008 on a plot of land leased from the research company FP Innovations-Forintek along Main Mall 100 yards north of Thunderbird Stadium. An excess of demand for gardening opportunities by campus residents over supply of lots has ever prevailed, Ms Friesen said, and this has kept her committee actively involved in dealing with UBC on the community garden front.
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
page 3
Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
“The UNA is democratic,” say Mike Feeley and Jim Taylor MIKE FEELEY, current chair of the UNA JIM TAYLOR, founding Chair of the UNA
We read with surprise the opinion piece by Delta Mayor and Metro Vancouver Chair Lois Jackson (elsewhere on this page) decrying the lack of democratic governance in UBC’s residential neighbourhoods. We were particularly surprised since we live at UBC and have been involved in providing democratic governance here for the past nine years. Neither Ms. Jackson nor anyone else from Metro contacted anyone involved in UBC residential governance before writing her piece. How can she write about our situation without talking to at least one of those involved? How could she
Mike Feeley, current chair of the UNA
show so little regard for the views of the people for whom she claims to speak? She ends her article with “Let their voices be heard.” In the spirit of that remark, we will respond with a few facts to set the record straight about what is actually happening in the UBC residential community that we proudly call home. We are the current and founding Chairs of the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA). The UNA was established by agreement between UBC and Metro in 2001 to provide municipal governance for the residential neighbourhoods UBC has been developing on its campus. In that agreement UBC and Metro specifically directed that there would be a society incorporated (the UNA) that would develop a governance model for the residential areas of the UBC campus and deliver municipal services, as if a municipality, to those areas. Since its inception the UNA has worked diligently to do what UBC and Metro tasked it to do. The UNA Board is comprised of four members elected by the residents, two UBC appointees, and one student appointed by the elected student government. Membership in the UNA is voluntary. We are a rapidly growing community of about 7,000 residents. More than 2,800 adults are currently
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“Let voices of UBC residents be heard,” says Lois Jackson LOIS E. JACKSON, chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors and mayor of Delta
UNA members and 4,300 residents have UNA Community Cards that provide preferential access to UBC facilities and membership in the Vancouver Public Library. Residents do not need to be a UNA member to receive the services we provide, but the large number of residents who are members shows the strong commitment of folks in our community to be involved in determining how their community works. The UNA delivers essentially all municipal services to residents and receives all of the residential or related commercial tax-like monies raised from residents. We use the money to maintain parks, operate a community centre and repair roads, just like any municipal government. And like a municipal government the UNA has the power to enact and enforce rules for matters like noise, parking and animal control. We also do things that few municipalities do: for example, in conjunction with UBC, we run a composting program for our multi-family housing, unique among all Metro municipal governments. Ms. Jackson inaccurately describes the situation on the UBC Campus as like “every other major Canadian University”. This is, simply, wrong. We are different from all other major Canadian University campuses owing to the huge commitment that UBC has made to development of a market residential community within its campus – creating in effect a true University residential town.
Jim Taylor, founding chair of the UNA
And a town like this presents some unusual governance challenges that we (the UNA and UBC; notably not Metro) have been working hard on for nearly a decade. We have evolved into a vibrant community that is well-loved by those who live here. CHAIRS cont’d page 4
Lois Jackson, chair, Metro Vancouver board of directors and mayor of Delta.
When will the rapidly-growing residential community at the University of B.C. have its own democratic and accountable local government? The UBC area – and some rural lands in Metro Vancouver, such as Barnston Island in the Fraser River and the west side of Pitt Lake – do not lie within the boundaries of the City of Vancouver or any Metro Vancouver municipality. A family with a farm on Barnston Island and a professor who lives in one of the new high-rise towers at UBC have at least one thing in common: They both live in one of the unincorporated areas that are collectively known as “Electoral Area “A.” Every three years, instead of voting for a mayor and council, these Canadians elect one person as their representative. That person becomes one of the Directors on the Metro Vancouver Board – which represents communities with a total population of almost 2.5 million people. The UBC campus and the University Endowment Lands are the only urbanized lands in Metro Vancouver without their own municipal councils and local government. An estimated 16,000 residents and students now live there. By the year 2020, that residential population is projected to grow to 24,000. Until recently, Metro Vancouver oversaw land use administration on the UBC campus. Situations where UBC acts as proponent, developer and approver for development projects have been cause for concern for some time. A recent UBC proposal to move and shrink the UBC Farm to make way for more development is but one example. The inherent conflict of interest contributes to a lack of accountability in the burgeoning UBC campus on Point Grey. Metro Vancouver attempted last year to introduce land use development provisions that would have made progress toward increasing accountability. This was by no means unusual, given that every other major Canadian university situated within a heavily urbanized metropolitan area operates under a zoning bylaw. However, introduction of a zoning bylaw of any kind was opposed by the university. In November 2009, UBC
President Stephen Toope called Metro Vancouver’s proposal “an attempt to intervene in the governance of UBC in a way that could be devastating to our academic freedom.” Metro Vancouver agrees that academic freedom is one of the hallmarks of a democracy. Another is a citizen’s right to have a democratic and accountable local government. In May 2010, the Province of British Columbia enacted Bill 20. That law contains a provision that makes the B.C. Minister of Community and Rural Development responsible for local and regional land use planning on the UBC Point Grey campus. The UBC Board of Governors will be responsible for development of a land use plan, as well as the process of public consultation associated with it. Under the new authority, the Minister will be able to adopt a local land use plan prepared by UBC. Metro Vancouver continues to be the regional government and will supply regional utilities and services. With the transfer of Metro Vancouver’s local and regional land use planning responsibilities to a provincial ministry, future plans for accountability remain unclear. However, this is not a viable long-term solution since it does not address the long-standing Board priority of finding an alternate governance system for UBC. On several occasions, the Metro Vancouver Board had asked Victoria to initiate a new governance system for UBC. The Board never asked for, or expected, the Bill now passed by Legislature. In recent years, UBC has grown into much more than a university. It is a vibrant and diverse community with expanding scope, a growing population and international recognition for innovation and sustainability. The Metro Vancouver Board supports governance reforms that will lead to greater accountability at UBC - accountability of the sort that provides access to formal democratic avenues found in other Metro Vancouver municipalities. The Minister of Community and Rural Development and UBC have agreed that it is time to explore a more representative form of local government for the Point Grey peninsula. The speed in travelling this road to democracy will depend on the interest and involvement of the university and residential communities. Metro Vancouver would hope that the Province of BC will work with area residents and UBC to develop democratic and accountable governance structures, because sustainability and accountability go hand in hand. UBC residents and students deserve no less. Let their voices be heard. Let them have their own democratic and accountable local government.
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Board Backs Plan to Work With UBC on 2 ‘Power Smart’ Projects Energy manager would be hired under 2-year program; other program is 25-year in scope A proposed partnership of the University Neighbourhoods Association with UBC on two BC Hydro ‘power smart’ projects has received backing from the UNA board. A decision taken at the July 13 UNA board meeting favors the UNA partnering with UBC on the ‘Community Energy Manager’ program (CEM) and the ‘Community Energy and Emissions Plan’ (CEEP) program. Ralph Wells, UNA sustainability manager, said, “Partnering on the CEM and CEEP programs represent a significant opportunity to engage with BC Hydro on substantive energy reduction programs in a cost effective manner. The CEEP also has the potential to be the foundation of a climate action plan for the UNA.” If the application to B.C. Hydro is successful, BC Hydro would fund up to half the cost of the programs. UBC and the UNA would share the remaining costs based on a cost sharing arrangement currently under development. An information circular Mr. Wells provided the UNA board indicates the role of the CEM will be to create the founda-
tion for a profound reduction in energy consumption and emissions community-wide in the University of British Columbia Vancouver University Town (comprising all student housing, staff and faculty housing, private residential, and tenant buildings) and initiate catalytic action towards transition to more sustainable energy systems. The CEM responsibilities would include development of Power Smart programs tailored to the community which would be expected to provide direct, tangible benefits to residents. Meanwhile, according to the information circular, the second program (CEEP) will present a comprehensive long term framework to achieve breakthrough reductions in the use of energy, including electricity, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the community of the University town. The overall objective of this plan is to establish a model community in the areas of energy supply reliability and sustainability, and climate responsibility. The CEEP will have a 25-year time horizon, with a clear set of priorities for the first five to ten years.
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Letter to the Editor Resident Raises Bill 20 Questions Given the coverage in the May and June issues of this newspaper of the Provincial Legislature’s Bill 20 and the speed of its adoption, I believe there must be a large number of UNA residents asking, “What’s going on?” Those residents are interested in knowing the answer to that question but may not want to go to their computers to look at various web sites for minutes of meetings or phoning provincial, regional or university administrators. That takes time and does not allow neighbours to hear the views and concerns of other neighbours. I think it is time for a UNA public forum where detailed information is given to residents and where they have their questions discussed, if not answered. I would like to see the UNA Board organize the forum and invite participation by the Provincial Government, Metro Vancouver and the University. •UNA residents not only want to know ‘what’s going on’ but want answers to many other specific questions such as: •Why was Bill 20 necessary in the first place and in such a hurry?
•What are the implications of Bill 20 to long term land use planning of UBC non-academic lands? •How will Bill 20 affect the future density of the residential neighbourhoods on campus? •Will it affect the live/work ratio in the neighbourhoods? •What are the implications of Bill 20 to the GVRD-UBC Official Community Plan and to the Memorandum of Understanding? •What now is the relevance of the Metro Vancouver-UBC Joint Committee? •What role does Metro Vancouver now play in the affairs of the university? •Does Bill 20 influence decisions on future use of UBC Farm or on South Campus land designated as “Future Housing Reserve”? •In what ways does Bill 20 implicate a change in governance at UBC? •Will there be another referendum on governance? Gary Gibson, Hampton Place
CHAIRS from page 3
Had Ms. Jackson, the Metro Board or the staff paid to serve them, cared to they could have learned from the residents what our community is all about and the progress we are making towards the task given to the UNA by UBC and Metro. Metro never asked. Not once. Indeed, on two past occasions Metro conducted what can only be described as a secret study concerning possible governance options for our residential community. But Metro never communicated with any of us, in any manner. Of course Ms. Jackson is entitled to her own opinion about how we should be governed. But, it should be obvious that the opinions that really matter are those of the affected residents -- the people she has failed to talk to. The UNA Board is actively and continually involved in
consulting with our neighbours on the question of governance and other matters. Through public meetings and surveys one view has been clearly and overwhelming expressed: UNA residents cherish the local character and ambiance afforded by our current model. There are changes that could improve on our current model of governance and also retain local control and the many things that work well today. We would welcome a fair, informed and respectful discussion on this topic. But, please, can Metro stop pretending that up is down and that the UNA does not exist? We do exist. We provide governance. We are democratic. And we do not need the Mayor of Delta to come to our rescue.
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page 5
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Board Backs Name of Site For Friend of Garden
PHOTOS: UBC
The Late Roseline Sturdy was member of volunteer group working in Botanical Garden; husband Morgan Sturdy is donor in amphitheatre project
Actors rehearse in Roseline Sturdy Amphitheatre, recently-opened public performance space at UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research. The late Roseline Sturdy belonged to Friends of the Garden, a volunteer group, and worked for many years in the Garden. (INSET) Actors continue rehearsal in corner of this elegant public performance space.
The soon-to-be-completed amphitheatre at the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research will bear the name of the late Roseline Sturdy following a decision of the UBC board of governors. A UBC report indicates Roseline Sturdy had belonged to Friends of the Garden, a volunteer group, and worked actively in the garden for many years. The stately Roseline Sturdy Amphitheatre, a public performance space, became open officially during a recent small ceremony for friends and family of the Sturdy Family. The supporting documentation presented to UBC governors prior to them ruling on the amphitheatre name noted that Morgan Sturdy, husband of Roseline, approached the UBC Botanical Garden shortly after the death of his wife in 2008 to explore the possibility of completing a garden project in her honor. A pledge then materialized. “Mr. Sturdy picked the amphitheatre project as being best suited to a memorial to his spouse,” the governors learned. The written material backing an on-going fund-raising campaign to complete construction of a speciallydesigned entrance to the Roseline Sturdy Amphitheatre refers to the fa-
cility as follows: •The innovative design creates a performance area surrounded by curved and rising tiers of polished concrete with seating for up to 250 people. •A canopy of trees, planted in amongst the seating area, creates a natural flow between the performance space and the Garden. •Another outstanding design feature is a curving rammed-earth wall, set behind the stage that encloses and defines the performance area. An address given at the opening ceremony by Patrick Lewis, director of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, reads in parts as follows: “It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this dedication of the Roseline Sturdy Amphitheatre. “You are at this moment in the north east corner of the UBC Botanical Garden at the terminus of what was once a little-used utility road. To my left and behind you is the Winter Garden. To my right, the Alpine Garden stretches along our eastern edge until it meets the Native Garden. Over my shoulder, on the other side of this beautiful wall, the main lawn connects us to the hedges surrounding the Physic Garden and to the Food Garden. Beyond that the Garry Oak Meadow draws us down to the Asian
Garden and the forest on the far side of the road. “Just west of the main lawn, rushes move in the wind above the pond while a few steps further west, the canopy of the Carolinian Grove has filled out and promises to bring the colors of an eastern forest to us this fall. “There are blackbirds, and swallows, and dragon flies, and often at dawn herons hunt frogs along the edge of the pond. There are coyotes, and humming birds, moles and eagles and amphibians. Dozens of birds and animals, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of insects—
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predators, pollinators, creatures that till the soil, creatures of the day and night... “On a hot summer afternoon, there can be a coolness in this corner of the Garden. In the evening the landscape holds the heat long after the sun has left. In fall there is the burnt sugar scent of the katsura and in late winter the unexpected gifts of the Winter Garden. “This is a lovely place. To many a magical place. And from this day forward, this Garden, this small corner of the Empire of Life will be graced by the Roseline Sturdy Amphitheatre.”
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Campus Chefs Show Taste Fo The dynamic and creative Steven Golob, an award-winning chef at the University of British Columbia, makes no bones about his passion for cooking with food purchased from student-run UBC Farm. “How can I cook without it?” he asks. “I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’m only happy when I can get more.” A sampling of other chefs and food service personnel on campus concurs. As a result, while small compared to the multi-million dollar food budget required to feed the small army of students, faculty, staff and visitors who eat daily at the growing number of food outlets on campus, the amount UBC Food Services spends to purchase produce from UBC Farm in South Campus has continued to grow from its onset several years ago—to the order of $10,000 this year. Amy Frye, marketing coordinator, UBC Farm, says that strengthening partnerships with campus food providers is important as it relates to the UBC Farm’s mission of education. “The fact that these relationships are often initiated as student projects is a great example both of hands-on, relevant learning and the real-life changes that students can help affect through their academic studies in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.”
Though the total sales to campus food outlets is a relatively small proportion of the UBC Farm sales overall (Ms Frye says, “Our Saturday Farmers’ Markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program comprises the bulk of our sales.”), it is a very important proportion. “These campus partnerships allow us to make connections with students, faculty & staff and help educate campus residents about the impacts of their food choices, empowering them to make decisions and advocate for food options that will result in a more sustainable campus food system— and on the surface of things, local food just plain tastes better.” UBC Food Services purchases overall have increased over the last three years, from around $3,800 (07) to around $4,700 (08) to around $7,300 (2009). Ms. Frye says, “We have seen similar rates of growth in our sales to the Alma Mater Society Food & Beverage Service, responsible for food outlets in the Student Union Building (SUB) on campus. We also sell to Sprouts, a volunteer-run, sustainability-focused grocery store & cafe in the SUB, as well as Agora, our Faculty of Land and Food System’s volunteer-run cafe in the MacMillan building.”
PHOTO: PAVEL TOMPKINS
UBC Farm is run by students; UB
Fresh produce from UBC Farm passes from student hands to hands of UBC Food Services staff m student Calum Ross and UBC Farm marketing coordinator Amy Frye represent the farm, Right o Campbell, marketing coordinator; and Piyush Sahay, executive chef, represent food services.
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Meanwhile, recent student projects helping to get signage into food outlets that promote their use of UBC Farm produce has further strengthened the UBC Farm-UBC food outlets relationship. “We have been trying to affect similar relationships with all UBC Food Service outlets and will continue to do so moving forward. Ike’s Cafe was a new customer last season, and we hope to work with The Point Grill this year. Sage Bistro, the fine dining outlet of UBC Food Services is one of our longest running customers.” To keep outlets informed of produce for sale, Ms. Frye sends a weekly ‘UBC Farm Fresh Sheet’ to UBC outlets and others. For example, her sheet for June 16 reads in part, “Still lots of greens on the menu this week, but a lot more variety.” Deadline for ordering produce comes Thursdays at 5 PM, and Ms. Frye has advice for potential customers. “Items in short supply are always first come, first served, so it’s always
to your advantage to get your orders to us sooner rather than later.” E-mailed to customers, her produce notes for a recent week—reproduced here in part—show the wide variety of fresh UBC Farm produce now available to campus chefs. •A note on herbs—we can do bulk supplies of oregano, savory and lovage by the pound; the oregano is quite lush. Other herbs, we can offer only in smaller quantities by the bunch at this time, or it will be too hard on our plants. We shall have larger supplies of basil later in the season. •Edible flowers this week (just nasturtiums, no petals yet.) •Green! Green! Green! Some baby arugula, bulk mizuna (still a bit big for salad, good for cooking) Also, some new additions to the ‘greens’ list—leaf broccoli (unique product, try it out!), collards, kale and chard. •Still a lot of bunched spinach available this week. Help us out if
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
page 7
or Fresh UBC Farm Produce
BC Food Services is good customer bunch Meanwhile, at the other end of this local food production and consumption business, a sign reading, “Featuring Produce from the UBC Farm!” appeared in one UBC Food Services outlet with whom UBC Farm is partnering before the end of last term: The featured produce included: •Kale •Swiss Chard •Carrots •Beans •Basil •Thyme •Mint •Zucchini •Winter Squash •Parsley •Salad Mix •Rosemary •Mustard greens •Sage.
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members. In recent years, UBC food outlets have bought more and more produce from the student-run farm in South Campus. Left of the table, of the table (from left to right), Steve Golob, residence chef, Place Vanier dining room; Loriann McGowan, general manager, residences; Juliana
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you can. A recent UBC Farm price list reads: •Aragula - $1.50/bunch •Collards - $1.75/bunch •Herbs—Chives, Rosemary, Oregano, Savory, Tarragon, Thyme, Fennel, Sage, Lovage, Mint $1.25/bunch •Herbs (bulk) Oregano, Savory & Lovage $12/pound •Kale (Curley-Starbor/Improved Siberian or Flat-White Russian/Red Russian) $1.50/bunch •Leaf broccoli - $1.50/bunch •Lettuce heads (Drunken Women and Marvel of Four Seasons) $1.25 each •Mizuna $1.50/bunch •Mizuna (cooking) $3.00/pound •Mustard greens - $1/50/bunch •Radishes (Sora and French Breakfast) $1.25 / bunch •Ruby streaks $1.50 / bunch •Salad mix $6 / pound •Spinach, bunched $1.50/bunch •Spinach (large leaves, bulk) $3.50 / pound •Swiss chard (red and white) $1.50/ UCCC Horz Ad 2010.indd 1
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Young Chess Mates Make Moves at National Meet
PHOTO: LAURA TENNANT
Michael Su, 8, was second in one category; Jefferson Yang Xia, 9, was 16th in another
Campus resident Michael Su, 8 (left), and Jefferson Yang Xia, 9 pose with chess instructor Lior Sitkovsky.
The Canadian Youth Chess Championship took place in Windsor, Ontario recently with the two campus residents competing in it placing as follows: Michael Su second in the Under 8 Category, and Jefferson Yang Xia 16th in the Under 10 Category. Another championship beckons shortly, the 2010 North American Youth Championship in Montreal, August 16-19, and with his second place finish in Windsor,
Michael qualifies for it. It also qualifies him for competition in subsequent Pan American and World Youth Championships. The chess-loving pair of Michael, 8, and Jefferson, 9, agreed what they liked most abut playing was “beating someone.” A chess club began at the Old Barn Community Centre two years ago with the Old Barn Chess Club under instruc-
tor Lior Sitkovsky operating as follow: Sunday mornings (9 AM-11AM—Advanced, 11 AM-noon—Beginners; noon1PM Intermediate). Michael, who is very “excited” about competing in the coming Montreal tournament, started playing when the club began while Jefferson had begun at another club a year earlier. The following tournament format prevailed in Windsor: seven rounds (or
games) with each player in a game having 1 to 1 ½ hrs to play. A game for Michael lasted on average 2 1/2hrs with his fourth round game (against the boy who ended up winning the tournament) lasting five hours. Both Michael and Jefferson qualified for the Windsor nationals by ranking in the top three in British Columbia with this being the first time for either to attend the Canadian Youth Chess Championship.
ELECTION from page 1
A suggestion from UNA chair Mike Feeley some weeks ago led to staff investigating the feasibility of conducting UNA elections using the polling station model. They concluded the model could be adopted for the September election of two directors, and this brought in the favorable board decision. The preliminary plan for polling stations calls for three or four of them: one in the Hawthorn Place neighborhood (likely at the Old Barn Community Centre) for the residents from Hawthorn Place and East Campus, and possibly one in each of Chancellor Place, Wesbrook Place and Hampton Place. An advanced Polling Station will also stand at the Old Barn Community Centre though the advanced poll date is yet to be determined. The polling stations will stay open for 12 hours on the day of the election and will be staffed by volunteers from the community. Ms. Fialkowski said a call for ‘manager’ of the polling stations and the election will be made to identify an experienced resident within the community who can organize the new election format, train other polling station staff and manage the polling stations on the day of the election and the advanced poll. The essential details regarding this new
allow them the opportunity to campaign for counting. The results of the election election format will appear in several directly and more effectively with UNA will be announced at the AGM which is places: members. scheduled from 7 PM to 9 PM. The results •Advertisements in this newspaper (July On election day, the UNA board agreed, of the election, as well as information and and August issues); the three polling stations will open at 7 decisions related to the AGM, will then •Weekly myuna announcements (every AM and remain open for 12 hours until be communicated to all residents via the 2nd week until the AGM); 7 PM at which time the ballots will be media referred to above. •UNA website; collected and returned to the UNA Office •AGM notice that will be mailed to every UNA member; •Voters’ cards that will be mailed to each member with In accordance with the UNA Constitution, there will be an Election for their polling staUNA Resident Directors to take place at the UNA Annual General Meeting. tion information. Eligibility Requirements: A decision to be made shortly will To be eligible for nomination a person must be a resident of a “local area” (those areas currently identified for non-institutional development in the Comprehensive Community Plan and establish when A meeting for members of the UNA Hampton Place) and otherwise meet the requirements of our By-laws.The UNA Constitution candidates may and residents of the “Local Areas” as and By-laws requires that no more than three (3) directors may come from a single area and at defined in the Comprehensive least one (1) director must be elected from the Faculty / Staff or Co-Development housing. To begin campaignCommunity Plan including Hampton read the UNA Constitution and By-laws please see the UNA website www.myuna.ca. Directors ing, Ms. Fialkowsto be elected this September will initially hold office for two (2) years. Directors may be rePlace, Hawthorn Place, Chancellor ki said; this date elected (subject to being eligible) for up to two (2) more terms. Nominees for the UNA Board of Place, East Campus, and Wesbrook Directors may contact the UNA office by phone, fax or email to be sent nomination forms or Place Wednesday, will be commumay print a copy from the UNA website www.myuna.ca. To be eligible, nominations require the nicated to them; support of 10 members of the UNA. Nominees are requested to submit a 1 page biographical September 22nd, sketch and photo with the completed nomination form to the UNA office. Biographical prior to this date, information will be posted on the UNA website and/or in the UNA publication The Campus 7 p.m. – 9 p.m public campaignResident. at the Old Barn Community Centre ing will be prohib6308 Thunderbird Blvd, UBC Deadline for Nominations: ited. Meanwhile, all candidates will Should you have any further questions, The deadline for nominations under the UNA Constitution is 4:30 pm on Monday, August 23, 2010. please contact Cathie Cleveland Completed nomination forms should be mailed or delivered to the UNA office, 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, have access to the Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4. The names of persons nominated for election as Resident Directors shall be UNA Administrative Manager Voters List (UNA University published in a ballot and delivered to the membership with the notice of meeting. 604.827.5540 or email Cathie@myuna.ca. members list) to
Annual General Meeting
Neighbourhoods
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Businessman Becomes UBC Board Chair Vancouver businessman Bill Levine has become chair of the UBC board of governors. Mr. Levine replaces Kelowna businessman Brad Bennett, who completed his term of five years as board chair in June. Mr. Levine is a founding shareholder and currently chair of Western Corporate Enterprises Inc., a private business and real estate investment firm. From 1970 to 1986 Mr. Levine was a senior officer and director of BCE Development Corporation, formerly known as Daon Development Corporation. Mr. Levine has been a director of several public corporations. He is presently on the board of A&W Food Services Inc. Mr. Levine has been involved at UBC for many years, first as a member of the dean’s advisory committee, Sauder School and more recently as chair of dean’s advisory board, Faculty of Arts. Mr. Levine, who graduated from UBC with a BA in 1963 and Harvard Business School with an MBA in 1965, has been chair, BC Chapter, Young Presidents’ Organization and has chaired the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Vancouver. The 21-member UBC board of governors encompasses the chancellor, the president, eleven persons appointed by the lieutenant-governor, three faculty members elected by faculty, three fulltime students elected by students and two persons elected by and from the full-time employees of the University who are not faculty members. By legislation, the Board is responsible for the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the University, including the appointment of senior officials and faculty on the recommendation of the President. Recently, the board reappointed Prof. Stephen J. Toope to a second term of five years as president and vice chancellor. Professor Toope was originally appointed to a five-year term that began on July 1, 2006. “Stephen Toope has been a remarkable leader in UBC’s progress toward becoming one of the world’s great research-intensive universities,” said Mr.
Bennett, who was still board chair when commenting. “His leadership has contributed to a particularly positive atmosphere throughout the university that is conducive to learning, research and civil discourse. He has also succeeded in creating a sense of pride in British Columbians that their oldest, largest, and most internationally recognized university is truly a significant global presence.” During his first term, Mr. Bennett said, Professor Toope has overseen significant growth in academic and infrastructure programs on both campuses of the University, and in particular on UBC’s new Okanagan campus. He has spearheaded major campus operational and academic sustainability programs, new aboriginal initiatives, and has substantially increased community engagement in the university, especially amongst alumni. He has also achieved budget stability in challenging economic times. His second term as President will be driven by the University’s new strategic plan, Place and Promise, which was created under his stewardship. Professor Toope said his second term goals include building on the university’s strengths. “A remarkable student body, first-rate teachers and researchers, dedicated staff and engaged alumni – these are all prerequisites for building a globally influential university,” he said. “UBC is blessed with these in abundance. “During my second term, I hope to focus even more on expanding the learning opportunities for all students, building up UBC’s research profile internationally, and creating even more vibrant partnerships with the wider community. UBC’s fundamental commitment to fostering global citizenship while advancing a civil and sustainable society will underpin all my efforts.” Professor Toope is the 12th president of UBC since 1913, when Frank Wesbrook first held the leadership of an institution that has since grown to more than 50,000 students and 20,000 faculty and staff with annual expenditures approaching $2 billion.
UBC PHOTO:DON ERHARDT
New chair is Bill Levine; Mr. Levine is director of several corporations
Bill Levine, new chair of UBC board of governors
Development Drives Ahead on Campus
Hundreds of new homes will come on the market at UBC over the next couple of years as three diverse residential developments now going through the planning approval stage reach completion. One of the new multifamily housing projects will house only people who work at UBC—this project is called a ‘co-development’ since its home-owners will build their homes with the University as partner. Another development will consist of a high-rise ‘market-housing’ (strata-title) complex, meaning condominiums will go on sale to the general public, while the third development comprises a set of rental suites in a low-rise complex. The planned four-storey rental complex will stand in the Wesbrook Place residential neighbourhood in South Campus (south of 16th Avenue). The real
estate development arm of UBC (UBC Properties Trust) will build these suites with Rositch Hemphill & Associates Architects. The development permit board planned to meet July 14 to vet this project. The planned fourteen-storey market housing project will stand in East Campus (east of Wesbrook Mall at Agronomy Road). Polygon Homes will develop the high-rise with IBI/HB Architects. The UBC development permit board meets August 11 to discuss this project also. The planned four-storey co-development residential building will stand in Wesbrook Place also. UBC Properties Trust will develop the property with Raymond Letkeman Architects. The UBC development permit board meets August 11 to discuss the project.
UBC PHOTO: MARTIN DEE
Hundreds of new homes planned in three new projects; condos, rentals and co-development suites all included
Stephen Toope, elected to second five-year term as UBC president
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Monthly prize is a $25 gift certificate; annual prize is ‘significant’
The
Fitness • Dance • Martial Arts Music • Clubs • Language Classes Educational Classes • Art Classes
The UNA’s Sustainability Committee wants to provide practical tips on how each of us can contribute to sustainability. We do this by way of a contest run each month in this newspaper. If you have a tip to suggest please forward it to the UNA Sustainability Contest at both jpt@tjclaw.com and judyandjim@shaw.ca. The author of the tip selected will receive a $25.00 gift certificate (courtesy of Save-On) for use in our local Save-On Supermarket and at the end of the year there will be a significant prize for the year’s winner.
When waiting for the water (from the tap in the kitchen sink, or bathroom sink or shower, etc.) to run warm or cold, collect the water in a container of some sort and use it to water your plants or for some other use. Once water intended for, as an example, brushing your teeth runs cold capture it in a glass, shut off the tap and use the captured water to do your teeth [submitted by Jenny Lu, Hawthorn Place] Ms. Lu receives the monthly prize of a $25 Save-On gift certificate from Save-On. Congratulations!
6308 Thunderbird Blvd. 604.827.4469 www.oldbarn.ca This contest is the responsibility of the UNA Sustainability Committee. We acknowledge the participation and support of one of our community’s Partners in Sustainability, Wesbrook Place’s Save-On Supermarket.
Call for polling station coordinator Needed experienced resident who has worked in or managed a polling station in Canadian municipal or provincial election. Please send your resume to Cathie Cleveland at Cathie@myuna.ca.
We are looking for vendors ranging from pottery to jams and jellies. If you are interested in selling your wares please contact reception@myuna.ca Amateur and professional artistsans welcome!
at Iona Green in Chancellor Place
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Pharmacy Builders Break Ground on Campus The province is investing $86.4 million of total project cost of $133.3 million;
UBC PHOTO, EUGENE LIN
The joint venture between the University of British Columbia and the provincial government to provide a new home for the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences got underway with a ground breaking ceremony July 16 led by Premier Gordon Campbell and UBC President Stephen Toope. Slated to open in fall 2012, the $133.3million building is made possible by a $86.4-million investment by the Province of British Columbia – the second-largest infrastructure investment to UBC in a single building, after the adjacent Life Sciences Centre. During the ceremony, Professor Robert Sindelar, dean of pharmaceutical sciences, honored Profs. John McNeill, Frank Abbott, Bernie Riedel and Finlay Morrison, who served as deans and acting dean between 1951 and 2002, with the presentation of ceremonial shovels. Built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification standards, the six-storey, 22,871-sq. metre building will accommodate the expansion of the faculty’s undergraduate and graduate programs and help address the shortage of pharmacists in B.C. “The new Pharmaceutical Sciences Building at UBC will provide an economic stimulus, creating jobs during construction and new student spaces when complete,” said Premier Campbell. “This facility will help B.C. students prepare to take advantage of future opportunities in the province’s health-care sector and help ensure that we have health-care professionals to support British Columbians.” “This new building is great news for students and for B.C. as it will allow the expansion of the pharmaceutical sciences undergraduate program that will ensure we have the health-care workers we need for the future,” said Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “Our government recognizes the importance of post-secondary education in securing our future prosper-
Left to right, Jewel Thomas, Musqueam First Nation; Robert Sindelar, dean of pharmaceutical sciences; Gordon Campbell, premier; Stephen Toope, UBC president; Natalie Dakers, Center for Drug Research and Development CEO; and Herb Wong, president, pharmaceutical undergraduate society.
ity. That’s why we are investing in campus infrastructure as part of our economic stimulus plan.” “The new Pharmaceutical Sciences Building will allow the expansion of
UBC’s globally influential pharmacy program while bringing research for new therapies to the public in a timely manner,” said UBC president Stephen J. Toope. “This important investment
it involves dancing). “We can immediately get DJ business” Mr. Aziz said, and for this reason, he came to the UNA board meeting with a proposal to gain UNA support for 12 such events a year. The expressed concern of UNA board chair Mike Feeley related to the ability of a DJ event to generate unwanted noise and intrusion in the neighbourhood both while a concert is underway and when event-goers exit the building at 2 AM. “I find it concerning that this extra noise level would add to the existing level of noise,” Mr. Feeley said. An assurance came from Mr. Aziz that the noise level in the arena would be kept to a minimum “so that it does not disturb residents.” He also provided security assurances. “We have worked with the RCMP to come up with an agreement, and we have worked out a security plan with a private company, and they work with the RCMP to ensure that the security inside the area is adequate.” The recent appearance of Mr. Aziz at the UNA board meeting followed an earlier one about a year ago when UBC Athletics sought support for a liquor license that would cover both sporting and music events at the Thunderbird area.
A liquor license emerged several months later save that while it allowed UBC to serve liquor to up 7,000 people at sporting events, it did not allow liquor sales at musical concerts. Rather, the liquor control branch in Victoria told UBC to return when it had a better musical event management policy in place. The UNA appearance of Mr. Aziz in July stands in keeping with this renewed effort for a license covering both musical and sports events. The earlier (2009) application for a liquor license proceeded with qualified support from Metro Vancouver, cautious support from the UNA, a strong RCMP letter requesting the application be held in abeyance until UBC developed a better plan for managing musical events at the centre, and a ‘no position’ letter from the Vancouver Police Department. An equal amount of effort has gone into the current application, Mr. Aziz said in an interview outside the meeting. He did not know if Metro would be petitioned again given recent legislation reducing Metro links with UBC, but if it wasn’t, he felt Metro support granted in 2009 would remain current and effective.
by the B.C. government will generate new knowledge, help ensure the wellbeing of British Columbians and generate significant economic benefits for the province.”
LIQUOR from page 1
So, a depressing financial scenario has arisen. “Our Arena is underperforming and will not be a vibrant place as it was for Olympics where lots of people were coming and going from the arena. It is destined to be used only for hockey if the efforts of Athletics to get new business are not supported by the University, UNA and the RCMP.” In the year before the Olympics, and before the downturn in the concert business, UBC Athletics made a net income of $500,000 by hosting concerts, Mr. Aziz said, and so “hosting concerts is a very significant source of income for Athletics and it pays for the increased cost of having such a large facility with 6,800seat capacity and with a utility bill of $ 50,000 per month alone to keep the arena operating”; put another way, “it is not financially feasible to operate the space with only ice rentals and programs.” The best hope for breaking out of this financial slump, according to Mr. Aziz, comes with UBC allowing DJ (disc-jockey) events at the Thunderbird facility. A DJ event at Thunderbird would typically “start at 11 AM and end at 2 AM with liquor sold until 1 AM and with a maximum capacity of 2,800 patrons (as
Letter to the Editor Publication Puts Campus Back in News I am very pleased to see a monthly newspaper once again a part of our UBC community. There has been a lack of information and lively discussion on community issues since the Hampton Journal ceased its publication two years ago. The UNA made a great decision to publish The Campus Resident. I have enjoyed its first two issues. This is an initiative that will help bind and inform our community in significant ways. I look forward to future issues which I hope will allow for a diversity of opinions about life in the UBC neighbourhoods. Gary Gibson, Hampton Place
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT July 2010
Tons of Blueberries Take but Days to Sell At UBC Fest Second annual blueberry fest is held; berries are sold at $2.25 a pound The second annual UBC Blueberry Fest concluded July 16 with tons of blueberries sold in a four-day schedule, Tuesday through Friday. At the festival, a pound of blueberries cost $2.25. Juliana Campbell, marking coordinator, UBC Food Services, said next year she might try introducing the Blueberry Fest to a larger audience by including a Saturday in its schedule. Held on the UBC Bookstore Plaza from 9 AM to 1 PM every day, the popular UBC Blueberry Fest offered BC blueberries by the pound from Westberry Farms, a summer abundance of produce from UBC Farm (on the Wednesday only), and local musical talents on selected days, including the James Rogers Band on Friday. A selection of offerings included: blueberry pancake breakfast; blueberry cream filled Blintzes, blueberry muffins, scones, polenta cake, BC blueberry creme brulee, daily prize draws, free recipes and UBC Bookstore discounts. Event sponsors included the BC Blueberry Council, Ethical Beans and UBC Bookstore. UBC Blueberry Fest stall where tons of berries were sold in days