Campus Resident August 2016

Published by the University Neighbourhoods Association Volume 7, Issue 8

AUGUST 15, 2016

Joint UBC-UNA Financial Task Force Statement on Fire Services Costs Michael White Co-chair UBC-UNA Financial Task Force, Associate Vice-President, UBC Campus and Community Planning Richard Alexander Co-chair UBC-UNA Financial Task Force, Board Chair, University Neighbourhoods Association

Since January 2016, UBC and the UNA have worked together collaboratively to address the financial pressures facing the UNA as a result of the provincial down-

loading of fire service costs. Our goal is the long-term and continued financial health of the UNA. In mid-2015, the provincial government approached UBC to discuss campus neighbourhood fire protection costs.

To bring UBC into alignment with other jurisdictions in the province, they determined that UNA residents should pay a separate fee for fire protection. The provincial government’s position is that the current UNA rural tax rate (general levy) provides insufficient funding for fire services. As a result, the provincial government has decided to restructure its funding model for fire services. This decision was communicated to the UNA Board in late 2015, shortly after which the UBCUNA Financial Task Force was created.

Membership includes UBC, UBC Prop-

erties Trust, the UNA and a resident-atlarge.

The task force is recommending a shared solution (UBC, UBC Properties Trust and the UNA) that compensates for the new fire costs in the UNA budget while maintaining current resident tax levels and maintaining program service levels. The September Board meeting will review this proposal and how the fees will be collected. The Board’s decision will be communicated broadly to UNA residents.

Development of the UNA’s 2017-18 budget will start in the late fall and, as with every budget planning process, will include broad public consultation in January 2017.

For more information, visit: myuna.ca.

Spirits Soar on Reserve as Musqueam and UBC Launch ‘Journey Canoe’ on Fraser

On Saturday, August 6, the Musqueam Indian Band and UBC launched a 40-foot ‘journey canoe’ in the Fraser River following a blessing and cultural performance on the reserve. Photo credit Jessica Werb. P ​ lease see story on Page 10.

Ministry Moves Slowly on UEL Incorporation Study John Tompkins Editor Almost three years ago, the Community Advisory Council (CAC) on the University Endowment Lands formally requested that the provincial government under-

take an incorporation study.

The CAC has finally received a response to its request.

In a July 5 letter to President of the CAC Dave Forsyth, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender states that “considerations respecting the format, scope and poten-

tial outcomes of such a study are currently under review, and completing this work will guide with greater certainty the steps toward preparing to launch a study, which I do not anticipate occurring until later in 2017.”

UEL continued on Page 8

Speed Limit Lowered to 50 km/h on 16th Avenue

Speed limit change is now in effect; new signage has been installed The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) has decreased the posted speed limit along West 16th Avenue to 50 km/h from Blanca Street west to the existing 50 km/h zone on UBC campus.

This has created a consistent speed limit of 50 km/h along the West 16th Avenue corridor at UBC to increase safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

UBC and the University Neighbourhood Association have worked with MOTI for the past year to make this change. As part of this work, a crosswalk was recently added across West 16th Avenue between Hampton Place and Wesbrook Place to provide a safe connection for pedestrians and communities on either side of West 16th Avenue.

Meanwhile, some residents complain that MOTI should have reduced the speed limit to 30 km/h in the area of this crosswalk, and other residents have pointed out that while the buttons to activate the lights on the Hampton Place crossing have an audible signal, there is no way that pedestrians can confirm the lights are in fact working. As well, both buttons on the median are said to be completely inaccessible from a wheelchair.

A UBC spokesperson said UBC will work with the UNA, RCMP and others on speed watch, speed readers and other ways to signal the new 50 km/h speed limit to drivers travelling to and from UBC along West 16th Avenue. The speed limit change is now in effect, and new signage has been installed.

Please see Letters to the Editor on Page 3.

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

UNA Youth Interns to Learn How Local Elections Work Program is scheduled to start August 24; nine local area students to be selected as interns A new Elections Youth Internship Program at the University Neighbourhoods Association presents students with the opportunity to get direct, hands-on experience with the operations of a municipalstyle election on the UBC campus.

Young people aged 16-24 who live at UBC and have an interest in civic engagement, democratic institutions or the study of political science are invited to apply for a position in this program. The program will allow them an inside look at the inner workings of UNA elections which take place annually, including the coming election on September 28.

Launched by the UNA, the inaugural Elections Youth Internship Program will run from August 24 to October 12. The deadline for receiving applications is August 21 at 5 pm. The UNA will select nine local area students to participate.

Participants in the UNA Elections Youth Internship Program will engage in developing and executing community outreach programs, coordinating election events like debates, working with stateof-the-art voting technology, analyzing voting data, and assisting with electionday coordinating.

The University Neighbourhoods Association approximates a municipal coun-

cil for the five local areas on campus, promoting the creation of a vibrant, sociable, safe and diverse university town community at the University of British Columbia.

The UNA is responsible for local regulation (such as noise, parking and animal control) as well as community programs and recreation, elections, landscaping, policies and by-laws, and acts as a liaison for the community’s use of UBC facilities.

Residents’ concerns, opinions and views are heard through the UNA, and this helps shape future development and the allocation of community facilities at UBC. The UNA is led by the UNA Board of Directors, and is comprised of five directors elected by residents, two directors appointed by UBC and one appointed by the Alma Mater Society.

Participants in the UNA Elections Youth Internship Program will volunteer roughly 15 hours in August when they receive training, a program orientation, and be involved in a number of programming meetings where they can help guide the elections program.

In September, participants will be required to be at a mandatory training session on September 2 that will provide training on how to use the UNA’s voting technology, and must be available on September 21 and 28 for at least six hours per day.

Participants will not be financially compensated, but will be provided a letter of

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recommendation from the UNA Board of Directors as well as certification of volunteer hours. The program will be housed at the UNA Main Office (5923 Berton Avenue).

If you have any questions about the program or the application process itself, feel free to contact Tanner Bokor, UNA Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) at dro@myuna.ca or at 604.827.5947.

New UBC President Dr. Santa Ono

Dr. Santa Ono has become the 15th President and Vice Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. The new UBC President started on August 15.

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

Editor & Business Manager John Tompkins phone: 604.827.3502 email: jtompkins@myuna.ca

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Letters to the Editor In Support of Residents’ Concerns Re: Design of Crosswalk at 16th Avenue and Hampton Place and Open Letter to MOTI, The Campus Resident, July issue

I wholeheartedly support the concerns of residents Heather Nichol and Tom Ainscough in their letter to the editor on July 18 concerning the crosswalk at 16th Avenue and Hampton Place.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) has finally low-

Letters to the Editor Include name, address and telephone number. Maximum lengths: Letters 400 words. Opinions 750 words. We may edit or decline to publish any submission.

ered the speed limit on the highway as requested from 70 km/h to 50 km/h. But MOTI has still not lowered the speed limit before the crosswalk from 50 km/h to 30 km/h, as requested. So far, most motorists are still speeding at more than 50 km/h and only reduce their speed a little before the crosswalk, if at all.

Children will soon be using the crosswalk when school starts. I have yet to see police patrolling this area. Think of the speeding fines that are being missed day and night. (And the highway is a popular racetrack in the early morning hours for cars and motorcycles.)

Secondly, I also wholeheartedly support the call by resident Thomas Beyer to alleviate the dangers on NW Marine Drive and at the intersection of NW Marine Drive and Chancellor Boulevard. It is almost impossible during the summer for pedestrians and bikers to be safe while trying to share the narrow NW Marine Drive with heavy motorist traffic.

And the intersection of NW Marine Drive and Chancellor Boulevard needs improvement to make it safer for pedes-

Kathy Griffiths

trians, bikers and motorists. MOTI needs to understand that the whole UNA-UBC community is a very, very busy area.

Kathy Griffiths, Hampton Place resident

Design of Crosswalk at 16th Avenue It is great to have the crossing over West 16th Avenue, from Binning to Hampton Place. However, we have two problems with it.

While the buttons to activate the lights on the crossing have an audible signal, there is no way that pedestrians can confirm the lights are in fact working.

Furthermore, both buttons on the median are completely inaccessible from a wheelchair.

We find the crossings at the Wesbrook Mall roundabout so much better in both regards, though it could be that they are less visible to motorists.

Colin and Diana Price, Wesbrook Village residents

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

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Government View on UBC Fire Tax as Expressed in Letter to UBC Neighbourhoods Taxation Working Group In a July 18 response to UBC Neighbourhoods Taxation Working Group, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender wrote: “In British Columbia, where unincorporated areas receive community fire services, property owners fund those service costs through charges that are additional to the general rural area property tax rate.

UBC’s neighbourhood residents have

been in the unique position of receiving fire services, but, unlike the province’s other unincorporated areas, residents have not been charged separate costs for this service. The new funding structure for UBC’s neighbourhood residents will now be consistent with the model used in the province’s other unincorporated communities. Due to lease agreements between residents and UBC, this change

will not increase the total property tax rate (a combination of UBC’s services levy and provincial rural taxes) paid by neighbourhood residents.

“I have considered your request to apply a portion of the general rural area property tax to fund fire service costs for neighbourhood areas. From a fairness aspect and to maintain consistency with the Province’s tax policy, it would be ineq-

uitable to recover separate costs for fire services from residents in British Columbia’s unincorporated areas (including the University Endowment Lands), but not from UBC’s neighbourhood areas. While I regret the Ministry is not able to support your request, I do hope that you understand the reasoning.”

Minister Refuses to Rethink Fire Tax Bill Holmes, George Mackie, Ying Zhou, Laura Cottle, UBC residents

On July 18, Minister Fassbender sent an extremely disappointing response to letters from the UBC Neighbourhoods Taxation Working Group.

He rejected our reasonable and fully supported request that a portion of the rural property tax we pay to Victoria be applied to the cost of fire protection service.

In comparing us to the UEL, he once again demonstrated that (surprisingly) he does not understand the taxation of UEL residents. The Minister’s response is posted on www.ubcresidents.ca, together with the taxation working group’s letters and other documents.

The taxation working group requested a meeting with the Minister before he responded but we did not get to meet with him. We wrote to the Minister on August 5, once again requesting a meeting.

As we said in the letter, a community of 11,000 residents is surely entitled to be heard by the decision maker when the decision has such an adverse impact on the community’s financial position.

If the fire service charge is implemented, the situation will be the following: UBC residents will pay $1 million per year to Victoria for fire protection service, plus $2 million per year of general rural property tax for which we receive nothing in return (the amounts will increase in the future). By comparison, UEL residents pay $500,000 per year for fire protection service, and that is all they contribute to the provincial coffers. The rest of their general property tax, although collected

by Victoria, is applied to run their community.

While UBC residents may think that the fire service charge will have no consequences, a document included in the agenda package for the July meeting of the UNA Board shows otherwise. The UNA is expected to generate additional revenue to help fill the gap created by the charge. Examples given are addi-

tional revenue from parking and from the community centres. Moreover, the document shows that up to $2 million of the community’s reserve funds are to be drawn upon to fund the projected deficit, money that would otherwise be available to benefit the community. $330,000 in annual cost savings is to come from reduced charges by UBC Properties Trust for the services it provides to the UBC neighbourhoods, but the document does not indicate whether the savings will be accompanied by a reduction in services.

The most surprising proposal in the document is for our services levy to be increased, starting in three years’ time.

In other words, our tax rate would be delinked from the Vancouver tax rate so that we pay more taxes than we would if we were residents of Vancouver. That is in complete contradiction to the statement made by the UNA Chair, and repeated in the Minister’s July 18 letter, that the fire service charge will not result in an increase in our total tax rate (rural property tax plus services levy). Fortunately, UBC cannot unilaterally increase the services

levy, although the provincial government could do so by introducing legislation that overrides our leases.

The introduction of the fire service charge demonstrates the unsatisfactory state of governance for the UBC neighbourhoods. Had UBC alerted residents to the charge upon becoming aware of it, residents would have been able to oppose the charge much earlier and with a greater chance of success. In no properly governed jurisdiction would residents be kept in the dark for so long and have no input into such an important matter affecting the financial health of their community.

Editor’s Note: Bill Holmes, George Mackie, Ying Zhou and Laura Cottle are UBC residents who formed the UBC Neighbourhoods Working Taxation Group. Ying Zhou and Laura Cottle are also UNA directors. The opinions expressed here are those of the writers alone and are not to be inferred to represent UNA or UBC policy.

No Service Yard in Little Australia, Say UEL Residents UEL Town Hall meeting is held in conjunction with council meeting to oppose Metro Vancouver plan

At a combined Town Hall and Community Advisory Council (CAC) meeting July 18, up to seventy residents of the University Endowment Lands took a determined stance against the possibility of Metro Vancouver relocating its service yard for Pacific Spirit Regional Park to a popular patch of green space in the Little Australia district.

First, CAC members—who are elected—passed a motion opposing possible relocation of the service yard to Little Australia where it could be built in eyeshot of local households.

Secondly, in a straw poll, residents voted unanimously in support of this CAC motion, and finally, CAC members agreed among themselves to form a working group which would seek to convince Metro Vancouver that Little Australia should not be a ‘preferred site’ for the proposed new $2 million service yard.

At the joint meeting, residents learned

that Metro Vancouver has three ‘preferred sites’ under consideration for relocation of the yard—Little Australia green space; 29th and Imperial adjacent to Dunbar; and Sedgewick in-fill near Camosun Bog—also adjacent to Dunbar.

Many Little Australia residents attended the joint Town Hall-CAC meeting in the small UEL community space at 300– 5755 Dalhousie Road. Speakers at the meeting insisted the Little Australia land be left as rare and open green space.

Mitch Sokolski, Director, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, Planning Policy and Environment, attended the meeting and reassured residents that, “We are only listening at this stage.”

Metro Vancouver staff servicing the park currently work from a 25-year-old facility behind the UEL administration building on Chancellor Boulevard. The provincial government, which owns the land and leases it to Metro, has indicated it does not wish to renew the lease.

Metro Vancouver organized a public information session on service yard replacement on June 22, a second public information session is anticipated in September. Implementation of the service yard replacement is anticipated to start in 2017.

David Eby, MLA Vancouver-Point Grey (NDP) attended the meeting and said, “The yard is great where it is. We should push the government to leave it where it is.”

Mr. Eby said the decision of the provincial government not to grant Metro Vancouver a new lease at the current site

must be the result of “a foul-up in Victoria.”

Maria Harris, Metro Vancouver Director for Electoral Area A, said she would attempt to find who in Victoria was responsible for denying Metro Vancouver continued tenure on the current service yard site.

Pacific Spirit Regional Park Information Board.

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

Mysterious Barricades Concert Raises Awareness of Suicide Prevention Finest professionally-trained musicians will be on stage at UBC and multiple other venues across Canada on September 10; event will be live-streamed

On September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, an 18-hour concert of hope and awareness called Mysterious Barricades will grace 13 stages across Canada, including one at UBC. This free concert, which features some of the finest professionally-trained musicians and performers in Canada, will “raise awareness of the mysterious barricades between mental illness and health, between the darkness of depression and the light of hope, between life and death.”

The UBC part of this charity concert will take place at the School of Music starting at 5 pm, and its line-up of performers will include: Dorothy Chang (composer), Kallie Clayton (soprano), Leslie Dala (conductor), Judith Forst (mezzo-soprano), Gordon Gerrard (pia-

Nancy Hermiston (opera)

no), Nancy Hermiston (opera), Rhoslyn Jones (soprano), Robert Mills (piano), Julia Nolan (saxophone), James Patrick Raftery (vocal), Geoffrey Schellenberg (vocal), Bramwell Tovey (conductor) and Erin Wilson (cello).

The Mysterious Barricades Concert Society has partnered with the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and Canadian Mental Health Association to stage this concert to “encourage public discourse about the prevalence of suicide and measures for suicide prevention, encourage the formation of community by those impacted by suicide, and raise funds for education and support of those at risk and those impacted by suicide.”

James Patrick Raftery, a professor of music at UBC and the lead organizer of the Mysterious Barricades concert at UBC, said in an interview the concert is well timed in that there is a growing public interest in mental health issues in Canada.

A resident of Hawthorn Place, Professor Raftery also said, “The music will be positive and uplifting.”

UBC people and others involved in organizing the event with Professor Raftery and Professor Nancy Hermiston, Director of Voice and Opera at UBC, include: Naomi Schatz, Student Development Officer who co-chairs the Suicide Awareness Committee; Patty Hambler, Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects-UBC; and Dammy Albach, Gatekeeper Training Project, Canadian Mental Health Association.

According to Canadian Mental Health Association, facts about mental illness and suicide are: • Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.

• The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.

• Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illness presents a serious barrier not only to diagnosis and treatment but also acceptance in the community.

Donations to the Mysterious Barricades Concert Society will be gratefully accepted and will be used to defray costs associated with producing this cross-country concert. As a non-profit organization that does not have charitable status, the society is unable to provide tax receipts for these donations.

Should you wish to donate to directly support Mysterious Barricades concert, or should your organization be interested in becoming involved in this cross-country concert initiative, please contact the society at www.mysteriousbarricades.org Classical musical lovers will no doubt recognize the name of the work after which the cross-Canada concert is named. Barricades Mystérieuses (Mysterious Barricades) was composed in 1717 for the harpsichord by François Couperin. Gordon Gerrard, a professor of music at UBC, will play this signature piece on piano at the Winnipeg venue.

The entire musical event will be livestreamed, and information about it—including the sequence of thirteen concerts, cities, venues and performers—is avail-

able at www.mysteriousbarricades.org.

The UBC performance will take place in the Old Auditorium at the UBC School of Music, 6344 Memorial Road, and the broadcast will be in the Roy Barnett Recital Hall at 6361 Memorial Road.

James Patrick Raftery (vocal)

The Old Auditorium at UBC School of Music. Photo credit Brian Hawkes.

Origins of Mysterious Barricades Concert Lie in Personal Tragedy Source: The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) website

Suicide prevention has been a taboo subject for far too long. Mysterious Barricades concert, alongside CASP, will help make this discussion one that takes place in every home, workplace, and institution, everywhere people interact.

It’s an issue that event president Elizabeth Turnbull—a professor of music at the University of Alberta in Edmonton—didn’t think much about until it was too late. Her late husband Chris died by suicide after a long struggle with mental illness, specifically stress and anxiety disorder.

Following his death, Professor Turnbull

sought counseling to help work through her grief and trauma. It took her some time to find suitable and qualified help, but in addition to the support of a knowledgeable counselor, she also wanted to seek her own healing and recovery by standing up for more support for those affected by suicide. She turned to her network of friends and colleagues in the classical vocal and musical community to create what is now the Mysterious Barricades event.

“I have so many amazing friends who are extremely talented and giving, and they have all agreed to make this project happen with me. On each concert stage and through the power of the Internet, we will connect across our vast country. Together, we will find healing, raise awareness and share the joy of music,” Professor Turnbull explained.

The concert is a space for people to

raise their voices in song and discussion, to speak out loud what so many keep hidden away, helping to take the stigma out of suicide and one of its causes—mental illness. World Suicide Prevention Day is a chance for the community to do so on a global scale. Funds raised will go towards the education and support of at risk individuals and those affected by suicide. Members from organizations with knowledge in suicide prevention will be stationed at all venues providing support and resources.

Professor Turnbull further emphasizes the need for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or those who have lost someone to look for support, at the event or elsewhere; she adds that it’s what “CASP and support groups are for.” Creating awareness by discussing mental health and suicide in an open forum where people won’t be judged for their opinions is very

important; no one is alone in this.

Lastly, she emphatically stresses the need to think positively as a way to continue living life.

“I am actively and consciously choosing to focus on the good things around me, because it is far too easy—but in the end not helpful or productive—to choose to live a life governed by sadness and negativity.” Mysterious Barricades is one more place that we can do just that and help others who might be having a tougher go.

Talking about thoughts and feelings, sharing emotions, experiencing the joy of song and the love of a community and making new friends are ways that we can truly take her words to heart. Helping each other break down these mysterious barricades is a song we should all know the words to.

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

Voice of Campus Youth Two University Hill Students Strive For Excellence at International Math Olympiad in Hong Kong Winny Sun Two students from University Hill Secondary School (U Hill) at UBC, Ruizhou (Steven) Yang and Andrew Lin, represented Math Team Canada 2016 in the 57th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Hong Kong in July. Canada placed 12th out of 109 competing countries. Both students contributed Olympiad awards to the team with Ruizhou winning a bronze medal and Andrew wining an honorable mention.

Ruizhou Yang and Andrew Lin—who are going to grade 12 and grade 11 respectively at University Hill Secondary School—are among Canada’s top six most brilliant and skillful young mathematicians. With knowledge, hard work and creativity, they qualified for top 50 in the preliminary round of Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge. They were then invited to attend three consequent Olympiads: Canadian Mathematical Olympiad, Asian-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad and United States of America Mathematical Olympiad. Their consistently outstanding and extraordinary performance in the Olympiads provided them with the opportunity to represent Canada in a competition against over 600 students from around 100 countries and regions.

“The massive scale of the contest amazed me,” says Andrew who attended the International Mathematical Olympiad for the very first time. He was not only surprised by the immensity of the contest. “The passion and ability of these incredibly talented students on Team Canada and teams from other countries also deeply impressed me. It taught me that it’s vital to be passionate about what you do, but there is also no substitute for hard work and practice.”

Representing Canada on such a highly celebrated global stage put the two youths under pressure, but it also elevated their sense of pride and purpose.

Much more than a competition, this event served as an invaluable learning opportunity. “During the Olympiad, I learned how to manage myself under stress as well as how to cooperate with my team-

Math Team Canada 2016 at the International Math Olympiad in Hong Kong in July. Ruizhou Yang is second from the right and Andrew Lin is fourth from the left. Photo credit Canadian Mathematical Society. mates,” says Ruizhou. For Andrew, International Mathematical Olympiad proved to be a helpful occasion to meet and connect with like-minded individuals. “With all these math students gathered together, it was a frequent sight to see students deliberating over problems or reading textbooks,” says Andrew. “Everyone has some pursuit out there for them to follow and work hard at, and for all of the students at the IMO, it was math.”

Even though problems in the International Mathematical Olympiad were highly challenging, with each question taking up to two hours to be solved, neither Ruizhou nor Andrew saw them as tedious chores. Instead, they viewed them as puzzles and games—difficult yet interesting and stimulating. “It is really about creative problem solving,” says Andrew who likes math not for its sometimes “robotic procedure of plugging numbers into formulas”, but for its “open-ended nature.”

“With enough passion and persistence, people can overcome obstacles and reach eventual success,” says Ruizhou. While Ruizhou believes his intense passion for math helps him reach where he is today, Andrew attributes success to his open mind and positive attitude. “Try signing

up for a math contest, it might be more interesting that you expected it to be. It will be a new experience,” says Andrew when asked what advice he would like to share with other students. Despite being optimistic and supportive, Andrew does acknowledge that problems in math and life will always be challenging. “So we must persist, think critically and try creative solutions.”

Editor’s Note: In a speech in the B.C.

Legislature in July, David Eby, MLA Vancouver-Point Grey, drew attention to the fine accomplishments of the two University Hill Secondary School students Ruizhou Yang and Andrew Lin, members of Math Team Canada 2016. “Congratulations to you, to all of Math Team Canada and to all your coaches and parents for making us so proud of your work in mathematics internationally,” Mr. Eby said to applause from other MLAs.

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

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page 8 UEL continued from Page 1 The slow pace of bureaucratic activity in Victoria on this file began when Coralee Oakes served as Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

In the two years Ms. Oakes was minister, she did not meet once with residents or their elected representatives.

The government manages the UEL under an arrangement unique in British Columbia, and CAC members were so frustrated with Ms. Oakes as minister (or ‘mayor’ of the UEL) that one former member told The Campus Resident recently that he plans to donate funds to her opponent in the 2017 general election campaign in hopes it would help thwart her bid for re-election wherever she stands.

“She was hopeless. She was as responsive as a tree stump. She treated us contemptuously.”

Fortunately for residents, Mr. Fassbender, her successor, has moved at a greater pace (though surely still too slow for residents). Appointed to replace Ms. Oakes in the fall of last year, the minister met informally with Mr. Forsyth and other UEL leaders on October 15, 2015 and April 1, 2016. However, the formal letter replying to the three-year-old CAC request for an incorporation study did not come until July 5.

Asked for comments on the letter, a prominent member of the UEL community said Mr. Fassbender “is more responsive to residents than Ms. Oakes ever was. Getting the letter from him was a pleasant surprise after waiting three years for it. I have to give him credit for that.”

This said, “There’s lots of spin in the letter. You need a spin-detector to read it.

It’s 90% spin and 10% other.” He called the letter “not unhelpful, but not very

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016 helpful either.

“The CAC no doubt appreciates getting a letter from the Minister, that’s something, but you have to read it carefully to separate fact from spin.”

This is not the first time that UEL residents have sought an incorporation study.

The first attempt came in 1995 in a joint bid with Hampton Place residents.

In the 1995 referendum, the provincial government asked residents of the University Endowment Lands and Hampton Place if they wished jointly to form a municipality. At that time, Hampton Place—recently developed—was the only residential neighbourhood on the UBC campus. While the referendum failed, it did so by only a narrow margin with a majority of the votes cast by UEL residents in favour of the proposal.

Long-time UEL resident Ron Pears, who helped organize the 1995 referendum, recalled in an interview with The Campus Resident three years ago, “The loss was disappointing to UEL residents.”

Mr. Pears, who spear-headed the current drive for incorporation until his term as president of the UEL Community Advisory Council expired almost two years ago, offered the following analysis: “Apparently, a main reason for the rejection

by Hampton Place residents was the fear that their taxes would increase in order to fund the renewal of an aging UEL infrastructure.”

Following the 1995 referendum, an extensive governance study of various alternatives was undertaken from 1998 to 2000.

This study was an initiative of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD)—now called Metro Vancouver—and UBC, and it was financially supported by the Province. The study committee included representatives of all interested parties: GVRD, UBC, UEL,

Peter Fassbender, Minister in charge of UEL

Hampton Place (still then the only UBC housing development) and the City of Vancouver.

Four governance options were identified: the status quo; amalgamating with Vancouver; creating a separate municipality; and enhancing the status quo. At the conclusion of the study, every member of the committee—except two—recommended that the enhanced status quo option be formally pursued. After that, in 2002, UBC formed the University Neighbourhoods Association and gave it responsibility for the administration of UBC’s residential neighbourhoods.

In all this time, UEL has continued to be managed by provincial government with the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development loosely referred to as its ‘mayor’.

Please see below full text of July 5 letter from Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender to Dave Forsyth, President of the UEL Community Advisory Council Re: University Endowment Lands Governance Dear Mr. Forsyth: I am writing to follow up regarding the Community Advisory Council’s (CAC) request for a “UEL-only” incorporation study for the University Endowment Lands (UEL).

I am pleased that Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development staff and I were able to meet with you and the Electoral Area Director on April 1, 2016, and earlier on October 15, 2015, to hear your views on UEL governance.

As I indicated at those meetings, I remain committed to exploring the governance of the UEL. As you know, the UEL’s governance arrangement is unique—there is no other urban area in British Columbia that is directly administered by the Province of British Columbia. Given this uniqueness, the process for examining governance in the UEL necessarily involves complex considerations that may be different from an exploration of governance in other communities. For example, there are a greater number of stakeholders with direct or indirect interests in the area, there are multi-party service relationships, and there is a dynamic development and demographic environment—all of which need to be carefully taken into account.

In your most recent letter, you indicate that the CAC sees only one approach— namely, your request for funding to study incorporation of a “UEL-only” munici-

pality. While I recognize and appreciate the CAC’s passion for a “UEL-only” municipality, I believe that now is not the time for a study that pre-determines the range of outcomes for governance change. However, I do recognize that there will be benefits to the undertaking of some form of governance study at the right time. I want to be clear that I have not predetermined any outcomes. Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development considerations respecting the format, scope and potential outcomes of such a study are currently under review, and completing this work will guide with greater certainty the steps toward preparing to launch a study, which I do not anticipate occurring until later in 2017.

In considering this work, we are recognizing that commitment to a governance study is a significant step for the Province and for the UEL community. I appreciate that the community is anxious to move ahead, but I believe that there is important work, dialogue and thinking needed before we can get to that stage of the process.

Some of that work includes continuing to understand the needs of the community. To that end, I see value in sharing with the community some of the facts that have emerged from the Ministry’s work to date to establish a common basis of information about the current state of the UEL, and an opportunity to understand better some of the community’s current key issues and priorities. I have asked my staff to develop a detailed plan on how best to get information out to the community and to be able to gauge appropriately the community’s key interests. I expect to be in position to share this plan with you sometime in fall 2016.

Governance change in such a dynamic environment must be grounded in a very clear understanding of not only all the facts, but also in the interests of the various impacted parties, including service providers such as Metro Vancouver and neighbours such as the City of Vancouver. I believe that further dialogue with those government bodies and others with direct and indirect interests will be needed as we proceed with this process.

I recognize that we each want to resolve concerns respecting governance, and I appreciate your patience as we work out details on some of the commitments I have outlined. I again commit to continuing to communicate with you as part of that process, including being open to meeting with the CAC sometime this fall, depending on our respective meeting schedules. In the meantime, I can assure you that the UEL Administration will continue to respond to the day-to-day needs of UEL residents, meet with the CAC regularly and keep me informed of any issues that arise.

Thank you again for your continued interest and input on this important topic.

Sincerely, Peter Fassbender Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Responsible for TransLink

Join us on

FACEBOOK! The University Neighbourhoods Association We Are Community (Wesbrook Community Centre and The Old Barn Community Centre)

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

Local Writer Arushi Raina Reads from Debut Novel Book launch will be held at Wesbrook Community Centre; all are welcome to attend

Arushi Raina

Local writer Arushi Raina will talk about her debut novel When Morning Comes at a book launch Friday, September 23 at the Wesbrook Community Centre, from 5:00-7:00 pm.

When Morning Comes is a personal story interwoven within the larger, simmering landscape of apartheid South Africa.

Though a work of historical fiction,

When Morning Comes echoes current social justice movements and asks tough questions that are as relevant today as they were in the 1970s. The book portrays the South Africa apartheid system on the brink of collapse.

Arushi Raina is a new voice in the field of young adult (YA) fiction. Her work is informed by the experience of growing up in Johannesburg in the late 1990s. Her feel for post-colonial tensions draws on her upbringing in India, Egypt and Nigeria.

Arushi studied at Vassar College in upstate New York. Today, she makes her home at UBC.

Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association

Advertise with us! email advertising@myuna.ca or view www.myuna.ca

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

Awakening the Spirit of Canoe Culture at Musqueam For the first time in 30 years, the Musqueam Indian Band has carved a ‘journey canoe’ from a 350-year-old cedar log.

The canoe took three months to carve, and on Saturday, August 6, the Musqueam Indian Band and UBC launched the canoe following a blessing and cultural performance on the reserve.

The carving of the canoe comes as part of a cultural revitalization project between the Musqueam band and several indigenous professors at UBC. “The project seeks to ‘awaken the spirit of canoe culture at Musqueam once again’,” said Corrina Sparrow, Social Development Manager, Musqueam Indian Band.

Canoeing has a rich history in the Musqueam community, and the canoe project helps bolster culturally significant programming for Musqueam youth. It has also been used to pass down ancient canoe carving knowledge from master carvers and elders to the next generation.

A 40-foot cedar tree appropriate for a journey canoe was located at Shell Beach,

near Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. At the ceremony of bringing it into the community in September 2015, Musqueam songs were sung to awaken the spirit of

the “Old Woman” log—so named to acknowledge the circle of women that had brought the research project from an idea to a reality.

The canoe pushed off into the Fraser River for the first time on the beach near Musqueam Indian Band Cultural Pavilion, 4000 Musqueam Ave.

New Musqueam Indian Band ‘journey canoe’ on the waters of the Fraser River. Photos on this page by Jessica Werb.

40-foot canoe is carried to waterfront on Musqueam Indian Band Reserve.

Musqueam Indian Band members wearing traditional clothing.

Musqueam Indian Band members ready for launch of canoe in the Fraser River.

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

Biodiversity in your backyard Explore the UBC Community with Pokémon Go Amy Gibson Marketing, Communications and Events Coordinator, Beaty Biodiversity Museum

For a game that has been around for over two decades, the new Pokémon Go app has had a huge impact on modern culture in the past month. It has successfully integrated augmented reality into its gameplay better than essentially any other mobile app and has used this technology to get players interacting with nature.

In the Pokémon Go world, players act as Pokémon trainers, capturing creatures in the wild, collecting in-game supplies from virtual PokéStops, and then training their creatures at Gyms. There are hundreds of PokéStops and dozens of Gyms across the UBC campus, so there has been a marked increase of people of all ages wandering campus with their phones out since this game has launched. Whether it is your children who are obsessed with this game or yourself, Pokémon Go can open the door for natural exploration in the physical world!

Pokémon Go: Do’s The main tenet of Pokémon Go is the idea that players have to “catch ‘em all” – or complete the index of available Pokémon characters. As you collect new creatures,

try and think about the real-world counterpart and where you might find them in your neighbourhood. This will be easy for some characters, such as Spearow (in a tree!), Krabby (at the beach!), and Meowth (on your couch!). But for others, including the infamous Pikachu, it might require some more creative thinking!

One of the “go” aspects of Pokémon Go is that players can get new creatures

by hatching eggs. These eggs hatch after an incubation period, which is measured by distances walked. Lots of people are exploring new areas of their neighbourhoods that they have never been in before as they incubate their eggs. Look for the real-world counterparts of the Pokémon characters to view familiar locations in a new way!

Pokémon Go: Don’ts Similar to many guidelines for other outdoor activity, there are a few things to keep in mind as you play Pokémon Go: make sure someone knows where you’ll be and when you plan to return; dress properly for the weather, including sunscreen, a hat, a rain jacket, or an umbrella as necessary; and be aware of your surroundings and don’t trespass on private property. And if you’re on the hunt for real-world creatures along with the virtual ones, be mindful of your impact on natural habitats.

Ecosystems in Play UBC geneticist and science educator David Ng created the card game Phylo to connect the younger generation to the cooler aspects of biodiversity! Modelled after the original Pokémon game, the premise of Phylo is collecting, trading and playing with cards based on reallife organisms. Opening on September 17, 2016, Ecosystems in Play: Exploring Biodiversity Through Gaming is the next feature exhibition to open at the Beaty

Biodiversity Museum. This exhibition lets you step inside the Phylo game and see how life within an ecosystem is connected, and how some environmental events can have damaging effects on life.

In The Collection Learn to be water wise this summer!

Join us for our Water Wise Garden workshop with Egan Davis, August 18, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, or a free water wise tour in Mandarin only, August 25, 6:00 pm 7:30 pm. Learn more at botanicalgarden. ubc.ca/news-events/events-activities.

Barn Raising

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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT AUGUST 15, 2016

10th Annual

Saturday August 20, 2016

The Old Barn Community Centre 1-4pm

Gather with your neighbours and enjoy free activities including live music

by Robb Hill Band, Refreshments, Petting Zoo, Pie Eating Contest, Art Battle, Face Painting, Crafts, Games and all of your favourite community partners for a great day of community mingling!