Campus Resident December 2014

Published by the University Neighbourhoods Association Volume 5, Issue 12

DECEMBER 15, 2014

UNA directors decide on review of volunteer committees Clear and transparent policies required for any additional funding outside of the 2015 /16 budget

Directors of the University Neighbourhoods Association want to see the numerous committees for which they are responsible subject to better oversight.

At a board meeting December 9, the directors passed a motion calling for a review of the management and funding of the volunteer committees with the intent

of developing clear and transparent policies.

In a written presentation introducing debate on the management and funding of the committees, Richard Alexander, UNA chair and chair of the operations and sustainability standing committee, said that “notwithstanding the fine programs that have been developed and established by the multicultural committee to meet the needs of the community, there are inconsistencies in the way the UNA oversees volunteer committees.

“The operations and sustainability standing committee recommends to the UNA board of directors that a review of

the management and funding of UNA volunteer committees be undertaken with the intent of creating clear and transparent policies before granting any committee, including the multi-cultural committee, any additional funding outside of the proposed 2015 / 16 budget allocations.”

The UNA multicultural committee (MCC) is a volunteer-run committee that reports to the operations and sustainability standing committee. It has been in existence since at least 2007 when The Old Barn Community Centre opened.

The main focus of the MCC in its early days was to assist in the organization of the Lunar New Year party. Since then, the

Happy Holiday and Best Wishes from the UNA and Campus Resident to Our Readers

Photographer Claire Melanson captures the joy and fraternity of the Holiday Season in this picture of the UNA staff and family.

Neighbours knock plans for huge UEL home UEL management approved project despite recommendations of Advisory Design Panel; appeal to minister is urged

By John Tompkins The Campus Resident Editor Forty four home-owners on the University Endowment Lands have formally objected to the planned development of a huge home—105 feet long—at 5915 Newton Wynd.

Harris backs transit referendum

Members of the group - that includes some of the most socially-prominent people in the UEL community - argue the design, shape and size of the planned home ill suits the neighbourhood in which it is located. They point out that an advisory design panel (ADP)—formed to discuss with the UEL administration the merits and possible problems with development permit applications—twice recommended this permit application not to go forward.

Against the wishes of these residents, UEL management approved the project on December 2.

Electoral Area A director Maria Harris has joined a large majority of Lower Mainland mayors in supporting a plan to pay for large-scale transportation and transit development over the next decade with a relatively-small tax increase.

UEL continued on Page 5

TRANSIT continued on Page 11

Vote of mayors’ council was held at meeting in New Westminster December 11

MCC has established several successful programs.

Like all other UNA volunteer committees, the MCC receives annual funding from the UNA operating budget. In the past, it has requested and received additional funding from the UNA for projects that have become popular in the community. MCC has given rise to the UNA Community Youth Band, Connections Night and Let’s Cook Club. Here are brief histories of some programs.

Connection Night Connection Night is an initiative from the Multicultural Committee to create an opportunity for new Canadian residents to connect with their neighbours through discussion of interesting topics while learning some useful knowledge of adapting to Canadian lifestyle. It is facilitated by volunteers and paid speakers.

In 2014, the Board agreed to a one-time only sponsorship of $1,000.

Let’s Cook Club Let’s Cook Club brings UNA neighbours together to cook and share culinary traditions with the objective of facilitating cultural exchange, understanding and integration. The UNA Board sponsored $1,000 for the pilot “Let’s Cook Club” program in 2012, and an additional sponsorship of $1,500 in 2013, and an additional sponsorship of $2,000 in 2014.

Community Youth Band The Community Youth Band is comprised of UNA community youth from all cultural backgrounds and has grown from 10 members to 30 members, ages 13 to 17. The band has performed at many UNA community events and other charity events. The UNA Board sponsored $3,000 for the very first Community Youth Band in 2012 and an additional sponsorship of $4,000 in 2014.

Seniors and Friends This is a new program to engage seniors.

It expanded from the “Senior Meet-nGreet” events and has received very positive feedback. The Board agreed to allocate $3,000 from the 2013/14 operating surplus to support the seniors’ engagement initiatives.

In the proposed 2015/16 budget, the total amount allocated to the MCC is $2,000. However, the MCC is requesting additional funding for the fiscal year 2015/16 in total amount $10,200 as follows: • UNA Community Connection Nights $1,500 • UNA Let’s Cook Club $3,000 • UNA Seniors & Friends $1,200 •UNA Community Youth Band $2,500 • Lunar New Year Celebration $1,500 • Community Fitness, Book Club, Sudoku Club $500.

Meanwhile, in the proposed 2015/16 budget, there is only $6,000 allocated for all community sponsorship. As well as MCC programs, the UNA has supported in the past such projects as the Kids Race at the annual UBC Grand Prix, the Bike Kitchen by the AMS Bike Coop, UBC’s Got Talent, etc.

page 2

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

Campus residents welcome new RCMP commander Staff-Sergeant Pat Reilly is new commanding officer of University detachment Staff Sergeant Pat Reilly is the new commander of the University detachment of the RCMP on Wesbrook Mall. He arrives at UBC after many years at the RCMP detachment in Burnaby.

Since joining the national police force as a young man, S/Sgt Reilly has enjoyed a variety of assignments. In the early 1980s, he served in the area of Rocky Mountain House, a rough-and-tough logging and mining town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. In

1986, S/Sgt Reilly signed up for a year on the famous RCMP Musical Ride, before transferring to Burnaby where he has served most of his career. His resume also includes the service on the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia’s anti-gang agency.

Born in Kamloops, Pat Reilly arrived with his parents in Vancouver when he was eight years old and completed all his schooling on the west side of Vancouver.

“I grew up on the west side of Vancouver.

I’m a local boy—41st and Granville.” As a youngster, he played a lot of sports.

One of his mentors was the legendary Joe Johnson, coach of the UBC Thunderbirds Soccer team for 25 years.

S/Sgt Reilly has begun introducing

himself to members of the community while figuring out the unusual governance structure here, both at UBC and the adjacent University Endowment Lands.

“There’s no mayor and council?”

Welcome to UBC, Staff Sergeant Pat Reilly! The campus community stands behind you and your detachment.

Staff-Sergeant Pat Reilly, new commander of the University detachment, RCMP

Classes start early January - register now! www.myuna.ca/registration

Program Guide

Winter 2015

yoga - pilates - arts - fitness - language dance - sports - social - camps & more!

page 3

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

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

Design Production Rebecca Ind phone: 604.822.9675 email: rind@myuna.ca

Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association #202-5923 Berton Avenue, Vancouver BC, V6S 0B3

Advertising enquiries email: advertising@myuna.ca

Editorial Page No plan B for transportation Mayors in the Lower Mainland envision the accommodation of one million more residents in the region (including UBC area) by 2040. However, this growth faces the threat of traffic congestion, which has to be beaten to keep people and the economy moving. If not beaten, congestion will lead to Greater Vancouver losing a large degree of livability.

Commendably, the mayors of Metro Vancouver have spent considerable time and effort this year in developing a plan which has been broadly and positively received by business, labour, environment/ health groups and individuals. In their view, an expenditure of $7.5 billion on transit and transportation development over the next ten years would defeat congestion.

The funds would come from the federal and provincial governments and from taxpayers in the Lower Mainland. You may expect the proponents of this point

of view to make compelling arguments in favor of the $2.5 billion taxpayer portion of this funding coming from a 0.5% increase in PST. This increase would cost households from $50 to $125 depending on income status.

Developments would include an extension of the Millennium Line along Broadway - though not all the way to UBC. Between now and March, when a mailballot referendum on the transportation issue is likely to be held, you will hear much about the merits of this funding formula from proponents—and, of course, much about its faults by opponents.

Locally, Electoral Area A director Maria Harris, has announced herself as an enthusiastic supporter of the funding plan.

This will be one of the most important debates held in the UBC area in years, and local residents should consider participating in it as vigorously as they can.

Decision on 5915 Newton Wynd “disturbing” As a long-time resident of the UEL (for 65 years), I was deeply disturbed about the recent decision concerning the development permit application for 5915 Newton Wynd. I was concerned not only about the decision, but also by the wider significance of the structure and process of the review.

First, I do not feel that the current system is operating in the best interests of the UEL and its residents. The fact that over 40 residents felt obliged to submit letters of objection to the proposed structure, and that the decision entailed what appears to be cosmetic changes to the original proposal, does not auger well for decisions on future developments.

When I had the privilege of serving on the previous Advisory Planning Committee, we were guided by the mandate that all new structures should be consistent with the scale and character of the

neighborhood. The proposed structure at 5915 Newton Wynd meets neither of these fundamental criteria. As an aside, I also found the gratuitous comments of the Chair of the public meeting offensive when he declared that audience participation would not be allowed lest there be a riot or some such problem.

Where should we go from here? Firstly, I feel strongly that membership on the committee should have a majority of local residents. And second, while architectural advice is essential to this process, I also feel quite strongly that architects from outside the community should act in an advisory capacity only rather than serve as voting members of the panel.

I would be most curious as to whether other members of our community feel the same way.

Peter N. Nemetz, UEL resident

The Campus Resident is delivered by Canada Post to mail boxes in V6T, V6S and V6R postal code areas as Unaddressed Advertising Mail– the same way flyers and free magazines are delivered by Canada Post. Residents who have indicated to Canada Post they don’t wish to receive Unaddressed Advertising Mail in their mail boxes will not receive The Campus Resident either. If you experience any interruption in delivery of The Campus Resident, please contact the Editor at jtompkins@myuna.ca with full name, address and phone number provided. Extra copies of The Campus Resident are available at UNA Office and The Old Barn Community Centre.

Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association

Advertise with us! email - advertising@myuna.ca

Letters to the Editor Proposed shorter hours at Old Barn “unfair” I read the Campus Resident articles with concern this week. The proposed cuts to The Old Barn operating hours are surely not the only way the UNA can save costs.

The UNA sponsored events are lovely, but perhaps they could be scaled back slightly and still be as enjoyable. The overwatering of our common areas in the summer months means it is impossible to sit on the grass, day or night, without getting wet. Will the new communications consultant perform any function that will make a meaningful difference to the people who live here? I see the commissionaires driving around in my neighbourhood so frequently that I wonder if my guests have time to get my parking pass back to their car before it is (over-)efficiently towed away. Could shorter hours be proposed for the new Wesbrook Community Centre until such time that it becomes economically viable on its own?

Residents in Wesbrook already have access to many more shops, services, and indoor gathering spaces than do residents in The Old Barn neighbourhood.

I’m sure there are many other solutions that can be created by those who have access to the UNA’s and Old Barn’s operating budgets.

It is unfair that the residents in the neighbourhoods surrounding The Old Barn should have to put up with even shorter hours at The Old Barn, in favour of a community centre (in Wesbrook village) that few of us will access on a daily basis. I am a regular user of the Living Room in The Old Barn, the classes, the

sports equipment, and special events at The Old Barn. I bring my small children there at least a few times a week to enjoy the only free indoor space away from home that they can walk to.

While it is true that many programs will be run from the new Centre in Wesbrook and that all University residents will be welcome there, it is important to have community space in Hawthorn Place. The Wesbrook Village isn’t far for a healthy adult in their middle years to walk to, but it is far for a child or a person with a motor impairment. Additionally, with the safety issues that sometimes arise in our city, it is far enough; and with the pathway poorly lit, I would probably choose not to walk there in the dark.

The Old Barn is truly the “centre of our community”. I frequently walk the short distance there from home, and feel safer in the park spaces at night, knowing that there is a person there. The sports equipment is perhaps best used in those hours between dinner and bedtime - when working families have a few moments to spend with their children and friends.

Closing The Old Barn early on the weekends and shutting it entirely on statutory holidays would mean that families have no gathering space close to home.

I urge you to consider the sentiments of the community before proposing to limit access to the only available community space in Hawthorn Place.

Shannon MacLachlan, Hawthorn Place resident

Better cut lawn’s budget than Old Barn’s I read with interest about the expected reduction in the UNA revenue and increased expenses for 2015. I also read with concern about the possible reduction in operating hours for the Old Barn Community Centre.

Community centres fulfill a critical function at UBC where almost all residents live in small spaces. We urge the Board of Directors to find other ways to reduce expenses.

As a small example, the neighbourhood lawns are so over-watered that, while looking perfect, they are soggy for afternoon picnics even at the height of summer. Our lawns and gardens can be beautiful without having to be flawless.

Also, surely we can think hard about ways to enforce parking rules - something all residents are motivated to do -

without requiring as much investment in commissionaires.

Lastly, it would be ironic if the costs of maintaining a community centre in Westbrook, a neighbourhood with many services, reduce the level of service at the Old Barn in a neighbourhood with few other services.

Kris Holm, Hawthorn Place resident

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.

page 4

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

From busboy to professor The inspiring story of Gu Xiong, professor in UBC’s Department of Art History, Visual Art & Theory

By Sabrina Zhang Chair, UNA Civic Engagement Committee

On Friday, November 28th, a group of UBC residents had the pleasure of listening to the personal-journey story of UBC Professor Gu Xiong at the Robert H. Lee

MBA House in Wesbrook Village. More than 80 people – many of them new immigrants living in the UNA neighbourhoods – attended a meeting organized by the civic engagement committee to hear his story and learn about his work.

I had been introduced to the art of Professor Xiong last June by Alden E. Habacon, UBC’s Director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development.

“We have a great opportunity to see art by Chinese artists in Canada—art that would likely be difficult to see in China,” said Alden. “The artist’s name is Gu Xiong. His story is so inspiring, and

Professor Xiong presents his art works to residents

从餐厅杂工到UBC大学终身教授 顾雄教授分享他艰辛而感人 的移民历程（UBC艺术史，视 觉艺术和理论系） 还在六月的时候，有次开会碰到UBC首席 副校长室，平等包容事务处的总监Alden E. Habacon, 他兴奋地提到顾雄，建议我 们一定要找个机会去认识顾教授。“在加 拿大我们有很多机会看到中国艺术家，在 中国反而挺难看到，”Alden说，“他的 名字是顾雄，他的移民故事非常感人，他 也是非常受人尊敬的国际艺术家。” 11月28日，UNA居民参与委员会如愿 以偿地邀请到了顾雄教授，在Robert H. Lee MBA House，顾教授给八十多位住在 UBC的新移民们分享了他的故事，同时欣 赏了他从七十年代到近期的各种极具思想 和吸引力的艺术作品。 顾雄是喝长江水长大的重庆人。1989 年移民到班芙之前，他已经是四川美术学 院的大学教师。国外的第一年生活还是舒 适的，作为访问交流艺术家，班芙艺术中 心提供住所和全额奖学金，不用为生计发 愁。但是这样的好日子很短，艰辛的生活 开始长期纠缠着他。来到温哥华后，太太 和女儿也从四川过来，全家的生计顿时压 在顾雄肩上。 他们一家住在终日不见阳光的地下 室，仅有的一扇窗望出去也只是混凝土 墙，而楼上的人经常喝醉酒，吵闹不休。 在这样艰苦嘈杂的环境里，他们一住三 年。顾雄每天为了养活全家四处奔波。其 实他当时要靠画笔也能维持生活，到街头 或公园去画人像，有不少大陆画家在海外 都是这么做的。可是顾雄坚守一位朋友的 忠告，即不要卷入商业绘画，久而久之就 会磨掉棱角，失去创造力。 “其实在那个时候才开始我真正的加拿 大生活。日子过得很艰难，有时一天要打 3份工，一天干十几个小时。早上5点到10 点洗床单，然后到车行洗车，晚上6点到 10点再去食品店做比萨。后来有人介绍给 我一份“好工作”，到卑诗大学学生餐厅 干杂工，时薪从5元长到10元，而且是在 高校里面，离学术与艺术更近了！” 在顾教授的分享中，他强调了掌握好

英语和追求自由密切相关。 顾雄说，“ 语言对每一个移民来说实在太重要了！ 如果你想要追求自由，你一定要尽你的全 力去学好英文。持续学习五年甚至十年你 才能掌握好英文。 如果你不会说英文， 在西人眼里你和一块石头差不多，因为 你无法和他们交流。我来这里的时候英文 几乎是零，现在我说英文和本地人差不多 了。” 即使在生活的最低点，顾雄总能保持 积极乐观的心态，并在周围的事物中找到 艺术的灵感。被学生们挤压变形的空可乐 罐变成了一个象征他艰辛生活的符号，同 时也成了他初期装置艺术的主打作品。“ 有一天我看到一个学生把一个空可乐罐压 瘪，然后丢入垃圾箱内，我当时忽然触景 生情有了艺术的灵感和人生的顿悟，”顾 雄解释到，“可乐罐没有挤压前都是一样 的，可是挤压后没有两个是完全相同的， 材料还是原来的材料，可是一个新我就是 在这种残酷的挤压下诞生了！” 业余时间顾雄坚持创作，在打工之 余，顾雄每年都会有一两个画展，有了越 来越大的影响，先是被卑诗大学艺术系聘 用为版画技术员，在画室辅助教员指导学 生习画，然后当助教，讲师，2000年当上 教授，2010年成为终身教授。所有这些努 力和坚持都在无形中影响着他的女儿。顾 雄的女儿大学第一年主修的课程是UBC商 学院的商业管理，但是她发现自己内心还 是和爸爸一样喜欢艺术，所以大学第二年 坚持转到UBC的电影研究专业，硕士到南 加州大学主攻电影导演专业。现在顾雄的 女儿已经是好莱坞的一名电影导演了。 所有参加这个交流分享的居民们都被 顾雄教授充满正能量的移民故事所打动， 更被他思维缜密的观念性作品所吸引。两 个小时过去了，大家都还意犹未尽，持续 地提问想了解更多关于顾雄的生活、作品 和想法。 有个居民现场反馈，“我因为英文不 好，总感觉自己在这里没有希望找到工 作，有时感觉很孤独。顾教授今天的分享 让我很有收获和启发。谢谢你们组织了这 么好的活动让我们认识顾雄教授，了解 到他原来这么辛苦地坚持才有今天的成 果。”

he’s also a highly respected international artist. ” Gu was born in Chongqing, China. He taught at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute before immigrating to Banff in 1989, where he worked as an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre Arts Program. His life as a new immigrant became better when he received a full scholarship and a place to live on the one-year exchange program.

Inspired by art and nature, Gu was comfortable – but not for long.

Reality caught up with him the following year, when he moved to Vancouver to join his wife and young daughter. Gu’s family lived in a sunless basement suite with the windows facing a concrete wall.

The people who lived upstairs, were often drunk and noisy.

Gu struggled to make a living for his family. “It was then that I started my real Canadian life. It was very difficult.

I worked washing cars and making pizza, and finally I got a ‘good job’ as a busboy at the UBC cafeteria.” He could have found work in commercial painting, but a friend advised against this all together: “Never do any commercial painting, otherwise you must lose your creativity and be ignored by mainstream culture!”

Despite these demoralizing lows, Gu remained optimistic and found artistic inspiration within his surroundings. “I saw a student one day crushing a can before throwing it out, and that to me was actually very inspirational,” Gu explains.

The empty pop can became a symbol for his struggle and a motif for a major installation piece. “As soon as you crush it, that’s when it becomes unique.” After being crushed and destroyed, this massproduced object gains new life through Gu’s art. “That unique shape inspired me—from no life to life.”

During his talk at the MBA House, Gu emphasized the power of language to pursue freedom: “Language is so important for immigrants. If you hope to get

Campus resident Sabrina Zhang and UBC professor/artist Gu Xiong freedom, you must try your best to learn English and keep studying for five years or ten years at least. My English was almost zero when I came to Canada, now I feel like a local person.”

Everyone in the room thoroughly enjoyed Gu’s positive energy, inspirational personal-journey story and words of encouragement. After the presentation, most participants stayed to ask Gu questions about his work, story and life. A dedicated father, Gu’s persistence in pursuing his art influenced his daughter’s decision to switch from business management to film study at UBC. Today, Gu’s daughter is a film director in Hollywood.

A University resident remarked that she “always had a sense of hopelessness and isolation because of [her] poor English skills, making it hard to find a job here.”

Inspired by this wonderful talk, she thanked the organizing committee for the opportunity to meet Gu Xiong and hear his remarkable story of finding a new life in Canada.

Artist and one of his best-known works of crushed Coca Cola cans

page 5

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014 UEL continued from Page 1 In an e-mail, Jaymie Glasmann Ho, said, “I am very disappointed and dismayed by this decision.” Ms. Ho, who serves both on the volunteer ADP and the volunteer Community Advisory Council (CAC) on the UEL, said, “I would encourage everyone in the neighbourhood who believe that the value of their home, view, privacy, or quality of living will be materially affected to exercise their right to appeal to the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, using the form requested by the UEL by December 12th.”

The proposed two-storey single family home at 5915 Newton Wynd contains 7,000 square feet of floor space and stands on a 28,000 square-foot lot overlooking Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet.

A two-car garage adjoins one side of it, and a swimming pool graces the front of it. Original plans called for a row of palm trees to run along the back of it. However, The Campus Resident understands, the palm trees are not part of the approved landscape architecture.

The approved development permit application for 5915 Newton Wynd indicates three variances from normal buildings plans for homes in the UEL—two of the three variances having to do with ‘setbacks’ (the distances the home is set back from the street). In one case, the UEL bylaw governing land use, building and community administration is varied to reduce the required front yard setback from 80 feet to 60 feet. In another case, the same bylaw is varied to reduce the required exterior side yard setback from 60 feet to 40 feet. In the third case, the bylaw is varied to increase the required building

depth from 75 feet to 105 feet.

Ron Pears, a long-term community activist who most recently served for three years as chair of the CAC, referred to the 5915 Newton Wynd issue as symptomatic of the provincial government failure to update the UEL community plan.

“The UEL Bylaw and Community Plan desperately need a good overhaul,” Mr. Pears said. “We have been pleading with the Province (which manages the UEL) to get on with both of these very important tasks for years, but our entreaties fall on deaf ears.

“In my opinion, the way we are forced to object to many development permits is ludicrous and is not helpful to the poor property owners who just want a sensible set of rules to follow, or to the administration who must put up with angry citizens and solve issues on an ad hoc basis.

“It all comes down to governance.”

As stated on its website, the UEL has an unusual development permit process in that all development projects require a permit. Other jurisdictions have welldefined descriptions of development requirements, and routine single-family projects are permitted under an “outright use” procedure, assuming they comply with all requirements. UEL residents are allowed to provide letters of objection to any development permit application, and when a persuasive number of objections is received from the community, the UEL manager may choose to refer the application to the Advisory Design Panel (ADP) for review and recommendation.

At the UEL manager’s discretion, the ADP meets to discuss the merits and possible problems with development permit applications and to determine whether a recommendation should be made to ap-

prove, reject or return the application for modifications.

The ADP includes two community representatives elected from each of the four neighbourhoods UEL areas or wards and seven members from the architecture, landscape architecture and engineering professions. Only community members from the area with a plan for new development are permitted on the panel.

None of the professional members face any such restrictions: they are allowed to sit on every panel regardless of which neighbourhood is concerned. While com-

munity members have the opportunity to express their own and their neighbours’ concerns, in practice, they cannot control either the outcome of a vote, or the final recommendations provided to the UEL Manager.

Elected members of the ADP are Dave Forsyth and Stuart Smith—Area A; Pauline Nocente and Jaymie Glasmann Ho— Area B; Tamara Knot and Maciek Kon— Area C; Hong Chen and Jean-François Caron—Area D. (Please also see Letter to the Editor on Page 3 about 5915 Newton Wynd.)

Appointment Neighbourhood resident appointed to UBC Development Permit Board

The UBC board of governors has approved the appointment of Qiuning Wang as the UBC resident member on the Development Permit Board.

This appointment marks the first time the UNA and UBC campus and community planning have collaborated to recommend the appointment of a resident member on the UBC Development Permit Board.

Jim Taylor served in this role for a decade, and on behalf of UBC, campus and community planning thanks Mr. Taylor for his long and invaluable service on the Development Permit Board.

As well as live at UBC, Ms. Wang works as the community engagement and volunteer coordinator at The Old Barn Community Centre.

Qiuning Wang

page 6

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

Pro soccer starts at UBC as plans proceed for Whitecaps fieldhouse Home games of new second-tier Whitecaps team will be Thunderbird Stadium; site of new Whitecaps fieldhouse will be Thunderbird Park playing fields

Soccer fans in the UBC area will soon have a local team to cheer for.

Whitecaps Football Club (WFC) has announced the launch of Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2), a second-tier professional team which will play home games at Thunderbird Stadium.

Owned and operated by Whitecaps, WFC2 will begin playing games in a North America-wide ‘PRO League’ in the spring of 2015.

“Today marks another important milestone for our club and another step forward in our partnership with UBC,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi when formation of the team was announced at a news conference in late November.

“We’re thrilled to be launching our PRO team at UBC. We have many talented young players at our club, including nine Residency products who recently did very well internationally with our Canadian U-20 men’s national team. WFC2 will allow them to continue their development against quality competition, including our fellow Cascadia rivals from Seattle and Portland.”

At the same news event, Mr. Lenarduzzi unveiled renderings of the final phase of the National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC), the new training

facility the Whitecaps are setting up at the Thunderbird Park Precinct along with UBC and the provincial government. He said, “Along with the renderings of our new training facility, we have a clear view into our future. These initiatives will provide a positive impact and lasting legacy for Whitecaps FC, Canadian soccer, UBC and the community at large.”

Subject to final approval of the UBC board of governors, NSDC plans call for a state-of-the-art Field House, which is set to be completed prior to the start of the 2017 Major League Soccer (MLS) preseason.

The fieldhouse is being designed by Acton Ostry Architects, an award-winning architectural firm based in Vancouver, in collaboration with BBB Architects, internationally recognized sports architects who recently completed the Kia Toronto FC Training Ground & Academy. In total, the multi-campus NSDC includes seven fields – two artificial turf fields at Simon Fraser University and three grass and two artificial turf fields at UBC. (See renderings on this page.)

“This partnership with Whitecaps FC and the provincial government will allow for a greater student and community participation in field sports and will provide exceptional experiences for soccer fans,” said UBC president Arvind Gupta. “Having Whitecaps FC and varsity soccer programs here at UBC will inspire our students to pursue their passions and will further strengthen our successful Athletics program.”

In September 2012, Whitecaps FC, UBC, and the B.C. government announced a joint $30 million initiative to

Rendering of fieldhouse from south

Rendering of planned Whitecaps fieldhouse at UBC playing fields as seen from Wesbrook Mall construct and operate a shared-use soccer training facility at UBC. In February 2013, an improved grass field and locker room access were completed.

In addition to Whitecaps major-league team, the NSDC will become the permanent training home for the club’s PRO and youth sides, as well as UBC’s varsity teams, intramural sports participants (students) and community partners. Once completed, the NSDC at UBC will include five constructed, refurbished and improved fields – three grass and two artificial turf – as well as the new 35,000+ square foot fieldhouse.

The high performance training centre will create important recreational and high performance sports legacies for the UBC community, providing a major upgrade in facilities, including washrooms,

Map of UBC playing fields

Team up with our fun and energetic leader for an action packed party!

Book a Saturday birthday party now!! phone 604.822.9675 or email bookings@oldbarn.ca

change rooms, multi-use space, concessions and classrooms.

The NSDC will afford not only Whitecaps FC and UBC with state-of-the-art facilities and fields, but will be accessible to recreation leagues from across the city.

The project is well underway with the near completion of UBC’s Varsity Turf Field now located at Wolfson West Field.

“This world-class facility will be a hub of community activity for recreational, competitive and professional soccer players,” said Coralee Oakes, minister of community, sport and cultural development. “The centre will also be a tremendous draw for future hosting opportunities at a time when sport tourism is the fastest growing segment of B.C.’s tourism industry.”

page 7

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

UBC/UEL residents invited to discuss road safety Become involved! What do you want your roads to look like?

By Jens von Bergmann UBC resident The roads around campus are important for all of us. We walk, cycle or drive

along them, we cross them on foot and by bike. They connect our communities and they divide our communities.

As residents on campus, we have very little say in what our roads should look like. The reason for this lies in the complicated administrative landscape of our region as illustrated in Image 1.

The access roads in red are mostly controlled by the BC Ministry of Transporta-

Image 2- Decline of almost 20% in local traffic Image 1- Complex administrative landscape on Point Grey peninsula tion and Infrastructure (MOTI), although other entities like UBC, the UEL, Musqueam and City of Vancouver also have administrative functions along some portions of the roads. While we pay for the roads through our rural property taxes, we have no direct way of influencing what the roads look like.

The result is a road network that more resembles rural highways than urban roads. The roads function very well in enabling convenient travel by car, but mostly fall short at enabling convenient and safe travel by foot or bike. The best indicator for this is the struggles parents go through to find a safe way for their children to walk or bike to school.

It is not just parents and kids who suffer from infrastructure that fails to support safe cycling and walking. Park users engage in an involuntary game of ‘frogger’ as they follow path trails across the UBC access routes. Pedestrians have to navigate complex traffic situations at the crossings. And commuter cyclists battle narrow and suddenly-disappearing bike lanes, pooling water (or ice), debris, cars parking in bike lanes and the constant threat of being ‘doored’.

One of the greatest dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians is high speeds of drivers. A pedestrian hit by a car going 50 km/h has a 40% chance of not surviving. At 60km/h, the probability to die if hit climbs to 75%. At 70km/h, the probability of death is over 95%.

So, how fast are cars going where our

CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA PUBLIC NOTICE The VANCOUVER - QUADRA CONSERVATIVE EDA will soon be opening the Nomination Process to elect a Candidate of Record for the next federal General Election. Interested should be prepared to sign up new members, fund raise and expend considerable effort during the election campaign.

Please email your name, address and telephone number to: nominations@quadraconservatives.com, to receive an information package.

Paid for by the Quadra Conservative Financial Agent

children cross the access routes to go to school? One common way to condense the range of speeds of cars into a single number is the ’85 percentile speed’, that is the speed where 85% of traffic goes slower and 15% of the traffic goes faster.

At the crossing in front of UHill Secondary school, the 85 percentile speed for westbound traffic is 68km/h. At the proposed crossing near Hampton Place that serves Norma Rose Point School the 85 percentile speed is around 74km/h in both directions (hopefully, additional traffic calming measures will be installed to bring those speeds down before the crossing goes in).

At University Blvd. near the churches in the UEL, where children cross to get to UHill Elementary School, the eastbound 85 percentile speed exceeds 77km/h.

Along Chancellor in the UEL between Wesbrook Mall and the pedestrian light serving UHill Elementary School, the eastbound 85 percentile speed is 71km/h.

This is a design issue. Enforcement can help some, but the most effective way to slow traffic to normal city speeds is to change the road design to fit the desired traffic speeds.

All of this is happening on the backdrop of continuously declining motor vehicle traffic along the access routes, despite the growing student population and increase in residents on campus. Since 1997 overall traffic on these routes has declined by over 20%, with the decline being most pronounced during rush hour. (See Image 2.)

The biggest issue in all of this is that the residents have effectively been excluded from the discussion about what priorities we want for our roads. That’s why a small group of concerned residents, faculty, engineers, cyclists, walkers and parents started the ‘UBC/UEL Alliance for Cycling and Walking’ to bring all the different stakeholders around UBC campus together and jump-start a conversation about our roads. Everyone is invited to go and access information about these roads at http://bikeWalkUBC.org and participate in the discussion.

Go to the website, inform yourself and join the discussion. We believe that with broad public involvement with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation we can develop a new model for an urban road system that connects and strengthens the UBC and UEL communities instead of dividing them.

Please see story on Page 8 -“UNA requests MOTI to reduce speed limit on 16th Avenue”.

page 8

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

UNA December Board Briefs New parking fee approved Directors approved an increase in the parking permit fees from $60 per year to $70. Comments from residents show that they currently believe the parking fees are too high. Sales from 2012 to 2013 show that many residents in 2012 obtained parking permits because there was no cost associated with them. Once a fee was introduced, sales dropped dramatically. The annual parking revenue to the UNA in 2015/16 is projected to be approximately $39,135 with the proposed fee schedule shown in the table to the right.

No safety audit just yet A safety audit of the 16th Avenue traffic corridor, including the Wesbrook Mall and East Mall roundabouts, will not go ahead just yet on account of major road changes the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) has planned for 16th Avenue. Earlier this year, the UNA board agreed to engage a consultant to study the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in the 16th Avenue corridor. More recently, however, directors determined that it would be more appropriate to conduct the safety audit after the changes to the 16th Avenue Corridor were completed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and in December, they approved a motion to this effect. Meanwhile, the UNA has written a strong letter to Transportation Minister Todd Sloane urging him to consider reducing the speed limit on 16th Avenue from 70 kms/hr to 50.

Community survey on hold as other ways of collecting data sought The UNA has taken a new approach towards conducting a full-scale community survey. Instead of employing consultants to do the data gathering, the UNA will seek ways of doing as much as possible of the work itself. Originally, UNA directors approved a plan relying on Ipsos Reid to undertake a survey of community demographics for $65,000 with $25,000 of this money coming from UBC campus and community planning department.

However, at their meeting December 9, the UNA board voted to defer employment of Ipsos Reid in favour of seeking other ways of collecting statistics and rely on its Community Survey Working Group to come up with a list of ideas how important information about the community might be gathered.

Car share permit system approved The board approved the proposed car

share permit system. UNA residents currently enjoy access to both the Modo car share program and car2go cars. The UNA does not permit or charge car share cars for access to parking in UNA neighbourhoods, but given that the UNA has introduced a parking permit system for residents, combined with growth of car share use, directors decided it is timely to introduce a system for car share cars using the neighbourhoods. This would bring the UNA in line with the City of Vancouver.

First ‘Campus Community Conversations’ will be held on Tuesday, January 6 The first ‘Campus Community Conversations’ will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at The Old Barn Community Centre. As part of the UNA’s renewed relationship with UBC, the UNA will partner with UBC in several initiatives including engaging with residents across campus.

This series of events is an opportunity for residents to learn more about the UBC community, UBC and UNA programs and services available to residents, ask questions and discuss interests. UBC and UNA staff will attend this series along with UNA Board members to provide information and learn more from residents on key interests.

New Elections Policies’ terms of reference approved Directors approved the Terms of Reference (version 3) for the Elections Policies and Procedures Advisory Committee. In October, the directors agreed to conduct a review of the UNA elections policies and procedures. The intent is to improve the process in time for the 2015 UNA Elections. Subsequently, the board asked the governance standing committee to draft proposed Terms of Reference and to bring a draft to a future board meeting for its consideration and approval.

Join us on FACEBOOK! Keep up to date with the latest UNA news, announcements, events, and The Old Barn Community Centre’s programming! search for

The Old Barn Community Centre and The University Neighbourhoods Association

UNA requests Ministry to reduce speed limit on 16th Avenue Posted speed limit should be 50 km/h, UNA says in strong letter to province The University Neighbourhoods Association sees a ‘need for change’ in the speed limit on 16th Avenue, and it is attempting to get the province to see this need for change also.

In a letter sent to Todd Stone, minister of transportation and infrastructure, UNA chair Richard Alexander expresses UBC community concerns about excessive speeds on 16th Avenue.

“Residents, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike state that speed limits must be lowered to support a safe community. We request that the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure lower the speed limit on 16th Avenue between Blanca Street and Wesbrook Mall from 70 km/h to 50 km/h. The outcome would be a consistent 50 km/h speed limit between the City of Vancouver and UBC.” Mr. Alexander says that community concern is elevated by the planned pedestrian crosswalk across 16th Avenue, which will connect to the east side of Hampton Place intersection.

“It is critical that we initiate a change in driver behaviour prior to the crosswalk installation as the current 85th percentile

speeds are in excess of 70 km/h at the planned location. Given the curvature of 16th Avenue at this location, the long crossing distance and the excessive vehicle speeds, it is inevitable that a pedestrian incident will occur or that the crossing will not be used to its full potential.”

Mr. Alexander writes to say many groups were approached during the preparation of his letter. “UBC Campus + Community Planning is supportive of the speed change and supplied speed data.

The RCMP University Detachment has been engaged and they provided relevant incident and speed violation data. Metro Vancouver staff is involved…Lastly, the local parent advisory councils have expressed their desire for lower speeds.”

The UNA wishes to meet with the minister to discuss its concerns, to understand from him how he plans to respond and address them.

The speed limit on 16th Avenue and other ministry roads around UBC was set at a time when there was no residential community on campus. Now, however, there is a growing and thriving community of 10,000 residents. These residents use elementary schools, a high school, daycare, commercial and retail properties and playing fields.

“It is time to reduce the speed limit to support and match the needs and activity of our community,” the UNA chair said in his letter to the ministry.

Clean Up After Your Dog

it is the law

page 9

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

Sustainability Corner UNA Green Guide

By Ralph Wells, UNA Sustainability Manager

For my December column, I am happy to report that the New Year will bring the publication of the UNA Green Guide.

The Green Guide brings together many of the topics I have covered in my past columns into one convenient document.

It was identified as a priority by residents who have participated in UNA sustainability working groups, who expressed a desire to have access to information about sustainable actions that can be undertaken at home. The guide was developed with help from summer sustainability intern Tania Leon and she prepared the following description of the Guide: “Have you ever wondered what you should do with that old cell phone? What are the best ways to conserve energy at home? How much water are we using every day? Where can we find information about cycling and transit options? What about the difference between free-range and free-run eggs?

What is the Green Guide all about? It is a handy little booklet that highlights five key sustainability topics: reducing waste, reducing energy use, reducing water consumption, sustainable transportation, and also sustainable food systems. Within each section, the Green Guide identifies simple actions that can make the most positive impact on our environment and our daily lives as well. The guide also includes little known facts and useful resources for residents to seek more information online.

The Green Guide aims to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to incorporate sustainability at home and throughout your daily lives.

The primary objective of the Green Guide is to ensure that residents are able to make sustainable choices with ease.

The Green Guide is geared towards all of our residents, from individuals to families. We chose tips and ideas so that both adults and school-aged children can take part in household sustainability.

The guide will be available early in the new year as a booklet and online. Copies can be found at The Old Barn Community Centre and the UNA office reception areas. Copies will also be made available to strata councils and rental building managers for distribution.

Watch for further details on the UNA website (www.myuna.ca) and here in The Campus Resident.

If you have any questions about the upcoming Green Guide or would like other information related to sustainability, contact me at email rwells@myuna.ca or phone 604-822-3263.

Ralph Wells, UNA Sustainability Manager

UBC Report on elevated levels of toxic metals at Vancouver community garden raises concerns Elevated levels of toxic metals at a Vancouver community garden site raise questions about the city’s approach to promoting urban agriculture, say UBC researchers.

In research outlined last month in the Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, lead author Gladys Oka detected elevated levels of zinc and lead in soil from a community garden site at 16th Avenue and Oak Street.

“My intention is not to say don’t plant, don’t do community gardens,” says Ms. Oka, an MSc candidate in soil science.

“But I don’t think it’s necessarily in the best interest of Vancouver to push something without informing people of all the considerations they need to make.”

Native soil sampled from the garden site was found to have concentrations of 456 parts per million (ppm) of zinc, and 219 ppm of lead—exceeding background soil levels in the Lower Mainland of 200 ppm and 60 ppm respectively. Kentucky bluegrass, used as an indicator plant, was found to absorb the metals: the shoots of those grown on the garden site contained 1,330 ppm of zinc and 387 ppm of lead.

The European Scientific Commission on Food recommends no more than 25 mg per day of zinc and no more than 0.03 mg per day of lead be ingested by a 60 kg person.

While the use of raised beds could mitigate contamination from the soil, Ms. Oka says readings of metals in the air are also a concern. Compared to the UBC Farm site, which the researchers also tested, there was eight times as much zinc and twice as much lead and copper in the air around the community garden.“You

can fix the problem of what’s happening in your surface soils by using compost, but if you’re growing in that for five years, you might be accumulating a lot of metals,” she notes.

Co-author Les Lavkulich, program director of the UBC Master of Land and Water Systems, calls for a measured approach to urban gardening. “Our research has shown that the potential for metal contamination is a concern. Before we start promoting things, we should make sure we have a relatively good idea of what we’re promoting.”

Ms. Oka recommends that the City of Vancouver follow the lead of other Canadian cities like Toronto and adopt a framework to investigate the health of soil at urban farming sites.

Metal toxicity is a serious issue. Excessive zinc can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and headaches. Symptoms of lead poisoning in children can include developmental delays, learning difficulties, irritability, fatigue and hearing loss.

In adults, symptoms of lead poisoning can include high blood pressure, declines in mental functioning, joint and muscle pain, headache, mood disorders and miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women.

In the context of urban gardening, the city of Toronto adopted GrowTO: An Urban Agriculture Action Plan in 2012. The city also has a Supervisor of Community Gardens Program.

According to the city of Vancouver’s official website, none of the community gardens in Vancouver are run or overseen by city staff.

UBC researchers found high levels of toxic metals at a Vancouver community garden at 16th and Oak

page 10

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

New team takes over on UEL as Ron Pears bids farewell New chair of community council is Dave Forsyth; Ron Pears was chair for three years

By John Tompkins The Campus Resident Editor

The new Community Advisory Council (CAC) on the University Endowment Lands has held its first meeting.

At the meeting December 10 in the UEL community space at University Village, CAC members voted in the following executive slate: Dave Forsyth, chair; Jaymie Glasmann Ho, vice-chair; and Peter McConnell, secretary-treasurer.

Mr. Forsyth takes over as chair from Ron Pears, who served for three years.

Members of the CAC, which represents 3,500 people living on the UEL, hold meetings on the third Monday of every month with the next meeting scheduled for the community space on January 19

Ron Pears

starting at 6 PM. Mr. Pears, a retired architect, has received many plaudits for the vigorous and thoughtful way in which he led the community. He organized four wellattended ‘town hall meetings’ called to measure public interest in changing the governance system on the UEL. He pioneered the publication of a progressive and informative community newspaper, U Hill Connections, and he secured the space in the University Village which has become the political and social heart of the UEL community. Nevertheless, he addressed fellow-CAC members—both incoming ‘new’ members and outgoing ‘old’ ones—in plaintiff tones in the last meeting he chaired. “The CAC has no power,” he said. “All we can do is nag folks in Victoria.”

The lack of CAC power (the UEL has no mayor and council, instead it is run by a branch of the provincial government) has led to a gushing fountain of communal frustration in recent years. And no one has felt this frustration more than Mr. Pears, a long-time resident who has always been active in community affairs.

In November of last year, after two years of promoting the idea of local government for the UEL, Mr. Pears and fellow CAC members collaborated on an application to the minister of community, sport and cultural development in Victoria for a grant to fund an incorporation study.

They have still not heard back from the

Dave Forsyth, new CAC chair.

Mr. Forsyth is a professional engineer who has lived most of his life on the UEL. government—either approving or rejecting the application.

Meanwhile, as Mr. Pears sails off into the proverbial sunset of UEL politics, he reminds us of his bedrock opinion.

He told U Hill Connections: “To say the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development is the ‘mayor’ of the UEL is a joke. We need our own local politicians whose job it is to represent the local community, understand its needs and aspirations, and instruct our own administration on what needs to be done.

We need a local government.”

$237m Jericho Lands deal development process starts “late spring”

By David Eby Vancouver-Point Grey MLA david.eby.mla@leg.bc.ca

On December 1, 2014, I had the opportunity to sit down with two Vice-Presidents of the Canada Lands Corporation, the developers of the Jericho Garrison federal half of the Jericho Lands. These representatives told me that they will begin the community consultation process, at the earliest, in the “late spring.”

As for the types of buildings they have in mind, they assured me that they have a blank slate and will be taking community suggestions very seriously in informing their approach to development. Their process involves hearing as many community ideas as possible over two meet-

ings, and then developing their proposal from there and presenting it to the community at a third meeting, all before initiating any rezoning process.

Fortunately, the development will be subject to all of the City of Vancouver’s zoning and rezoning bylaws and processes, meaning that if the project requires rezoning (which it most likely will), there will be another extensive set of public consultations and notifications.

I was told that any environmental remediation work is limited and that there is no particularly unusual contamination that might delay development or result in unusual cleanup processes.

Unfortunately, I was also told that the Canada Lands Company is specifically mandated to maximize the commercial value of the property and, as a result, has no affordable housing development mandate, limiting their ability to build

affordable rental, family or seniors housing on the site where such developments would be inconsistent with maximizing the commercial value of the property.

In short, any affordable housing will come from City of Vancouver requirements, or external provincial or federal social or rental housing development incentive programs.

The CLC representatives had no information about the state of the provincial half of the Jericho property, and did not expect that they would be developing their half in partnership with the Province, as they were not aware of any discussions about a coordinated development approach.

The CLC paid $237m for the federal half of the Jericho property from the federal government. The three First Nations partners received 22% of the property from the federal government through

treaty negotiations, and paid cash for the remaining 28% of the $237m price tag to become 50/50 partners in the development deal.

David Eby

UNA responds positively to UBC Centennial funding offer $9,500 in grants is sought to fund three celebratory events

UBC is celebrating its 100th anniversary beginning in September 2015, and thanks to a generous University funding program, the University Neighbourhoods Association will join the celebration.

The UNA board was approached to make submissions to the UBC Centennial Initiatives Fund for grant monies to celebrate the anniversary. After the meeting with the Centennial Office earlier this

fall, the UNA submitted request for funding to host three celebratory events. The events for which funding is sought are as follows: • Celebrating the Past: Barn Raising – Saturday, September 12, 2015 The UNA is applying for additional funding of $2,000 for Barn Raising to celebrate the history of UBC and the original Old Barn. This funding will be used to provide new activities that will highlight the history of the Hawthorn Place neighbourhood as part of the original UBC farm. Items such as a small petting zoo, historical photos, stories and

connecting with the John Young family will be part of these special activities.

• Connecting to the Future: Community Artisan Project – September 2015 – June 2016 The highlight of the UNA Centennial application is the plan to apply for $6,000 and use grant funding to provide a permanent art feature for the new Wesbrook Community Centre. The grant will offer opportunities for engaging local UNA/ UBC artists and residents in a community art project that will focus on celebrating the vibrant, diverse and sustainable community of the UNA and UBC.

• Celebrating Canada and the final day of the Centennial: Canada Day – Friday, July 1, 2016 The UNA will apply for a grant of $1,500 to provide additional activities to the community for Canada Day celebrations that will occur in Wesbrook Village.

As the final day of the Centennial and as part of Canada Day, the UNA will expand celebrations with musical performances and interactive festivities that will be inclusive and engaging for all members of the community. This event will be held in partnership with Wesbrook Properties and the Running Room.

page 11

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

Biodiversity in your backyard Give the Gift of Nature

By Nicole Balsdon, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Beaty Biodiversity Museum

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the details, creating more stress and sometimes, less enjoyment of this delightful time. The simple action of getting outside and slowing down can help you reconnect with nature and biodiversity, reducing your stress.

Take a moment today and step outside. Close your eyes and take five deep breaths. What do you smell? Do you notice the chill, damp air? What sounds do you hear? Once you open your eyes, take a few minutes to observe the nature around you: tall trees, dense shrubs, and playful birds.

Our connection to nature is important year-round, but is often pushed aside when the thermometer drops and our schedules get busier. Make a goal to get outside each and every day, even when it’s raining. Instead of dreading the rain – rejoice! Jump in the puddles, observe the beautiful green plants, and listen to the music the rain makes on different

TRANSIT continued from Page 1 The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation—of which Ms. Harris is a member—met in New Westminster December 11 to approve the wording of a referendum. If approved by the provincial government, the referendum would see a million ballots sent to households at UBC and elsewhere in Greater Vancouver in March.

The ballots would read: “Do you support a one half percentage point (0.5%) increase to the Provincial Sales Tax in Metro Vancouver, dedicated to the Mayors’ Transportation and Transit Plan, with independent audits and public reporting?”

The total cost of this plan (over ten years) runs to $7.5 billion with $2.5 billion coming from each of the provincial and federal governments. Another $2.5 billion will come directly from taxpayers through an increase in the provincial sale tax from 7% to 7.5% (generating $250 million a year for ten years).

The tax is expected to cost average households in Metro Vancouver $125 a year and low income households $50 a year. For this extra charge, taxpayers can expect transit and transportation development to include an extension of the Millennium Line tunneled along Broadway (as far west as Arbutus) and the construction of two light rapid transit LRT lines in Surrey/Langley.

Following the meeting, Ms. Harris provided The Campus Resident with a summary of her thoughts on why she voted ‘yea’ to this plan and the proposed referendum.

1. A regional sales tax is the fairest of three new revenue sources that were considered. More tax will be paid by those with higher incomes since, generally speaking, spending on taxable goods and

surfaces. Take an invigorating and stressreducing nature walk through the UBC Botanical Garden, Pacific Spirit Park, or the myriad gardens and green spaces on campus.

Now that you’re reacquainted with nature, remember to take steps to reduce your impact on the environment this holiday season. Walk, cycle, carpool, and use public transit to get to your holiday celebrations. Challenge yourself to create less waste through thoughtful gifts, reusable wrapping, local food choices, and festive decorations.

English holly, Ilex aquifolium, is a holiday staple, but it is invasive and can be harmful to native plants. If you have a holly tree in your yard, cut off all of the berry-filled branches to bring inside.

Remember to discard the berries in the trash after the holidays. If composted, the seeds can germinate and invade natural spaces. Cutting down holly is a win-win – by removing branches with berries, you can reduce the spread of holly, conserve native species, and you can create a gorgeous decorative arrangement in your home.

When giving gifts this season, consider a membership to one or more of the excellent museums on or off campus.

Memberships include special events, and can be given to individuals or families.

European Holly. Photo credit Wikimedia User Magnus Manske

services increases with income and many necessities are exempt from PST. Also, the tax is spread over the widest range of taxpayers, including transit users, drivers, businesses and tourists. Drivers and many businesses will benefit from reduced congestion as the improvements in the mayors’ plan are implemented.

2. The ballot has been well designed in that it sets out in straightforward language what taxpayers will get for their money and presents them with a clear yes or no choice.

3. I am particularly pleased with the proposed taxpayer protection measures.

The dedication of the revenue to the improvements called for in the mayors’ plan and the requirements for annual reporting and independent audits will give voters confidence that their tax money will be used for the intended improvements.

4. The referendum will be based on the improvements set out in the mayors’ plan released last June.

5. We must now put our efforts into achieving a successful outcome in the referendum in order to get rapid transit on Broadway and additional bus service to UBC. If the referendum fails, there will be increasing congestion and a declining level of per capita transit, as the population of the region increases by an anticipated one million people over the next 30 years.”

Should the provincial government allow the referendum, local residents can expect to receive a ballot in the mail looking much like the ballot reproduced on this page.

While popular in the United States, tax referendums are relatively rare in Canada. The proposed Lower Mainland referendum in March would—should it occur—evidently be the first time a group of taxpayers in Canada is asked to fund transportation improvements directly.

A ballot like this will likely arrive in your mail in March

If you have family or friends that visit campus, a UBC Museums and Gardens pass makes a wonderful gift. Donations made in someone’s name to UBC projects, faculties, scholarships, and nature initiatives can make a meaningful impact on the community.

This holiday season, give the gift of nature to yourself, friends, and family. Give nature and biodiversity the gift of awareness, conservation, and mindfulness.

From everyone at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, we wish you a safe, happy, and

biodiversity-filled holiday season!

In the Collection: Visit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum this holiday season!

We are open every Tuesday – Sunday throughout December and January. The only day we are closed is December 25.

The Botanical Garden is again accepting Christmas trees to recycle into bark mulch for our garden pathways December 26, 2014 to January 8, 2015. Donations will be collected to benefit a local school garden project. Learn more at botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/tree-chipping

page 12

THE CAMPUS RESIDENT DECEMBER 15, 2014

LEARN

ASK

SHARE

UBC COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

JANUARY 6, 2015

An evening for UBC residents, co-hosted by the UNA and Campus and Community Planning.

Do you live in a UBC neighbourhood? Join us to learn more about your community, programs available to residents and share your interests in the campus community.

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2015 Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm Place: Old Barn Community Centre, Meeting Room 6308 Thunderbird Blvd Wine and refreshment will be served.

This event is wheelchair accessible.

More information available at: planning.ubc.ca or contact aviva.savelson@ubc.ca Please ask someone to translate it for you.