Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Volume 1, Issue 2
June 2010
UNA Board Backs Noise Control Bylaw
PHOTO BY: LAURA TENNANT
Bylaw is historic first at UBC; noise in neighbourhoods is targeted
UBC manager of municipal services, Darren Duff and sustainability manager, Ralph Wells outside The Old Barn Community Centre with compost bins.
Composting Tally Tops Thousand Households UBC-UNA program is leading way; organics are diverted from landfill The growing number of households at the University of British Columbia signed on to a composting program its organizers call unique to Metro Vancouver has topped the 1,000 mark. A total of about 3,100 apartments and town-houses stand on the UBC campus, and this means 34% of them are participating in the composting program jointly organized by UBC and the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA). It also means a significant reduction in
the amount of organic waste going from residential neighbourhoods at UBC to landfill sites in Metro Vancouver. Ralph Wells, sustainability manager for the UNA, says this reduction has amounted to “nearly 50,000 kilograms of organics in the past year alone,” The flourishing composting program for campus residents began in about 2005. A composting program for UBC institutional buildings had started--and was proving successful. COMPOST cont’d page 6
New Oversight Head Helped Start UBC-O Campus
Ben Stewart is Westside-Kelowna MLA and new minister of community and rural development Ben Stewart, the new minister with oversight for land using planning and governance at the University of British Columbia, has at least one solid UBC connection. A cabinet shuffle June 11 led to Mr. Stewart being named minister of community and rural development in the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell. MLA for Westside-Kelowna, Mr. Stewart served on the presidents’ community advisory council at UBC Okanagan when this new university was started five years ago. The recent cabinet shuffle arose
after MLA Blair Lekstrom resigned as minister of energy, mines and petroleum resources in opposition to the contentious harmonized sale tax (HST) scheduled to start July 1. A vacancy occurred in the post of minister of community and rural development when MLA Bill Bennett was appointed to become energy minister, and Mr. Stewart—who was previously minister of citizens’ services—moved into the post vacated by Mr. Bennett who had only been in it for a month. MINISTER cont’d page 5
The first bylaw crafted by the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) in eight years of municipallike government at UBC has gone to the University for approval, and if approved, it should reduce the amount of noise in residential neighbourhoods on campus. A unanimous board of directors at their meeting at the Old Barn Community Centre May 11th ruled that since wording of the UNA ‘Noise Control Bylaw’ required no substantive revisions, it should be sent to UBC for approval in its current form. A UNA committee began the work of drafting a noise control bylaw early in 2009. Two public consultation periods and numerous refinements to wording of the bylaw followed. The historic emergence of a bylaw affecting community life for 7,500 campus residents received UNA board approval with the following provisions: 1. That the UNA Board of Directors commit to studying and resolving the ongoing issue of the use of power landscaping equipment by anyone within the UNA neighbourhoods; 2. That the UNA Board of Directors commit to publishing, in multiple languages and by multiple media, a simple ‘users guide’ that explains the UNA Noise Bylaw to residents.
The 2008 Neighbours Agreement between UBC and the UNA required a UNA bylaw development committee review comments from the two public consultations and advise UNA directors whether the language of a proposed bylaw should be revised substantively on the basis of these comments. The first public consultation began on October 8, 2009 and was advertised in the UNA weekly email to residents. It ran for a period of 30 days and ended on November 9, 2009. Based upon the comments received and a review of the language by the UNA directors, the board revised the draft of the bylaw to further clarify it. After the directors felt UBC residents should have further opportunity for comment, a second public consultation was held from January 21 to March 5, 2010. It also was advertised in the UNA weekly email to residents. The results of both these consultation periods were circulated and reviewed by the noise bylaw development committee. The committee met on May 6, 2010 with Prod Laquian, chair of the UNA standing committee on governance (which oversees the development of UNA bylaws), Mike Feeley, UNA chair, and UNA staff. NOISE BYLAW cont’d page 2
Fines of Up to $10K Face Noise Offenders
Bylaw is clearly written; legal wording is forceful The new Noise Control Bylaw crafted by the University Neighborhoods Association and due to be approved by UBC shortly spells out in clear and forceful language both transgressions and the applicable penalties offenders can face for being ruled noisy in residential neighbourhoods on campus. A section of the bylaw—the first bylaw ever developed for those areas of campus where governance is provided by the UNA—refers to ‘Applicable Penalties under the Noise Bylaw’. This section reads in part that someone the UNA rules guilty of a noise offence becomes liable for fines as follows: (a) not more than $1,000.00 nor less than $100.00 for a first offence, (b) not more than $3,000.00 nor less
than $1,000.00 for a second offence, (c) not more than $5,000.00 nor less than $3,000.00 for a third offence, (d) not more than $10,000.00 nor less than $5,000.00 for a fourth offence, or for any offence past a fourth offence. The same section also reads in part that a person may dispute any ticket, fine or other penalty issued by an enforcement officer for a contravention of this bylaw pursuant to the process set out in UNA enforcement and appeals regulations. A guide to be distributed shortly by the UNA will explain to UBC residents the full workings of the new bylaw. In the meantime, residents will find the bylaw available for reading at www.myuna.ca (Go to May, 2010 UNA board package.)
page 2 NOISE BYLAW from page 1
The standing committee identified three concerns to be addressed by the UNA board: 1. The use of power landscaping equipment especially leaf blowers, 2. The use of construction power equipment, 3. The uncertainty by residents on how to ‘measure noise’. After considerable discussion, the noise bylaw development committee determined the proposed noise bylaw should be implemented without delay, and recommended that the draft noise bylaw be approved by the UNA board of directors with the provision that the board commit to resolving the concerns of residents related to the use of power landscaping equipment and making the bylaw accessible to residents in multiple languages and in multiple media, thereby allowing residents easy interpretation of a bylaw that is necessarily written in very ‘legal’ terms. A UNA spokesperson said the noise bylaw development committee is expected to submit a report to the UNA board of directors shortly. In the meantime, to allow the timely passage of the noise bylaw, the committee recommended approval of the UNA draft noise bylaw at the May 11 UNA board meeting. Mike Feeley, chair of the UNA sincerely thanked the noise bylaw development committee for its “outstanding commitment to the development of the UNA’s first bylaw.” Mr. Feeley said, “The lessons learned from this process will assist the UNA in developing further bylaws.”
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
Public Plays Big Role In Shaping Bylaw Two consultations periods are held; board is influenced by comments
The residential community at UBC has played a big role in drafting the language of a historic first bylaw covering residential neighbourhoods on campus. A roster of residents campus-wide responded to requests by the University Neighbourhoods Association to review drafts of the proposed UNA Noise Control Bylaw and comment on its wording. Jan Fialkowski, UNA executive director, called the response “encouraging.” The large volume of commentary would more than fill the space available here, so, a selection of comments only follows:
to anyone at home for a great deal of the time. Fortunately, I am not one of those, but I do empathize with them. Nevertheless, there are enough occasions when I am at home when I find the machines to be most disagreeable. I would love to have ALL leaf blowers banned. I find that the landscaping companies utilize these machines for work that can be conducted with a broom. Needless to say this is the low tech method but it is far more conducive to quiet living. I suspect there are other acceptable methods of getting the job done. As it exists now, the use of these machines are environmentally abusive and are an assault on my right to a peaceful neighbourhood.
Chancellor Place Resident I reside in the Chancellor area and am an owner who lives on the fifth floor of my strata building. All summer (of 2009), I have been aggravated by the use of the loud and continuing use of the leaf blowers. They are overused and exceptionally irritating. When I am reading or entertaining on the sundeck, it is unbearable. When I am indoors, the noise that is emitted is so loud that I need to close the doors and windows while the lengthy process of cleaning the sidewalks occurs. On some weeks the blowers are used almost every day as there are several strata buildings being serviced in close proximity. It is exceptionally irritating
Hawthorn Place Resident The draft noise bylaw looks very good and our Strata Council is eagerly awaiting their implementation. We do have our own noise bylaws but we especially like the UNA bylaw...makes things much clearer for residents as to when quiet hours are expected. Hawthorn Place Resident The Noise Rule seems like a very good idea. My suggestion would be to find ways to further restrict the use of power tools for garden care. First of all, sprinklers are noisy in the wee hours
of summer mornings. Over-watering causes lawn & shrubs to grow too quickly hence require more frequent cuttings. So perhaps, watering could be reduced hence leading to saving water, money and decreasing noise. Hampton Place Resident The proposed by-law does nothing to enjoin the use of noisy motorcycles. They are one of the greatest malefactors for those of us who live near 16th Avenue. Chancellor Place Resident In summary, although well-intended and well-structured, the bylaw as drafted appears to be spineless in combating noise that really matters when it matters - namely the immediate silencing of noisy parties in nearby buildings or loud music played late at night on commercial premises. Here are some specifics: The whole bylaw is tilted in favor of the University (i.e. only applies to noise emanating from a market residence). An equally significant problem at night is noise emanating from student residences, and the noise and disturbances emanating from Fraternity Row. Equally egregious is the bylaw section which says the University can permit any noise they like for “special events”, provided they end at 9PM. PUBLIC ROLE cont’d page 10
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Published by: University Neighbourhoods Association 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 604-827-5158 Editor : John Tompkins: jtompkins@myuna.ca & Business Manager
Jim Taylor, campus resident
Letter to The Editor
Resident Rebuffs Corrigan Remarks
Good Goes by Name ‘Quiet’
Historic bylaw controlling noise is passed The vast majority of residents in neighbourhoods located at the University of British Columbia do not expect to live in the midst of absolute quiet. A measure of noise echoes through all communities, especially new communities still in part under construction, and especially communities where young and healthy students abound. However, campus residents do expect to live where quiet is the norm, where the right to quiet is respected, where noise pollution is not acceptable, and thanks to a noise control bylaw passed recently by the University Neighbourhoods Association, they now have reason to believe their expectations will be met. The historic UNA Noise Control Bylaw—historic in that it is the first municipal-like bylaw passed at UBC since the first days of residential development on campus in 1995—brings residents the comfort of knowing their community will stand behind them in the event they are besieged by an objectionable level of noise coming into their homes from sources outside it. A lot of noises qualify as objectionable under the new bylaw, which is applicable only to residential neighbourhoods on campus; witness the
following three examples: •The noise resulting from a group of people talking in the street where the voice or voices of one or more of them is raised beyond the level of ordinary conversation; •The noise from vehicle-mounted carpet cleaning equipment made before 8 AM and after 6 PM on any weekday, before noon and after 5 PM on a Saturday, or at any time on a Sunday or holiday; •The operation of a leaf blower at any time unless the leaf blower has attached to it a manufacturer’s decal certifying that the leaf blower meets a certain standard (details of which are available from the UNA). The bylaw cites almost two dozen sources of objectionable noise for which polluters may be prosecuted with fines up to $10,000. The firm but fair implementation of this bylaw by noise enforcement officers should make UBC a quieter place to live at. A measure of noise will remain, but with proper enforcement, the new bylaw should reduce it to the point where every single resident on campus will have the opportunity to enjoy the quiet of their home.
Dear Sir: I write regarding your report of the discussion at the May 12 meeting of the Board of Metro Vancouver concerning Bill 20, the effect of which is to transfer planning authority for our neighbourhoods from Metro Vancouver to the Provincial Government’s appropriate Ministries. I was particularly interested in the comments attributed to Mayor Corrigan. These comments, and those of other Metro Vancouver directors, appear to indicate that the Metro Board opposed this transfer of planning authority. That is surprising because it is exactly the result they publicly said they wanted. At the November 2009 joint meeting of Metro Directors and UBC Governors concerning our area, Corrigan was at one time both arrogant and bullying in lecturing those of us in attendance that Metro Vancouver was no longer prepared to deal with planning issues in relation to our neighbourhoods. I think for a number of people, including the neighbours, UBC and ultimately the Province, Corrigan’s remarks and tone were a significant reason for concluding that the relationship between our community and Metro Vancouver had been rendered dysfunctional by Metro Vancouver’s attitude. The effect of the Provincial Government’s action is to make us almost in all ways structurally like the UEL. The UEL has from the beginning been governed by a body of residents selected
for this purpose by UEL residents. The residents discuss with the Province community issues and work to resolve them. Their relationship with the Province features a large degree of sensitivity to residents’ concerns by the Province – something that was not a feature of our relationship with Metro Vancouver. The UEL system is not perfect but it has worked. There is, accordingly, nothing unusual about what the Province has done. In any event, on the merits, from the point of view of UNA residents the relationship with Metro Vancouver has been dreadful and harmful to our residential life. Metro interfered in routine local decisions so as to reduce the amount of student housing made available to our university student neighbours. Metro refused to assist our residents concerning the unfair imposition on us of a second police tax – we pay more for policing than any other unorganized area in the Province. When the UEL circulated for comment its own official community plan which, amongst other things, expressly states that the UEL did not intend to pay for any community services (such as parks and recreation, community centre, etc.), including those that I and my neighbours provide and pay for, but instead use these services without paying for them, Metro Vancouver, despite our submissions to it, showed no interest. At the recent May 12 Director’s meeting, I am told Corrigan described our vibrant and inclusive community as like a “rotary club”. It is hard to know how someone, speaking for Metro Vancouver on this issue, who has such contempt for our successful efforts to increasingly develop competent, fair, responsive, representative governance arrangements for our community, could ever be missed in the development of our community life. In my opinion, the Provincial initiative is a positive step in the continuing development of a strong and independent governance model here at UBC. We have a way to go, to be sure, but this initiative will help us get there. Yours truly, Jim Taylor Hampton Place, Vancouver, B.C.
Market Housing Helps UBC Child Care Services 1,500 children are on wait list; $900,000 funding committed by UNA
APRODICIO LAQUIAN Professor Emeritus, UBC
There is a critical shortage of child care services in Canada and it is particularly severe on university campuses. At UBC, some 1,500 children are on the waiting list for access to child care services. The main question that can be raised about the presence of 7,500 or so residents in the UNA neighbourhoods is: will the commercial housing residents be competing for child care spaces with the families of students, faculty and staff? At present, UBC Child Care Services provides 460 spaces for children whose ages range from four months to 12 years. It runs 13 centres mainly funded by UBC, the Alma Mater Society (AMS) and fees. It requires subsidies of about $1,500 per child per year. UBC Child Care Services charges according to whether the child is: (a) the child of a UBC student; (b) of a UBC employee; or (c) non-UBC affiliated family. Thus, for an infant aged four to 18 months, fees are: $1,055 for UBC student; $1,156 for
UBC employee; and $1,556 for non-UBC affiliated family. Many of the children of UNA member families are classified non-UBC affiliated. This raises the question: what are the child care needs of these UNA member families? A 2008 survey of UNA residents shows about 63.1% of the families had no children living with them and 36.9% had children. Of the number of children in the neighbourhoods, 8.0% were under the age of 5 and needed child care services. Of the children that were provided with child care services, 5% were with UBC Child Care Services and 4% had “private care.” Projecting the child care needs in the UNA neighbourhoods, it was estimated that within the next five years, the demand for slots in UBC Child Care Services from UNA respondents would rise to about 11% and private care would expand another 2%. Interviewed about their future child care
services they would need, the UNA household respondents answered as follows: (1) Very interested in before school age child care services – 9%; (2) Very interested in after school hours child care services – 11%; (3) Very interested in drop-in pre school child care services – 7%. In 2009, the UNA had discussions with UBC Child Care Services about opening more slots for children of UNA residents. There was an agreement in principle that if UNA would provide funds for an additional building, UBC Child Care Services would open up more slots. So, it was agreed that UNA would donate more than $900,000 for the construction of one additional building for child care. In return, UBC Day Care Services would make available 48 additional child care slots, 24 of these to go for children of UBC staff and faculty affiliated with UNA and 24 to non-UBC connected UNA residents. The unique situation existing on the UBC campus, therefore, makes possible the fol-
lowing generalizations: (a) Opening up commercial housing on lands owned by UBC has provided the university a sustainable source of income that can support university programs, including child care services; (b) The types of families attracted to the commercial housing at the university tend to have fewer children. Most of the families do not compete for child care services with students and UBC staff families. (c) The subsidized housing provided by UBC to its faculty and staff is the one that is attractive to younger families with children and these children are the ones who need child care services. (d) The “profits” from the commercial housing units can be used to “cross subsidize” the child care needs of UBC employees and staff as well as UBC students. Aprodicio Laquian is a director of the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA).
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
Drug Centre Supplants Wesbrook Parking Lot Design & construction are to be ‘fast-tracked’; problem of ‘severe and worsening’ shortage of pharmacists in B.C. is addressed The next big construction project at UBC will take place along Wesbrook Mall where an old surface parking lot is being replaced with a new $155 million centre for drug research and development (CDRD), part of the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences. A meeting of the UBC board of governors June 9 in Kelowna approved the project going ahead on a ‘fasttrack’ basis so as to significantly ad dress provincial ministry of health projections of “severe and worsening provincial pharmacist shortages for the foreseeable future.” Stephen Toope, UBC president, recommended the governors approve the project after receiving advice from UBC faculty and staff, including Robert Sindelar, dean of pharmaceutical sciences. The dire shortage of spaces for pharmacy students at UBC has become a major embarrassment for the Liberal government of Premier Gordon Campbell. A UBC staff report to the governors recalls that while consistently ranked among the top pharmacy faculties in North America, including No. 1 in research in Canada last year, UBC’s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences is currently underserved in terms of the number of pharmacists per capita. The hospital vacancy rate for budgeted clinical pharmacists, for
example, is nearly twice that of most other provinces. The continuing need for pharmacists in British Columbia and the sustained growth in the fields of pharmaceuti cal sciences and drug research has presented UBC, according to senior management, with an important opportunity to solidify its role as a leader in these fields and upgrade existing obsolete facilities. A total of 152 undergraduate places a year for each of the four year course currently exist at UBC for pharmacy students, and development of CDRD will allow for this number to be expanded by 72 a year (288 for four years) as well as doubling the number of graduate students. “These increases will significantly address BC Ministry of Health projections of severe and worsening provincial pharmacists shortage for the foreseeable future.” The compressed schedule of a fasttrack’ project at UBC calls for a unique alignment of design and construction phases in order for the project to be complete by its August, 2012 deadline. A routinely-paced development will consist of separate phases with design preceding construction. In a fast-track project such as CDRD, however, both phases take place simultaneously.
Artistic rendering of Drug Centre planned for Wesbrook Mall.
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
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Theology School Seeks Playground Permit Proposed site is revealed; not everyone is in favour
The proposed site of a playground the Vancouver School of Theology (VST) would install for children living in its neighbourhood at the University of British Columbia has drawn support and opposition in varying amounts from local residents. A group of residents says the playground is a community amenity much needed and long overdue while possibly a smaller group says the noise of children playing at this site will prevent them enjoying the quiet of their nearby homes. A spokesperson for UBC said the University has recorded the comments of residents on both sides of the issue and, in deciding what to do about this application by the school of theology to build the playground, it would seek to achieve “a balance “between them. The proposed playground would stand in Iona Green, a grassy common immediately behind the Iona Building, home of the VST in the north part of campus formerly referred to as Child plays with mother in sand box while father sits on Iona Green behind Iona Building in Chancellor Place. Some neighbours want playground for children erected between sandbox and Iona Building; others are not so sure because of the noise of children playing. the ‘theological precinct’. An agreement in principle alMINISTER from page 1 lows for the VST and St. Andrews, The cabinet shuffle follows a dramatic the Stewart family’s tradition of growthe family estate from its diverse crops another theological college in the move in the legislation April 19 when ing fruit. Having worked in the greento the high density premium vinifera area, to build a play structure—conthe Campbell government introduced houses of Lord Guinness in Ireland, that currently make up the Quails’ Gate sisting of a slide and climbing appaBill 20, removing oversight for land use Richard was drawn towards a series vineyards. This move made it possible ratus, swings, and digger in a sandbox planning and governance at UBC from of greenhouses on Gellatly Bay prior for both Dick and Ben to transform the that is handicap accessible—on Iona family business from grape grower to Metro Vancouver to itself. to starting Stewart Brothers’ Nurseries Green. In a presentation to the Uniwine producer. From the early 1990’s Mr. Stewart was elected as MLA for Ltd. in 1911 with his brother, Bill. As versity Neighbourhoods Association, Westside-Kelowna on May 12, 2009. a pioneering horticulturist, Richard was to today, Ben and his brother Tony have Paul Becker of the VST, estimated a changed Quails’ Gate from a farm gate An entrepreneur, Minister Stewart instrumental in establishing the family budget for the playground of between winery to one of the country’s leading founded and built Quails’ Gate into one passion for agriculture as well as its estate wineries. The history of Quails’ of Canada’s leading estate wineries. strong dedication and commitment to $40,000 and $60,000. Gate is still short, but Ben and Tony, He has 30 years of extensive experithe Okanagan Valley. The growing number of children livalong with their sisters continue to ence serving the community and is a Inspired by Richard, his son Dick ing in the Chancellor Place neighbourcarry forward the pursuit of excellence founding director of a venture capital ventured out on his own in 1956 and hood warrants erection of the playand hard work that their family has fund for local business development. purchased the site on the slopes of Mt. ground, say those in favour of it. A been committed to for over a century. He was on the board of the Kelowna Boucherie, Kelowna, which is now the resident who attended the June 7 Open General Hospital Foundation and has home of Quails’ Gate House, organized by the UBC planbeen active in the fundraising and esWinery. Dick planted ning department, reported that several tablishment of the Brookhaven Extendthe first vines on this children had been born in his building ed Care Facility Campaign, Southern site in 1961 and later since he began living in it. Interior Cancer Centre Campaign, and built the family home The UBC theological neighbourhood the Rotary Centre for the Arts. to share with his wife plan, which was passed in October, Mr. Stewart was chair of the BC Grape Rosemary and their 2001 and is the basis on which the Marketing Board where he successfully four children: Ben, Chancellor Place residential neighnegotiated with provincial and federal Cynthia, Andrea and bourhood was built, requires children governments on agricultural stabilizaTony. Initially, the be provided with a playground at the tion. Additionally, he was chairman of site was dominated proposed site on Iona Green. the Regional Transportation Advisory by orchards of cherThe lush common behind the Iona Committee for the Thompson Okanaries, peaches, apples, Building would lose some of its grass gan, as well as a member of the presipears and vineyards if the playground is erected, according dents community advisory council at of table grapes. Howto plans presented at the Open House. UBC Okanagan. ever, as the years went A swath of mulch would replace it. “UBC Okanagan will help us to see by Dick realized that ourselves as one region,” Mr. Stewart these lands were desThe climbing apparatus and swings said in 2002 when a member of the the tined to become some would stand in the middle of it. presidents’ community advisory counof the most sought afThe detailed comments of campus rescil at UBC Okanagan. ter vinifera vineyards idents both for and against the project A history of the Stewart family posted in North America. will help form the basis of a campus on the internet shows its long and proAs Dick neared reand community planning decision exductive relationship with the Okanatirement, he called on pected shortly. A VST source indicated gan. his eldest son Ben to erection of the equipment would take Arriving in the Okanagan Valley in come home to the fam- Ben Stewart, new minister with oversight responsibilities only weeks if a development permit 1908 from County Kildare, Ireland, ily farm. Together over for The University of British Columbia and is granted. “The equipment is ready at Richard Stewart Sr., affectionately the next decade Ben University Endowment Lands. the supply company,” he said. known as Poppa, was the first to begin and Dick transformed
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
COMPOST from page 1
In-vessel composter on UBC Campus
Mr. Wells said that “thanks to the vision of UBC staff and volunteers on the UNA Sustainability Committee.”, a pilot program for residential apartment buildings got underway even though no models for a residential program were available to draw upon. With the success of the pilot program, the joint UBC-UNA service has not only become fully operational—it is in the process of expanding to the entire campus community. A decision by UBC Properties Trust (real estate arm of UBC) to bring the composting service to all UNA rental buildings demonstrated that the program could scale up to the community level, Mr. Wells said. Rental buildings contain nearly half the households currently in the program. Meanwhile, some strata title buildings are also embracing the program. Mr. Wells said, “Most recently, West Hampstead Strata Council in the Hampton Place neighbourhood approved a resolution to adopt a composting program for all its residents to augment its recycling efforts.” He applauded the composting efforts of West Hampstead and other stratas participating in the program, saying, “These early adopters serve as a model for residents’ efforts to achieve environmental sustainability in the community.”
The joint UBC-UNA program has emerged as the first in Metro Vancouver to bring composting service to neighbourhoods of multifamily dwellings. An important development outside UBC has ensued. Mr. Wells said that partly as a result of success of the UBC- UNA program, other Metro jurisdictions are now considering composting programs for multi-unit buildings. The popular UBC-UNA program works on a non-profit basis as follows: the UNA provides kitchen bins to residents at $10 each on a voluntary basis; the residents transfer organics accumulated in the kitchen and elsewhere at home into a collection bin in the garbage room on a daily basis; UBC Plant Operations empties these collection bins on a weekly basis at the rate of $17 per pick up and delivers the organics to an in-vessel composter facility located on the UBC campus— this vessel the first of its kind at a Canadian University campus. While a 34% rate participation in the residential composting program gives Mr. Wells cause to feel pleased, he does not see the mission of he and his UBC partners complete yet. “Our ultimate goal is 100%,” he said. Darren Duff, manager, municipal services, UBC Building Operations, “We are delighted to be working with the UNA to help bring the residential neighbourhoods onto the organics program. “The composter has so far been a very successful demonstration project, and we believe working with the UNA will not only help increase the Universities long term diversion rates but also provide a much needed sustainable alternative to many residents while improving the quality and consistency of our compost on campus for the benefit of all.
Wesbrook Designs Draw Honours at Trade Show Two works by UBC Properties and one by Adera are awarded ‘Gold Nuggets’ The annual Gold Nuggets award ceremony for excellence in home-building took place in San Fransisco during a prime trade show June 10, and projects from Wesbrook Place at the University of British Columbia won Grand Awards in three categories. A pair of Wesbrook Place projects by UBC Properties Trust, real estate development arm of UBC, won Grand Awards at the Academy Awards-like ceremony and a project by Adera Development won a Grand Award. Spokespersons for each company expressed excitement at having had their projects honoured in a competition that attracted almost 500 submissions from around the world though most came from 14 western U.S. states. The Grand Award-winning entries from UBC came in the following categories: Best Community Site Plan, 20 acres or more: Wesbrook Place, a 100-acre development south of 16th Avenue at the University of British Columbia •Land Planner: UBC Campus & Community Planning •Developer: UBC Properties Trust •Judges’ Statement: “This 100-acre sustainable neighbourhood where residents can live, work, study and play is nestled next to 1,900 acres of gorgeous forest, trails and beaches. It has transformed the university from a commuter campus into a vibrant, sustainable, live-work community that is both socially and economically successful. Over 5,000 students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and general public will call the neighbourhood home in a mix of 2,300 rental and market housing units. The village combines the conveniences of an urban center with the charm and intimacy of a small town village.” Best Multi-Family Housing Project 4-6 stories (market housing):
Pacific at 5928 Birney Avenue (in Wesbrook Place) •Builder/Developer: Adera Development •Architect: Rositch Hemphill and Associates •Judges’ Statement: “Ninety one urban homes located in an idyllic location – next to the forest but in the village, centered in a major metropolis, featuring West Coast Modern architecture that captures ocean proximity with terraced reflecting pools and cascad ing waterfall in the breezeway. Large rooftop outdoor rooms, high walkability, green appliances, GOLD certified under the Residential Environmental Assessment Program (REAP) managed by the University on site. Mindful design made elegantly urban with sustainability baked into the DNA of the product, people and community.” Residential Community of the Year: Wesbrook Place •Architect: Raymond Letkeman Architects + Paul Merrick Architects •Builder: VanMar Constructors •Developer: UBC Properties Trust •Judges’ Statement: “The project comprises two buildings. The first is a four story building with a 33,664 sq. ft. super market at the grade and three stories of apartment and townhomes above. The second building is three stories with a 4,106 sq. ft. restaurant at grade and 9,684 sq. ft. of office space on the second and third floors. Key sustainable features include allowing a growing community of over 16,000 university residents the opportunity to shop and eat locally. While the grocery story has a variety of refrigeration and freezer units which generate heat that would typically be discharged through exterior vents, this waste heat is instead used for heating the domestic water for the residences above, and the apartments in the nearby mixed use building.”
Award-winning layout of Wesbrook Place in South Campus at UBC.
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
Designs Deliver ‘Nuggets’ to Campus
Award-winning Wesbrook Place building housing Save-on-Foods Supermarket in Wesbrook Place.
Award-winning Pacific condominium complex by Adera Development in Wesbrook Place.
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
UNA Search for Directors Starts Up The annual meeting of the University Neighbourhoods Association beckons, and the call goes out for candidates to run for the two positions of director which will become vacant at the meeting. A good response to this call would bode well for the UNA for it would show community spirit is alive and well at UBC. We encourage all residents over the age of 18—you don’t have to be a Canadian citizen—to at least think about running for the position of UNA director since the more thought members of the community put into this process, the more likely a long list of good candidates seeking to represent them will emerge. The responsible post of UNA director does not pay as well as, say, the position of alderman in the City of Vancouver, but this year, successful candidates may expect to enjoy at least a token measure of financial consideration for their efforts—$5,000 for a resident who is elected to serve as director, and $7,500 for whoever the four elected residentdirectors vote in as UNA chair (the positions of the two other resident-directors do not expire this year). A system of volunteers acting as UNA directors worked well when the UNA was formed eight years ago, but the time has come to put governance of the growing community at UBC on a more business-like basis. We think the provincial government, which recently took control of UBC land use planning and governance oversight from Metro Vancouver, will approve of this change in the status quo—having themselves changed the status quo by taking over from Metro. The incoming resident-directors will— like the other two resident-directors
and three appointed directors on the board—have much to think about in the year ahead. For example, a raft of issues arises from the shift of governance oversight to the provincial government in Victoria from the regional government (Metro) in Burnaby. We point to one issue raised in a May 5th letter to the UNA board from Bill Bennett, minister of community and rural development, “The Province is prepared to explore the idea of greater local selfgovernment in the area,” Mr. Bennett says in his letter. The hot issue of local governance needs the cool heads of a UNA board blessed with community-minded resident-directors, including the two new directors to be elected at the UNA annual meeting in September. Another significant issue facing these directors pertains to the passage of appropriate bylaws enhancing governance in the residential neighbouhoods where 7,500 people now live. We draw attention to recent UNA board approval of a first bylaw (the UNA Noise Control Bylaw) as proof of the growing maturity of governance at UBC. The vast majority of UBC residents will pass up on the opportunity of running for the post of UNA director for good reasons: pressures of work and responsibilities at home chief among them. However, a resilient few will give it serious consideration. We thank in advance those good folks who do in fact step up to become candidates, and we look forward to hearing what they have to say through the summer months about how they think the UNA should be managed in the years ahead.
University Neighbourhoods Association Annual General Meeting A meeting for members of the UNA and residents of the “Local Areas” as defined in the Comprehensive Community Plan including Hampton Place, Hawthorn Place, Chancellor Place, East Campus, and Wesbrook Place Wednesday, September 22nd, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Old Barn Community Centre 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, UBC
In accordance with the UNA Constitution, there will be an Election for UNA Resident Directors to take place at the UNA Annual General Meeting.
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for nomination a person must be a resident of a “local area” (those areas currently identified for non-institutional development in the Comprehensive Community Plan and Hampton Place) and otherwise meet the requirements of our By-laws.The UNA Constitution and By-laws requires that no more than three (3) directors may come from a single area and at least one (1) director must be elected from the Faculty / Staff or Co-Development housing. To read the UNA Constitution and By-laws please see the UNA website www.myuna.ca. Directors to be elected this September will initially hold office for two (2) years. Directors may be reelected (subject to being eligible) for up to two (2) more terms. Nominees for the UNA Board of Directors may contact the UNA office by phone, fax or email to be sent nomination forms or may print a copy from the UNA website www.myuna.ca. To be eligible, nominations require the support of 10 members of the UNA. Nominees are requested to submit a 1 page biographical sketch and photo with the completed nomination form to the UNA office. Biographical information will be posted on the UNA website and/or in the UNA publication The Campus Resident.
Deadline for Nominations: The deadline for nominations under the UNA Constitution is 4:30 pm on Monday, August 23, 2010. Completed nomination forms should be mailed or delivered to the UNA office, 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4. The names of persons nominated for election as Resident Directors shall be published in a ballot and delivered to the membership with the notice of meeting.
Should you have any further questions, please contact Cathie Cleveland UNA Administrative Manager 604.827.5540 or email Cathie@myuna.ca.
Monthly prize is a $25 gift certificate; annual prize is ‘significant’ If you have a practical tip on how each of us can contribute to sustainability, kindly forward it to the UNA Sustainability Contest at jpt@tjclaw.com or judyandjim@shaw.ca. The tip selected as the best monthly suggestion will receive a $25.00 gift certificate for use in our local Save-On Supermarket and at the end of the year there will be a significant prize for the year’s winner. At the end of the year we will calculate a total to show the contribution our community would make to sustainability if each tip were followed. People connected to the Sustainability Committee in any way should assume that while their suggestions may be found to have great merit, and be published, they will not lead to a prize.
If your car engine idles for more than 10 seconds the amount of energy consumed is greater than if you turn off your engine and restart it.
This contest is the responsibility of the UNA Sustainability Committee. We acknowledge the participation and support of one of our community’s Partners in Sustainability, Wesbrook Place’s Save-On Supermarket.
Local Church Services United Baptist Church at UBC 1815 Wesbrook Mall Email: ubc09@gmail.com Sunday Service: 9:30 AM (Mandarin), 11:15 AM (English)
University Chapel
5375 University Blvd., P: 604-222-0800 www.universitychapel.org For service schedule, email uc@universitychapel.org.
Vancouver School of Theology Chapel of the Epiphany (United Church of Christ) 6030 Chancellor Blvd., P:604-8220638 www.unhil.net Sunday Mass: 10:30 AM
St. Anselm’s Anglican Church
5210 University Blvd., P: 604-242-1410 www.stanselms.ca Sunday service: 8:30 AM (traditional service), 10:30 am (main service with Sunday School)
St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish (Catholic)
5935 Iona Drive, P: 604-822-4463, ext. 103 www.stignatiusofantiochparish.ca Mases: Saturday - 5:00 PM, Sunday 9:30 AM Confessions: Saturday - 4 to 4:30 PM
St. Mark’s Chapel and University Campus Ministry (Catholic)
5935 Iona Drive, P:604-822-4463, ext. 130 www.stmarkscollege.ca Masses: Sunday - 11:00 AM, Monday to Friday - 12.10 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Saturday - 2:00 to 4:00 PM
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University Community Children’s Choir, on stage, rehearsing with Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Children’s Choir Concludes Third Joyful Season
Choir is made up of 50 children; most are residents of UBC community The University Community Children’s Choir wrapped up its third season May 30th with a concert entitled Songs of Joy. Songs ranged from classical pieces such as the Papageno-Papagena Duet from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, to Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom, to Abba’s Dancing Queen. The choir is often joined by guest musicians and soloists at its concerts. At its latest concert, the choir was joined by a wonderful singer from the UBC Opera School, Lindsay Maria McIntyre. Lindsay sang a beautiful aria from The Magic Flute and choreographed a scene for two choir members to help them learn how Opera combines music with theatrics. Choristers Emma Chapman and Sebastien Pentland-Hyde gave a charming performance in which they enacted the roles of Papageno and Papagena. Senior chorister Michelle Feng, who has been increasingly taking a leadership role in the choir, directed a small ensemble of choristers singing her own arrangement of a traditional Tibetan song. Behind the scenes, parent volunteers and volunteers from University Cha-
pel work together to ensure that concerts are beautiful events that honour the talent and hard work of the choristers. The choir is made up of 50 children, most of whom who live in the UBC community. Many of the choristers are children of international students and faculty at the University of British Columbia. Just as the choir itself is culturally diverse, so is its music, which ranges from classical to upbeat African and aboriginal pieces. The University Community Children’s Choir is dedicated to pursuing musical excellence. Admission to the choir is by audition, and choristers learn and perform challenging repertoire in a number of different languages. The Junior Choir is composed of children aged 7-10, and the Intermediate choir is composed of children aged 10-15. For some concerts, choristers who are especially keen to challenge themselves meet outside of regular rehearsal time to learn “challenge” pieces which they perform as chamber ensembles. University Chapel provides rehearsal space, and contributes toward choir scholarships and bursaries. In
the coming year, the junior and intermediate choirs will both be rehearsing on Thursday evening. Charissa Bagan, the choir’s director, is currently completing her Master of Music degree at UBC, and plans to continue her studies at the doctoral level. Her husband, Chris Bagan, is the choir’s pianist. He is completing his Doctorate in Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at UBC. In its first year, the choir won first in its class at the 2008 Kiwanis Music Festival in Vancouver, and was runner-up at the provincial level. The choir also performed in a multi-choir choral festival at the Chan Centre during its first year. Highlights of the choir’s second year included a weekend trip to Whistler for a children’s choral festival, and the opportunity for several older choristers to sing for a movie soundtrack. Third season highlights included a concert with the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, and a performance in front of 500 doctors at the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Paediatric Society conference. This July, the intermediate choir will participate in Kathaumixw, a 5day international choral festival held
every second year in Powell River. Choristers will participate in choral clinics, and will perform with choirs from countries around the world, including Uganda, Jamaica, Australia, United States, New Zealand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and several European countries. The festival will culminate in a gala concert in which UCCC choristers will sing with the 1,000-voice mass choir. The choir has exciting plans for its 2010-2011 season. For example, the choir will participate, along with some other Vancouver-area choirs, in a workshop with Stephen Hatfield, a composer and clinician who is in demand throughout the world. He inspires singers with workshop techniques that include the use of tai chi and science toys. His music is quirky, high energy, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Children who are interested in joining the choir next year are welcome to book an audition. Contact information may be found on the choir’s website: ucchoir.com. (This article was written almost exclusively by Acadia Park resident and choir parent, Vaughan Marshall.)
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UNA Garden Gives Youngsters Grounds for Spring Plant Sales Sales held Saturdays 11 AM -1 PM; $ raised for community projects
Four of the youngest residents of campus sell the produce of their labours in a plant stewardship program run by the UNA.
The youngest residents of UBC not only grow fruit and vegetables in small market gardens in their campus neighbourhoods, they also sell this produce at the Old Barn Community Centre on Saturdays 11 AM to 1 PM. A typical Saturday children’s plant sale at the Old Barn will see lettuce, onions, spinach, peas, carrots, beans,
cucumbers and many other vegetables on offer. The youngsters, who belong to a Plant Stewards program run by the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA), also maintain plantings of blueberries, apples, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries and other fruit for sale.
Patrick Moore, chair of the UNA committtee which runs the program, noted, “The community members who take part in the Plant Stewards program maintain gardens and other plantings for the benefit of other community members. “The children’s garden by the community centre provides opportunities
for children of all ages to learn about different plants and how they grow. Many parents come with their children to the gardens to look at the plants that are growing there.” Mr. Moore said that this year the Plant Stewards expanded the garden and added hanging baskets and planters with flowers for hummingbirds around the building. “We were fortunate to receive a truck load of UBC compost this spring, which has returned to the soil some of the nutrients captured by our community composting program. We also receive a generous supply of coffee grounds from the Bean Around the World coffee shop located in the Old Barn, which we share with the plants in the garden.” Children have raised money for a picnic table for the community centre from their sales and Mr. Moore says, “They are anxiously awaiting its completion.” He encourages families and community members and the public in general to visit the Saturday plant sales and “buy some fantastic produce to take home fresh from the garden.”
PUBLIC ROLE from page 2
So much for “quiet enjoyment” during dinner hour! The noise levels - typically from Thunderbird Stadium and McInnes Field (although there may be others e.g. the new athletic fields impacting Hampton Place) - need to be regulated. I realize that vehicle-mounted leaf blowers, street sweeping vehicles and all the University vehicles with beepers are not in your mandate from the Board of Governors. Yet the Board needs to hear the frustrations of residents about noise, including noise from University operations. If the University wants to be leader in environmental stewardship - as the Campus Plan indicates - then it needs to start managing a vital component of the environment: noise. Ten years ago, the University chose to sell its soul to the Condominium Devil that’s us) and now that the University has generated the revenue, I get the feeling it wants to regulate us as students (or less). The problem is that people come with a set of expectations that go beyond the appliances in the condos. One of those expectations is that of a reasonable living environment. This noise bylaw is a productive first step, but much more is required. Hampton Place Resident I read your proposed new Noise Control Bylaw with great interest, hoping that it will create an effective legal framework for minimizing noise pollution in our residential areas. Unfortunately I found the proposed bylaw
disappointing if not generally flawed. I find it deeply surprising that the creation of the draft bylaw was not preceded by a wider public discussion of its premises and goals. As many residents I am deeply concerned about noise pollution in my area (one of the noisiest locations I ever lived in, whether in Europe, USA or Canada), and I doubt the proposed bylaw will change the situation for the better. In fact, the opposite might be more likely. Two Hawthorn Place Residents It is unacceptable that noise levels in a commercial premises be in excess of 70 dBC for amplified equipment or 90 dBC for recorded or live music. You are granting the Board (UNA) or the Board of Governors of the University the right to ignore the bylaw for events that they authorize. This does not show any respect for the residents of the neighbourhoods as well as ignoring the right to reasonable quiet that residents of any community should have. An example was the 12 hour concert at Thunderbird Stadium in August 2009. Many thanks for developing this Bylaw. The Noise Control Bylaw is very important to the neighbourhood. It must show respect for the needs of its residents.
bourhood for a couple of years now, and honestly, I can’t remember when the last time was that we had a peaceful weekend night. The noise from drunken students Friday and Saturday evening is unacceptable, the sound of broken bottles, toppled mail boxes and continuous uttering of 4 letter words is just too much. We are unfortunate in that our unit is facing the intersection of Larkin and Thunderbird, frequently, we cannot hear each other talk or the TV if we have the windows slightly open. Needless to say, this is very stressful and is affecting the quality of our lives. I am determined to make sure that this issue is resolved ASAP. My concern is how will this be policed and how will it be implemented, particularly, the evening problems. I can go on with many other complaints but I will stop here. I really appreciate the fact that someone is doing something about this. Wesbrook Place Resident I’ve just read through the draft noise rule document, and I have a question. How did the committee decide what reasonable decibel limits should be for any given activity? Did they consult published research and if so could I please have a list of references consulted?
Hawthorn Place Resident
Wesbrook Place Resident
I believe the UNA Draft Noise Rule is definitely a step in the right direction. We have been living in the neigh-
I have read over the draft by-law on noise control. I do have comments that I hope the committee will take
into consideration. First, what exactly has prompted some UNA residents to pursue such a by-law? The draft seems excessive to deal with something I (at least) never found to be a problem. The only exceptions are the leaf-blowers and other lawn equipment (which seem to be exempt from the by-law) and the drunken students walking to and from the dorms. Rather than create a blanket by-law to deal with the possibility of excessive noises, I would prefer specific measures to deal with specific, known problems. Furthermore, I would reinforce the point that, in fact, the leaf-blowers, lawn mowers, and other gardening equipment are the biggest sources of disturbances. We could reduce noise considerably by rethinking the landscape architecture in the neighbourhood. I appreciate the concerns bringing this draft bylaw forward, I nevertheless, think that it is overkill and unenforceable.I think a wiser course of action is to identify specific noise problems and deal with them in specific ways. Creating an overarching by-law introduces too many complications. Most importantly, it could become a source of conflict between UNA residents as people will inevitably disagree as to whether some noise exceeds the maximum limit on a sound meter that no one can see. Both sides will feel overly-defensive given the weight of the by-law (and the fines) hanging over their heads. This by-law could easily become the equivalent of firing a canon at a fly.
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THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JUNE 2010
Full House in Café Hears Talk of Heartbeats ‘Bad cells’ in heart are castigated; vital research work is detailed
Christopher Ahern, a principal investigator with the Life Sciences Institute at UBC and presenter at recent Café Scientifique.
Café Scientifique in session at real-life Café Perugia in Life Sciences Centre on UBC campus
The passionate dislike of Christopher Ahern for ‘bad cells’ came across clearly during the third session of the UBC Café Scientifique May 25th. A full house of 50 invited members of the public attending this casual presentation of medical research in the real-life Café Perugia on campus heard Chris, a principal investigator with the Life Sciences Institute, describe how bad cells in a heart can interfere with its production of proper heartbeats. Chris called the heartbeat “an electrical symphony,” and explained how even a single bad cell can turn this masterpiece of bodily music into arrhythmia, a condition of irregular heartbeats. The dire prospect of someone developing arrhythmia increases with age, and so the aging population of Canada makes arrhythmia a condition about which the medical profession is growing more and more concerned. Chris said 250,000 Canadians suffer from various forms of arrhythmia. He estimated the number will double over the next fifty years. The grim news about heart complaints gets grimmer with talk of statistics unfortunately. A third of all deaths in Canada now come from ‘events’ having to do with the heart with $25 billion a year spent on medical responses to these cardiac events. Chris said 400,000 patients in Canada suffer from some kind of heart problem with the number growing by 50,000 patients a year. At least the bad news on the public health side seems counterbalanced by good news on the research side. A growing assault on cardiac diseases by worldclass researchers such as the UBC cardiovascular group—under the aegis of the Life Sciences Institute—has cast more and more light on their causes. His research, said Chris, focuses on “the basis for electrical signaling in the body.” The so-called ‘cardiac cycle’ (a term re-
ferring to what happens in the heart from the beginning of one heartbeat to the beginning of the next), is coordinated by a series of electrical impulses that are produced by specialized heart cells, Chris said. A person of average longevity (say, 80 years) will experience 2.5 billion cardiac cycles in his or her lifetime. In studying the cardiac cycle, Chris Ahern and his team focus on “channels” as a way of regulating the movement of ions (electrical particles) into, and out of, the cells of nerve and muscle. The second speaker of the evening Sebastian Brauchi, spoke of work done at the Laboratory of Sensory Physiology Instituto de Fisiologia, at the Facultad de Medicina Universidad Austral de Chile. A ‘Visiting Scholar’ award from the Life Sciences Institute has allowed Sebastian to come to UBC to teach and do research for the next six weeks. Those wishing to register for a session of the Café Scientifique, sponsored by the Life Sciences Institute ay UBC, should contact Theresa Lung at tlung@ interchange.ubc.ca or 604-827-4781 if they wish to get an invitation to attend. Coupled with intellectual substance, the casual format of the Café Scientifique idea has led to its rapid growth and acceptance around the world. A good portion of a Café session such as the ones at the Café Perugia goes to information-rich discussion between highly-qualified presenters and members of the public—sandwiches, cookies and coffee for free. The Life Sciences Institute, which co-ordinates the work of 850 researchers from a number of faculties, supports the Café Scientifique technique of disseminating information about medical research at UBC as a means both of reaching out to people eager for knowledge and promoting the high quality of research work done by its researchers.
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Big Garage Sale Sends Shoppers Home Happy
Crowds turn out for University Neighbourhoods Association community garage sale at St. Anselm’s Church on a Saturday in early June.