Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Volume 2, Issue 1
January 25, 2011
Seniors Go ‘Back to School’ with Tapestry Wesbrook Eighty years old and legally blind, Tapestry resident Shera Delain is a UBC student; Tapestry, a residential complex for seniors, is ‘blazing a trail’ by offering an enriched educational environment for residents, says general manager John Fleming
UNA Acts as Bridge between Asian Residents, UBC over Hospice Site Plan for protest march by Asian residents is put on hold; hospice item is removed from UBC board agenda for February meeting The University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) will attempt to bridge the gap between the University and about 200 Asian residents of campus upset over the proposed location of a hospice. Jan Fialkowski, executive director, explained that the UNA has not taken a position in this dispute. “Rather, the UNA is trying to act as a bridge between the University and the residents.” The Asian residents had planned a protest march from the Hawthorn Place neighbourhood where most live, to the
office of UBC President Stephen Toope a mile away. Plans then called for Professor Toope to be handed a petition objecting to the location of the proposed hospice adjacent to the Promotory condo building. At least 200 people have signed this petition. Meanwhile, the UBC board of governors had originally planned to discuss the proposed hospice project at its upcoming February 7th meeting. The board hassince agreed to postpone this discussion to a later date—possibly in the spring.
HOSPICE continued on Page 3
UBC Board Backs Land Use Plan, Bids Staff Submit it to Victoria Land use planning process was initiated by legislation in July; UBC president says local governance planning process is next
Shera Delain leaves home at Tapestry for class at UBC
By Scott Steedman Tapestry, the campus’s first assisted-living community, is giving the expression ‘back to school’ a whole new meaning— and that suits Shera Delain, one of the buildings first residents. Eighty years old and legally blind, Ms. Delain started working at age fifteen and never had the chance to attend university. Now she has her student registration number and is flicking through the course calendar excitedly, working out what courses she’ll take in the spring. “Tibetan Buddhism” looks interesting; so does “Ancient Greek and Roman Civilization.” Ms. Delain was one of the first seniors to move into Tapestry at Wesbrook Village UBC, which opened its doors on September 1, 2010. For the past three years, Concert Properties and managing company Leisure
Care have worked closely with the UBC Association of Professors Emeriti to create an assisted-living community that offers an enriched educational environment that integrates its residents with campus life. “Because we’re on campus, we want to become a centre for learning,” explains John Fleming, Tapestry’s general manager. “We have our own classroom, which has already been used for five or six individual lectures, and one undergrad course is being taught there, so we have profs and young students coming through all the time. We want to be part of the community, get some intergenerational energy going.” Tapestry is also home to a number of professors emeriti, from UBC, SFU and Queen’s. “In fact the Professors Emeriti Association of UBC was involved in the conception of the complex,” explains Mr. Fleming. “That’s why we included TAPESTRY cont’d on Page 4
The UBC board of governors has approved a new Land Use Plan for the Point Grey campus, and directed campus and community planning staff to send it to Victoria for further approval by the provincial government. This concludes a planning process which began in July following the passage of legislation instructing UBC to replace its 13-year-old Official Community
Plan with an updated—and renamed— Land Use Plan. Under the legislation, the government assumed oversight for land use planning at UBC in place of Metro Vancouver. UBC president Stephen Toope predicted at the January 13th board meeting that a “parallel” planning process involving local governance at UBC will come next. LAND USE continued on Page 8
Conversion Project Places UBC in Hot Water $85 million project to heat UBC by hot water instead of steam is proposed; conversion project is largest of its kind in North America A plan by the University of British Columbia will get it in hot water—literally. Over the next five years at a cost of $85 million, UBC plans to switch from using steam to heat campus buildings to using hot water. With 14 kilometers of preinsulated hot water distribution piping, the new UBC project represents the largest hot water conversion project in North America. Dave Woodson, managing director, UBC building operations, says the ‘Steam to Hot Water Conversion Project’ is an inte-
gral component of University strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on campus 33% by 2015. “UBC proposes to replace the existing steam system infrastructure with equivalent infrastructure for a hot water district energy system,” Mr. Woodson says. He expects conversion from the old steam system to a new hot-water system to reduce energy demand principally by reducing heat lost in the distribution system. HOT WATER continued on Page 5
page 2
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
REVIEW Sold-Out House Hits Roof When Bijan, ‘Toopster’ Sing ‘Sweet Dreams’ at Chan
Coyote Check List Lets You Know What’s Safe
Bijan Ahmadian, who conceived UBC’s Got Talent, is president of (student) Alma Mater Society; ‘Toopster’ is also known as Stephen Toope, president of UBC
There are wild coyotes in the UNA neighbourhoods, like in many other Vancouver neighbourhoods. Most wild coyotes are not dangerous. However, if you observe a wild coyote that you believe poses an immediate danger to humans, phone 911.
By Jan Fialkowski
The RCMP has provided the following tips for you: • Coyotes tend not to travel in packs • They like to feed on small animals, especially small dogs • They are very unlikely to attack humans, unless they are crouched over simulating a small animal • They deem humans to be safe and not a danger to them • They like to hang around food populated areas, i.e. school grounds, playgrounds, garbage bins But most importantly, here are some preventative measures: • NEVER attempt to call a coyote over to you • NEVER feed the coyotes or any other wild animal – you can be fined $575 under the Wildlife Act • If you are approached by a coyote, make yourself loud and as big as possible • Don’t turn your back on a coyote • Keep your dogs on a leash and walk them during daylight if possible; coyotes are mostly nocturnal • Know your surroundings And finally, report any incident with a coyote to the RCMP by calling 911.
PHOTO: MAX McLAUGHLIN
UBC president Stephen Toope and Alma Mater Society president Bijan Ahmadian sing duet on stage at Chan
PHOTO: TIM LINDENBAUM
On Friday, January 14th, the UBC community was treated to quite an extraordinary display of local talent! UBC’s Got Talent is the brain child of Alma Mater Society president Bijan Ahmadian. Based on the successes of Got Talent television programs in the US and Britain, it’s a talent competition, much like the old variety shows of old, but with a competitive twist. Starting in the fall of 2010, performers submitted videos of their talents to an impressive list of judges that included UBC’s Nancy Mortifee, Bard on the Beach artistic director Christopher Gaze, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee Jane Mortifee, playwright John Gray and Vancouver Arts Club’s Bill Millard amongst others. The 124 performers who submitted videos were whittled down to the 15 who entertained us so wonderfully on Friday evening at UBC’s Chan Centre. The sold-out audience cheered and clapped and gave standing ovations multiple times during the three-hour show to fabulous acts that ranged from singers and dancers to martial arts and more. My particular favourites were the Pentatonics, an amazing nine-member Chinese instrumental band that play pop to fusion traditional music, and our own remarkable Kaine Newton, a 17 year old UNA resident and classical violinist who wowed the crowd. I also got a kick out of the tonguein-cheek performance of a young man called Sittinon who solved the Rubik’s cube puzzle with one hand - in less time than it took him to eat half a banana! But by far the highlight of the evening was the duet of the Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams sung by Bijan and the Toopster (Stephen Toope), better known as the presidents of the AMS and UBC respectively. They rocked the house. What a night! All proceeds of the sold-out house, made possible in part by the generous financial support of the University Neighbourhoods Association, go to the UBC United Way campaign which totals over $600,000 this year. There is no doubt – UBC has talent!
All 15 performers on stage at Chan during UBC Got Talent concert
Urban Coyote
In Home
Personal Fitness Trainer and Nutrition Planning
Fitness trainer with over 10 years experience will come to your home or office and develop a personal exercise program and nutrition plan. • Objectives can include weight loss, toning. strength, conditioning, return to pre-maternity shape. • Specializing in working with baby boomers, professionals, and post maternity.
Reasonable Rates. Please call Cate 604-626-9994 Louiegss@gmail.com
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
page 3
Letter to the Editor Hospice Welcomed by Hawthorn Place Neighbours Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Published by:
University Neighbourhoods Association #202-5923 Berton Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6S OB3
Editor & Business Manager
John Tompkins 604.827.3502 jtompkins@myuna.ca
Proposed Hospice Site Sits Between Two ‘Homes’ Promontory is on one side; Thunderbird Stadium is on the other
As the pictures on this page show, the proposed hospice site lies between two ‘homes’. To the west of it stands the imposing concrete high-rise called the ‘Promontory’, home to about 200 residents. To the east of it sits Thunderbird Stadium, home to the UBC Thunderbird football team with a crowd capacity of 3,500. Thunderbird Stadium also serves as
home to numerous sports events throughout the year. A non-Asian resident of The Promontory explained to The Campus Resident that lights and noise from football games and practice sessions at the stadium can be an unsettling feature of residential life at the Promontory late into the evening. Gary Zhao, an Asian resident of the
UBC Thunderbird Stadium sits across road from proposed hospice site
We heard with dismay about the negative response to a palliative care facility being proposed adjacent to the Promontory building on campus. We would welcome these neighbours, and feel that such a facility—which is typically beautiful and quiet—would add to the demographic
diversity and cultural value of our area. People who are dying often still have much to teach about living.
Promontory, also pointed to the noise factor associated with location of the proposed hospice site across Stadium Road from Thunderbird Stadium. Mr. Zhao said, “It is very strange to us to build a hospice next to the stadium where there are so many sport activities. These events often carry a lot of noise. Every week there are cycling tournaments.” Mr. Zhao referred to the Tuesday evening cycling races that are held in part on Stadium Road.He asked, “How can people living in the hospice have their peace?” Not surprisingly, the Order of St. John, developers of the proposed hospice, takes a different view of the hospice location. The Province newspaper quotes Peter Hebb, Vancouver spokesman for the Order of St. John, saying, “The proposed UBC site was selected after a four-year
process that reviewed 12 possible sites that the university identified. It is the best one suitable for hospice uses that can link with the faculty of medicine’s academic and research component in the field of palliative care.” Under an agreement with UBC, the Order of St. John acts as the main sponsor and fund-raiser for this $4.2 million, 15bed, end-of-life facility with contemplative garden and access to Rhododendron Wood. UBC would lease the site to the Order of St. John which would then sub-lease Vancouver Coast Health Authority to operate it. Graphics made available by the Order of St. John show the main entrance to the hospice on Stadium Road.
Kris Holm and Shannon MacLachlan, Residents, Hawthorn Place neighbourhood
Promontory sits next door to proposed hospice site
HOSPICE continued from Page 1 The petition of Asian residents began circulating Friday, January 7th after residents in the Promontory at 2688 West Mall received notices in the mail from UBC that a Public Open House was to be held on Monday, January 10th regarding a proposed development called St. John Hospice. The notice identified the location of the proposed hospice as immediately south of the Promontory on a parcel of land which is now vacant. The notice also identified the site as immediately across Stadium Road from
Thunderbird Stadium. Up to 60 Asian residents—all or nearly all opposed to the location—attended the Open House. About the same number— all expressing the same view—attended the UNA board meeting on Tuesday, January 11th. Media reports on the issue, starting Thursday, January 13th, focused on comments made by some of the Asian residents of the Promontory that they could not reconcile the proposed location of the hospice next door to them with their beliefs about death and dying. One resident expressed the opinion, “We
don’t want dying people in our backyard.” Another said, “In China, we build ‘hospices’ very far away. It takes you two to three hours drive to get to the place of death.” Many talked of selling their suites at the Promontory unless UBC pulled its plan to build a hospice next door. Subsequently, public opinion in letters to the editor, calls to radio shows and online postings weighed heavily against the expressed position of the Asian residents. An Asian resident of the Promontory, who wished not to be identified, con-
firmed that the protest march down West Mall to the office of President Toope was put on hold. “We will watch and see what UBC does and has to say,” the resident said. “In the meantime, we will work with the UNA.” Ms. Fialkowski said, “We’re going to help them (the Asian residents) work with UBC campus and community planning to work through a process.” Everyone supports the idea of a hospice on campus, she said. “We all are trying to understand each other’s values and beliefs.”
page 4 TAPESTRY continued from Page 1
three offices downstairs.” “The Mozart School of Music is just across the road,” he adds, “and they’ve been doing regular recitals in the building for the residents. The UBC School of Music helped us pick our piano. And we had a concert here for 220 people, for Music in the Morning.” Located in Wesbrook Village in South Campus, Tapestry includes two sevenstorey concrete buildings linked by a bridge. One building includes 154 rental suites; the other features 46 condominiums for purchase. The extensive common areas include an in-house restaurant and pub, a brain fitness centre, a gym, a salon and spa and a demonstration kitchen. “You’ve heard of the hundred-mile diet? Well, we practice the hundred-yard diet,” he says with a chuckle, referring to UBC Farm, which is just across the road and supplies the complex with a lot of their fresh produce. “Whatever is in season is in our restaurant.” The complex features a number of other sustainable features, including a green roof and indigenous, drought resistant plantings to help conserve and recycle water. As for Shera Delain, she is taking her
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011 first university courses seriously. “You audit the classes free of charge,” she says. “But you still have to do the work, complete the assignments. It’s hard work.” “I can’t tell you the passion I felt when I found out about this place. Deciding to move into assisted living was the hardest decision of my life. And the more phone calls I made, the more discouraged I got. Then I found this place … I came to visit on Monday, June 21, I wouldn’t leave until they let me visit a condo, and I signed up that day.” She moved in on September 17, making her one of Tapestry’s first residents. “I wake up each morning feeling like I’m still dreaming. After going blind, I was getting very depressed at home. You can only rely on your friends so much, you’re isolated. Now I really feel like I’m blossoming here. I worked for 65 years, you don’t know what it means to me to go back to school.” Mr. Fleming says that Ms. Delain is one of the fledgling community’s pioneers. “I really think we are blazing trails. If this is a success, I can see it being copied on campuses across Canada.” First printed in UBC Campus + Community Planning Newsletter, January issue. Reprinted here with permission.
Shera Delain with John Fleming, Tapestry general manager
Shera Delain walks through Tapestry lobby to car, waiting to take her to UBC class
page 5
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
This is an artistic drawing of the proposed hot water plant at UBC. With 14 kms of hot water pipelines, the $85 million facility to replace the steam-hot system at UBC will be the largest of its kind in North America HOT WATER continued from Page 1 Presently UBC burns natural gas to produce steam with 24% of the heat wasted or lost through the campus distribution grid and boiler. “Our intention is to still burn natural gas (at least in the near term), but we will
produce hot water instead of steam.” A key component of this project, Mr. Woodson says, is the replacement in 2013 of the existing powerhouse central steam plan with a new hot water plant to be located on the north side of Thunder-
bird Blvd. between East Mall and Health Science Mall. The UBC executive said conversion will generate approximately $4 million in average annual operational & energy costs savings from reduced natural gas con-
sumption, carbon liabilities (offsets & carbon tax), maintenance and personnel requirement. He also said it will cement UBC’s reputation as a world leader in sustainability and energy management.
Residents Rise to Challenge By Sending More to Recycling Audit of waste diversion by UNA residents is complete; over-all “positive story” is told Residents at the University of British Columbia seem to be rising to the challenge of diverting more waste from their garbage bins to recycling. Ralph Wells, UNA sustainability manager, says that a recently-completed ‘audit’ of both UBC and UNA solid waste management systems by EBA Environmental, an independent environmental consultant, indicates “a positive story over-all, both in terms of the current proportion of waste diverted to recycling or compost and the potential to increase diversion.” This said, Mr. Wells warns the results need to be treated with some caution given the small sample size and snap shot nature of the audit. “As well, the audit did not consider UNA landscaping waste, which may represent a significant component of neighbourhood waste.” Nonetheless, Mr. Wells says, “looking forward, the results suggest that it should be feasible for the UNA residential community to meet Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Challenge of 70% diversion by 2015, if compost service is widely adopted and resident participation is higher than current levels.” EBA Environmental sampled garbage
from three strata title (multi-family) buildings at UBC (two in Hampton Place and one in Hawthorn Place) and a rental complex. The firm also audited the amount of solid waste sent to recycling depots by these four buildings—diverted waste which have otherwise gone to landfill. In a report on the EBA audit to UNA directors at their January board meeting, Mr. Wells said, “Overall, the audit determined that the four UNA buildings had an average diversion rate of 45%, a value that is well above other jurisdictions.” According to the EBA report, this compares with a 16% diversion rate in an analysis of multi-family buildings in Toronto and a 22% rate in an analysis of Metro Vancouver multi-family buildings. It further compares with an approximately 52% diversion rate for single family homes in Vancouver. The UNA sustainability manager issued a list of general recommendations for further improving diversion of UNA waste. This list includes: 1. consider adopting the Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Challenge, in partnership with UBC; 2. develop programs to increase building
and resident participation in the UNA organics program; 3. improve UNA access to the BC Product Stewardship Program through partnership with UBC (by expanding the existing e-waste program); 4. encourage increased participation re-
cycling and composting through social marketing programs; 5. develop a local composting program for UNA landscape waste. Mr. Wells comments further on this audit on Page 8.
page 6
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
Imagine Underg
‘The Lions’ look down on Capilano watershed
Revitalization of four UBC watersheds is envisioned; one ‘bio-swale’ is already in place By David Grigg
David Grigg
For Vancouverites, the snowcapped North Shore Mountains, green forested slopes and clear rivers and lakes are ecological eye candy. The central photograph on these pages of ‘The Lions’, where the headwaters of the Capilano watershed begin, appeals to our hearts because of the clean air, soil and water so perfectly captured in this symbolic image. At one time, all of the Vancouver Region was as pristine as the Capilano watershed, including the area we now call UBC at Point Grey, Vancouver. But now, the rainwater-fed streams of the UBC area are contained in pipes that discharge westward to the Fraser Estuary or northward to the ocean and English Bay. The piping system closely mimics the fine
grained system of small rivulets, streams and creeks that once existed before the land was cleared for the construction of the University and adjacent housing areas of the University Endowment Lands. The rainwater, coursing through the pipes carries traces of our human activity down to the ocean - fine sediments and small amounts of oil and metals from construction and roadways. However, even though diligent management and measurement of this rain water delivery system tells us that we are doing well we could probably do better. How could we do better? Well, consider the following scenario. Instead of underground pipes at UBC, imagine, in their place, flowing creeks and being able to run our hands in the cool water during the hot days of summer; neighbourhood children playing, splashing, building dams and discovering the small wildlife that colonizes the creek beds. What if the UBC academic community was also able to access these creeks for teaching and research opportunities? What if the university was able to use the water as a resource for irrigation, cooling of research equipment and make-up water for the garden and research ponds? Couldn’t this re-use of rain water also save money (because we wouldn’t have to buy as much water from Metro Vancouver) and thereby contribute to tax reduction? Further, rain water re-use would help to reduce the demand for water from the Capilano Reservoir which is stressed to meet current Vancouver’s needs. Ecologically, socially and financially it appears we could have a more sustainable plan for the future than the existing piped system. But where should we start? Perhaps our starting point would be by agreeing on a common vision that embraces rainwater as a precious resource. Perhaps there is also an opportunity to incorporate components of the natural watershed system into the existing piping system in a way that does not eliminate the ability to control storm-water and flooding. In fact, some good examples already exist on the campus. On the north-west side of the UBC Botanical Garden gate and building complex is a small meadow. Between the meadow and Old Marine Drive, adjacent to the cliffs, is an ecologically enhanced drainage ditch or bio-swale (see photo). Until a few years ago the rainwater that ran through this area was contained in a pipe before discharging into a creek at the park’s Trail 7. The pipe was then excavated and the water course opened to the daylight and landscaped to form a bio-swale. This bio-swale was engineered, as a natural system, for greater flood carrying capacity than the original pipe. The bio–swale also removes fine sediments and trace chemical elements before discharging down Trail 7 Creek to the ocean. The photograph shows the bioswale the first summer after construction. During summers the bio-swale is an ecological haven for birds, butterflies, bees and wild flowers. The bio-diversity of the swale has grown every year since then.
page 7
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
e! Flowing Creeks instead of ground Water Pipes at UBC
Bioswale flows through UBC Botanical Garden
One of six ponds in UBC Botanical Garden
And there are many other opportunities in this one watershed alone. The Botanical Garden has six ponds (see photo). They are all topped up with clean drinking water to compensate for evaporation and infiltration losses. Couldn’t we clean and store rainwater and then deliver it to the ponds instead of using precious drinking water? The gardens are also irrigated during the dry summer monthswhat if they could also be irrigated from stored rainwater? Can we engineer a “natural” system to replicate part of our original watershed that also avoids purchasing water from Metro Vancouver? Absolutely we could. Could that same system enrich the natural ecological system as well as enhance biodiversity and the human experience of nature? Absolutely it could—and it would meet current notions for a more sustainable future. To conclude, let’s consider what we might collectively and realistically achieve. Certainly, we cannot go back to the verdant forested land of the 1900’s but we can find ways to improve and nurture the forest, at the margins of the university lands, by ensuring that our ground water is recharged by rainwater from a healthy watershed. In each watershed, and there are two much larger at UBC than the Hawthorn-Botanical Gardens watershed, we have the chance to
and students the opportunity to use our watersheds as a Living Laboratory making UBC a unique Canadian leader in this exciting initiative.
create bio-swales, creeks, livable play areas, micro-aquatic ecosystems and landscaped gardens accessible for everyone while simultaneously offering faculty
David Grigg is associate director, infrastructure & services planning, UBC campus + community planning
page 8
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
Sustainability Corner
Can UNA residents meet Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Challenge? The results of a recent UNA waste audit suggest the answer can be yes.
Metro Vancouver has set a region wide target of 70% diversion of waste to recycling and organics programs by 2015 in their current waste management plan. This represents a significant increase over the current regional rate of 55%, over a relatively short period of time. A key focus identified in Metro’s waste management plan is to improve recycling in multi-unit homes (estimated at 22% diversion compared to 52% for single family homes in a recent Metro report). A recent UNA waste audit found that in UNA buildings that participated in the audit, 45% of waste, on average, was diverted to recycling and organics collection (more details of the waste audit can be found in a news story elsewhere in this issue of The Campus Resident). This result was a pleasant surprise given the low rate of diversion in multi-family homes typically found regionally and elsewhere. While the diversion rate results suggest that UNA residents have much to be proud of, the audit results of the waste stream show that much opportunity remains for improvement: about 80% of waste was potentially recyclable or compostable. The question remains about how to turn that potential for diversion into results. A Metro Vancouver Community Zero Waste Challenge last year showed that potential can indeed be turned into action: thirteen households in the Glenbrook North neighbourhood of New Westminster participated in the Community Zero Waste Challenge and reached and maintained a diversion rate of 80% during an eight week challenge period. One way that UNA residents can sig-
Ralph Wells nificantly increase their diversion rates is through participation in the UNA organics program, provided in partnership with UBC. This very successful program is currently in place in many UNA buildings, and is available to all buildings who wish to participate (to find out more about participating in the UNA organics program, contact me at 604.822-3263 or rwells@ myuna.ca). In the upcoming year UNA residents can also look forward to an expanded UNA e-waste program, providing local drop off locations for an expanded range of products such as cfl bulbs, computers and audio-visual equipment. Finally, the UNA will be partnering with UBC on the upcoming UBC Waste Action Plan which is expected to result in more innovative programs for the on campus community. These initiatives will help provide residents with local options for diversion, but ultimately meeting the Zero Waste Challenge depends on the willingness of residents to participate in recycling and composting programs. Are you up to the challenge? Ralph Wells Sustainability Manager RWells@myuna.ca
UBC E-Waste Service
Recycle your old computers and computer accessories Did you get a new computer or accessory for Christmas, and wonder how to conveniently recycle your old one? If you are a UNA resident you can drop off old computers, computer accessories and A/V equipment at the University Services Building loading dock (located near Lower Mall and Agronomy Road) M-F 7:30am-3:30pm (holidays excepted). Acceptable items for drop off can be
found at the Encorp website (www.encorp.ca/acceptable). Do you have other items you’d like to recycle but aren’t sure how? Be sure to check out the Metro Vancouver Recycles website for a database of recycling facilities: www.metrovancouver.org/MetroVancouverRecycles or call the Recycling Hotline: 604-RECYCLE
Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics
See a very large lab looking at very small things! Drop-in Tour Times • For groups of 10 people or less • September 1 - May 31: Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:00 pm • June 1 - August 31: Monday to Friday at 1:00 pm Book a Private Tour! Contact: 604.222.1047 or tours@triumf.ca 4004 Wesbrook Mall | Vancouver BC | Canada V6T 2A3 | www.triumf.ca
LAND USE continued from Page 1 “Everyone knows it’s the next step.” Professor Toope declined to predict when this further planning process will begin. “I don’t expect to see much activity until we have new leadership of the government,” he said. Professor Toope said further the planning process to amend - or not to amend - the local governance status quo at UBC would differ from its predecessor in at least one significant regard,. “It will be handled by the government.” In contrast, the provincial government delegated planning for the land use plan amendments to the University—a delegation which did not meet approval in all quarters. Critics claimed it equated to a developer being granted the right to plan the public consultation process on his own development. The new land use plan amends the old Official Community Plan in numerous ways—not least in the eyes of many by protecting the 50-acre UBC Farm in South Campus from real estate development save perhaps for a small residential college for agricultural students. The Official Community Plan had termed the land ‘future housing reserve’ The Land Use Plan terms the farm ‘Green Academic’, meaning the farm will be retained for what UBC planners call “innovative sustainability uses.” The Land Use Plan meanwhile allows UBC to make up for future housing reserve lost at the farm and such other areas of campus as University Square, Thunderbird Future Housing Area and Totem Field to Acadia, East Mall South, and Wesbrook South/ Wesbrook Place by adding more housing in other parts of campus—principally in the east where UBC land abuts former forest land being developed by Musqueam First Nation. Planners refer to this as a shift of (housing) density. Subjected to the Land Use Plan being acceptable to Victoria, the UBC governors also directed staff to undertake the following measures: • Report back with a planning framework for the Gage South ‘Area Under Review’ including project scope, principles, process and timeline, noting that the planning for academic facilities and lands adjacent to the ‘Area under Review’ but related to this process may proceed in advance of the Minister’s adoption. • Develop a Housing Action Plan to address housing choice and affordability for student, faculty and staff housing on campus, with an outline of the plan to be approved by the Board of Governors. • Report back on two allocation scenarios of building floor space to neighbourhood
areas that fully achieve the density provided for in the Land Use Plan, with one assuming that housing currently associated with the ‘Area Under Review’ designation in the Land Use Plan is transferred away from that area and the other assuming the housing is not transferred. • Undertake, at the appropriate time, a consultative planning process for academic uses intended for Totem Field North,with the process modeled on the neighbourhood planning process, and provide a letter to the University Neighbourhoods Association confirming this commitment. • Include in the annual monitoring report on the Land Use Plan information on parks, community centres, schools and daycare, and update the Community Amenity Charge plan to ensure delivery of community amenities at the standards identified in the Land Use Plan. • Undertake neighbourhood planning work in the following general sequence: Area Under Review, with nearby academic areas and facilities; Wesbrook Place Neighbourhood Plan Amendments (to include BC Research area); Village Centre Academic; Stadium Road; and, the Acadia precinct, noting that the timing of this may be adjusted to allow collaboration with Musqueam’s planning for Block F in the University Endowment Lands, and for redevelopment of student family housing in this area. • Develop Neighbourhood Plans in a manner that distributes density fully consistent with the Land Use Plan and generally in accordance with the associated scenarios. • Complete the Integrated Stormwater Management Plan and continue implementation of the Climate Action Plan and other initiatives aimed at managing energy demand on campus including electricity. • Review with TransLink and appropriate Metro Vancouver staff the Master Servicing Plans, and the most recent forecasts of enrolment, employment and population, and to provide clarification of the impacts of the Land Use Plan amendments for future population dynamics on campus. • Endorse the proposed revisions to the UTown@UBC Advisory Committee Terms of Reference which will provide a regular opportunity for neighbours to share information and discuss the ongoing development of UTown@UBC. • Direct Staff to work with City of Vancouver staff to update the Charter between the City and UBC to better reflect the opportunities for collaboration on sustainable community development that exist, and to strengthen the relationship between the two organizations.
Sustainability Contest Are you a UNA resident who would like to provide a practical tip on how each of us can contribute to sustainability? Be sure to submit your idea to the UNA Sustainability Contest at sustainabilitycontest@myuna.ca. The author of the tip selected will receive a $25.00 gift certificate (courtesy of Save-On) for use in our local Save-On Supermarket and at the end of the year there will be a significant prize for the year’s winner. This month’s tip is: On a monthly basis, print out your “Consumption History” from your bchydro.com online account and stick it on your fridge for everyone to see. Let knowledge be the power that drives ecological and social change
within your household. Submitted by David Chiu. David receives the monthly prize of a $25 Save-On gift certificate from Save-On. Congratulations! WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT OF ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY’S PARTNERS IN SUSTAINABILITY, WESBROOK PLACE’S SAVE-ON SUPERMARKET.
page 9
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
Make ‘Moratorium’ on Tanker Traffic Into Outright Ban, Says Local MP
Liberal MP for UBC area Joyce Murray
Private member’s bill to ban oil tankers traffic off northern coast was introduced in Parliament December 14; Government minister says there is no moratorium Local Member of Parliament Joyce Murray (Liberal) says legislation is essential to prevent a major oil spill environmental disaster in B.C.’s renowned coastal waterways. “We cannot allow what happened with the Exxon Valdez in Alaska or the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico to happen in British Columbia, “ said Ms. Murray, “there’s no going back; our coast would never be the same.” On December 14th, Ms. Murray—a former BC environment minister—introduced a private member’s bill (Bill C-606) to formalize in law the longstanding restriction on crude oil tanker traffic on B.C.’s north coast. The Liberal backbencher said Bill C-606 entrenches former Prime Minister’s P.E. Trudeau’s 1972 moratorium on oil tankers in the dangerous waters around Haida Gwaii – the Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. It responds to the strong message from British Columbians that action must be taken to keep their province’s northern waterways protected from ecological and economic damage, she said. However, in a letter to the Vancouver Sun, Chuck Strahl, federal minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, denied the oil tanker traffic moratorium Mr. Murray refers to exists. “I want to clarify the issues related to oil tankers on Canada’s Pacific Coast,”
Chuck Strahl, minister in Conservative government
Mr. Strahl wrote. “There is no oil tanker traffic moratorium in Canada. I would also like to stress that oil tankers have been trading safely and regularly along the British Columbia coast for decades. “However, there is a federal moratorium in place on oil and natural gas exploration and development offshore of British Columbia. It does not apply to storing or moving oil tankers. “There is also a voluntary Tanker Exclusion Zone that applies strictly to Trans-Alaska pipeline tankers moving south from Alaska to Washington State. It keeps U.S. tanker ships carrying oil 25-75 miles off the B.C. coast. The government has no plans to change the Tanker Exclusion Zone. “This zone was never meant to ban tanker traffic or tankers calling on Canadian ports. Each year, more than 1,000 tankers respect the Tanker Exclusion Zone. There are no reports of non-compliance. “I can assure Readers that Canada’s maritime regulations and standards, combined with international regulations require oil tankers to have double hulls. In addition, all ships including tankers use a specially-trained marine pilot in compulsory marine zones and undergo strict marine safety inspections. “This government has a zero-tolerance policy toward polluting Canada’s marine environment. We will continue to enforce strong standards to ensure the safe transport of petroleum products along the B.C. Coast.” Ms. Murray said the Harper Conservative government’s denial of the moratorium and support for crude oil supertanker access to inland waterways of B.C.’s north coast concerns the thou-
sands of small businesses, workers and communities at risk from a major spill. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has repeatedly called on the Conservatives to commit to protecting B.C.’s north coast, she said, “It is a call that the Conservatives have deflected and ignored. Liberals remain the only party to consistently defend the region from drilling and crude oil tanker traffic.” A News Release from Ms. Murray quotes former federal environment minister David Anderson (Liberal) saying that Bill C-606, if accepted by Parliament, will re-affirm the forty year ban on bulk movements of crude oil on this part of the West Coast, a ban put in
place when movements of Alaskan oil to southern US refineries threatened to pass through Canadian coastal waters. According to the News Release, Mr. Anderson says, “Just as we took steps in the 70s to prevent US shipments from threatening our northern Pacific coast, so today we must insist that spills of crude oil destined for Asia should not threaten our coast. The standard we should put in place for Asian shipments must not be lower than what we have insisted on for the United States. As the Exxon Valdez spills showed twenty years ago, even US standards cannot prevent a massive oil spill in this fragile northern marine environment”.
page 10
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
Open Letter to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Council from Nigel Fitzpatrick, 4600 block West 11th, regarding Laneway Housing Five years ago, in 2006, in the Canadian edition of Heat: how to stop the planet burning, internationally respected UK writer George Mobiot said “Vancouver’s planning laws and environmental laws set a good example for North America, where most cities are ecological catastrophes.” This acclaim for Vancouver planning was not new and had already come from US planning professionals. In 2006, the Community Vision process, begun in Dunbar in 1997, was in its concluding stages. At the turn of the millennium Vancouver’s green city leadership position had been attained with input from residents. In 2011 you are seeking to be yet greener and in this cause have rezoned all single-family residential areas in Vancouver to allow the construction of a Laneway House (LWH) in addition to allowing a rental suite in the main house. However, despite the success of the Community Vision input process, impacted neighbours are given no notice prior to construction. But lack of prior notice led to a pitfall with the loss of the Douglas fir recorded here in excavation of a laneway house in the 4600-block of West 11th Avenue. There is consensus that if there had been discussion with neighbours prior to construction then a location error that resulted in the destruction of the roots of the tree would have been found. Overlook- and massing-guidelines have been found to not be sufficient to protect privacy and the city staff been directed by Council to revise policy— or as Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun put it after a meeting, “Vancouver city council tweaked its laneway policy
Tuesday to soften the impact on neighbourhoods but rejected demands for a moratorium.” But the existing guidelines should have protected the lost Douglas fir as they say “A laneway house should be located and designed to preserve existing trees where possible. The Director of Planning may require the retention of a significant tree.” In the absence of a moratorium and while waiting for responsive new rules to come into place, I suggest the planning department make use of the freely available pictures that Google has taken from cameras along the lanes to see pitfalls. Attached is a Street View shot from the lane to the south of the 4600 block of West 11th where the lost tree appears still. The City Archivist may also be interested in these rapidly disappearing views. Perhaps, after Council approves new rules, we can all look forward to writers like George Mobiot once again praising a greener city that accepts input from residents and develops in a transparent manner. I look forward to hearing you require neighbours be advised prior to construction of a laneway house in their neighbourhood.
Barbara Stowe is winner in 12th annual writing contest; Ms. Stowe is a graduate of the UBC creative writing program West Point Grey writer Barbara Stowe has won first prize in the short story category of the 12th annual Vancouver International Writers Festival contest. Ms. Stowe, whose work has appeared in The Campus Resident, submitted a short story titled Unfrozen. Ms. Stowe described Unfrozen as set in a life drawing class in a Manhattan Art School “It’s about a young dancer who must make a choice between her role as a model and her humanity.” The story can be viewed on the Writer’s Festival website at: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/ Ms. Stowe graduated from UBC with a masters’ degree in creative writing, and both newspapers and literary magazines have published her works. Her first non-fiction feature, commissioned by the Vancouver Review, was nominated for a Western Magazine
Award. Recently, The Campus Resident published a feature article by Ms. Stowe about the production of a UBC play called Jade in the Coal.
West Point Grey writer Barbara Stowe
Published monthly by the University Neighbourhoods Association
Advertise with us! West Point Grey Back Lane
Lunar New Year
Party
Saturday, Feb 5th 2011 3:00pm - 5:00pm The Old Barn Community Centre 6308 Thunderbird Blvd, at UBC The
Point Grey Writer Wrests First Prize for Work in Short Story Contest
LIVE PERFORMANCES & GAMES
email - advertising@myuna.ca UNA & Old Barn on your
iPhone and iPod 1. Open www.myuna.ca or www.oldbarn.ca in the Safari browser 2. Press the ‘+’ sign 3. Press ‘Add to home screen” 4. Enter ’UNA’ or ‘Old Barn’ 5. Congratulations! UNA and Old Barn are now on your device!
page 11
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
Australian Christmas Here in Vancouver Everything except ‘The Romance of Snow’
Rebecca Ind and partner Craig Gilbert, seated against far wall, as they enjoyed mid- summer Christmas dinners outdoors with family and friends in their native Australia, when they lived there in 2009.
Winter is underway in Canada, of course; this article by Craig Gilbert and partner Rebecca Ind, who recently arrived from Australia to take up the post of Communications and Events Coordinator at the Old Barn Community Centre, is about two Australians enjoying their first Christmas in the middle of winter Of all the noticeable differences between an Australian Christmas and a Canadian Christmas, the weather is by far the most defining factor on our holiday experiences. For Rebecca and I, our first Vancouver Christmas was an occasion spent predominantly in the warmth of indoors. It wasn’t to be the romantic, white Christmas everybody back home had hoped it would be for us, with Vancouver’s Pacific climate favouring rain over snow. But as we enjoyed a home-cooked turkey, the charm of Channel 4’s Christmas log fire warmed our hearts as much as the messages we’d received from Australia. Our home town of Adelaide, in South Australia, is a hot and dry place at Christmas time. Anything under 30 degrees is considered cold and anything over 40 degrees is unsurprising. What this means is that Christmas back home is spent in airconditioned comfort or, more commonly, outdoors. It is also spent partially exhausted, as our Christmas festivities traditionally commence as soon as the work year ends with a large margarita-themed Christmas eve party. Before our move to Canada, it was my pleasure and duty to host this event, which would see dozens of close friends gather in gardens or on balconies, sharing laughs and stories over food, drinks and music. Adelaide’s weather is ideal for such celebrations, with overnight lows rarely dropping below 25 degrees. Christmas time is spent outdoors, whether at our golden beaches, in swimming pools, in parks or in a hotel’s beer garden. People are tanned, happy, lightly dressed and often ready for a short holiday to an equally warm destination. Yet, like Vancouver, Adelaide and the wider Australia share many similarities at Christmas time. It is undoubtedly a period marked by increased consumerism, with malls and shopping centres teeming with those seeking the perfect gift. Suburbs, buildings and parks are adorned with magnificent light shows. Vancouver’s Santa Claus parade is quite like Adelaide’s Christmas pageant, enjoyed by thousands of families. And the big man himself,
Santa Claus, still has his reindeer and sleigh and still wears his red suit, despite the searing temperatures (although sometimes the reindeer are replaced by kangaroos). And although rooted in Christianity, Adelaide’s multicultural society shares the Christmas season in a variety of ways, as can also be witnessed along Commercial Drive, Chinatown or at UBC. Personally, Christmas day in Adelaide is spent exchanging gifts in the morning and sharing a large roast turkey lunch, followed by a pudding dessert, with my family. Rebecca similarly shares a feast with her very large family at lunch time, gathered together in a large rural town on the Murray River. The two of us reunite later in the day to travel and visit each other’s families, where we would relax outside with a drink in one hand and more food in the other until night had well and truly set in. Due to the weather and incredible seasonal produce, Christmas foods in Australia range from your classic roast turkeys to barbecued chops and sausages, from amazing seafood to various ethnic delicacies, and from gorgeous tropical fruits to desserts and sweets that would keep any dentist in business until the following year. Having only spent one Christmas in Vancouver, we opted for the classic turkey which filled our small apartment with a wonderful aroma for days. Our Christmas day was spent together, sharing gifts and eating too much. But our friends and families were a noticeable absence this year. As we contacted Australia for our families’ Christmas, the voices back home reminded us that we were to be missed, and our own Christmas did not feel quite the same as what we were used to. Ultimately, family remains the cornerstone of Christmas, no matter our location. And I use the term ‘family’ loosely, for family is not limited to blood relations, but rather those we cherish in our hearts. At the aforementioned Christmas Eve party I share annually with my Australian friends, they are my ‘brothers and sisters’. And on a holiday Rebecca and I were to spend alone, my new workmates of only a week
Canadian Christmas There in New Zealand “Much Less Marketing” Summer is underway in New Zealand; this article by Laura Tenant, who recently left her position as Communications and Events Coordinator at the Old Barn Community Centre to travel in New Zealand, is about a Canadian enjoying her first Christmas in the middle of summer I have left Canada numerous times, but never during the holiday season. My ticket was booked and on December 11th I would be leaving Vancouver’s rain and heading to a New Zealand Summer. The weeks before my departure it felt as if every media source was broadcasting holiday cheer for a Christmas I would not be attending. Everywhere Christmas decor reminded me of gingerbread houses I would not be building with my boyfriend and of rum and eggnogs I would not be drinking with my dad. I felt left out and was slightly worried that I wasn’t ready to give up my familiar cold Christmas for the warm unknown. Having flown into the future I arrived two calendar days later in Wellington. Greeted only by an overpriced airport coffee, I dragged my luggage onto a city bound bus and was let off in the centre to battle Wellington’s wind alone. I spent the next week enjoying summer, trying out the coffee and visiting the museums. When the date was mentioned I found it hard to grasp that it was December and harder still to believe that Christmas was only a few days away. Sure the supermarket employees were wearing Santa hats, but where was the Christmas music? The push for last minute shopping? ‘Tis the season, or twas it? Walking the streets the general hustle was there, but only to work or to the supermarket. The North American holiday bustle was gone. There was barely a sign or song to remind me of the Christmas I was missing at home. It was perfect. It could be that I avoided the tourist areas, but there seemed to be a dearth of Christmas para-
phernalia in Wellington. Where was the BBQ-ing Santa I was looking forward to? When Christmas Eve arrived we made the two-hour trek to Palmerston North to spend the night at a friend’s parents house. Upon arrival we were greeted with a cold drink and a lovely deck on which to sun ourselves. We were then told that we could look forward to a Christmas lunch of roast chicken, fresh greens, pavelova and keeping with the family’s tradition, an afternoon game of Pétanque (similar to bocce ball). Excited to spend my Christmas outside, we set off to a park to climb trees, collect fruit and gather traditional Kiwi Christmas flowers (pohutakawa). After dark we returned to a ukulele singa-long which included only two Christmas songs. Feeling sufficiently festive we headed to bed with the Muppets version of Paul Simon’s El Condor still in our heads. Christmas morning came and under a starfish donned tree we opened our “Santa stockings” (pillowcases) to a soundtrack of New Zealand’s own Dave Dobbyn (a prolific, if not famous New Zealand musician). And later after a delicious lunch and more sunbathing (Pétanque was called off) we started another ukulele round before the drive back to Wellington. I held off calling home until Christmas came to Canada. It felt odd to call with seasons greetings a day in advance, especially when nothing looked or particularly felt like the holiday. But Christmas did happen. It just wasn’t as marked by the media, or cold weather or sheets of wasted wrapping paper. It happened while I was wearing shorts, picking flowers, stumbling through Paul Simon on the ukulele. I was shocked how much of my “Christmas spirit” was marketed to me at home with the holiday décor and festive music. Spending the day outside and receiving next to no presents felt wonderful, lightweight. I did call home the next day to wish my parents a Merry Christmas. Not surprisingly everything went as it always had. My sister opened pounds of chocolate that she would give away and my dad ate one customary brussels sprout to appease my grandma. Ah my North American Christmas, I’ll see you next year.
Typical summer day when Christmas is held in New Zealand extended an invite to share Christmas Eve with them, decorating the apartment, watching movies and indulging in some home cooking. It is the sharing of Christmas with others we love that makes the holiday season spe-
cial. It is not how much money we spent on gifts or how many days off of work we’ll get. Christmas time, whether in our new home of Vancouver, or our beloved Adelaide, is about cherishing the moments you can spend with those dearest to you.
page 12
THE CAMPUS RESIDENT JANUARY 25, 2011
elegant rental living Introducing Mews An exceptional collection of 72 sophisticated 1 and 2 bedroom rental suites nestled in the heart of Wesbrook Place, UBC. At the centre of urban convenience, on the edge of the Pacific Spirit Park and the Pacific Ocean, these pet friendly homes feature contemporary architectural design, sophisticated interior finishes and thoughtful environmental features. It’s not only where you live, but how you live.
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WESBROOK VILLAGE AT UBC
LIVETHEMEWS.COM
604.228.2025
Visit our Discovery Centre 3345 Shrum Lane (Save On Foods Parking Lot) Open Saturday - Thursday 12 - 5PM