Public Space News & Events: Winter Solstice Edition
Horse drawn sleigh in front of the Hollow Tree ca 1900s. (CoV Archives)
Dear friends,
Vancouver’s streets are busy with people visiting, shopping, and making their way to and from events. There’s liveliness in the air that is coloured with bright lights and festive decorations, the sound of laughter…even some memorable sweater choices.
The winter holidays are here! And guess what: if may even snow this week!
If it does (and in any decent quantity), please help to enliven our public spaces by doing one of the following: throwing snow-balls, tobogganing and building a snow-person (gender of your choice). This is an opportunity we don’t get in the city often enough.
Let us also take this opportunity to wish you, your friends and family, the very best for the holidays. We’ve had a great year working to improve the City’s public spaces, and we’re looking forward to more fun and collaboration in 2016.
– The VPSN Crew
UPDATES
Last minute gift ideas for the public space aficionado – 2015/16 edition!
You’ve only got a few days left, don’t you? A few precious days – hours really – to find that perfect, but elusive, gift for the urbanistically-inclined, plaza-inhabiting, public space aficionado in your life.
Fear not. Challenges like this require Quick + Clever Ideas. The VPSN has got you covered… 20 times over in fact.
This year’s list should also have something to help you out. It is designed with the last-minute shopper in mind. Some of these items are straight-up “things” you can buy. Others are the sort of experiential gifts that work best tucked inside a card. All are fun times!
:: 20 Last Minute Gift Ideas – The List
Active Fiction: A Dark Winter’s Tale
Got time off for the holidays? Why not check out the winter installation of our ever-popular Active Fiction Project. This latest chapter can be found around Main and 28th.
Active Fiction is a “create your own adventure”, self-guided literary walking tour. We’ve hidden short fictional stories in public spaces in a Vancouver neighborhood for readers to discover by walking, or biking around. It’s free and anyone can participate.
This time, we’ve got a dark story for a dark time of year. This one may not be ideal for young readers, but sure to appeal to fans of the Hunger Games and other dystopian adventures. Set in a post-apocalyptic Vancouver, readers need to find their way to a secret society. Only one path will lead you there…
:: More information on Active Fiction
ADVOCACY
A review of some of our work from the past month…
Jim Deva Plaza: final concept, stewardship strategy, and rules for night-time use
Earlier this month, City Council discussed a report and recommendations that will have a number of implications for the City’s public plazas.
The report, written by the City’s Planning Department, focuses on Davie Village Public Space Improvements – and sought Council approval for the final concept for Jim Deva Plaza (at Bute and Davie).
Importantly, it also looked at two other things. First, the question of plaza stewardship. Second, to the possibility of regulatory changes to several bylaws – including the Health Bylaw (no smoking in the plaza) and the Street and Traffic Bylaw.
We thought the latter item had some good aspects (e.g. prohibiting driving in the plaza), but also has one very troubling aspect: it aimed to prohibit use of the plaza “after hours.”
On bikes, budgets, and making more room for the sidewalk
Also this past month, City Council heard a report on “Active Transportation Update and Pilot for Skateboarding in Protected Bike Lanes” – which includes a program for cycling infrastructure improvements over the next five years.
As you’ve probably heard, a sizable component of the discussion is devoted to several bike lanes that are proposed for the City, including a number in the downtown core.
We noted that this was an important step forward for biking in Vancouver, offering further legitimacy and support to cycling as a mode of transportation. However, it also, indirectly, raises some interesting questions about the City’s attention to pedestrian issues and pedestrian infrastructure. We explored those questions in a letter to Council and lengthy article on our website.
FIELD NOTES FROM OUTER SPACES
A few posts from VPSN contributors on some exceptional public parks in Montreal and Copenhagen.
Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark
…The great thing about it is that it was not created just for the sake of having a public space; it is lively with unique objects from around the world scattered around it including swings from Iraq, a boxing ring from Thailand, and a fountain from Morocco. The different objects in the park are meant to reflect the diversity of the 50+ nationalities living in Nørrebro. | Story by Alex Butler
Parc la Fontaine, Montreal, Quebec
In Montreal, bounded by Rues Rachel and Papineau and Avenue Sherbrooke, is beautiful Parc la Fontaine. Located in the popular Plateau neighbourhood, it is a short walk from busy high streets like St-Denis and St-Laurent.
In this crow-free park, squirrels, pigeons, ducks, and dogs seem equally free to frolic. Around 60 years ago, the park housed slightly larger animals, including bears, wolves, monkeys, and lions. It was called Le Jardin des Merveilles (“The Garden of Wonders”) and functioned as a zoo much like Vancouver’s own, now closed, Stanley Park Zoo. Inside, visitors enjoyed aquatic shows in the pools, and a petting zoo. Other kid-friendly elements drew on fairy-tales and Disney-esque themes. | Story by Eva Kwan.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Volunteer Orientation
Monday, January 11, 2016 @ 6pm
Join our volunteer coordinator Michelle Pollard at our monthly meeting for new volunteers. Learn about the VPSN and find out about opportunities to lend a hand with public space issues. All welcome! Info: volunteer [at] vancouverpublicspace [dot] ca
Communications Meeting
Monday, January 25, 2016 @ 6pm
Interested in helping out with our various communications activities? Want to write about public space, or help champion public realm issues? This is the regular meeting of the VPSN Communications Team. All welcome! Info: volunteer [at] vancouverpublicspace [dot] ca
Research Projects – Various
Ongoing meetings: January
We have a number of on-going research projects – studies of public space metrics, local economy, site analysis and more. If you’re interested in helping-out with research-related activities, please contact us to find out more, or check out the main volunteer orientation for all the details. Info: andrew [at] vancouverpublicspace [dot] ca
OTHER EVENTS
New Years Eve in Vancouver
December 31 – January 1
For the first time in years, Vancouver will have a sanctioned public New Years celebration. The event takes place on Canada Place Way between Howe and Burrard streets, and features free musical entertainment, sponsor exhibitions, food trucks, live on-site broadcasts, and a midnight countdown with spectacular fireworks over Coal Harbour. Festivities kick off at 6 p.m. | Details
City Debate #1: Open All Neighbourhoods to Densification
January 20, 2016 6-9 pm
Vancouver is globally famous for its densified downtown, a lively, walkable mix of homes and workplaces. Most of the city remains low-rise and residential, however. Should densification efforts focus on those neighbourhoods? Why or Why not? Event produced by the Urbanarium Society and Museum of Vancouver. | Details