1. It’s day one on the job… and to start your work with the Park Board, you are invited to make one change in one park – which park do you pick, and what do you do?
I would choose a modest neighbourhood park that lacks proper washrooms and direct staff to explore how to install reasonably-costed washroom facilities there. Over the 2018-2022 term that I served on the Park Board, we passed a washroom strategy. It needs to be carried out. At the doors during this election we heard many times that not having adequate washroom facilities means that some seniors may choose to not go to the park, as they often require washrooms more often. This is also often a gender issue as women, especially for pregnant women, often have to relieve themselves more frequently. As a younger stay-at-home father, I was often troubled by the fact that many of our parks do not have change tables, and the lack of washrooms meant that you could not properly wash your hands after the inevitable diaper change.
2. In your opinion, how well is the delivery of parks and public spaces aligned with the type of growth and change taking place in Vancouver’s neighbourhoods?
I think that this could be better aligned with the growth and change we’re experiencing in Vancouver. In the Broadway Plan area for example, we should work with the City to create expanded and new parks by converting some street end areas into pocket parks as has been done in many locations, such as ‘Lilian To’ Park. The Park Board should continue to follow the 2022 Community Centre Strategy, which involved growth areas as a key criteria in determining which centres should be renewed and expanded first.
3. Heavier rains, more intense heat, and wildfire smoke are all being described as part of a “new normal” tied to climate change. Should Vancouver’s parks and recreation facilities play a part in supporting climate resilience or climate adaptation? If yes, how?
Sadly, this is the new reality, we need to mitigate emissions by electrifying the Park Board fleet to help the shift to a sustainable operation. Since 2018 the Park Board has had their community centres step in as cooling centres, we have to maintain and upgrade this capacity by installing heat pumps and other cooling systems. These systems need to also have air filtering to allow people to seek refuge when the smoke from forest fires is rated as extremely high, or moderate. The Park Board should also continue to open community centres as shelters for unhoused residents during heavy rainstorm events, as well as during cold weather.
4. The Park Board (and City) is under increasing pressure to find new ways to finance park upgrades, deliver new parks, and cover other capital and operational costs. How do you propose financing your priorities in the context of the broader City budgeting process?
We need to look at changes to the charter that could enable the Park Board to be more financially self-sufficient, perhaps by having its own mill rate, or a specific share of Vancouver’s taxes and fees.
The recent cutbacks that came from the ‘Zero Means Zero’ needs attention. This funding should be restored and increased to foster accessibility for all Vancouver residents. The living wage should also be restored so that the Park Board can retain its employees.
We can also explore innovative ways to raise funds: by selling opportunities for residents to sponsor a memorial tree for loved ones who have passed away, and renting out Park Board owned and branded beach and other facilities’ equipment so that park users don’t have to pack so many items with them.
5. Vancouver is a city with a very diverse population with lots of different cultures calling this place home. Should the Park Board be doing more to respond to the needs of different cultural user groups? If yes, what sorts of changes to Park Board processes or practices would you envision?
When funding allows printed materials should be printed (posted online) in the key language groups in each part of the City, based on census data. We could follow Renfrew community centre’s lead and have other language translation through IT programs that allow for this at all Park Board meetings simultaneously.
6. We have to ask: are you planning – secretly, overtly, or otherwise – to abolish or reform the Park Board? If yes, what are you intending to do? In general, what’s your vision for Park Board governance?
Having the current city council stay in their lane and leave the Parks Board’s (PB) jurisdiction alone is one key critical issue. We would direct staff, and possibly legal counsel, to define and strengthen the PB’s jurisdiction under the Vancouver Charter. This policy work should be multifaceted and would also have staff make recommendations to strengthen the Park Board and would explore how to have the three local nations move towards representation on the Park Board.
7. In recent years, the Park Board has taken steps towards reconciliation, decolo
Most recently, I was the sole public speaker to speak to the Park Board in support of the temporary Senakw welcoming centre in Vanier Park (Squamish Nation). In the past, I fully supported the motion to explore co-management of Vancouver’s parks with the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam Nations, which was passed by the Park Board in 2022 during my term on the Park Board.
I consistently pushed for and achieved more funds for the reconciliation planning team. Moving forward, I would call for there to be an annual government-to-government meeting between the Park Board and MST First Nations, as it is best to discuss the MST First Nations’ valid concerns in face-to-face meetings.
8. What, if anything, do you think the Park Board should do to support/facilitate community activation and stewardship of park spaces and facilities?
I have been a long-time supporter of community gardens and, recently, of urban food forests and indigenous plantings. I have met many times, at many different events with groups like the Stanley Park Ecology Society and the Environmental Youth Alliance to help to foster their roles in park stewardship.
9. We are living in a period of both increasing polarization and increasing social isolation. Should the Parks Board be doing more to respond to these issues? If yes, what do you propose?
I think we need to make sure that all of the Park Board facilities and parks are welcoming and accessible to all cultural, age, ability and sexual identity groups in the City. The Park Board should continue to advocate for senior level government funding for seniors’ centres as they can reduce social isolation for seniors, who are often facing challenges with this. Continuing to strengthen drop in programs for children ensures that folks recreate with a broad range of cultural groups from a young age.