Advocacy, education and outreach in support of Vancouver's public spaces

Candidate Profile – Michelle MOLLINEAUX – #223 – (TEAM)

Top 3 priorities (from City of Vancouver Election webpage)

  1. More Parks & Sport Fields
  2. Ensuring Access & Safety
  3. Expand Community Centers

Platform (from City of Vancouver Election webpage)

Residents need a common sense Park Board that supports, protects, & improves existing parks, green spaces, sports fields, community centers, & recreation facilities while expanding for growth, especially in amenity-deficient areas. Being fiscally responsible, we need to provide safe & easy access to parks, sports fields, recreation facilities, & community centers is imperative to everyone. Additionally, we need to have more accessibility to programs for children, youth, seniors to new immigrants in Vancouver.

2022 Park Board Candidate Questions

1. You’re speaking to a friend from out of town, and they ask for a quick overview of “where things are at” with Vancouver’s parks and recreation facilities. What do you say?

I love Vancouver having the opportunity to showcase how great our parks, recreation and tourist attractions is something I have taken pride in. I would let them know that we do have some of the best parks and recreation facilities, however for the last few years they have not been maintained, difficulty to access, reduced services, community centers that are in serious need for upgrades, and in some parks highly unsafe. We also have not added any new parks, sports fields and community centers to address population growth. Also, as a parent, we have very limited sports fields and programs for children, youth and even for seniors. Unfortunately, the Park Board has also lost sight that our Parks and Recreation facilities are supposed to be access for ALL Vancouverites across the city and has redirected the limited funding to projects that are not equitable for the benefit of All of Vancouver. I would explain that the degradation of our parks and facilities is due to the Park Board have fallen very short in properly engaging with all communities, neighbourhoods, sports and fitness clubs, tour companies, businesses, and to the multitude of associations that are all so interconnected to Park Board and for the betterment of Vancouver’s vitality.

Finally, I would let them know that Vancouver is at a critical point in saving our Park Board and the future of our parks and recreation due to the current landscape at the Board. We have also been told that new festivals and events will no longer be allowed at parks and only those that are grandfathered in will be allowed. Events and festivals in our parks are vital to communities, businesses, and tourism. It is also important to have our parks well engaged with communities, fully accessed, and used by everyone. Afterall, isn’t that why our Parks used to be so admired globally?

2. The topic of equity features heavily in both VanPlay (the Parks Board Masterplan) and the recently approved Vancouver Plan. What’s your take? Does Vancouver’s park system need to be more equitable and accessible? If yes, what changes would you propose and/or prioritize to make this happen?

While the Vancouver Park Board works hard to provide equitability and accessibility plans. There is definitely room for adjustment and add more. However, ensuring the funding to fully execute on the plans are the key to ensuring we have the right equitability and accessibility plans in place and that it is reflective to ALL Vancouverites. Where we can do more are:

  1. While the city has 250 parks, we do not meet the number of parks and proper green spaces needed based on population growth. We also need more parks in east and south Vancouver, and while some areas the parks serve mostly low-income households are, on average, significantly smaller, ignored to maintenance, and unsafe. Unfortunately, this now leads to lack of use by communities. While we have a good a plan and some conversations about park equity we now need to work on implementing solutions that will treat all parks as the same.
  2. While some people think it is “okay” to have tent cities in our Parks this is not fair to the people who are forced to live in parks due to the current situation. Tent Cities are not safe for the people who live in them – assaults, stabbings, rape, exploitation of the vulnerable and illicit activities all occur in these tent cities and for some to say “let’s make the people comfortable while they live in the tents” is completely inhumane and cruel. We need to work with the Federal, Provincial and City Hall to provide real care, housing, and recovery so that they are in a healthy and safe environment.
  3. We should be doing more to celebrate all cultures, specifically for First Nations and Indigenous heritage as part of Truth and Reconciliation. By expanding more festivals, events, public art in our parks and facilities fosters community pride, teach people new things, compassion towards other cultures, and strengthen relationships.
  4. Vancouver Park Board’s philosophy of parks and recreation is the idea that all people—no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation—have access to quality programs, facilities, places and spaces that make their lives and communities great. Those who identify as LGBTQ2s+ have historically faced discrimination, often in the form of offensive comments, threats or harassment, and violence, but our Park Board is uniquely positioned to offer inclusive spaces, places and programs and provide welcoming support. We need to further expand
  • Creating welcoming and inclusive facilities that provide safety and comfort to the LGBTQ2S+ community
  • Family programs; including, before/afterschool and out-of-school time programs, summer camps and early childhood programs that are cognizant of all family units
  • Health and wellness programs, like group exercise classes or outdoor adventure programs, that explicitly state they are inclusive of all community members
  • LGBTQ2S+ outreach programs, youth groups and mentoring services
  • LGBTQ2S+ and straight alliances to expand connections to local social service providers

3. As a general principle, should parks aim to accommodate cycling paths within their boundaries? What are your thoughts on bikes and bike lanes in parks? (Please note: this is not specifically a question about Stanley Park).

First let’s talk about Stanley Park – there is already three bike lanes and so many people are no longer able to access Stanley Park, business is hurting, tour buses and Taxi drivers are no longer taking tourist to the park. We need to have easy access to the park for everyone which does mean reverting back to the original bike lane format of two lanes. We must ensure we have easy access for everyone.

Bike lanes in Vancouver, we need to build a wonderful and accessible bike lane network across Vancouver. We should be exploring additional greenways and utilizing back alleyway’s for bike lane access.

We must end this toxic conflict between those who use bikes and those who do not.

4. What role, if any, do you see the Park Board playing in responding to the needs of people experiencing homelessness/houselessness and encampments?

I have mentioned earlier that people need to have a safe home and tents are not the answer. TEAM will work for a livable affordable city and making housing attainable for everyone. We will focus on delivering homes at a lower cost, including for lower income residents, the homeless, and those suffering from housing insecurity. We will get there by:

  • TEAM will use all municipal tools available, as well as partnerships with senior levels of government, to encourage more secure, affordable housing for all Vancouverites by:
  • Using neighbourhood planning and accurate population growth data to identify the existing and future housing types and tenures that are needed to affordably accommodate existing and future residents
  • Providing a mix of non-market and market housing, for rentals and ownership, including co-ops, co-housing, secondary suites, multiple conversion dwellings, infill, laneways, multiplexes, townhouses, and apartments, planned in partnership with local residents at the scale of each neighbourhood
  • Stabilizing land values by ending inflationary and disruptive spot rezonings that ignore neighbourhood plans without contributing to community amenities
  • Using City-owned lands for more affordable housing
  • Working with provincial and federal government housing and services agencies to ensure they provide the non-market and supportive social housing and services our city needs to house residents who are lower income, housing insecure, or homeless (see more under Health & Safety For all)
  • Providing affordable housing incentives based on transparent and open project details, including financing and operating agreements, that fit into the scale, context and zoning of each neighbourhood, a mix of income levels and unit sizes, with needed services, supports and amenities and through meaningful ongoing consultation with the community in the zoning & development processes and good neighbour agreements for operating
  • Adjusting permit requirements and climate action regulations to retain and renovate existing homes for more affordable rental options such as secondary suites, laneway homes, and infill

5. Should Vancouver’s parks and recreation facilities play a part in supporting climate resilience or ecosystem restoration? If yes, how?

I would also say that we are not doing enough to address climate change in our parks and there are some great solutions we should be looking at. See my blog that has a list of what we should be doing to address climate change in our parks: Take Out Politics: Implement Solutions That Help the Environment

6. Is having a Board of Parks and Recreation the best way to govern and manage Vancouver’s park system? If yes, why? If not, what would you propose in its place?

The Park Board serves the important function of protecting and expanding Vancouver’s outstanding parks, recreation and community centre system. This unique and important administrative structure was established early in Vancouver’s history because of Stanley Park. It was recognized that the park needed an independent Park Board and administration with the mandate to protect and maintain the park distinct from the City’s mandate to develop the city lands. As more parks were established, these were also added to the Park Board lands. This distinction is as valid today as it was in the past. Some civic parties have suggested that the Park Board be disbanded, but TEAM sees that as a lack of understanding of the important role that the Park Board plays.

Over the past decade, under the influence of City Council, staff and special interests, the Park Board has made a series of irresponsible decisions that have adversely affected the health and useability of our internationally known parks and recreation system. Some of these actions have contributed to weakening of the Park Board’s ability to carry out their mandate and prohibited the public’s access to the parks and recreation system and the potential threat of losing parks and golf courses to developers.

7. What, if anything, do you think the Park Board should do to support/facilitate community activation/events and stewardship of park spaces and facilities?

From Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and smaller ones such as Riverfront park, we have some of the best parks in the world. In a city as densely populated as Vancouver, it’s important to have green spaces where people can escape from the concrete jungle and high densely populated communities. Parks are vital for a community’s health and provide a space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together. We need events and festivals while expanding more on community programs to encourage park usage. This could include things like movie nights, concerts, cultural events, pop-up art shows, farmer markets, or fitness classes. By providing activities that people are interested in, we can bring people together and create a sense of community within our parks.

8. In the past few years, the Park Board has taken steps towards reconciliation, decolonization, and co-management with MST First Nations. Would you continue this work? If yes, how?

TEAM’s Reconciliation Action Plan is built around resolving inequities that inhibit employment opportunities, economic growth, positive educational outcomes, and wellness.

TEAM will work with Vancouver’s First Nations, Indigenous residents, and senior levels of government to advance truth and reconciliation efforts that affect Vancouver, with a view to resolving historic inequities. The true measure of leadership on Reconciliation will be our willingness to publicly expose and accept our past so we know where to stand when planning our future. TEAM will utilize both short-term and long-term actions to advance reconciliation with First Nations, including:

  • Working to resolve inequities through the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action that are applicable at the city level
  • Enhancing collaboration with local First Nations and Urban Indigenous communities
  • Striving to create economic opportunities for local First Nations
  • Better coordination with the First Nations Health Authority to support their mental health and addictions programming
  • Creating new funding and partnership opportunities for child-care programs for Indigenous people
  • Striving to increase the visibility of First Nations cultures/histories in public spaces such as community centres, libraries, and park facilities, including the delivery of an urban longhouse and/or cultural centre

9. If you could make changes to one park in the city – which park is it, and what would you do?

As of today, October 8, there were more stabbings at Crab Park. We urgently need to address the desperate situation in that park. People who live in the park need to be properly taken care of and address each one’s unique needs and help them to be on the road to recovery and rehabilitation. All parks should be safe and accessible for everyone. Right now, many parks are not safe for people and especially for those who have children.

What is happening in Crab Park is inhumane and cruel to the people who live there and to the people who live in the area and want to use the park.

10. Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your platform?

I am actually disappointed that this questionnaire has not talked about Sports and Recreation! This is also a vital role for the Park Board.

At TEAM, we believe that every neighbourhood deserves a vibrant community hub where residents can come together to play, learn, and connect with each other. We will work with the staff at the Vancouver Park Board and ensure that all Vancity residents have access to high-quality recreation facilities and programs.

Vancouver is home to many outdoor facilities encouraging sports participation of people of all ages and physical needs. The city is home to 153 playing fields, including natural grass and synthetic turfs, providing perfect outdoor sports opportunities for all.

However, the Vancouver park board recently proposed a significant budget cut for managing playing fields. With population growth we actually need to add more playing field and recreational facilities. By adding more resources it allows individuals who participate in sports and recreation to increase their engagement at a community level. Adding more local sporting events will bring the community together, enhancing social connections and meaningful community relationships.

At TEAM, we believe that the benefits of sports and recreation should reach out to every individual regardless of age or physical condition. Every citizen of the city should be able to enjoy outdoor opportunities for physical activities and sports, and that’s why we’re committed to expanding access to sports and recreation fields and facilities for every neighborhood in Vancouver.

Biography and Contact

Biography (City of Vancouver Election Webpage)

Michelle Mollineaux’s career spans over 20 years in marketing and business development in industry sectors higher-education, non-profit, and high technology. An advocate for mentorship programs for children, youth at risk, young adults, and entrepreneurs. Born in England, and lived in the Caribbean prior to coming to Canada. If elected, Michelle would like to see additional safer parks and community centers.

Contact

Email: michelle@michellemollineaux.com
Facebook:
 https://www.facebook.com/Michelle.Mollineaux.Politician
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanCityMichelle