As a part of research I have been conducting around public spaces within Downtown Vancouver, I was curious to look into Vancouver’s history, and began my search in the Vancouver Archives. The archives were filled with an assortment of documents, plans, and images of the city, but what particularly caught my interest were a collection of photos capturing public plazas during the 1970s and 1980s – stills taken of people using these plazas and a variety of public spaces around Downtown. Many of these spaces still exist in the city today and one can’t help but wonder if they are still as popular.

I enjoy archival photos because they vividly depict the physical landscape that once existed, as well as the many lives and people lived within their respective settlements. With Vancouver’s downtown public plazas, one sees people congregating around and within them, as an essential part of civic life. Each plaza either provides public art, green space, public seating, or all three, and allows people to linger, read books, eat lunch, enjoy a coffee, or talk to one another freely.

The photos are a reminder of how public spaces should be available for everyone to use and enjoy. This sparks reflection on how many downtown public plazas and spaces are being used like this today. Over time, the streets of downtown have changed dramatically, through rezoning and site redevelopment, sacrificing many public spaces along the way. Should this really be the case?

I recently took a walk around Downtown and visited some of the public sites captured in the archives. I know Vancouver’s weather is not the best year-round, however I could not help but notice a lack of people taking advantage of these spaces. Public plazas don’t appear as alive or thriving as they used to be. Is it because people have moved on and found new public spaces that are more attractive and appealing? Or could it be that these spaces no longer appear open to the public, but are increasingly becoming private spaces?

These are some of the questions I ask myself and continue to consider as the city transforms. It was an eye opening experience to take a look back and see how public plazas were built in the past and used by the public. We should all make it a goal to consider how public spaces can be protected in the city, and how they can be revitalized as part of the city’s future. Simply put: people need public spaces.

For more photos, visit the original piece on Spacing. 

March 23-24 mark the City of Vancouver’s Annual Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver, though awareness and action is needed beyond these two days of important data collection.

As an ongoing initiative since 2010, the City of Vancouver has been conducting an annual count to help estimate the number of homeless, obtain an accurate demographic profile of the population, and to help identify common trends compared to previous years. The most recent data collected was the 2014 Homeless Count in the Metro Vancouver Region, conducted by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH) every three years – an initiative supported by Metro Vancouver, Government of Canada, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Foundation, Real Estate Foundation, Surrey Homeless & Housing Society, and Translink. The data collected from these counts assists government bodies and organizations with policy development, planning, prioritizing programs and services to address the needs of the people.

This year will be particularly important in addressing the current status on housing and homelessness in the city. Back in 2008, Mayor Gregor Robertson and Council had pledged to end street homelessness by 2015, and increase affordable housing choices for all Vancouverites. According to the most recent count results, the city’s overall homeless population, both ‘visibly’ and ‘invisibly’ homeless, has increased since the original promise had been made.

In 2011, 2012, and 2013, Mayor Robertson’s initiatives had placed a greater number of homeless inside shelters and off the streets, however, the effects did not last for long. Data collected from the 2014 count indicated that homelessness has reached an all-time high, and brings into question the efficacy of Mayor Robertson’s initiatives.

Housing and homelessness are two issues that go hand-in-hand in Vancouver. The City of Vancouver initiated their Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2012-2021 as an initiative to end homelessness and increase affordable housing choices for all residents of the city. This includes investing in more accessible, affordable and sustainable housing for seniors, families and disabilities – regardless of their income level. Homelessness can range from living on the streets to struggling with inadequate or unaffordable housing, making it deeper than a one-dimensional issue.

Most homeless counts underestimate the number of people who are “homeless” defined as those who do not have a place of their own, where they could expect to stay in for more than 30 days. Many homeless choose to live in public spaces, which are an essential component to their daily lives. Public spaces provide a place to sit, sleep, eat, socialize, live and feel safe around others.

Homelessness can go beyond living on the street, including those who have no physical shelter, temporary residence in emergency shelters, or have no fixed address and live in someone else’s home, at a hospital, jail or detox facility. Hence, it is important to remind ourselves that homelessness is always larger than the numbers presented on the page.

A version of this article originally appeared on Spacing.

The Robson Redux Design Exhibit is on until March 15th.

I feel a bit ignorant for being oblivious of the changes that have been happening on Granville Island over the past year. I didn’t realize it they would be happening to one of my favourite public spaces in Vancouver so soon and so quickly . As many frequenters know, Granville Island has been a public space for over 35 years, and carries remnants of Vancouver’s industrial history, to this day.

Through the establishment of the great places such as the Public Market, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, the Waterfront Theatre, Arts Umbrella and the Granville Island Breweries, Granville Island is separate – but integrated – with the rest of city life: allowing people to take advantage of all the great things that this public space has to offer. However, the word ‘public’ may no longer continue to be a part of its description.

In July 2014, there were talks of switching the ownership of Granville Island. Currently operated by the CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) – a public entity of the federal government – Granville Island may be changing ownership to Port Metro Vancouver. No final decisions have yet been made, but much could change from this seemingly simple decision.

The Mayor of Vancouver and other public figures have expressed their opposition towards the privatization of Granville Island, but what does this mean for those who enjoy the space as it currently stands?

As a recent graduate, I recall spending my days at Granville Island enjoying much of what it has to offer – from its range of arts and crafts, to food and great cuisines. I would travel there from where I lived in Burnaby, to seek artistic inspirations and purchase art supplies from Opus. I recall sitting at the docks and enjoying the waterfront view of Stanley Park and the Granville Street Bridge, while eating some freshly baked Public Market donuts from Lee’s.

I would walk around the Public Market and come across fresh local produce, seafood, meats, breads, baked goods, chocolate, teas and spices, all under one roof. Weather permiting, I would sit outside in the one of the many courtyards on the Island, and listen to local artists’ musical performances or watch other buskers display their many other talents.

Above all, I would never come across anyone looking down at a screen and walking blindly as if they have more important matters to attend to. Granville Island was – and is – a place where conversations started, eyes wandered, and curiosity ventured.

The thought of Granville Island switching ownership only dawned on me after a recent visit. Changing the ownership of the Island, and disrupting its current means of operations can deeply impact the space and its identity. If Port Metro Vancouver takes ownership of the area, I would like to hope that they will strongly consider Granville Island’s local significance and continue to allow the public to enjoy this space as it currently stands.

Many vendors fear that privatization will disrupt the current relationship between tenants and landlords. A rise in rental costs caused by switching to larger corporate vendors would drastically change the atmosphere of this great public space and the ability for local vendors to thrive.

With the Emily Carr Institute relocating to Great Northern Way and its buildings soon to be vacant in the near future, many are wondering what will happen to its space, as well. We can hope that the space will consider changes that would keep the current lively, artistic and unique vibe of Granville Island and make a positive addition to the local culture. The future of this space is an important local issue that extends far beyond my personal connection to this unique urban treasure and ultimately includes all the citizens of Metro Vancouver.

This post originally appeared on Spacing.