Newly elected ABC Vancouver candidates have indicated that they plan to remove the temporary bike lane in Stanley Park. Does hearing this make us uneasy? In a word, yes.

Both commissioners-elect and candidates-elect revealed this news while the party has been actively working with a transition team where they are organizing to “fully get going with their 94-point platform plan.”

However, the removal of the Stanley Park temporary bike lane was not specifically identified as a priority in ABC’s platform. (Presumably it is being advanced under the idea of making parks more “accessible and inclusive” – though if that’s the case, there’s lots that could be unpacked in that framing of things).

To be fair, two ABC candidates did discuss it in the candidate survey undertaken by HUB. (No ABC candidates responded to the VPSN survey, which specifically asked about biking and cycling infrastructure in parks).

At any rate, media comments by commissioners-elect indicate a desire to explore new “engineered solutions” that allow for two lanes of car traffic and a bike lane. This, coupled with a stated policy direction to “immediately restore car traffic right away.”

The current approach, which uses the existing right-of-way along Stanley Park Drive, allocates one paved lane for bikes and one for cars.

This method, introduced during COVID, has helped to alleviate the increasing number of conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists along the formerly-shared seawall route.

There is no doubt that the approach – like many bike lane discussions in the city – has been controversial. This one particularly so. Unfortunately, in the ensuing public discourse, facts (on all sides of the discussion) were often buried underneath anecdote and hyperbole. Several candidates and parties – though not ABC – campaigned on a platform to “save” Stanley Park. Public opposition often characterized the park as being ‘completely inaccessible’ to drivers. This was not the case.

So… in the spirit of being open-minded, are there other approaches? Perhaps. We are curious to see what an “engineered solution” might mean. (For context: the current approach was developed by engineers as well).

One thing we do NOT want to see: painted lanes and/or sharrows that are not physically separated from car traffic. These provide no measurable benefit to safety. We also hope that past antipathy to *protected* bike lanes voiced by some ABC candidates, is just that: a thing of the past.

Further, while some widening at selected locations could improve operations, a complete new lane at the expense of large tree removal or sidewalk reallocation is not the way to go either. The installation of an expanded, protected bike lane network, suitable for all-ages and abilities, is critical in Stanley Park – particularly as the park has seen a significant increase in the number of people walking, rolling and biking.

Further consideration should also be given to other ideas floated during and before the election – such as a free, electrified trolley to service key sites, beaches and commercial areas. (Maybe something like this?)

And yes, proper attention to ensuring that the park remains accessible to seniors and those with mobility needs should absolutely be a priority. However, this is not, despite some of the rhetoric, an either/or choice.

To that end, current studies of how the park is – and isn’t – being accessed are key. We encourage the newly elected Park Board to make an evidence-based assessment, and deliver a solution that prioritizes healthy, active, and equitable access to the park. In our opinion, this approach include having the newly elected Park Board Commissioners wait for the completion of the current study into long term mobility options in Stanley Park. They could then review this important work before any decisions are made.

This article was originally published October 19, 2022. Updated October 23, 2022.

Photos and Maps: City of Vancouver website. ABC Platform – ABC webpage (sourced October 19, 2022). 

As we transition calendar years, we want to take this opportunity to wish each of you the very best for the holiday season and the upcoming year. We’re looking forward to more public space fun and collaborations in 2022.

In the meantime, for those of you searching for some holiday-themed fun, be sure to check out the festive light displays found at Granville Island, St. Paul’s Hospital, and šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza). There’s also magic to be had in discovering the many individual examples of seasonal placemaking that adorn homes, businesses and streets throughout Vancouver.

Fancy a little more adventure? The outdoor skating rink at Robson Square is now open!

There are also a number of ticketed activities taking place, including:

• The Vancouver Christmas Market (through December 24)
• VanDusen Festival of Lights – (through January 3) – More than one million lights decorate the 15 acre VanDusen Botanical Garden.
• Stanley Park Bright Nights – through January 2, 2022 – The Bright Nights train chugs through the sparkling magically-lit forest of Stanley Park. (Note: The City’s webpage says this is sold out, but tickets are still available through 3rd party ticket agents.
• PNE WinterLights (in partnership with TransLink) – Ride the reindeer shuttle through nine enchanted lands filled with glowing lights, special characters and festive performers along the way.

Lastly, a chance to usher in New Year’s Day with a modified take on the annual Polar Bear Swim (January 1, 2022). As with last year’s event, the 2022 polar bear swim is online. You can find out details on this year’s “digital dip” by checking out the Park Board webpage.

Whatever it is that you get up to this holiday season, please stay safe, take good care, and look out for one another,

- Your friends at the VPSN

Photo: Holiday lights wind across the sidewalk of West 11th Avenue, between Yukon St. and Alberta St.

One of Vancouver’s most recognized cultural names has created a very shiny, bold piece of public art relating to B.C.’s old-growth forests.

As a Vancouverite, I instantly recognized Golden Tree by Douglas Coupland as a replica of the iconic Stanley Park Hollow Tree: an unreal presentation of something very real in the city’s history. Unveiled in July 2016 at the corner of Cambie and Southeast Marine, across from the Marine Drive Canada Line station, the piece was commissioned by Intracorp as its public art contribution for its MC² condo development. A 32,000-pound, 43-foot, steel-reinforced resin, fiberglass structure encased in gold finish, it took more than 6,000 hours to fabricate, to a budget of approximately $440,000.

Our forests, our art

Our province owes a significant amount of its wealth and fame to its coastal rainforest and to its centuries of forest production. For thousands of years, First Nations have used the forests for their homes, transportation, food, culture and wellbeing. Vancouverites and tourists alike spend plenty of time and effort to experience the North Shore Mountains. Our natural surroundings are a popular theme in local public art as part of the conversation on environment, history and Canadian identity.

One of Vancouver’s most familiar trees, Stanley Park’s Hollow Tree has a storied history. It’s been visited and photographed by thousands, posing inside and around it. When I was growing up, my grandparents had a photo, circa 1930s, showing them proudly sitting in a convertible with its back end inside the 800–1,000-year-old western red cedar.

The Hollow Tree in 2008. Photo: tree-species under Creative Commons

The Hollow Tree died naturally many years ago, and in 2006 the remaining stump endured considerable damage during a storm, as well as a mysterious fire in 2014. After the fire, the stump was slated for removal; however, after public outcry, the Hollow Tree Conservation Society raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore and stabilize it with cables.

Many cultures equate gold with wealth, power, permanence and growth. By replicating the Hollow Tree in gold paint, Coupland attaches those perceptions of material worth and endurance to a threatened piece of natural beauty. Golden Tree represents the millions of dollars that B.C. companies have made from forestry as a backbone of our province’s wealth. The sculpture signals our economic dependence on natural resources, presently figuring in B.C.’s high-profile dispute with the Trump administration over softwood lumber.

The Golden Tree’s location in south Vancouver’s emerging Cambie Corridor neighbourhood can be seen in complete opposition to the real tree’s location in Stanley Park. South Cambie is rapidly growing, with large parcels of land being bought and redeveloped into denser housing. Greenspaces are disappearing, while Stanley Park remains Vancouver’s most cherished and protected urban forest. Encountering this new version of one of the city’s oldest symbols in one of our newest developing neighbourhoods juxtaposes Vancouver’s image as a sustainable and green city alongside its financially driven side. The Hollow Tree represents old Vancouver, while the Golden Tree is the expensive, cosmopolitan and sexy present-day Vancouver.

Coupland prompts us to consider Vancouver’s relationship with the landscape and how the city’s rapid development has altered it. I understand Golden Tree, within its physical and historical context, as a warning to protect and cherish our environment. If we don’t change our ways, we may find that all that remains are a few golden trophies to remind us of what we’ve lost.

Top image: Golden Tree inauguration with artist Douglas Coupland. Photo: Christine Rondeau under Creative Commons 

Following the death of a cyclist on Stanley Park Causeway in May 2013, the Ministry of Transportation held a public consultation about the causeway. At the consultation was a proposal for safer cycling on the 2.2km causeway, for the current 2400 daily cyclists.

Everything from the consultation can be found online, including all the detailed information boards. A comment form can be downloaded as a PDF and emailed to Erin.Moxon before Tuesday, December 9.

What’s in the proposal?

• 14 Stanley Park trees will be cut down to make way for wider protected sidewalks. Efforts have been made to minimize the number of trees lost, but an additional 5 trees could also be cut down to provide more cycling passing places on the east sidewalk.
• The current east sidewalk will be widened by 0.4m – 1.0m, and a barrier will be added to protect the path from the road. The east sidewalk will only be for cyclists heading downhill from Lions Gate Bridge to Downtown Vancouver. Pedestrians will be restricted from using the east sidewalk.
• Pedestrians will only have access to the west sidewalk. There are currently 10 times the number of cyclists using the causeway as pedestrians.
• The current west sidewalk will be widened approximately 1.9m, with a barrier added between the path and the road. The west sidewalk will be for pedestrians and slower cyclists going uphill on the causeway towards the north shore.
• The causeway’s three lanes of traffic, all of the vehicle emergency stop points, and the 60 km/hour speed limit will all be maintained. Reducing any of these was not seriously considered, nor was reducing vehicle lanes back to the original width.
• No additional pedestrian or cycling crossings will be added on the causeway.

What was missing in the proposal information boards?
Overall, the proposal was detailed, well thought through, and well-aligned with the VPSN mandate. However, some oversights remain:

• There was no acknowledgement or discussion about the 2030 agreement between the Ministry of Transportation, Translink and the City of Vancouver. The agreement discussed in Transportation 2040 says that by 2030 the Lions Gate Bridge and the Stanley Park Causeway will be for transit, cycling and walking only.
• There was no acknowledgement that the Ministry of Transportation’s figures show private vehicles volumes have been declining since 2004.
• Plans for how the improved cycling conditions on the causeway will link to the City of Vancouver were not included. Will cyclists be able to connect to separated bike lane facilities when they enter the City of Vancouver, or will they have to continue cycling with traffic?
• Plans were not included for how to improve connections between Stanley Park and the causeway, for both walking and cycling.
• Plans for how the improved cycling conditions on the causeway will link to the Lions Gate Bridge were not included. On the causeway faster cyclists going downhill have sensibly been separated from pedestrians. But what will the outcome of the new causeway design be on Lions Gate Bridge’s west sidewalk? After the half way point on the bridge cyclists will go downhill, not uphill. The increased number of cyclists going fast downhill towards the north shore, will likely increase the conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore if volumes of cyclists and pedestrians continue to increase, additional space on the bridge will then be needed to separate cyclists from pedestrians.
• Signs will tell people they are restricted from walking on the east sidewalk. But as there are only 3 crossing points on the 2.2km causeway, a pedestrian not seeing (or ignoring) the no access signs will not easily be able to correct their mistake.
• Fewer trees could be lost if some vehicle emergency stop points were removed.

On Monday, March 31, the Park Board meeting will be looking at lease extensions for Prospect Point Café and Stanley Pavillion, hearing a presentation on the Stanley Park Cherry Grove Memorial, and considering a proposal for a new community garden at Kingcrest Park, located in the Cedar Cottage neighbourhood. The proposed Kingcrest Community Garden will have 20 allotment spaces, demonstration and pollinator gardens.

Speaking of bees, Park Board Commissioners will have the chance to debate a motion on “The Pollinator Project” – which, if passed, would direct staff to “develop strategies for supporting pollinators in priority Vancouver parks and streets as part of the Biodiversity Strategy and Urban Forest Strategy.”

Also in the meeting, a report on the upcoming 2014 Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale – and a proposal to keep works from the current Biennale in place throughout the duration of upcoming festival. The installations in question are Dennis Oppenheim’s “Engagement”, located in English Bay; Bernar Venet’s “217.5 Arcs” at Sunset Beach; and, Freezing Water #7 by Ren Jun, located at Vanier Park)

There are two other motions on the docket as well. The first relates to the scaling back of Canada Post service delivery. If passed, it would direct the Park Board Chair to “write a letter to the Mayor indicating the Park Board’s concerns with Canada Post’s plan.” The second item will be familiar to friends of VPSN, and is a complementary motion to City Council’s recent move to develop a strategy of no net loss of greenspace.

On April 1, 2014, City Council will be meeting for both a regular session of Council as well as a Public Hearing.

On the morning Council agenda, one item of note for the democratic dimensions of public space: a motion regarding the Federal Bill C-23, So-Called “Fair Elections Act.” If passed, the motion would direct the City (presumably the Mayor) to “write a letter to Vancouver Members of Parliament, the Minister of Democratic Reform and the Prime Minister stating opposition to Bill C-23.”

The afternoon’s Public Hearing is devoted to proposed bylaw changes coming out of the recently passed Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan. Under consideration are amendments to the Downtown Official Development Plan, the Downtown Eastside

Oppenheimer Official Development Plan and the Single Room Accommodation By-law, as well as various sections of the Zoning and Development By-law.

Next day, Tuesday, April 2, 2014, there’s a full agenda for the Planning, Transportation and Environment meeting of Council.

First up, a presentation and discussion on the Mayor’s Engaged City Task Force, and the final report and recommendations that emerged from their work. The VPSN wrote to Council in response to the Task Force’s earlier “Quick Start” report, and will be providing commentary on the final document as well. Stay tuned for that!

Next up, a series of reports on City grants for both Community Services (including neighbourhood houses, service agencies and other groups) and arts and culture organizations. If approved, the City will be investing approximately $6.5 million in operating, capital, project, childcare and rent subsidy grants for over 130 service agencies, as well as an additional $7.5 million in operating and project grants for arts and culture groups.

And to round things out, Council will be considering the Marpole Community Plan – the third of four current neighbourhood-scale planning initiatives. Like the recently passed West End and Downtown Eastside plans, this was also initiated in 2012. There are specific chapters on a number of public space items – streetscapes, parks and open space, public benefits, and more. The VPSN is currently reviewing this document and will be providing commentary to City Council in advance of the meeting. Check back on the blog to read our feedback!

Want to speak to any of these items? To find out how you can share your feedback with Council or Park Board – in person, or in writing – visit the City’s Council webpage.

December 20, 2013 snowfall. Photo by Brent Granby.

Happy snowy solstice Vancouver! Don’t the city’s public spaces look extra cozy under that dusty white blanket? Aren’t you feeling all snuggly-wuggly? For those of you who may be looking at the snow and feeling yet another layer of a holiday-related pressure… stop right now. Grab a cup of cocoa. Sit down. We’re here to help.

We first ran a version of our “Gift Ideas” post last year and it proved to be one of our most popular articles ever. We’ve shared it a few times since them, but we’re now reissuing it with a slew of additional updates for the 2013-14 winter season. Good news for the snow-adverse: some of these options don’t even require you to go outside!

As we noted last time, our gift-giving rituals don’t all have to be about crass cable-knit sweaters (though for some reason those are actually popular this year). For the public space loving urbanists out there, there are a host of things that you can give to your friends and family that will not only make them happy, but do a nice turn for the city as well.

Hang tight – there’s a whopping 18 last-minute holiday gift ideas in this post. All of them are awesome. Enjoy!

(1) Support a local parklet project and contribute to the creation of neighbourhood public space. There are two AWESOME parklet projects currently under development in Vancouver. Design work on both sites are complete, and each project is now using crowd-funding as a means to finance the building and programming of the spaces.

• French Quarter Parklet – will transform two parking spaces (located in front of Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France at Main Street and East 21st) into a vibrant outdoor seating area. The clever design and landscaping (featuring snappy triangle benches) also features a bike car for folks that want to stay on their bikes while having their coffee. The project is a collaboration between Choclaterie, and our good friends at PWL Partnership Landscape Architects and Cycle Chic. Donate to the French Quarter kickstarter campaign here.

• Commercial Drive Parklet - will convert two parking spaces (located in front of Prado Cafe at Commercial Drive and East 4th) into a permanent seating and gathering area for the whole community to enjoy. The Drive desperately needs more outdoor seating areas, and we’re pleased as punch that VPSN friend Julian Thomas and Board member Stewart Burgess are among the collaborators on this fine venture. Donate to the Commercial Drive Parklet Kickstarter here. (Note: this project lost some anticipated grant funding and are now looking to go beyond the initial $3,500 target. In addition to its great placemaking value, the Commercial Drive Parklet will be a vehicle to provide skills training for community youth).

(2) A copy of one (or more) of the excellent books to come out this year by local urbanists. There were a lot of fine books on public space and urban issues to come out this year. We’re happy to recommend two that are near and dear to our heart. (We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with both these authors in the past and love the work that they do!). Both are available at better bookstores around town.

• Happy City – written by local journalist and city-thinker Charles Montgomery – promises to “change the way you think about urban life,” doing so by exploring the multifaceted connection between urban design and the science of happiness.

• Focusing closer to home is Lani Russwurm’s Vancouver Was Awesome – a visually rich exploration of collects stories of “the people, places, events, and phenomena that collectively have infused Vancouver with a distinct flavor and flair.”

(3) Invest in your community with some Seedstock. Sure Bitcoin gets all the press, but while it may circumvent some of the problems of a global banking system, does it really do anything for local business? Did you know there’s actually an alternative currency that specifically supports local Vancouver business and non-profits? Seedstock Community Currency lets you do double with your money: exchange cash for Seedstock with a local cause to support their work, and get the equivalent amount of Seedstock back to spend at over 80 local businesses! (Find out where here). You can get ahold of money that feels good to spend – or give! – at the local xChange Station.

(4) Go weekly or seasonally with some urbanist subscription action. Like reading about urban issues? Forefront is a weekly long-form essay that covers city-building activities from around the globe. It’s the product of Next City, a superb blog . You can obtain a subscription here. And of course, there’s also our good friends at Spacing, who produce a magazine (and several blogs) that “uncover the joys, obstacles and politics of Canada’s big cities by cutting through the cynicism that often pervades any discussion about urban issues.” Pretty good, eh? Their national issues come out twice a year and are a superb read. Order them here.

(5) Give the gift of edumacation. Vancouver’s Community Centres and public schools offer a dizzying array of classes – everything from sports to singing, music lessons to language studies, fine arts to business, crafts to computers. Classes vary in length, location, and cost, but it won’t take more than a bit of research to see what’s available in your neighbourhood. Information on the city’s 24 community centres can be found here or you can zip over to the Vancouver School Board website to see what’s on offer there. Why not double-up the fun? Don’t just sign your loved one up for lessons… join them for the learning as well!

(6) Get sticky with your neighbourhood. Have you seen the Neighborland app and online platform? It’s a great way to share ideas on neighbourhood placemaking and community building ideas. Not content to stop at online connections, the creators have produced some handy “I want ____ in my neighbourhood” stickers. You can make your own via their open source files or order a set via the Neighborland website. (Of course it goes without saying that you’ll want to place these around your neighbourhood in a responsible, community-friendly fashion.)

(7) Take your loved ones out for a bedazzling or ghostly experience. Two of Vancouver’s biggest public spaces – Van Dusen Gardens and Stanley Park – get a special holiday make-over. How about a trip to one or both of these seasonal gems:

• Van Dusen Gardens – Festival of Lights
• Stanley Park – Christmas Train

(8) Support your local street performer. (Go retro, buy a CD!). There’s tons of local musical and artistic talent to be found around the city – on the streets and in transit stations. Like something you see or hear? Lots of street artists offer CDs, sketches and painting for sale – a perfect opportunity to support the local scene and share some of the magic with a friend.

(9) Stay informed and stay up to date – While on the subject of street vending, keep your eyes peeled for two other items that make for great gifts. The Hope in Shadows calendar features top-notch work by DTES photographers and Megaphone Magazine. Revenue from both of these projects is used to provide education, training and support to low-income people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

(10) Historical pictures. Who doesn’t like to see the way we used to live in years past? The Vancouver Public Library has a great selection of old photographs of Vancouver – which can be purchased for reasonable cost on Floor 7 of VPL Central. Or, you can go the DIY route and visit the Vancouver Archives on-line catalogue – where they have an amazing assortment of high-resolution photographs that you can download for free. Having the VPL and Archives print your pictures for you may mean a bit of a delay — but not to worry, many of their collections are available on-line and in high-resolution. You can print ‘em yourself via your local photo shop.

(A word to the wise – the VPL and Archives collections are different. So if you’re looking for that perfect photograph of, say, Robson Square during the 1960s paint-in, you may have to visit both facilities).

(11) Friends-of Gift Memberships. Both of the aforementioned organizations (the Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver Archives) have volunteer “Friends-of” groups that support their work. The Friends of the VPL and Friends of the Archives both engage in special projects, raise funds for new acquisitions, and champion the work of their respective organizations. Know someone who likes libraries or gets jazzed about archival fonds? Set them up as a patron of one of these groups by buying a gift membership.

(12) Go green with local nature. For over two decades the Stanley Park Ecology Society has played a leadership role in the stewardship of Stanley Park. They do this through a range of education, research and conservation programs. You can support the good work they do by taking out a membership with their organization, “adopting” a bird’s nest, paying to plant saplings or several other things.

(13) More brightening, less frightening – Bike & Ped lights. There are too many people out there still walking and biking around without decent lights or reflective gear (Velcro bracelets, vests, etc.). Why not keep your loved ones safe by upping their visibility. MEC is an obvious go-to (and their new USB plug-in lights are awesome!) but there are lots of other places to get this sort of gear.

Know someone who’s not a cyclist but ought to be? If they have a bike that’s kicking around and gathering dust – why not surprise them with a tune-up (at Our Community Bikes, Kickstand or your neighbourhood bike shop). Another idea, especially for newer bike users: give the gift of cycling confidence and sign them up for a streetwise biking course with HUB.

(14) Make a gift box on behalf of a friend or family member. The holiday season is festive and fun for many of us. For those less fortunate, the seasonal festivities can also be a time of loneliness and challenge – a time that is further compromised by the city’s cold, wet and rainy weather.

There are lots of organizations around town – Lookout, the Aboriginal Front Door, Covenant House, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, Carnegie, the Union Gospel Mission, the Kettle Friendship Society (to name just a few) – who will take donations of money, food, warm clothing (socks, sweaters, long johns, rainwear), toiletries, and other un-wrapped gifts.

(15) Make your own walking tour. Why wait until May for Jane’s Walk? Plot out a stroll and show your friends and family some of your favourite spots – the architecture you like, your favourite pieces of public art, a hidden park, other good places to meander. Show them why you like the city. Want to amp it up a bit? Put a few more treats into the itinerary – like a stop at your favourite café or restaurant for hot chocolate, or an end-of-walk admission ticket to the VAG or Science World.

(16) Surprise them with some random market magic. Still searching for some stocking-stuffers? You’ve just scored yourself a great opportunity to support Vancouver’s market scene. The annual Christmas Market occupies Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza between now and December 24. For the foodie on your list, there’s the weekly Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium – every Saturday from 10am-2pm). And if you want to go all-in, wander over to Granville Island for any number of specialty gifts.

(17) A membership with Modo – A casual membership to Modo (formerly the Car Co-op) costs $50 and gives you access to a range of vehicles for those times when you actually do need a car (which, for lots of folks, isn’t as as often as they think). It turns out that the self-same membership also gives you a bunch of other perks as well.

And this presents us with another great avenue of gift giving to share…

(18) A membership in another co-operative! You’ve probably heard about co-op housing before, but there are also a good number of co-ops that sell goods and services around town. These include the aforementioned Modo and ever-popular MEC, as well as smaller ones like the Vancouver Tool Library or East End Food Co-op. Co-ops are a good place to shop for those who want to support locally owned, member-driven organizations that operate with a concern for community. Buying a membership in a co-op is a great investment and a smart gift – and will turn your holiday gift exchange into a gala event!

If you’ve got other public space gift ideas, please send them our way – via info [at] vancouverpublicspace [dot] ca.

Thanks to  Mike, Kevin, Paola, Julian and Kathleen for their contributions to this post.

 The City of Vancouver will host the following ceremonies to recognize the contribution our Veterans have made and to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Canada.

As it has for the past three years, the Generation to Generation ceremony will begin the day with the lighting of the cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza:

When: 8 am Monday, November 11, 2013
Where: Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Convention Centre

As the cauldron comes to life, a senior veteran will handover Canada’s flag to a member of the next generation of veterans, acknowledging the continuing service and loyalty of Canadians from generation to generation.

Regimental units taking part in this year’s ceremony include 50 members of the 39 Canadian Brigade and HMCS Discovery. RCMP officers will stand as sentries while the all-Cadet Vancouver Flag Party marches in.

Flt. Sergeant Tony Zhao of the Pegasus Air Cadet Sqn. 111 will sound the Last Post and Reveille. Pipe Major Alistair Pattison of the BC Regiment Pipes and Drums will pipe the Lament. The cauldron will be extinguished at 11 am, coinciding with Two Minutes of Silence at Victory Square.

At Victory Square, Vancouver’s main Remembrance Day Ceremony and Parade will begin:

When: 10 am Monday, November 11, 2013
Where: Cenotaph at Victory Square
West Hastings Street, between Cambie and Hamilton

The program begins with a performance by the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande starting at 10 am. Led by the Vancouver Flag Party, the parade of veterans, military marching units and bands will arrive at Victory Square before the ceremony begins at 10:30 am. At 11 am the Last Post will be sounded. There will be Two Minutes of Silence, during which a 21-gun salute by the 15^th Field Artillery Regiment will be heard from Portside Park. Rouse and Lament will follow. The RCAF will conduct a fly-past moments later, weather permitting. The enduring In Flanders Fields will then be sung by the Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande and wreaths will be placed at the Cenotaph.

The combined bands of the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service and the Regimental Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada will perform, after which the parade march-off begins. The parade proceeds west along Hastings Street, turning right at Richards Street, east on Cordova, then south on Cambie and marching past the reviewing stand at Victory Square.

In addition to the above ceremonies, Remembrance Day observances will take place in different communities throughout the city including:

• South Memorial Park – Ceremony commences at 10:30 am at Memorial Park Cenotaph, 41st Avenue and Windsor Street
• Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park – Ceremony commences at 10:40 am at the Japanese Canadian Cenotaph in Stanley Park
• Grandview Park – Ceremony commences at 10:45 am at Grandview Park,1657 Charles Street at Commercial Drive
• Royal Vancouver Yacht Club – Ceremony commences at 11 am at The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, 3811 Point Grey Road, and can be viewed by the public from Hastings Mill Park
• CRAB Park at Portside – Ceremony commences at 10:30 am
• Chinatown Memorial – Ceremony commences at 12:30 pm at the Chinatown Memorial Square, Keefer at Columbia

Aboriginal Veterans will hold a ceremony at the Victory Square Cenotaph on November 8, National Aboriginal Veterans Day. A march will get underway at the Carnegie Centre at 10:15 am and proceed to Victory Square. The official ceremony begins at 10:45 am.

The Remembrance Day Service at Victory Square event is organized by the Vancouver Remembrance Day Committee, a volunteer group established by the City in the 1940s with the mandate to conduct the November 11 ceremony on behalf of its citizens.

Skating at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto

Nathan Phillips Square, located at the forefront of Toronto’s iconic City Hall building, is a popular place for residents and visitors alike. It’s where the city’s recent New Year’s festivities took place and it also plays host to concerts and other civic activities throughout the year. There’s even a lovely (if often lonely) speaker’s corner located on the SW corner, inspired by the one in London’s Hyde Park, that was installed in the late 1980s.

But in winter time, the big draw is the outdoor skating rink. Kids have field trips to the place, office workers pop over for a few quick turns before work or on lunch break… and late at night it’s not uncommon for a game of shinny to break out.

The day after I landed in Toronto, my nine year-old godson and I felt that it was appropriate for him to take a day off school so we could check it out. Neither of us skate very well but it was great fun nonetheless, even if the really young kids were doing circles around us. We had a good run at things… and used the outing as an excuse for an unholy meal of hot chocolate and poutine afterwards.

Cities, skating and the wintertime of gendered space.

Later that night I was thinking about the popularity of the outdoor rinks at Nathan Phillips and home, in Vancouver, at Robson Square. Both these, and the many other outdoor rinks that you find in places where people entertain themselves with the coldness of winter, have been part of public consciousness for some time. Indeed, the rinks are important enough that they occupy some of our most central, most important public spaces of northern cities.

(In many respects the presence of ice skates also stands as part of our Canadian identity. Hockey may be our national game, but the primary tool of hockey – the skates that people whiz around on – allow the cultural component to travel even further.)

A few months ago I had the chance to hear Adam Gopnik deliver one of his five-part series of Massey lectures out at UBC. The theme of the quintet was winter (“Five windows on the season“) and Gopnik’s lectures focused in particular on the changing perceptions that people have had to ‘the bleak season.’ And, rather unexpectedly at the time, the UBC portion I attended zeroed in on the rise of winter sports such as skating.

Urban skating, according to Gopnik, came to the fore in the middle of the 19th century with the introduction of the one piece skate. (Prior to that, whenever you went skating you had to manually strap blade to boot). And with this change “skating became less laborious than it had ever been; more people skated.” But it was also, says Gopnik, “a social change.”

The mid-1800s, after all, saw markedly different gender roles for men and women – which often manifested themselves in the actual spaces that each were supposed to occupy. This ‘doctrine of separate spheres’ meant that certain components of the public realm were seen as more or less off limits to women of proper virtue, where conversely the private sphere (in particular the domestic space of the home) was seen as being more appropriately feminine.

Into this environment came ice-skating, which, says Gopnik “… was one of the few things urban people could do in public as an acceptable form of flirtation and sexual display.” It was recreation, but it immediately recognized – and accepted – as being much more than that.

Indeed, ice-skating seemed to be one of the things that confronted the notion of segregated spaces for men and women. It shifted the terrain and appears to actually mark a point of transition in how public space was used by people of both genders.

When Central Park was built by Olmsted and Vaux in 1861 there were two separate areas for skating – one in front of what’s now the Dairy and a ladies’ pond over on the west side, not too far from where the Dakota is now. The ladies’ pond was meant for ladies – it was in operation for about ten years and then was closed and later drained because not enough people wanted to skate there. The idea of there being a separate female pond was so against the purpose of skating that it was left virtually unused. The Great Rink, on the other hand, became a place where, hard as it is to believe, as many as thirty thousand people were said to come on a Saturday afternoon to skate or to watch.

I wondered if any of this dynamic was apparent in Vancouver… and for that matter, what the history of skating in this city looked like.

Skating in the new city.

Given Vancouver’s relative newness, it’s not surprising that the history of the sport is at least as old as the city itself. A skating rink was in operation in 1887, a year after the City was incorporated. And for much of the city’s history the winters would often get cold enough that people could skate on either Lost Lagoon or Trout Lake – something that hasn’t happened for some years.

But as for the gender aspect, it’s hard to tell. The oldest image of skating is likely this one – from the early 1890s. It shows a group of rather stately men skating and standing about on Trout Lake.

Men Skating on Trout Lake, Cedar Cottage, 189–?, Item #M-3-11.3

There’s less than a handful of photographs from the 19th century, all of which predominantly (though not exclusively) feature men. Not a great sample to work with. But then, nine years hence, a picture from 1900 shows this elegant couple arm in arm – also at Trout Lake:

Man and Woman Skating on Trout Lake, 1900, Item #: SGN 870

Now, just for fun, a leap further into the 20th century. Fast forward four decades and you can see the marked change in fashions and frivolity. Here’s another shot from Trout Lake in 1929 taken for the Star newspaper (notice all the trees are gone!). A row of men and women, all holding hands, skates towards the camera.

Skaters on Trout Lake, 1929, Item #:CVA 99-1900

And here’s a snap of four fashionable young ladies taken for the same paper. Perhaps it captures a bit of the essence of public display and flirtation that Gopnik writes about. If nothing else, I think the gentleman behind them is hoping to catch their eye.

Skaters at Trout Lake, 1929, Item #: CVA 99-1902

And here’s another picture from the same year down at Lost Lagoon. It may not be 30,000 people, but that’s quite the crowd skating about.

Skating, Lost Lagoon, 1929, Item #: CVA 99-1976

My cursory research – if you can call it that – didn’t turn up anything conclusive on the question of separate spheres and skating in Vancouver… but it’s an interesting enough issue that I’ll do some more digging on my next trip to the Archives or Museum.

It did, however, raise another question. Is public recreational (and non-hockey-related) skating still as popular as it used to be? Gopnik’s essays speak to a decline in the sport, but in Vancouver it’s also hard to tell since it seems like many of the spaces that were once used for outdoor rinks aren’t anymore… if for no other reason than the fact that it’s not been cold enough.

What do you think? If you’ve got some skating stories from Vancouver (or elsewhere) please post them here.

• Friday July 15 & Saturday July 16 (and beyond) – VPSN Viva – Laser Graffiti
• Monday July 25 – Robson Square / Downtown Public Realm – Project Meeting – 6:00pm
• Wednesday, July 27 – VPSN Evening Picnic at Kensington Park – 6:00-10:00pm

OTHER EVENTS

• Friday July 15 – Sunday July 17 (and beyond)- Viva Vancouver – Public Space Events
• Friday July 15 – Vancouver Design Nerds – Viva Collingwood Jam – 6:30pm-9:30pm
• Friday July 15, Saturday July 16 – August 20 – CO-LAB: A Workshop + Exhibition Project
• Saturday July 16 – eatART: Power the VAG – 10am to 6pm.
• Saturday July 16 – Grand Opening – Vancouver Tool Library – 11:00am – 4:00pm
• Saturday July 16 – Robson Square Art Market – 12:00-5:00pm
• Saturday July 16 – Parks Day 2011 – 12:00-8:30pm
• Saturday July 16 – Vancouver Waterfight – 1:00-4:00pm
• Sunday July 17 – Salsa at Robson Square – 3:00-7:00pm
• Sunday July 17 – Remixology 6 – 6:00-9:00pm

Fasten your bike helmets and say a few prayers for nice weather… because this weekend is packed full of public space goodness.

But before we get to planning your social calendar for you, the first few items to pass along are quick updates on some key VPSN activities:

VPSN EVENTS & PROJECTS

Friday July 15 & Saturday July 16 (and beyond) – VPSN Viva – Laser Graffiti

As we noted yesterday, starting tonight, the VPSN is hosting the first of several evenings of laser graffiti! Want to know more? Come on out and try your hand at tagging building walls with digital paint and lasers. It’s all part of some work that we’re doing as part of the Viva Vancouver program – and undertaken in collaboration with the Liveable Laneways crew.

We’ll be in the Mt. Pleasant area this weekend and next, both Friday & Saturday evenings between 9:30pm – 11pm. Find us in the alley behind the Lee Building (NW corner of Main & Broadway).

Be sure to check out our location map to see where we’ll be projecting as there are several potential locations we’ll be visiting in the neighborhood. We’ll update the map with times and locations in real time, so you’ll be able to find us pretty easily.

:: More information – jaspal [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca
:: VPSN Laser Graffiti Map

Monday July 25 – VPSN Expanding Robson Square / Downtown Public Realm – Project Meeting – 6:00pm

The VPSN is continuing its work to secure the 800-block of Robson Street as part of an expanded Robson Square. At the same time, we’ve got a some research and advocacy work underway to support the creation of a downtown public realm plan. We need lots of help with this and will be holding an information and planning meeting to look at these initiatives in more detail.

Weather permitting we’ll be meeting outside on the north steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery. (Rain location TBD). Please RSVP so that we can get a sense of numbers.

:: RSVP to info [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca

Wednesday, July 27 – VPSN Evening Picnic at Kensington Park – 6:00-10:00pm

Kensington Park is a gem among the city’s parks and gardens. Located at Knight and 33rd, it affords visitors one of the nicest panoramic views to be had – a vast sweep that allows the eye to take in quiet residential neighbourhoods, the modern architecture of downtown, and the North Shore mountains… all in one go. 

Join us for a mid-week picnic in the park and check out this stunning spot. We’ll have some BBQs, hotdogs and burgers, and games to play. Come out and meet other public space enthusiasts, participate in a friendly round of bocce, and learn about a few of the exciting projects we have lined up for the fall. The event is FREE but please register so we can get a sense of numbers. BYO drinks.

:: RSVP – info [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca
OTHER COOL PUBLIC SPACE EVENTS

Friday July 15 – Sunday July 17 (and beyond)- Viva Vancouver – Various Public Space Events

This week sees more Viva Vancouver excitement roll out. The City’s Summer Spaces program has sponsored the creation of a number of temporary public space transformations, many of which are launching this weekend. Among the various interventions planned are art markets, laneway transformations and pop-up cafes in Mt. Pleasant, an artist’s plaza in Cambie Village, an upcoming community plaza in Joyce Collingwood (see next item) and the Granville Street activation in Downtown. All this and as well as mobile theatre, art installations and a few other surprises as well… including some cool VPSN lasers (see above)!

:: For more information – Viva Vancouver Website

Friday July 15 – Vancouver Design Nerds – Viva Collingwood Jam – 6:30pm-9:30pm

On Friday July 15th, please join the Vancouver Design Nerds for a focused jam to generate ideas and plans for a three week festival to be held around the under utilized spaces around Joyce-Collingwood Skytrain Station. The festival is built around the concept of a temporary plaza that will engage and inspire neighbours and commuters alike.

The Jam will take place at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (5288 Joyce Street). The easy walk from Joyce Skytrain Station will give you a chance to observe the site! Potluck / BYOB / + selection of brews will be available a la cash bar.

:: More information – Vancouver Design Nerds Facebook Page

Friday July 15, Saturday July 16 – August 20 – CO-LAB: A Workshop + Exhibition Project

CO-LAB is a cross-disciplinary workshop and exhibition project that focuses on sound, collaboration and the gallery’s physical location. City-related themes and a format strong on public participation. The exhibition features the three new works based on the workshop: Noise/De-noise by Julie Gendron and Emma Hendrix, Map Sense by Germaine Koh and Gillian Jerome, and Vertical City by Andrew Lee and Jennifer Schine. Opens Friday, July 15, 8pm. Co-presented by Centre A and Vancouver New Music. The exhibition runs from July 16 through to August 20. Centre A Gallery (Hastings and Carrall).

:: More information – Centre A Website

Saturday July 16 – eatART: Power the VAG – 10am to 6pm

The Annual Energy Awareness Art Party takes place in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and includes a pedal powered sound system and an unforgettable outdoor dance party! The event will showcase giant zero emissions kinetic sculptures: Daisy the solar-powered tricycle, Gramorail, the Mondo Spider, Prosthesis, and Titanoboa.

:: eatART Facebook Event Page 

Saturday July 16 – Grand Opening – Vancouver Tool Library – 11:00am – 4:00pm

Libraries make the coolest public spaces, which is why we’re especially pleased to pass on news of this new initiative:

The Vancouver Tool Library will be officially opening on July 16th, 2011! A fun celebration is planned for the big day – free mini workshops on planter gardening and box building (11am-1pm) and bike maintenance (11:30 & 1:30), as well as shop tours, member sign-ups and and collecting tool donations. Enjoy live music and a $5 BBQ lunch, all proceeds support the VTL. You can find the Vancouver Tool Library at 3448 Commercial Street. 

:: Vancouver Tool Library Facebook Page

Saturday July 16 – Robson Square Art Market – 12:00-5:00pm

Held in the underground plaza at Robson and Howe (where the skating rink is situated). A unique outdoor shopping experience showcasing local artisans. Held every weekend.

:: More information – www.robsonsquaremarket.com

Saturday July 16 – Parks Day 2011 – 12:00-8:30pm

Head over to Brockton Point in Stanley Park to celebrate Parks Canada’s and BC Parks joint 100th Anniversary. The free family event features lots of stuff related to our amazing parks and protected areas, workshops in camping, hiking, surfing and fishing, appearances by Olympian Maelle Ricker, and a special Kids Zone. And between 5:00-8:30 you can enjoy a free concerns with K’Naan.

:: More information – Parks Canada – Parks Day Vancouver Webpage

Saturday July 16 – Vancouver Waterfight – 1:00-4:00pm

Who wants to have a waterfight this summer? Raise your hands, and pull your trigger finger, cause we’re going to get soaked. Totally saturated! And no one is going to stop, ’til this town runs dry! The annual super-soaker showdown takes place at Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park. Before you load up, be sure to check out the Code of Conduct on their Facebook page

:: Check out last years photos for additional incentive – Vancouver Waterfight WebPage

Sunday July 17 – Salsa at Robson Square – 3:00-7:00pm

One-two-three one-two-three… Help infuse Robson with some Latin flare and learn a few seet moves in the process. Take in a free salsa lesson at 3:00pm and check out the salsa show at 5:00. Every Sunday in July and August. Beginners welcome. Lots of fun!

:: More information – www.SalsaVancouver.net

Sunday July 17 – Remixology 6 – 6:00-9:00pm

Join the FreshMedia crew and come on out for a fantastic panel of arts and social change makers set to talk about all the things they’re doing to refresh our public space. ReMixology 6 is breaking in a brand new space – the Vinegar Factory (1009 East Cordova)! (Note that the venue is smaller than past Remixology events. If you haven’t signed up on Eventbrite yet, make sure you get your ticket!)

:: Register to attend – http://remixology6.eventbrite.com/

One of the most enjoyable exercises in public space planning and advocacy is trying to dream up new uses for ‘old’ spaces. It keeps spaces vital and fresh… and allows different constituents to make use of our city’s common assets for a range of activities.

Often times spaces get designed with one use in mind… but with a little imagination can be repurposed into another. Think of parking spaces turned into miniparks, or Robson Square turned into a breakdancing practice space. The transformations are often temporary, fleeting, and gone before you know it… a brief intervention in the urban landscape.

The VPSN’s Josh Paterson came across this one last night – a bike party beneath the Stanley Park entranceway (near Georgia). Here, a common concrete underpass becomes the scene for a great bike party. Fun stuff!

(With props to the Velopalooza crew – at least we think it was you – for making this happen).