Should urban planners consider the benefits of pets? Is living in Vancouver making you feel disconnected, lonely, or possibly unhealthy? We are led to believe it is a big problem here. Organizations such as the Vancouver Foundation have released survey results that suggest we have a neighbourliness deficit. Even the Mayor felt compelled to strike a task force to […]
Originally published in Vancouver Courier. Photo by Dan Toulgoet. The weather on New Year’s Day in Vancouver was crisp and gloriously bright — the perfect conditions for outdoor chores like taking down Christmas lights. Or, in my case, it also meant grabbing tongs and a pail to scour my block for coffee cups, bus tickets, […]
Digital placemaking can put some “there” there in your neighbourhood There’s evidence that our community connections are made more tenuous by modern urban living. There was a time when the neighbourhood school and local church stitched together the fabric of community. Today a parent is just as likely to enroll their child out of the […]
Urban planning discussions focus on bike lanes and active lives. But what about old folks? “Some day,” I quipped at the announcement of my candidacy for city councillor in May of last year, “I hope to be an old man. My bootcamp instructor, however, says I already am one.” The politics of our aging society […]
Don’t dub Fraser as ‘the new Main Street’ – it’s got a character all its own A little weekend sunshine was all I needed to spend a few hours strolling one of Vancouver’s oldest and most storied thoroughfares: Fraser Street. Though I’ve lived in every corner of Vancouver throughout my life, Fraser Street has been […]
Vancouver at dusk The following candidate profile was posted originally at Straight.com on November 3rd… Vancouver, I think we can all agree, is one of the most wonderful cities in the world to live. We all love our city and want Vancouver to be safe, clean, green, and fun. We’re proud of the place we […]