I’m not an architect or a planner but I am a resident who has had the good fortune to live in my Dunbar neighborhood for almost 25 years. We’ve raised our two boys here and we love the area, but I do not like what I see. I’m not talking about the demolition of older single-storey bungalows which are being replaced with larger homes … what I am talking about is the construction building of homes with a design that in no way fit into the character of the neighborhood.

Case in point – an ugly square, bunker-looking home that is being built in the 4000 block of West 33rd Avenue in Vancouver. I pass by it every weekend while walking my dog home from the park and I cringe. I cannot quite get over whatever would possess an architect to design such an ugly home. I am sure former Director of Planning, Brent Toderian was a fine individual but if he is responsible for allowing homes like this to be constructed, then in my opinion he deserved to be dismissed.

I have no problem with the demolition of older bungalows to make way for larger, energy efficient homes. I understand that change happens and we need to densify. What does concern me is the long-term impact these homes of dreadful design will have on protecting the character of our neighborhoods.

Maybe we need to bring in neighborhood design panels that would have the opportunity to see the design of a home and approve before it’s built. What do you think?

I want to especially recognize my colleagues from the NPA, John Coupar and Melissa De Genova and from VV, Niki Sharma and Trevor Loke who were successful in winning a seat at the Board table for the first time. A shout out to Constance Barnes, Sarah Blyth and Aaron Jasper who were returned for a second term. You all have been given the responsibility by the voters to preserve, advocate and protect our valuable Parks and recreation services. Remember this when you are making those important decisions at the Board table.

So what’s in store for me? Who knows! I’m going to remain open to all options that come my way.

For now, it’s time to reflect on the past six years; six years that have been some of the most rewarding years of my life.

Oh … and what about this website? It’s going to remain but it will look and feel a little different. Stay tuned!

“I am very proud of what I have accomplished over the past six years as a Park Commissioner in Vancouver”, says Robertson. “I was motivated to run in 2005 because of the lack of artificial turf fields in Vancouver. When I was elected we had none, now we have six new artificial turf fields plus two fields at Andy Livingstone Park have been re-surfaced”.

Ian Robertson was Chair of the Park Board during the wind storms that struck Stanley Park in 2006 and 2007 destroying over 10,000 trees and the world-famous seawall. “I am also proud of being Chair and leading it through one of its most challenging times in the Board’s history”, noted Robertson. Over $9 million was raised to support its recovery which led to an extensive and wide-reaching plan being developed that guided the restoration work.

“It’s time for me to focus on spending more time with my family and my career at Rocky Mountaineer. I am grateful to the residents of Vancouver for electing me to two terms and the opportunity to serve the city”.

Ian Robertson was first elected in 2005 and was Chair of the Park Board in 2007 and Vice Chair in 2006 and 2008. Ian was re-elected in 2008 and is the lone NPA Commissioner on the Park Board. During the current term he sits on the Park Board’s Planning and Environment and Services and Budgets committees. He also serves as liaison to the Grandview Community Centre (Trout Lake), Riley Park Community Centre, West Point Grey Community Centre, Dunbar Community Centre, Jericho Sailing Club and the Vancouver Aquarium.

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Unexpected extended business travel in Toronto will prevent me from being able to attend the special Council meeting tonight where I was registered to speak to you to voice my concerns as Park Commissioner regarding the proposed $1.030 million cut to the 2011 Park Board operating budget.

Over the past three operating budgets, the reduction to the Park Board operating budget has been just over $5.2 million – four times more than the previous eight years combined. I acknowledge that we are in challenging economic times however the residents of Vancouver have told you in a recent survey that parks and recreation services are in the top three of service areas that they do not want cut and in fact they want protected. Last year the Board was asked to reduce its budget by $3.9 million which meant we had to reduce recreation services – as a result valuable children’s summer programs were eliminated. Surely if Council can find $30,000 to spend on backyard chicken studies, we can find the money to spend on kids and families.

I have two major areas of concern with the proposed cuts to the 2011 Park Board operating budget – the introduction of user fees for youth sports leagues to access playing fields and the pending closures of washrooms during the September to March period.

Sports leagues across this city have expressed to me grave concern about the impact the introduction of user fees will mean to their ability to deliver valuable sports programs. As an example Little Leagues have written to me highlighting they will have to pay an additional $3000 to $5000 per year per league to access ball diamonds. Money spent on fees for field use is not money spent on equipment, uniforms and skill development This will have a significant impact on all children and youth leagues in all neighborhoods across the city.

The closure of washrooms during the late fall/winter period will have a significant impact on residents of all ages. Given Vancouver’s relatively mild climate – people are outdoors all year round. Think about our elderly and other people that are reliant upon a washroom being close at hand. What about soccer games that are played this time of year? What are players and spectators supposed to do? All other municipalities around Vancouver provide washroom facilities in their public parks and playing fields; why can’t Vancouver?

Vancouver is known across North America for its world-class parks and recreation services – I ask that you reconsider the unreasonable cut to the park board budget. Surely this Mayor and Council do not want to leave a legacy of destroying a park board that many administrations before you have valued and supported.

Thank you for your time.

Ian Robertson
Commissioner
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

In 2010 the Vision Vancouver park board caucus was unanimous in approving nearly $4 million in cuts which resulted in the elimination of critical summer programs for children and the closing of the Bloedel Conservatory.  Thanks to the valiant efforts of The Friends of the Bloedel and the outcry from thousands of residents across every corner of this city, the Bloedel was saved. 

 The Vision Vancouver park board caucus and council don’t get it when it comes to ensuring park board services and facilities need to be protected and advocated for. I’m convinced that if it were up to City Manager Penny Ballem, the current elected park board would be replaced with an appointed board.

Green Party Park Commissioner, Stuart Mackinnin and I are aligned on this issue – see our news release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 26, 2010

VISION VANCOUVER’S CUTS TO PARK BOARD BUDGET HIT HISTORIC HIGH

 Reductions to Park Board operating budget four times higher under Vision Vancouver’s watch

 Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Park Board Commissioners Ian Robertson and Stuart Mackinnon are calling on Vision Vancouver to return the park board’s operating budget to historic levels.  Since being elected in 2008 the Vision Vancouver park board caucus has slashed the Board’s operating budget more than four times more than the previous three boards combined. 

“This is another example of the Vision Vancouver park board caucus not advocating for the protection and adequate funding of the park board.  Clearly they are getting their marching orders from the Mayor’s office on how to vote.  It’s time they stand up and say no more cuts”, says Park Board Commissioner Ian Robertson. “It’s clear that the Mayor and his colleagues have decided that chicken coops and bike lanes are more important than community centre programs for children and the elderly. This shouldn’t be about politics, it should be about supporting families and the aged.”

“The Vision Vancouver commissioners have the opportunity this year to finally stand up to their city council comrades and say enough is enough. It is now time to start re-investing in our parks; time to encourage recreation”, adds Commissioner Mackinnon. “Times are tough—I know that. But when the economy is hardest hit is when people need their neighbourhood parks and recreational services the most”.

The board’s operating budget has been reduced by $5.3 million since 2009 versus $1.2 million in the previous eight years combined.  Recreation services has seen the biggest reduction within the board’s operating budget since Vision Vancouver took power with over $2 million being cut which has resulted in valuable children’s summer programs being eliminated.

Being a past-President of Dunbar Little League I recall some real nail-biters between Dunbar and Little Mountain.  Over the years we have shared a real rivalry so it’s great to see LMB win and move on to the Canadian’s.  Terry Bell from The Province did a great article on LMB’s win which you can read here.  Kudos out to CTV BC who ran extensive coverage of the tournament.

So the only thing left to say is “Go Little Mountain, Go!!

However for the record I did not support the motion for two reasons.  First, the Park Board has an agreement in place with the Aquarium to review this topic in 2015 and an agreement is an agreement.  To review this now, albeit a non-binding review would have greatly jeopardized the Aquarium’s chances of finalizing funding to complete their expansion plans. Second, the decision to have cetaceans at the Aquarium is not a ballot box question; it cannot be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’; there are shades of gray.  What do you do if a white-sided dolphin is injured off the coast?  If we do not permit cetaceans at the Aquarium then they cannot rescue and rehabiliate the dolphin and it would be left to die.  Commissioner Mackinnon has another view and I have posted a link to his blog here.

What I do want to comment on are the comments made by Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper that Commissioner Mackinnon’s motion was “reckless” and putting the Park Board at risk.  This statement is nonsense and was a despicable statement coming from the Chair.  The motion was vetted by the Acting Park Board General Manager and City Legal so in terms of being legal – it was.  As I stated to a number of media outlets during the week leading up to last Monday’s vote, I would have been surprised if Commissioner Mackinnon did not bring this to the Board sometime during his three year term.  This is a topic Stuart has been passionate about long before he became a Commissioner. 

While Commissioner Mackinnon and I are on opposite ends of this discussion I welcome these types of principled debates and discussions at the Board table.  What I did not welcome was the personal attack by the Chair towards another member of the Board.

Their proposal still keeps the Conservatory in public hands and managed by the Park Board but draws upon the incredible fundraising and marketing expertise demonstrated over a number of years by the VDGS.  In essence the FOTB and VDGS have joined forces – a match made in heaven.

What a roller coaster of a ride it has been over the past 6 months for the iconic Bloedel.  It wasn’t long ago that the Vision Vancouver Park Board caucus voted unanimously to close this landmark.  This is a real testament to the power of the people and letting elected politicians know what you really think.  Clearly Vision Vancouver underestimated residents’ reaction to their decision.  Thank you to all of you that phoned and e-mailed Commissioners, Councillors and the Mayor – you truly made a difference.

However much of the credit goes to the Friends of the Bloedel Board capably and passionately led by John Coupar.  Working with John were Sheryl Hamilton, Vicky Earle, Thomas Hobbs and Terri Clark (who I had the distinct pleasure of working with when she was with the park board Communications team and I was Chair).  Thank you for putting your lives on hold for the past six months and your passionate desire to keep the Blodel open for visitors to enjoy for many more years to come.

The final chapter will be written on Sep 20 when the Park Board officially votes to keep the Bloedel open – my money is on a unanimous 7-0 vote.

As I said on the Bill Good Show on Monday morning this issue had the potential to divide the city and that would be very, very unfortunate.  Since this story broke on July 1 I have received over 75 e-mails on this issue; 73 against changing the name and 2 for the change.  Clearly the public has spoken and we can move on to other important issues.

Now anyone who knows me will tell you I am one of the most tolerant people around but this name change thing has gone too far.  I’d like to think that most of us (me included) are very understanding and cognizant of the history and the deep connection the First Nations have with Stanley Park and much of Vancouver.  But what about the millions of immigrants who have come to Vancouver and have contributed to build and maintain this beautful park and our city?  Stanley Park belongs to everyone.

There are many other ways in which the First Nations history can be told in a very respective way.  Interpretive panels are one way, temporary displays like Klahowya Village set up near the miniature train are another.

I think Lord Stanley said it best when he opened the park and proclaimed, “to the use and enjoyment of all people of all colours creeds and customs for all time I name thee Stanley Park”.