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”.

First it was one VV Commissioner taking personal credit for funding a new skateboard park and BMX track when this was funding that the COPE-dominated Board of 2002-05 put into the 2006-08 capital plan and now it’s VV’s recent politically-directed announcement of $80 million of capital spending which was a result of the good work the previous NPA-dominated Board had accomplished. See the media release below. Let me be clear – this is not an announcement of new funding.

June 21, 2010 |   No. 30

2010 capital budget marks significant investment

Tonight’s Vancouver Park Board meeting will consider a nearly $80 million capital budget, encompassing one of the largest annual investments in capital improvements and infrastructure in several years. This designation comes amidst financially challenging times for the board and council.

Through the 2010 capital budget, the Park Board has committed to renewal in three areas: parks, community recreation facilities and street tree planting. Major cost sharing opportunities with a number of  partners, including the federal government through stimulus funding, will allow the Park Board to accelerate its renewal plans and replace aging facilities sooner than otherwise would have been possible.

“In spite of some difficult decisions that the Board has had to make in the past fiscal year, we are proud to report this kind of commitment to maintaining and growing the facilities available for all,” said Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper. “This is the kind of long-term planning that will ensure access for Vancouver residents for decades to come.”

More than half of the capital budget will be spent on three spectacular facilities:

• The new visitor centre at VanDusen Botanical Garden – $19.4 million
• The new Trout Lake Community Centre – $18.75 million
• The conversion of the curling venue at Hillcrest Park to a new recreation complex – $11.35 million

Other significant and much needed investments will be made to:

• Seawall rehabilitation in Stanley Park and on English Bay – $7 million
• Building of four artificial playing fields at three locations (Trillium, Memorial South and Jericho) – $8 million
• Redevelopment of three neighborhood parks (Fraserview, Grandview and Norquay) – $3 million

The Park Board’s 2010 capital budget will maintain existing assets and improve and expand parks and recreation services for Vancouver residents.

- 30 -

So why would VV do this you might ask?  Vision Vancouver are in trouble.  They know that the $1.9 million cut to the operating budget that the VV Park Board caucus unanimously supported has had serious consequences such as the Bloedel Conservatory closure and elimination of valuable summer children’s programs.  The voters of Vancouver are smart and will see right through this.

Vancouver, BC – Park Commissioner Ian Robertson is questioning Vision Vancouver’s priorities as summer programs affecting hundreds of families across the city are cut.

Full-time summer programs at parks such as Burrardview Park are being cut which means popular children’s and youth programs along with the wading pool are eliminated for the summer.  As one Burrardview family wrote, “I urge you to advocate for our east Vancouver neighbourhood and reinstate the park program which brings our community together and benefits our most important people of all: our children”.

The Vision Vancouver dominated Park board presided over the largest budget cuts ever without questioning their colleagues on City Council. Now, with the effects of the cuts being felt city-wide, Robertson says Vision Vancouver has their priorities wrong.

“This is going to be a very quiet and troubling summer for many families with young children in Vancouver,” says Robertson.  “Vision Vancouver has slashed budgets for valuable summer programs that those families depend on while approving $20,000 plus staff time to ensure homeless chickens are cared for. What kind of vision is that?”

Late last year the Vision Vancouver Park Board caucus voted unanimously to cut $1.9 million from the Park Board budget.  $1.3 million of the reduction meant that valuable summer recreation programs that provide activities for children and youth were cut.

“Vision Vancouver has allocated $25 million to bike lanes that less than 4% of the population will use but they cannot find money for summer programs for Vancouver’s kids,” adds Commissioner Robertson.  “The funds allocated for homeless chickens would have funded two and a half summer recreation leaders for the summer”.