public education 2 comments

A march in defense of public education Sunday April 1, 2012, Vancouver Art Gallery

By on April 1st, 2012


more photos
Monday morning update: Opps, march was organized by Occupy Education.

In yet another page in the book of growing inequalities in Canadian society students from the Canadian Federation of Students BC and other supporters of public education rallied at the Vancouver Art Gallery to raise the issue of increased student debt from higher tuition fees and the lack of direct support to students and post-secondary education by government.

Here is a link to the Canadian Federation of Students BC with a lot of content on the issue:CFSBC

The Canadian Federation of Students-BC, represents 150,000 university and college students in the province and has a launched a new campaign entitled Education Shouldn’t be a Debt Sentence.

It would be a troubling trend if the wealthy were the only ones who could be able to afford university because of the high cost of tuition and the lack of progressive grants and loan programs from different levels of government. Access to education should be based on merit and also be used as a tool to aid social mobility as well as to better integrate different elements of Canadian society. This requires that government take action on adequately funding post secondary education.

City of Vancouver, planning, Vancouver City Council No comments yet

West End Mayor’s Advisory Committee (WEMAC) Recommendations – 2011 Community Priorities Survey

By on March 21st, 2012

Mayor Gregor Robertson’s Advisory Committee (MEMAC) recommendations that were dated March 17, 2012, will be considered by Vancouver City Council’s Standing Committee on Planning, Transportation and Environment at its meeting on:

DATE:    Wednesday, March 28, 2012
TIME:    9:30 am
PLACE:    Council Chamber
Third Floor, City Hall

The agenda for the meeting and the relevant report can be viewed at: Meeting Agenda no later than the Friday preceding the meeting.  Hard copies will also be available upon request at that time.
WEMAC Report

If you wish further information on this matter, please contact Kevin McNaney at 604.871.6851.  If you wish to address the Standing Committee, please call me at 604.873.7191, by 1:00 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.  Please note speakers are requested to limit their comments to no longer than five minutes. Continue reading West End Mayor’s Advisory Committee (WEMAC) Recommendations – 2011 Community Priorities Survey →

City of Vancouver No comments yet

Play, live, work and die in Vancouver. 2000 spots open up at the Vancouver Cemetery.

By on March 15th, 2012

a view of the Vancovuer Cemetery from the CoV website

On the City of Vancouver’s website the Vancouver Cemetery has announced that 2000 new spots have opened up.
Vancouver Cemetery

The announcement states the following:

“Vancouver’s only cemetery is located west of Fraser Street between 31st and 43rd Avenues. The cemetery’s beautiful vistas and central location make it a place where many Vancouverites have chosen to honour the memories of their family and friends, and go for quiet contemplation. It’s a unique, open space where city history is preserved.

Owned and operated by the City of Vancouver since 1886, Mountain View is made up of 106 acres of land with approximately 92,000 grave sites and 145,000 interred remains.

For the first time in more than 23 years Vancouver’s only cemetery has new spaces available for purchase. The award winning construction project at Mountain View Cemetery has resulted in more than 2,000 new spaces available for cremated remains.”

Not surprising given Vancouver aspirations to be the “Greenest City”, Vancouver Cemetery is a member of the Green Burial Council, which has established more environmental safer practices of burial that do not require embalming, expensive vault lids or a concrete box. One can even be buried in a shroud.

The Vancouver cemetery is proud to state: “Since its opening in 1887 Mountain View Cemetery has had few restrictions on burials leaving the majority of decisions to individual choice.”

housing No comments yet

My letter to my MP, the Hon. Dr. Hedy Fry on the spring budget and FCM recommendations

By on March 13th, 2012

13 March 2012

Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry MP

hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca

Re: Federation of Canadian Municipalities recommendations to develop more affordable housing in Vancouver

Dear Dr. Fry:

As you know, Mayor Gregor Robertson, in his capacity as the Chair of Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FMC), is calling on the Federal Government in its spring budget to allocate funds to create more affordable housing.

Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada to live in. The City of Vancouver (CoV) and the Province of British Columbia have been taking steps to solve the homelessness crisis. In 2005, the CoV passed its Homeless Action Plan, which had 87 recommendations for all levels of government.  The plan was updated in 2008 with specific policy recommendations for the Federal Government to create more affordable housing including the recommendation to develop a national housing plan. The CoV also made the following 3 recommendations: Continue reading My letter to my MP, the Hon. Dr. Hedy Fry on the spring budget and FCM recommendations →

housing, Vancouver City Council Comments turned off

Affordable Housing: What the Federal Government could do in the next budget to improve the situation

By on March 13th, 2012

The spring budget

In 2005, the City of Vancouver (CoV) passed its Homeless Action Plan, which had 87 recommendations for all levels of government. The plan was updated in 2008 with specific policy recommendations for the Federal Government to create more affordable housing including the recommendation to develop a national housing plan. The CoV also made the following 3 recommendations: Continue reading Affordable Housing: What the Federal Government could do in the next budget to improve the situation →

public art, Vancouver Park Board No comments yet

Vancouver Park Board wants to know if “A-Maze-Ing Laughter” has a home in English Bay

By on March 8th, 2012

"A-Maze-Ing Laughter" by Yue Minjun in Morton Park down in English Bay Vancouver's West End

More photos

The Vancouver Parks Board has received an offer from the Vancouver Biennale Foundation to extend the public exhibition of this sculpture for a period of 20 years at no cost to the City, the Vancouver Parks Board or residents.

As part of the approval process, Vancouver Parks Board is doing a public consultation, asking residents if they support the idea.

If you want to participate in the process email the Park Board at pbcomment@vancouver.ca. and give them your feedback. Put “Biennale Consultation” in the subject line.

The deadline is March 16th.

Events, public education No comments yet

Rally to protect public education, Wednesday March 7, 2 pm, Vancouver Art Gallery

By on March 6th, 2012


Photos from the rally

A rally was organized by Vesta Teachers at the Vancouver Art Gallery this Wednesday March 7, at 2 pm.


I participated in the rally in support of teachers and public education on Wednesday March 7 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. There were easily a couple of thousand folks out on the plaza supporting the teachers.

Both of my daughters attend public schools and I attended in support of our teachers for all their efforts in teaching my girls over the years. Their school attendance mirrors the time that the BC Liberals have had their hands on the controls of government and public education. This is the second strike that my daughters’ education has had to endure. Continue reading Rally to protect public education, Wednesday March 7, 2 pm, Vancouver Art Gallery →

public education No comments yet

Parents and students rally in support of teachers-Kevin Washbrook speaks on behalf of parents

By on March 5th, 2012

public education No comments yet

Photos from parents and students rally in support of teachers

By on March 5th, 2012


Photos from the rally

Events, public education No comments yet

Rally today 10 a.m. – Parents rally for teachers & education system, Christy Clark’s MLA office

By on March 5th, 2012


For immediate release

March 5 2012

Parents rally for teachers, education system at Christy Clark’s constituency office.

10 a.m today — Monday March 5

3615 W 4th Ave, Vancouver — the constituency office of Premier Christy Clark.

Parents of students in the riding of Vancouver Point Grey will deliver collected letters of support for education system funding and a fair, negotiated settlement for teachers to the constituency office of their MLA, Premier Christy Clark, at 10 a.m. today.

Parents and students from other schools are expected to join the rally in support of teachers at the constituency office at 10 a.m. Students will be invited to read their letters to the Premier and Education Minister George Abbott.

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For further details: Kevin Washbrook, 778.848.8278