Metro Vancouver, a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation, relies on consensus decision-making by nominated councillors to direct its planning and activities. The urgent issues of our times—climate change, Land Rights, housing, transportation/transit—require decisive regional action. Would an empowered regional government, directly elected by the region, be more effective and accountable?
First established as a loop around Stanley Park in 1980, the extended Seawall now stretches 28 kilometers. Despite its heavy usage, it is served by few commercial activities. Is the Seawall a beloved public realm success story or boring strip of pavement for single-use recreation? Should the Seawall continue to resist any further “revitalization”, or should more commercial activities be encouraged to foster a greater variety of activities?
Around the world, people are calling for the renaming of places and the removal of monuments honouring racist colonial figures. Does erasing the historical markers inadvertently diminish the opportunities for current and future generations to remember and meaningfully confront our history? Or does removing the offensive markers enable a more productive dialogue? In that case, who decides which markers to remove, what happens to them, and what, if anything, replaces them?
What are the key urban design initiatives your city plan has introduced to foster deeper community resilience? What jurisdictional tools have been most effective in making these initiatives happen?
In the fifth and final lecture of this series, we are bringing five renowned speakers together in a panel format to explore the ways our parks and public space system create resilience and wellbeing in our communities. Panelists will present their topics, followed by a moderated discussion with the audience. This event will end with a hosted reception in the lobby of UBC Robson Square.
Should citizens be more empowered to decide what gets built and where in Vancouver? Or is the process already too prone to public pressures, stifling the creativity, knowhow and vision that professional planners are hired to provide?
Vancouver allows a lot of wiggle room in its zoning requirements to be able to negotiate trade-offs with developers. That can spawn public amenities, but sometimes public backlash as well. Time to stop this “spot zoning” and nail down a city-wide plan?
Can market forces provide the range of housing options needed for all of Vancouver’s population? If not, is that a problem? Should the government fill the gaps? Where has this worked, or not?
Is Vancouver and its region too quick or too slow to build towers? Are they good or bad for livability and green aims? Are towers the future or past their prime?
How and where will Vancouver and its region accommodate increased population?
In densifying neighbourhoods, where do issues of fairness, democracy, ecology, and community preservation come into play?
Should any community preservation come into play? Shold any areas be off limits?