The VSBC would like to congratulate all of the winners in Vancouver’s municipal election. We appreciate those who took the time to complete our survey and want to highlight your responses to our questions.
Park Board Commissioners, CIty Councillors, and the Mayor are central figures in our city. These individuals are meant to listen to residents and act as their voice, ensuring that Vancouver’s parks, streets, services, and amenities best serve all of the city’s communities. The VSBC looks forward to working with you on making Vancouver a better, more skateboard friendly city.
MAYOR
STEWART, Kennedy
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs? “I would work with your organization to understand the needs of the skateboarding community in terms of recreational space and facilities.” The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community.
If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders? “I would work with the skateboarding community, Parks Board and other recreational organizations to consider accessible spaces and parks around the City.”
Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality? “I would review the issue and consult with your organization to make this type of space a reality for skateboarders.”
COUNCILLOR
FRY, Pete
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs? “Exercise and skill development obviously. Community development is another big (but under appreciated by many) value. I have decades long friendships from the China Creek scene, and I know that underlying multigenerational values and teaching like sharing and camaraderie can come from skate parks, where things are a lot less judge-y especially for kids who may not fit in to the “mainstream” mold. Cultural and Economic development is another value, via art and tourism, but also through creating a scene and nurturing successful local entrepreneur-types like PD and Sluggo.”
The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders? “Some of this might be more a Park and Recreation Board than City Council issue. I do see an opportunity to streamline licensing and by-laws for indoor skate areas. also considering skateboard facilities as a public benefit on new developments as applicable. I’m curious about city spots that aren’t parks per se that might be purposed for street skating (like Burnside in Portland), without necessarily folding into Park Board jurisdiction (like the Plaza under the viaduct). These sorts of ideas would be best coming as recommendations from an (all ages, userled) Skateboard task force, which I would be supportive of creating to help with needs assessment and strategic planning for more, diverse and wider located facilities,”
Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality? “Yes, as above this might be an opportunity where city council could help, either with permits and licensing or through allocation of public benefits. As above, would be best determined by a skateboard task force.”
WIEBE, Michael
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs?“The skateboarding community needs to be recognized as a significant stakeholder in every community plan to meet their needs.” The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community.”If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“I will be supportive of the recommendations in the upcoming skateboarding strategy and ensure it is properly funded.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“Yes, I would be supportive of an indoor skateboard facility to close a major recreation gap in the city.”
YAN, Brandon and BOYLE, Christine
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs?“Christine’s 4 year old just got his first skateboard, so she’s excited to be a new member of the skateboarding community. We both believe it’s important for cities to have public spaces to gather and play. Skateboarding is a creative, fun, community-focused activity that we want people to be able to participate in, in their communities. We’re keen to advocate for skate parks in neighbourhoodsacross the city that are welcoming and have great design.” The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“One of our key platform messages is Every Neighbourhood For Everyone, which means that every neighbourhood should have housing that works for all kinds of people. But, we believe that extends beyond housing. To increase liveability, to reduce our carbon emissions, and to get people forming better friendships and relationships, we think that we need to focus on neighbourhoods. That means we’d work on improving neighbourhood spaces, including neighbourhood skate parks.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“If we hear from folks in the skateboarding community that there is support for this, we’ll be glad to work with them to explore it. Again, we’re all for things that keep people active and enjoying the city.”
PARKS
MACKINNON, Stuart
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs? “My experience of skateboarders and the Skateboard Coalition has shown them to be responsible fun people of all ages, incomes, and ethnicities. Skateboarders interact with each other like a family. The respect and care of each other within the community is truly impressive. Whether a novice or an experienced member, everyone is welcomed. It is this inclusivity that draws me to the community.”The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“I would advocate for more space within our parks for skateboard activities and for a network of skate parks connected by streets that can accommodate skateboarders across the city.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“I support infrastructure that allows recreation year-round. Consulting with the actual stakeholders is the first step in determining the need for more infrastructure as well as the kind and location.”
DEMERS, Dave
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs?“While I am not one myself, I have always found that skateboarders animate, activate our urban space like few other citizens. Skateboarding seems to have evolved as the ultimate urban sport. Otherwise, I am not going to pretend to know what the community needs : the one thing I can do, however, is to promise to listen to your needs and ideas so I can then give them a voice on the Board.”The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“As mentioned above, I would first and foremost listen. By the very existence of this survey, it seems like the community is well organized already. I am sure you have ideas of what you need and where: this should be considered in future planning. It has always been a core value of the Green Party of Vancouver to prioritize needs of the community where they need it and I, as a Commissioner, would honour this tradition.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“An indoor skateboard facility sounds like a legitimate request. I fear it is not the duty of a Commissioner to drop in such specific request in the planning process but I would happily voice and promote such request if it were to come to me from the community…”
DUMONT, Camil
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs?“I think everyone has pretty much the same value – I don’t think any one group is better or worse than any other. I like when people are getting outside, guiding community, being active and having fun. That applies as much to skateboarders as anyone else!”The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“I am big “community based research” person. I think understanding what a group (in this case the skateboard community) is looking to accomplish can and should direct research and policy as to how space can and should be used. That’s true for all stakeholders. Mostly you just have to ear people out and if what they’re proposing is responsive to community needs and can be executed safely & responsibly, I’m in.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“I think that could be great and I’d be open to supporting it for sure. The execution of that idea could take all sorts of different shapes so I’d have to see some sort of study, research, cost analysis and so on but the concept seems great. It rains a lot here, y’know?”
GIESBRECHT, Gwen
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs?“I believe that skateboarders have the same value as any other citizen. I would advocate for their needs in the same way I would advocate for anyone; with consideration of balancing one groups interest equitably with others.”The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“Through case by case consideration of proposals and the prevailing common purpose of the whole community, through consultation that includes the skateboarding community.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“I am not opposed to an indoor facility. My efforts to make this space a reality would be determined by the space/location and degree of support in that space/location”
IRWIN, John
What value do you consider skateboarders to hold in the city of Vancouver and how would you help advocate for this community’s needs?“Skateboarders are active transportation users (along with pedestrians and cyclists). Skate parks provide a place for riders to have fun, get exercise and polish their ‘tricks’. I support more skate parks for Vancouver.”The current infrastructure of skateboard amenities in Vancouver is not extensive enough to meet the needs of Vancouver’s diverse and burgeoning skateboard community. If elected, how would you help work towards a more extensive network of skateboard parks and other spaces accessible to skateboarders?“I would meet with your coalition and others to determine where these skate parks and facilities would be best located in our city’s park system.”Do you support the creation of an indoor skateboard facility and if elected, what efforts would you take to making this type of space a reality?“Yes, I support this initiative and I would work to include it in a future capital plan/new build/renovation process.”Comments Off on Municipal Election Updated list of Winners quotes
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