Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart was the first to speak up in support of a proposal to begin the process of building and funding a SkyTrain from Surrey to Langley when it came to the table of TransLink’s mayor’s council yesterday. On Nov. 5, Surrey city council unanimously passed a resolution to suspend work on light rail... Continue Reading →
Vancouver school trustee pledges to sustain Indigenous focus school
Published in The Langara Voice A newly-elected Vancouver school board trustee has promised to secure ongoing funding and support for the city’s only Indigenous focus school. The continued operation of the Xpey’ elementary school in east Vancouver is only ensured through 2020. COPE trustee Barb Parrott, who started her term Nov. 5, included a promise... Continue Reading →
Mayor-elect Stewart has plans for Chinatown
Mayor-elect Kennedy Stewart says his campaign promise to establish a food street and farmer's market in Chinatown was a direct result of consultation with the community. The proposal, included in his platform, said when elected he would direct city staff to conduct consultation and start work on a pilot project to establish a "special economic... Continue Reading →
Stewart squeaks through, wins Vancouver mayor’s race by less than 1,000 votes
Penny N. Lim, one of the first supporters to arrive at Kennedy Stewart’s campaign celebration on election day, predicted that he would “squeak in” to win the Vancouver mayoral race. After a tense five and a half hour wait, her prediction came true. On Oct. 20, 2018 Stewart beat out the NPA’s Ken Sim by... Continue Reading →
Review of police street checks in Vancouver welcomed by advocates
Published in The Langara Voice Advocates say they are relieved that the Vancouver police’s street-check practices, which were intimidating and frightening for many Indigenous people, will be subject to an independent review. Lorelai Williams, an activist who also works with the Vancouver Aboriginal community policing centre, said the review should consider the historical roots of... Continue Reading →
Eastside community centre takes unique approach to getting out the vote
With some projecting record-low turnouts to vote in the Oct. 20 civic election, a Downtown Eastside community centre is focusing on an obscure part of the ballot in a campaign to get out the vote. Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre is trying to mobilize the community by drawing attention to one of three yes/no questions about the... Continue Reading →
East is east and west is west
The division of Vancouver into east and west is a simple fact. Avenues running the length of the city split into east and west at Ontario street. But the east west/divide in the city is deeper--it's historic, economic, and political. And nowadays, there's a wealth of merchandise that people can purchase if they want to... Continue Reading →