Comments on: Community centre presidents rally against cuts

By: Eric Harms

Eric Harms — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:55:33 +0000

@getreal,

Two points:

How in the world do you infer a ten percent tax increase from maintaining the present level of service at your Community Centre? Instead of ‘devouring services’, as you say, our centres actually provide services for all Vancouverites in an amazingly cost-effective way.

On my board, I count two directors (past Presidents both) who have rendered decades of extraordinary service to my neighbourhood even though neither resides in the city – for no personal benefit whatever. Although I am acquainted with James Gill, I have no idea where he lives. But, like my two confreres, he clearly enjoys the confidence of the majority of his association and of his board, or he wouldn’t hold the office he does. And, like his directors and the countless other volunteers that make his centre work, he gives his time and talents For Free.

And you think this is about asking for more?

Get real.

By: Not Running for Mayor

Not Running for Mayor — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:34:35 +0000

Britannia while not perfect is what we should have all out community centres be, such an efficient use of space, a community centre, high school, elem school, library all in one, sharing fields, resources. It’s a shame it’s not the standard.

By: Eric Harms

Eric Harms — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:13:32 +0000

@Anon 2:37 PM,

I’m unclear whether you’re confused about Community Centres, or seek to confuse. Regardless, I’ll clarify.

The Community Services Group – which can be found on the City website – is a department of the City and has nothing whatsoever to do with Park Board or Community Centres.

Twenty-two separate neighbourood-based, volunteer Associations, in partnership with Park Board, operate Community Centres citywide.

The sole exception to this model is Britannia in Grandview-Woodlands, which has a unique governance because it is part of a more extensive whole that also includes a Public Library, an elementary school, and a high school.

If you are a member of my Association, you are welcome to attend (next March) our AGM, where our auditor will give a complete, chapter-and-verse financial breakdown.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:38:49 +0000

I certainly appreciate your coverage of this issue Frances. It’s a bit complicated and has some history to it. For starters, the strategic direction of the Park Board under now-departed Susan Mundick consistently moved a way from anyting that could in any way be characterized as a “social program” . Hers was a straight up 1950s interpretation of parks and recreation. Now, as cuts are proposed for their budgets, they “request City Council to increase funding to the Park Board by $1.3 million for recreation services – sufficient to prevent the damaging cutbacks to community centre social service programs for the vulnerable that will occur without such support.”
My first question is ‘where were they when Mundick was diminishing the role of communtiy centres in anything that didn’t involve a stick and a ball or a walk in the woods?’ and my second question is ‘what do they really intend to do with the money they want restored?’

It is time for the park board and City to embrace the broad definition of recreation that the public being served does, and to recognize as Frances does, that a dollar spent supporting healthy activities in younger years pays back by 8-10 times in reduced costs related to crime, poorer health status, under-employment, and a myriad of other costs to the City.

By: getreal

getreal — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:11:36 +0000

James Gill – APG President – West Point Grey president doesn’t even live in Vancouver.
This is just a sad letter– it says give me all the services I can devour but I offers no solutions other then slash somewhere else or raise taxes. No one wants a 10 percent tax increase– get real folks welcome to a reccesion. higher taxes or cuts take your pick.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:37:21 +0000

According to the Parks Board website, there are 23 community centres not 22. Also, it should be noted that the Carnegie (including Oppenheimer Park), the Evelyne Saller Center and the Gathering Place come under the Community Services Group. I wonder how much fat was found in these operations?

By: jack the bear

jack the bear — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:05:07 +0000

The shine is certainly starting to come off this council, not that one can see anything worthwhile in opposition. One thing I am certain of – if I have to choose between the Bloedel Conservatory and Community Centre services there’s no contest.

By: City Observer

City Observer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:03:14 +0000

Frances, is this the same Vision Vancouver Council you awarded an A- to in your ‘Vision’ first year adjudication only a couple of weeks back, on the CBC?

Honestly, Frances, have we had a more out of touch, greenwashing, development-oriented, anti-community group of Councillors in recent years? Sam Sullivan’s administration may have been incompetent, but the current group of disingenuous bozos we have at City Hall give new, dark meaning to the word “inept” (and the same can be said of the embarrassingly sorry lot of Visionista ‘Ballemites’ on Park Board).