tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63599827474810507882024-02-19T18:51:36.552-08:00Metro Vancouver's University Town
news and views on Utown.Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-21806710078816751822022-12-13T11:37:00.004-08:002023-05-06T06:00:01.517-07:00Learning about corporate communications strategy Over on my substack I have been writing news stories about living on UBC's campus. All of these stories intersect with UBC in some way or other. It's pretty hard to avoid UBC when one lives on the UBC campus and writes about living here. A few of these stories cry out for an official UBC comment. Most of them simply involve a knowledgable person who may or may not be connected with UBC.It Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-28124313543467706042022-10-05T16:16:00.012-07:002023-05-06T05:59:46.785-07:00Parsing out the meaning of a government statement.On my online news page I recently wrote about pedestrian safety walking around UBC's campus and perimeter roads. Most of the roads around UBC are managed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). So I reached out to a district manager who forwarded my request to their communications department without acknowledging receipt of the email. This is apparently standard Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-1788392093192516322022-10-02T06:44:00.003-07:002023-05-06T06:00:30.547-07:00Endorsements for school boardAs residents of the UNA area at UBC we have the opportunity to vote for school board trustee candidates. On A Campus Resident (where I focus on the story and less on my opinion) I have described the platforms and perspectives of the contending civic parties in this election. This post reflects my personal perspective on who among those choices would create a strong, student friendly, Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-44158597040531323232022-09-24T05:53:00.002-07:002022-09-24T05:53:14.138-07:00Statement from VSB Communications on school crowding As part of my story on A Campus Resident about school crowding, VSB communications sent me the following statement. It was too long to include in the original story, so I share it here for full disclosure.Hi Charles, The catchments of Norma Rose Point Elementary, University Hill Elementary and University Hill Secondary define the geographical region referred to as UBC/UEL. The DistrictCharles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-30126887765412383672022-09-18T08:19:00.009-07:002022-09-18T08:20:20.756-07:00Vancouver School Board Trustee CandidatesResidents in the UNA area, the University Endowment Lands, and on the institutional campus of UBC have the right to vote in the Vancouver School Board elections coming up in October. Candidates are randomly assigned the place on the ballot and, for ease of finding them, are assigned a number starting from 300.You can find a list of current trustees on the VSB web site. Not all of the current Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-3812739113969569542022-06-07T13:00:00.010-07:002022-06-07T19:44:38.961-07:00Game Over: no outdoor basketball for Wesbrook Place.Canadians cheered when the Raptors won the NBA title. People piled into cars and had impromptu parades from Halifax to Vancouver. Team jerseys were even popping up on residents in UBC’s urban housing developments. Celebrating a professional basketball team based in Toronto doesn’t, however, easily translate into supporting basketball facilities on the ground at UBC. Almost two decades Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-38678812869021473512022-06-01T11:08:00.006-07:002022-06-01T11:08:52.907-07:00UNA's New Code of Conduct: the end of dissent? Reading through the UNA’s May 17th meeting package I came across a proposed code of conduct document.
There is one line that is potentially problematic:“Respect the Board and Board decisions, and avoid undermining any decision of the
Board, regardless of whether the Director agrees with or voted for the decision.”
The problematic phrase is “avoid undermining any decision of the Board.” This Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-80952728474455571762022-05-22T11:51:00.004-07:002022-05-22T12:12:31.172-07:00Another From the Archive: UNA Children's GardenOne of the earliest Campus Resident stories about the UNA Children's Garden. This one from June, 2010. April 18, 2011.Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-32883002236024702652022-05-22T07:32:00.003-07:002022-05-22T07:32:20.559-07:00From the Archives: UNA Children's Garden. Alongside the Old Barn Community Centre is a longstanding experiment in collective community gardening, the UNA Children's Garden. This is a reprint of a spread in the Campus Resident of 2016 about the garden.Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-44938620822384715592022-05-19T07:48:00.002-07:002022-05-19T07:48:32.468-07:00Round Up, UBC, Environmental Impacts, and UBC's Response.I was walking by the field sponsored by Tourmaline Oil recently and one of the regular staff was spraying the margin under the fence with roundup. They said they couldn’t use an alternative (like acetic acid) since they didn’t have the time to do this every week.I wonder why it is deemed necessary to have a browned out strip a foot wide under and along the fence margin in the first place, while Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-2349380265440479432021-12-01T08:48:00.005-08:002021-12-02T07:37:10.153-08:00Analyzing the UNA Election ResultsThe results are in and the 'current' director slate practically swept the election with three of their four candidates topping the polls and their fourth candidate (Kang) ranking 6th overall. The seventh candidate elected, Mojdehi, scraped in from 9th place (in a field of 13). He won due to the local area rule that say no more than three candidates can be elected from one local area. Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-12087691660518898872021-12-01T05:25:00.004-08:002021-12-01T05:44:29.044-08:00UNA Election ResultsResults: UNA Elections 2021Members of the University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) have elected seven members to its Board of Directors during the 2021 UNA Elections.The successful candidates are:Gallo, Maria – Wesbrook PlaceGlassheim, Eagle – Wesbrook PlaceHolmes, Bill – Hampton PlaceKang, Zheng (Jane) – Wesbrook PlaceMcCutcheon, Murray – Hawthorn PlaceMojdehi, Ali –&Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-87361341319824732042021-11-28T12:48:00.004-08:002021-11-28T13:57:59.190-08:00Noise and UNA GovernanceThe UNA managed to implement a noise bylaw about a decade ago (see also, UBCBoG). It's not clear that the bylaw has any actual effect though. Infractions are complainant driven and the UNA has no bylaw office to monitor or enforce violations of the bylaw. Furthermore, the bylaw is set such that the most persistent noise issues, landscaping and equipment and activities in public spaces,Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-80458446543744243922021-11-27T07:51:00.005-08:002021-12-01T08:12:23.546-08:00Effects of Slates on Voting Behaviours in Past UNA Elections Over the past ten years there have been two UNA elections with clearly identifiable slates (2012, 2014) and one with a probable slate (2017). In years with slates the voting results reflect different patterns than in non-slate years.I was a member of a slate in both of the elections that I participated in (2102, 2014). In the 2012 election we organized a slate and ran against a single Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-50302291576324633662021-11-26T16:02:00.003-08:002021-12-01T08:10:24.491-08:00UNA Voting trends over the decadeI first ran for UNA Director with Mike Feely in 2005. The UNA board at that time was comprised of appointed Directors. They had just changed the rules so that three resident directors (half of the board) were to be elected. The voting took place in person at the AGM held in Cecil Green House. About a hundred people voted in that first election. I came in fourth losing out Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-56171283651764286402021-11-22T08:06:00.004-08:002021-11-22T11:47:42.959-08:00Calling the election? Early guesses. Is it too soon to call the Nov. 30th UNA Board of Directors' election? Well, maybe/maybe not. Given this is an election that is done through mail-in ballots that started arriving in mailboxes on Nov. 8th we can assume a lot of the voting already took place by now (though given mail speed the envelopes will likely arrive in greater numbers this week).A lot depends upon how effective the Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-26153618506573017772021-11-22T05:54:00.007-08:002021-11-22T05:54:28.726-08:00Third Slate is now public With the Sunday, Nov. 21/21 campaign letter the 'current directors' slate that kicked off with a private meeting a week ago is now out in the open. It was clear during the all candidates meeting that at least Holmes and McCutcheon were speaking to their collective campaign messages, but the letter lays it down. Their message revolves around their 'harmonies' history of working Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-27746350588225074072021-11-22T05:19:00.003-08:002021-11-22T05:19:19.711-08:00'Current Directors' Slate - campaign letter Dear Fellow UNA Members,You are probably becoming tired of all the emails from candidates, so we will keep this brief. We are writing to ask that you vote for us: Murray McCutcheon, Jane Kang, Richard Watson, and Bill Holmes. We are the four current UNA directors in this election. We have worked together harmoniously and effectively over the last two years and would like to continue Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-71345488364918551232021-11-22T05:18:00.001-08:002021-11-22T05:18:08.921-08:00Erin Co - campaign letterGood Evening UNA Residents,
My name is Erin Co, and I’m running to represent YOU in the UNA Board of Directors. You’ve most likely already received emails regarding the upcoming UNA Elections, so I appreciate you taking the time to read this, I’ll keep it short and sweet.
The UNA is the backbone of where we live, work, and play, and through living at Wesbrook Village, I intend to create and Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-9610550445925839862021-11-20T11:59:00.007-08:002021-11-27T13:21:54.485-08:00Basketball & the UNA - reflections. Basketball is a great sport. My father played youth basketball in the 1940/50s on BC's north coast. I love his stories of rough boat trips to outlying villages, the ferocity of the audiences, and the joy of the game. My Dad, his dad and all the cousins played on local teams. All of my relatives and many of my ancestors have been involved in local team sports. One uncle (Russell GambleCharles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-23637513709791911302021-11-19T05:48:00.000-08:002021-11-19T05:48:02.671-08:00The UNA All Candidate's ForumThe UNA all candidate's forum was thursday, Nov. 18. I watched the event and live tweeted it. What follows is the compilation of the tweets, loosely edited. The format was very clipped and at times it was hard to distinguish particular differences. Of note, the student candidates who had previously suggested they were in favour of increased policing, clarified to say they were't Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-23067291689851394862021-11-17T07:04:00.007-08:002021-11-20T14:37:29.064-08:00Safety - a campaign promise Safety has a peculiar resonance in contemporary urban politics. For some conservative leaning folks safety is about protecting their property and their children from 'influences' they don't like. [Consider] the slogan of safety in schools. Most of us we think this means something like ensuring no child is bullied, that schools are earthquake proof, and/or that itCharles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-69684137630833574362021-11-16T16:54:00.004-08:002021-11-16T16:55:30.712-08:00Mitchell Proust campaign letter.Hello neighbours,In case I haven’t had the chance to meet you yet, my name is Mitchell Prost. I am a resident of Hawthorn Place and am running to represent you on the University Neighbourhoods Association Board of Directors. The UNA is an organization that has surely affected your living experience here on campus in some way or another. I am hoping to work with board members and residents Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-37423558683040851062021-11-15T16:20:00.002-08:002021-11-15T16:20:33.072-08:00Sofia Ngieng - campaign letter Good afternoon, My name is Sofia Ngieng and I am excited to announce that I am running to be on your UNA Board of Directors. Having been a resident of Hampton Place neighbourhood, I believe that the UNA has failed in ensuring that they are accurately voicing your opinions along with the opinions of your fellow residents - whether that is on matters of land use, green space expansions, Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359982747481050788.post-8279888185175714682021-11-14T10:59:00.005-08:002021-11-14T10:59:57.499-08:00Update - appears there is a 3rd informal slate Update on earlier post about two apparent slates, it now seems there are three 'informal' slates in play this time around. The third slate is, as expected, is an alliance between incumbents who are participating in a meet your current directors online forum. The currant slate is trusting that fruit of their incumbency will be re-election (or in the case of Holmes who was appointed, Charles Menzieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05374753336690275908noreply@blogger.com0