Ubyssey news story on proposed Westbrook Community Centre

Ubyssey Story on the Westbrook Community Centre

The next stage in the growing development of South Campus is a new 30,000-square-foot community centre.

The new centre is slated to have a gym, general meeting and multipurpose rooms along with a dance studio and café space. Construction of the centre is set to start this winter.
Charles Menzies, a campus resident since 1996, said that current community facilities on campus are limited and cramped. The Wesbrook area is expected to grow to 6,250 households over the next 15 years.

“It’s the Manhattanizing of this campus. They have nine high-rise buildings planned, and several that are already here.… They’re basically somewhere around 40 per cent increase on campus population, and that’s gonna put a big strain on the campus population, insofar as space,” said Menzies.
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Mike Feeley, former UNA Chair Endorses Menzies for UNA Director

Mike Feeley, former UNA chair and longtime Hawthorn Place resident offers his endorsement of my candidacy for the UNA Board!  Thank you Mike.

The UNA elections this year are particularly important, I think.  We face a number of challenging issues as a community, both tactical and strategic, at a time of substantial turnover on the Board.  I am thus particularly happy that Charles has decided to run this year.

I have know Charles since 2000 when we both moved into the first residential building in Hawthorn Place.   We started out as 12 families living in a middle of a parking lot and then construction site.  As our neighbourhood grew, Charles helped to create community bonds by organizing a Halloween celebration for several years and by constructing an email list (now uptown-neighbours).  He spoke out to help ensure our parks had adequate play areas for children.  He helped organize our grass-roots effort to bring new and renewed public schools to campus.  He helped us devise a sane and effective parking policy for the neighbourhood.  The list is long.  Through all of this Charles has shown himself to be a thoughtful and outspoken community leader.  He understands the issues we face better than most.  His commitment to fairness and openness is above reproach.  And he is deeply committed to our community.

For all these reasons I strongly endorse Charles for a seat on the UNA Board.  

Mike Feeley

Why an organization like OUR?

Why is an organization like OUR needed? Is it not one of the UNA’s roles to advocate on behalf of residents? Indeed, the election material mailed to all UNA members in late August states that “the UNA advocates on behalf of the community on issues of major importance to residents.”

The reality is that the UNA has not proven itself to be a strong advocate on certain issues, particularly those relating to land use planning. This may be because the regular business of the UNA occupies all the time and effort of the directors. Or, for issues where residents’ interests are in conflict with those of UBC, it may be because the UNA lacks sufficient independence from the University. Whatever the reasons, it is clear that residents need a stronger voice to stand up for their interests. OUR provides that voice.

OUR also has concerns with the functioning of the UNA itself. These include the failure to consult sufficiently with residents, the inadequate role for elected directors, and the UNA’s slow processes for doing things. Often, it takes pressure from outside before an organization will consider reforms. OUR intends to be the source of pressure for reform of the UNA.

With elected directors who share OUR's concerns, the UNA could take on a more vigorous role in representing residents and could be willing to implement reforms. That is why OUR is supporting a slate of candidates in the present UNA election. Even with the election of these candidates, there will continue to be a role for OUR, for example in providing input to the UNA.

The U-Town community has reached a stage in its development where an examination of governance options is desirable. There may be an option that is preferable to continuing with the UNA. This is a matter that transcends the UNA, and would best be undertaken as a resident-led process. OUR is seeking to be the catalyst for such a process.