Update on This Week’s Public Space Events

Happy Monday to you, dear Public-Spacers.

Hope you all had a chance to revel in the fantastic weather this past weekend – it was good times all around in the city’s public spaces! Special congratulations to our friends at LatinCouver for helping to kick off the summertime animation of Granville Street in such style.

A few quick updates on public space-related items taking place early this week.

Tonight! – Spacing Vancouver Roadshow

For those with an eye to urban activities taking place out east, you may already be familiar with the excellent work of Spacing Magazine. Started as an off-shoot of the Toronto Public Space Committee in 2003, Spacing has grown from a small black-and-white occasional into an award-winning publication and blog network.

To mark the launch of their first national issue, they’re teaming up with the City’s Transportation Planning team to hold a dialogue and party at the Wosk Centre. It’s going to be good fun – not only will publisher Matt Blackett and Editor Shawn Micallef be presenting on the top 10 public spaces in Vancouver, but a lively panel discussion will follow, featuring VPSN Chair Erin O’Melinn, Spacing Vancouver Editor Erick Villagomez and SFU City Program’s Gord Price. The remainder of the evening will be a mix n’ mingle party where you can socialize with friendly city-lovers such as yourself.

The event takes place 7-10 p.m. at the Wosk Centre (580 West Hastings). Admission is $5 and gets you a copy of the magazine (which, by the way, looks awesome!)

And for those of you reading this in Victoria, hold on tight.  The Spacing crew touches down in your fair city in early July – details online.

• Vancouver Facebook event page
• Victoria Facebook event page

Wednesday, June 29 – Vancouver Public Space Network AGM

In addition to being a multi-faceted network of invincible public space champions, the VPSN is also a registered non-profit. Our legally-required-but-nevertheless-super-exciting Annual General Meeting takes place this Wednesday. All are welcome!

We’ll be using the opportunity to review the past year’s activities, discuss the Network’s upcoming Strategic Plan, and take stock of the vast financial resources at our beck and call. An election of board members will take place and, weather permitting, we’ll be barbequing hot dogs, playing games and eventually sampling local barley and hops based concoctions.

The formal AGM takes place at 6 p.m. in Alexandra Park (the ‘gazebo’ park on Beach Avenue – a stone’s throw from Davie and Denman). Agenda and meeting materials are available in advance by writing erin [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca

Rain location – if the weather is rainy (and not just grey) we’ll be meeting at the Bayside Lounge (upstairs at Davie and Denman). If you’re lost on the day-of, please feel free to call for directions – 778-239-7544.

Vancouver’s Transportation Futures – the Facebook Way!

The City of Vancouver is currently updating its Transportation Plan. In addition to getting involved with cool events such as the Spacing launch (see above) they’ve also taken the discussion about transportation priorities on-line, using Facebook to create a dialogue on moving around the city. Cool stuff! But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.

On Tuesday night, the Facebook discussion event will stop taking recommendations for the City of Vancouver’s Transportation Plan.

So, there are a few important things to know:

• Contribute your ideas by Tuesday evening, after which the discussion will stay open but ideas will no longer be formally reported to the City
• Stay involved with the Transportation Plan update at TalkVancouver.com
• Watch for infrequent updates from us about the City’s response to your contributions

Don’t miss your last chance to be heard during this Facebook discussion about our city’s transportation future.
http://apps.facebook.com/VanTransportFuture

Parks Board Strategic Planning

The Park Board is updating its 5-year Strategic Plan and your involvement in this initiative is very important. Come out to learn more about this project, share your thoughts and ideas, and help shape the Park Board’s future direction and priorities. Two Town Hall meetings have already taken place and two more are being held this week:

• Tuesday, June 28, 2011 – Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way,
  7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Wednesday, June 29, 2011 – Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer St,
  7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

More on the Parks Board’s Strategic Plan: http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/strategy/strategicplan/index.htm