Advocacy

I’m an outspoken advocate on matters of public concern, with particular focus on urban space as well as education.

Recently I was on Roundhouse Radio’s “Sense of Place” with Minelle Mahtani, talking about the demolitions of old buildings in our city, about why historic conservation matters so much, and about how the Vancouver Heritage Register is about to change.

Did you miss the radio interview? Now you can hear it on this link!

The interview came out of an article I wrote on this blog about the topic. Please check it out!

I’ve presented at Vancouver City Council meetings on the preservation of historic theater space and at meetings of the Vancouver School Board Trustees in defense of public education amid drastic budget cuts.

I’m involved with the Vancouver Public Space Network (VPSN) as Communications Coordinator, heading up overall communications planning for the nonprofit and serving as its blog editor.

Doubling as Arbutus Greenway Project Lead for the VPSN, I spearhead specific recommendations to the City of Vancouver on its exciting project of transforming the 9-km Arbutus railway corridor into a safe, accessible and sustainable rail-to-trail. I was inspired to get involved with this work when I witnessed the success of my hometown New York City with the High Line, and I got super-excited about devoting my time to a related project here. In February 2017, I participated by invitation at a stakeholders’ workshop led by the City of Vancouver at City Hall, set up to help articulate a vision for the greenway’s design in the years to come. Under my leadership, the VPSN’s Arbutus advocacy has resulted in City Council’s adoption of specific design directives consistent with our recommendations.

In March 2017, I represented the VPSN at the State of the Waterfront event led by the Georgia Strait Alliance at Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre, as part of its Waterfront Initiative. Launched in 2013, this initiative represents an effort to bring together a wide selection of disparate stakeholders from the region that have a part to play in the stewardship of our precious shoreline.

If you wish to discuss any advocacy projects including written or verbal presentations or collaborations, please contact me at any time. I’d love to hear from you.