I have been loosely using the “Community” category of posts to make a brief mention of the things I have been doing around the community outside of Council Meetings. However, I am doing so many things these days that I never find the time to post a photo and write a short blurb, so I am going to try to create a fixed schedule. Every Monday or so I will try to post a brief summary of the previous week.

Last weekend was so busy with a celebration of Andree St. Martin’s retirement, the Qayqayt Howl, the EcoFest, and of course Quest New West that I had to dial life back a bit for the beginning of the week.

Wednesday I pinched-hit for Councillor McEvoy and chaired the Neighborhood Traffic Advisory Committee, and Thursday was Access Ability Advisory Committee. Minutes for these meetings will eventually hit the City Web Page.

Friday I swang by the Connaught Heights annual carnival after work. Not having any children, and therefore not having kids in the New West school system, it is cool to see the carnivals the PACs throw together (the Howl Last weekend, and not less than three this weekend!).

Saturday was the Season Closer and summer kick-off for New West Baseball (see pic above). It was a great spring season for NWB: the first ever (according to Coach and NWB Big Cheese Ron Sufferon) to not have a single game rained out! Yes, it has been that kind of spring. But no-one could prepare for Oh Canada sung by three City Councillors. That’s twice in two weeks I have been forced to sing into a microphone. I hope it will stop soon.

Sunday was Sapperton Day. This has always been one of my favourite one-day Street Fairs in New West. The weather was (as usual) perfect, and everything from the Pancake Breakfast to the stage performances were great. I really have to thank the Sapperton Merchants, Guy Ciprian, and all the volunteers for putting on a great show.

The highlight was, of course, the Red Tape Race, where 4-time (or is it 5-time?) champion Jonathan Cote was racing with the added weight of a new job title, and two new competitors (Councillor Mary Trentadue and Yours Truly) were not going to let him own the track. In the end, it was all elbows and suspicious line shifting that allowed the rookie Trentadue to take her first ever Red Tape Race, with the former champ in second and myself a distant third.

This was my third year racing in Quest New West, and once again I was on a team of bridesmaids. Anna, Tig, Andrew and I finished 2nd in our category in the inaugural event; Andrew, Tig ,Reena and I finished in the same spot last year; for this year, I joined a Committee for Questing: Mayor Cote, Councillor Trentadue and Trustee Slade-Kerr. We finished safely second in our category, which isn’t too bad for a bunch of paper-pushing policy wonks!

This is an incredibly fun event. Tej Kainth from Tourism New Westminster and her platoon of volunteers put on a great show. Two dozen businesses around town opened their doors to something like 120 sweaty Questers, and major sponsors like Douglas College, Wild Rice, Wesgroup, Tien Sher Group, and the Record helped make it all happen. From a participant point of view, it was a flawless organization.

We sweated, we cycled, we ran, and we laughed. Mostly we laughed. Crossing the finish line, we were too tired to stand for the group shot. Thanks New West!

Yes, I have been a little slow on updates here, but it has been a busy time. I actually had to send my Mom an e-mail, as updates here are the only sign she usually gets that I am alive.  I will try to get my update of last week’s Council Meeting before next week. Fortunately, we don’t have an evening meeting next week so that will hopefully help me get caught up!

In the meantime, I had a great day today down at the River Market, enjoying the last “winter season” Farmers Market of the year in decidedly non-wintery t-shirt weather, while talking to people about the Transportation and Transit Plebiscite, and reminding those who have not yet received their ballots how to make sure they get one (short version – go to the ElectionsBC website, or call 1-800-661-8683. No salesman will visit your home!).

While I was there, I also got to fill in my “Experience Card” for a great new organization in the Lower Mainland called “Kudoz”. The idea is to link people in a variety of work, volunteer, or hobby fields with a person with a traditional work barrier or disability, and give that person a learning experience, and see if that experience piques an interest in further learning. I’m not sure if any of their applicants think local government or committee work is interesting, but I’ll do my best to make it seem that way! Have an hour a month to share with someone, teaching them something while you do whatever it is you do? Send Kudoz an e-mail. 

They had great free lemonade, and it was definitely a free lemonade kind of day.

Finally got around to dropping those ballots in the mail on Saturday. Yes, I voted yes, and if you are wondering why here are a few posts that should explain my position:

My 1,500-word Case.

A vision for the future of the Region, based on how we built the region we all seem to love so much.

On hating the process, but finding a way to make it positive.

On working with our regional neighbours to solve our unique local traffic problems.

On supporting a regional Plan, and asking why we can’t have nice things like Ontario?

Ahh… just go to my archives and search under “transportation”, there are more than 200 posts, all talking about the regional and local transportation mix, and solutions that need ot be found locally and regionally. A No vote provides no solutions, solves no problems, and makes no promise moving forward. I like solutions, I like regional collaboration, I like good public policy. The YES vote is obvious.

Dr. Norman Jacknis, Senior Fellow from the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum, gave an inspiring talk about what opportunities might be in store for New Westminster residents, businesses and entrepreneurs, if the City is bold enough to see the vision through, and grasps the future as it arrives.

Absolutely, positively, my favourite regular community event in New Westminster is the Royal City Farmers Market. I admire the work that community builders like Andrew Murray, Jen Arbo, and (seen here next to a posing politician) Melissa Maltais have put into giving the Community this place to meet, mingle, shop, and share every couple of weeks. One more month of “Winter Markets” to come, then a (6th? 7th?) summer in Tipperary Park.

If you like the Market, there is a great chance next weekend to go to a fun event and support both the Market and the new “Seniors to the Market Shuttle Program”, where the RCFM is working with Seniors Services to break down barriers to access to farm-fresh food.  Go! Have Fun! Do good!

Last weekend, I dropped by Old Crow Coffee on Front Street to meet Stephanie and Abigail. A truly independent coffee shop in a funky space! Go there! Caffeinate!

On Monday, I spent a bleary-eyed morning at a SkyTrain Station with several other volunteers, engaging folks on the referendum, and stumping for the YES side. Lots of people had serious questions, and needed clarity on a few of the myths that are out there. Most appreciated having information, and providing links to where they can get better information. Some people agreed to disagree, and that is cool.

The funniest conversation of the day I had was with a middle-aged guy coming off of the 555 express bus, and it went something like this (I paraphrase):

ME: “Would you like more information on the Referendum?”

HE: “Are you on the YES side? Because I have to tell you something.”

ME: “Yes, I am supporting the Yes side.”

HE: “Do you know why businesses are opposing this?”

ME: “What businesses?”

HE: “All businesses, we are all opposed. Do you know why?”

ME: “But most business appear to be in favour. Business- supporting organizations like the Surrey Board of Trade and the Vancouver Board of Trade have publicly supported the YES side here,”

HE: “Do you know WHY businesses are opposed? You need to listen.”

ME: “I am listening sir, but I need to understand your premise. The BC Chamber of Commerce, the Chambers of New Westminster, Delta, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, North Vancouver, Richmond, the Tri-Cities, they are all on the Yes side, so they are clearly not opposed at all”.

HE: “I can tell you why all the businesses are opposed.”

ME: “But I don’t think they are opposed. There are BIAs across the region supporting this, as is the tourism industry, the hotel industry, construction and building trades, consulting engineers, real estate boards and building management associations, the Port Authority, the Gateway Council…all of these organizations, representing the vast majority of private sector employers in the Lower Mainland, are in favour… who are all these opposed businesses?”

HE: “They are opposed because TransLink is wasteful! Have you heard about the Poodle on the Pole?”

Me: “um… yeah, except the public art budget for TransLink is less than .1% of their annual budget. “

HE: “They should cut that! Then they don’t need this tax!”

ME: “Thank, you sir. Have a nice day.”

For the rest of you, here is a quick link to the 100+ organizations, business and otherwise, who are on the YES side of this campaign.