Kevin on Kelowna Musings from a political mind

Earlier in the year, I read this article about how cities should be marketing themselves to tourists in this increasingly digital age. The whole thing is worth checking out, but here’s the gist of it in a couple of quotes:

“Cities should celebrate the assets that only they have, and then embrace the fact that to see and experience them people have to actually be there. He says our overly digital lifestyles are making physicality that much more crucial.”

“You can’t attach a ski slope to an e-mail.”

“Let me ask you: what makes your city different? How different is your city from the nearest competitor? If people were going to choose between visiting your city and that other city, what city is that? And if they chose that city, why didn’t they choose your city? What do you have there that’s different?” he asked. “Do you have a large Ukrainian community? Do you have lobsters? Do you have comedians? Do you have muscle-builders? Do you have apricots?”

This really struck a chord with me because I believe it’s highly applicable to Kelowna. Suggesting that Kelowna market its substantial natural beauty is neither rocket science nor a new idea, but the real key is capitalizing on that stunning environment with signature events which accentuate it. For years, this city has searched for an event to define summer in Kelowna, and I believe 2012 is the year it finally happens. The source of my optimism? Two new festivals set to make a splash.

The massive success of BreakOut West and similar popularity of Pop Okanagan has proven that this city possesses a huge appetite for live music, and it’s an appetite that the organizers of the Keloha Music and Arts Festival hope to satisfy. Music festivals have proven to be a massive boon to communities, not just in terms of economic impact but also as a promotional tool. Who had heard of Pemberton before it played host to Coldplay, Jay Z et al in 2008? I sure hadn’t. Keloha, the three-day festival running from July 6-8 on Kelowna’s waterfront, has assembled an impressive lineup, with performers such as AWOLNATION, Tokyo Police Club, Dan Mangan, Said the Whale, and Kelowna’s own We Are The City sure to attract fans. Already, the event is generating buzz in places like the Edmonton Journal, and early bird tickets have completely sold out. You can’t attach a ski slope to an email, but you can attach a music festival to a waterfront – and I think the results will be great for Kelowna.

Similar thinking has led to the creation of the Kelowna Summer Theatre Festival, which will make its inaugural run this summer from July 19 – August 12. Theatre has never been something that I’ve associated with summer, but the idea behind KSTF is to break the mold of traditional theatre. Its primary focus is on making theatre accessible, both by bringing their show outdoors and by offering the product at a lower price point than a professional production would normally charge. Offered a choice between sitting under the sunset in flip flops and getting dressed up to go sit inside a theatre, I’m going with Door #1 every time. I suspect I’m not alone in this, and anticipate this new festival will attract a broader audience than theatre in Kelowna traditionally has. When you look at the success of events such as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach, it’s hard not to get excited about the Kelowna Summer Theatre Festival’s potential as a major draw for tourists and locals alike.

On the heels of what was deemed a rough tourist season last year, it is more important than ever that Kelowna stands out in the crowded and competitive market for tourism. With these two events leading the way, there is reason to believe that this city can rise to the challenge.

(Full disclosure: I am on the Board of Directors for KSTF, so I’m super biased. Doesn’t make this event any less awesome.)

I was searching through files on my computer and came across this poem by Canadian poet Tom Wayman. It’s his response to the question asked by students after an absence from class. I thought the teachers I know might appreciate it…

Did I Miss Anything?

Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here
we sat with our hands folded on our desks
in silence, for the full two hours

Everything. I gave an exam worth
40 per cent of the grade for this term
and assigned some reading due today
on which I’m about to hand out a quiz
worth 50 per cent

Nothing. None of the content of this course
has value or meaning
Take as many days off as you like:
any activities we undertake as a class
I assure you will not matter either to you or me
and are without purpose

Everything. A few minutes after we began last time
a shaft of light descended and an angel
or other heavenly being appeared
and revealed to us what each woman or man must do
to attain divine wisdom in this life and
the hereafter
This is the last time the class will meet
before we disperse to bring this good news to all people
on earth

Nothing. When you are not present
how could something significant occur?

Everything. Contained in this classroom
is a microcosm of human existence
assembled for you to query and examine and ponder
This is not the only place such an opportunity has been
gathered

        but it was one place

        And you weren’t here

The Prologue

Earlier today, I posted a letter from a UBCO student raising concerns in the aftermath of the National Day of Action which took place on Wednesday. The letter is well worth reading in full but here’s a summary of what I see as the main points:

• Students were told that absence from class was OK for the Day of Action. This was a counterproductive waste of already-paid tuition.
• Advertising for the event was very vague (arguably ineffective) and very widespread, which is a waste of student funds
• The event itself was pretty extravagant, with the UBCSUO spending money on 2500 meals, a bouncy castle, and printed materials
• The ‘drop fees’ campaign provides little to no direction on how their goals should be achieved – they’re simply pointing out a problem without offering solutions

Once again, that’s simply my interpretation of a 900+ word piece, but I think it captures the spirit of it. Pretty pointed stuff, and a strong rebuke of the student union (UBCSUO).

So What Happened?

The letter was posted on the UBCSUO Facebook page on Wednesday night. Around the same time, a number of questions were raised in the comment section of this Facebook photo. Primarily, they were asking two things: 1) How much did the event cost? 2) What was the union’s response to Amanda Davison’s letter?

But Where Did It All Go?

Students returning to view the posts the following morning found an unpleasant surprise. Rather than defend their actions, the union chose to silence any opposition. Davison’s letter was deleted. User posts on the UBCSUO page were disabled. All comments made on the aforementioned photo were deleted. No explanation for the clean sweep was provided. Indeed, when the question of where all the posts went was raised by yours truly, that comment too was deleted. Two posts were made by the UBCSUO to their page, one an attack on the BC Advanced Education minister, and the other this photo which outlines what the student union does. I’m not sure if the photo was supposed to be a response to the criticism leveled their way but it certainly didn’t stem the tide of comments from unsatisfied students. Throughout the day, students expressed their outrage at the deletion of comments criticizing the student union. After initially deleting those too, the UBCSUO finally gave up and allowed comments to remain.

Why Does This Matter?

This post is being written at 10:30 on Thursday evening, almost 24 hours after Davison’s letter and the initial string of questions to the UBCSUO. To date, no response to the questions has been received from the student union or any of the paid executives. A few supporters of the union posted replies, some of which were useful and well-thought out. But the entity which collects a $126 fee from every student has remained silent while their members speak out.

What Now?

For me, there are three questions I would like answered. I will e-mail them to the union and post any response I get. Hopefully they don’t delete my e-mail…

1. How much was spent on the Day of Action event held Feb 1st on campus?
2. Does the union have an official response to the issues raised in Amanda Davison’s letter written Feb 1?
   BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY
3. Why were legitimate, non-offensive, negative but respectful comments from student union members deleted off the UBCSUO Facebook page?

Please read this outstanding letter written yesterday by a UBCO student.

Dear UBCO Student Union,

I am a frustrated student.

I am frustrated that the Dean apparently made the (not-publicly announced) decision that absence from class today was excusable because of the “Day of Action”. I am frustrated that Professors who care enough about their class receiving the same information wasted today’s class time instead of moving forward without the students who decided to take the day off to “be heard”. I am frustrated that because the Student Union decided to do another useless “Fee Drop” event (the “Banner Drop”) that my tuition for today’s classes was wasted. That’s $12 per course that is held for one hour three-times a week. Today you wasted $36 of my tuition. You should multiply that for all the students who actually showed up to learn today who were not provided a worthwhile class. (Based on tuition of $460.83 per course divided by 13 weeks divided by 3 hours per week.) My money was wasted and my time was wasted for a “Fee Drop” event that totally missed the mark.

The problem runs deeper than tuition rates being too high. There would need to be a province-wide, probably country-wide change in the way we fund post-secondary education. We as a country need to decide that it is in everyone’s best interests for the employed to pay higher taxes in order to fund the next generation’s education (our future doctors, caretakers, policy makers, etc.) rather than forcing students to fund their own way and enter the workplace in debt. We as a country need to decide that we want to “pay-it-forward” instead of being so self-serving.

No amount of whining at the institutional level about how much we can’t afford the educations we’re buying is going to make that change.

I encourage raising awareness, but this flash-mob song choice missed the mark by so much that it just made me angry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcEc5E9RrLs

It is ALL about the money. We need to provide ways to change WHERE the money is coming from and WHO is paying the money. We can’t just dance happily about how we all want to be educated for free like we haven’t made this choice in order to get better paying jobs in the end. It’s going to require social change. It’s going to require country-wide change. Let’s at least be honest about why we’re attending post-secondary institutions. Of course it’s about the money. (Let me know when love will buy me a degree. I’ll be the most loving person you know.)

The Student Union seemed to spend a lot of our precious money on printing off posters that didn’t even portray what “Day of Action” was about. Sometimes vague marketing works. Sometimes that poster with few words and a website to visit pique the interest of the people passing. But for most of us who are sick of seeing the words “Education is a Right” plastered all over the school, we’d rather not see you waste money on vague advertising, and we’d love to see you try to win us over with some realistic goals for change.

The Student Union seemed to spend a lot of money on other costs to turn today into an “event” as well. I’m sure I speak for a lot of the student population when I say that as your funders, we’d love to see where our student fees are being spent. You might not consider that Student Union Fee as “tuition”, but it comes out of my account at the same time as my tuition; it’s money I don’t get to spend on textbooks, food, or rent, and unlike my tuition fees, it doesn’t eventually pay me back in degree credits. I would like to see the Student Union be more transparent on what you’re spending on events that seem to be more about putting on a show than the change they claim to be supporting.

I did finally check out the Education is a Right site (http://educationisaright.ca/), which I put off for a long time because the site’s name starts me off on a muttering, rambling rant all on its own. The website, which is promoting a country-wide reassessment of how we’re paying for education seems to have better addressed the issue than the Student Union has. Which is a relief. I’d hate to see schools all across the country “drop the ball” on the actual message of the campaign as badly as we have. (Pun so intended.)

UBC Okanagan’s campus Student Union has once-again missed the mark by focusing on the “Fees Drop.” I am SO TIRED of the “Drop stuff for Fee Dropping awareness.” Let’s throw pumpkins off scaffolding, and “Drop a banner” over the highway, and that will successfully rally our students into realizing tuition is too high without actually putting forward any useful methods of change! Newsflash: We all know tuition is high. We know we can’t afford it. We know we’ll be in debt once we graduate. We do wish University was accessible for everyone but it is going to require social change nation wide.

Being in University is about developing ways to make society better, and making the future better for those who follow in our footsteps. Our Student Union needs to start fostering DOABLE IDEAS and stop dropping crap in order to create campus unity.

Next time you put on a “Tuition Fees are Too High” event, please don’t leave out half the message: that the money actually does need to come from somewhere. Start asking the student body for ideas about how we can start social change to make education more affordable for everyone. And try to spend less while you’re doing it. I’d rather have my $126.23 Student Union Fee back in my pocket than see you renting an inflatable castle and putting on a BBQ. And don’t get the Dean to approve an unannounced day off without refunding the student population for a day of classes.

Thank you,

Amanda Davison
A Frustrated Student”

Happy New Year! Wait, there’s probably a cooler way to get that message across…

That’s better.

After a brief hiatus that included an election loss, some final exams, and a whole lot of Christmas junk food, I’ve decided to wipe the dust off my website. I’ll be using this little corner of the internet to chime in occasionally on Kelowna issues, provincial and federal politics, and anything else I’m compelled to rant about.

Stay tuned!

Do you believe increased funding for public transit is a priority? If so, would you work to put pressure on the provincial and federal governments to increase funding for transit infrastructure and quality across the province? What would you do to help improve transit in Kelowna?

As someone who relies on the transit system to commute to school, I have seen first-hand the progress made in our transit system, and the challenges which remain. The City of Kelowna has recognized the importance of funding public transit, and the statistics reflect that: since 2005, Kelowna’s spending on transit has doubled from $9 million to $18 million. Over that same period, total annual service hours have increased by 55 per cent, from 113,000 to 176,000. I am in favour of continuing to improve transit in Kelowna. My overall priorities for the transit system are increased frequency and reliability. Long-term, I envision 10-15 minute service on key routes, as well as late-night service on weekends. Specific projects I support are a bus to the H2O Centre in the mission, a transit exchange in Rutland, and expansion of the transit network to include Quail Ridge and the airport on routes. During my two years on Council, I have been an advocate for transit and if re-elected, this will remain high on my list of priorities.

What will you do to make the downtown core more attractive and safer for citizens? 

This summer, the community came together to draft a new downtown plan which sets a vision for our main urban centre, incorporating new development, better pedestrian and cyclist connections, and new amenities throughout the area. If re-elected, implementing that Downtown Plan will be an important priority for me. The first step in this process has already taken place, with Council endorsing a construction plan for Bernard Avenue infrastructure renewal which minimizes the impact on business owners in the area and will result in a rejuvenated main street to act as a catalyst for new development downtown. One of the primary issues affecting downtown Kelowna is a lack of residential units in the key areas of Lawrence and Leon. Having more people living in the area would ensure there is more activity on those often-empty streets, as well as ensure there are ‘eyes on the street’ to help prevent any unwanted criminal activity. I have supported improvements to the City’s tax incentive program for redevelopment in urban centres, and also favour a public market in the downtown area. If re-elected, revitalizing the downtown core will be an area of focus for me.

Do you view the further development of recreation facilities and programming as important to developing a sense of community and to increase the value of Kelowna as a liveable city? What do you view is the municipal government’s responsibility in the development of such facilities and programmes?

Access to recreation is an essential component of a high quality of life. Just like a home is much more than a house, a community is much more than simply a city where you live and work. Kelowna has some world-class recreation facilities, with the new H2O Centre continuing to receive more and more recognition and awards with each passing year. Municipal government is the level of government most responsible for recreation, and as the city grows, it is important to ensure we incorporate recreation facilities into all neighbourhoods. Council has purchased land for a Rec Centre in Glenmore, and I am committed to seeing that project through to completion. Opportunities for partnerships with non-profit groups could be explored to ensure we are maximizing community benefit in our recreation facilities.

Will you commit to working with locally-based manufacturers, businesses, and service providers in an effort to increase job growth in the region?

In my re-election campaign, I made a conscious effort to use only local suppliers for my signs, flyers and all other materials. In my personal life, I strive to buy local fruit and vegetables when shopping for groceries. Given this, it should not come as a surprise that as a Councillor, I have supported all efforts to make sure the City is spending taxpayer dollars within our community.

Do you support the work of the Urban Cycling Initiative for the creation of more bike lanes throughout Kelowna?

I support the creation not only of more bike lanes, but also of new multi-modal corridors. Over the past few years, we have seen substantial investment in creating many new multi-use pathways all over Kelowna, and these new transportation links ensure cyclists and pedestrians can get around our community safely. I believe we need to expand on this network and connect the existing pathways to ensure people have safe routes to use for alternative transportation. The City of Kelowna has set a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 33% below 2007 levels by 2020. This will not be achieved if we don’t invest in cycling infrastructure and make it more feasible for people to stop using cars for their daily commute.

What endorsements do you currently have?

I have not actively sought endorsements in this election. In 2009, I received the endorsement of almost 2900 voters who placed their trust in my ability to serve as a City Councillor. I am proud of the work I have done during two years in office, and feel that my record speaks louder than any endorsement could.

What are your top three budget priorities for the next fiscal year?

Heading into this budget, one priority stands above all others: balance. Deliberating over a municipal budget is one of the most challenging processes a Council goes through. Every single expense is pored through line-by-line, with Councillors deciding what to include and what to remove. Each time, I have focused on achieving a balance between meeting community needs and maintaining a reasonable level of taxation. I would like to see funding for transit, for implementation of the Housing Strategy, for downtown revitalization, and for arts and culture, but I also want to ensure that taxpayers on limited incomes – including students whose landlords may pass on property taxes as part of rent – are not hit with a large tax increase. Budgets are a highly challenging and complex task, but I am confident I can speak up for balance in this year’s deliberations.

As you may be aware, there is a U-Pass Referendum currently being conducted on campus at UBC Okanagan. This Referendum, initiated by Kelowna Regional Transit and the City of Kelowna, is whether or not to raise the current U-Pass fee from $50 per semester (less a 10% subsidy from the University) to $60 per semester (less a 10% subsidy from the University). What is your vision for the future of Kelowna Transit? Do you support a ‘Yes’ vote or a ‘No’ vote on the U-Pass Referendum?

As a student, I feel it is an absolute no-brainer to vote Yes in the upcoming referendum. Voting no means having to pay for a pass every month, which is substantially more expensive than the proposed $60 per semester. The U-Pass has been a tremendous success, allowing students to lobby the City and BC Transit more effectively for improvements to the system, and providing the City with a stable user base to justify transit upgrades. As outlined in the earlier question, I believe we must continue to support and invest in our transit system. My priorities include increased frequency and reliability. Even with a slight increase in the U-Pass fee, our transit system will recover only 30% of its costs from fares. The rest is subsidized by government. In order to achieve this vision of a higher level of service for Kelowna’s buses, we need Councillors who will advocate for investment in transit – and I am committed to providing leadership in that area – but we also need users of the system to be willing to support that improvement by paying their share.Respon

1.       “What can the city do to adopt and encourage the adoption of renewable energy technologies? Do you think the city should make net-metering and time-of-use metering available to all its electricity customers?“

During this most recent term of Council, Kelowna joined a growing number of BC municipalities in requiring new homes to be solar-ready. This will reduce costs for homeowners who decide to convert to solar in the future. As we move forward, I believe the City should be exploring opportunities for district energy systems, and looking at incentives for residents and developers who avail of renewable energy sources. Finally, I believe we should lead by example. All new civic facilities should be sustainably built, with as small a carbon footprint as possible. Given that Kelowna has committed to being 33% below 2007 levels of GHG emissions, this is absolutely essential. As for net-metering and time-of-use metering, I support making both available. There will be a cost associated, so it is important that such measures are implemented in a responsible way with a financial plan in place, but in order to reduce electricity consumption, we must empower users to make informed decisions, and this cannot be done without making all information available to customers.

Having relocated to Kelowna from Ireland, I can attest first-hand to Kelowna’s beautiful natural environment being a competitive advantage. Our community offers a four-seasons playground where people can enjoy the lake during summer and the ski hill in winter. The availability of quality entertainment and festivals will also make Kelowna a more attractive to young professionals, who are looking for more than simply a job and a house – they are searching for a home, somewhere to build a career and a life. With the establishment of UBC Okanagan and the population growth experienced during the last decade, Kelowna has become a more diverse city, and I have supported initiatives to ensure all residents feel safe and welcome in our community. I believe collaboration with groups such as the Inter-Cultural Society of the Central Okanagan, Okanagan Rainbow Coalition, and Kelowna Community Resources will be useful in identifying and addressing the barriers to inclusion faced by some members of our community. In addition, I believe there is significant opportunity to use arts and culture as a tool to increase understanding and acceptance of other cultures and backgrounds.

I believe we should ensure a co-ordinated approach to supporting agriculture in Kelowna by updating the current Agriculture Plan. The last draft was completed in 1997, and I believe it is time to measure the progress which has been made, assess which of the incomplete recommendations are still relevant, and consider new approaches which can support farmers in our area. I do not support allowing development to encroach on agricultural land, and my voting record on Council proves this. The City must play a leadership role in preserving farmland, or development pressures will make land costs even more unaffordable for those looking to get a start in agriculture. Furthermore, I believe we can create a more sustainable food system by ensuring farmers have abundant opportunities to sell their produce. Progress has been made towards finding a permanent home for the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market, and I am also in favour of a year-round public market in the downtown core. The expansion of community gardens in our city has been a highly worthwhile investment and I am eager to see this initiative continue. Finally, we must lobby senior levels of government to ensure adequate investment is made in agriculture. BC has the lowest level of per-capita spending on agriculture in all of Canada, and I am committed to reminding our MLA’s and the Premier of the importance of this sector.

4.       “Kelowna has a concerning and considerable number of homeless people. There are the visibly homeless and the hidden homeless. What kinds of initiatives would you take to identify and provide safer, more permanent housing options for individuals of both groups?”

The most effective tool at Council’s disposal during the past few years has been leveraging city-owned land to form partnerships with senior levels of government and non-profit groups to create affordable housing. I support a continuation of this approach, combined with the adoption of recommendations outlined in the recently-adopted Kelowna Housing Strategy. The strategy includes initiatives which reduce the time and cost of developing affordable housing, particularly rental housing, and which will diversify the housing supply in Kelowna through the introduction of fee-simple townhouses and courtyard housing. Affordable housing is a significant and growing issue for our community, and it is important to have a Council committed to taking action to address it.

Kelowna’s new Cultural Plan was created through an extremely collaborative, inclusive process and outlines a path to ensuring the cultural community thrives into the future. Council has already endorsed the non-monetary items in the plan, but I believe we must not abandon the arts even as we aim for fiscal restraint in a tough economy. Municipal investment in arts and cultural organizations can have a tremendous multiplier effect, allowing the groups to apply for matching funding from other levels of government, donors, and foundations. Particular features of the Cultural Plan I support are increased support of professional arts organizations phased over a three-year period, addressing the lack of production space in Kelowna, measuring the economic impact of Kelowna’s creative sector, and further integration of arts and culture with tourism. When provincial and federal arts funding was cut, the City took a leadership role in ensuring organizations could keep their doors open, and I am proud of our city’s efforts but the municipality cannot implement the Cultural Plan alone. Co-operation is needed from other levels of government, as well as businesses and non-profit in our community. If re-elected, I hope to be a leader in enabling this collaboration.

The newly-adopted Official Community Plan charts lays out a guide for growth and development in the city all the way to 2030, and part of this is ensuring a sustainable transportation network exists. Kelowna is one of the most car-dependent cities in Canada, and part of this reliance on single-occupant vehicles is caused at least partially by inadequate infrastructure for sustainable alternatives. During my term on Council, there was substantial spending on new multi-modal corridors throughout our entire community, and I believe the next step is to expand and connect this network of multi-use pathways. The transportation network envisioned in the OCP makes a much-needed shift, focusing on pedestrians and cyclists first, then meeting the needs of cars. In addition to measures aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity, a key priority for me is continued improvement of our transit system. As someone who relies on the bus system for my commute to school, I have seen first-hand the progress we have made, but I recognize there is still a ways to go before people consider leaving their cars and using transit for their day-to-day transportation. My overall priorities for the transit system are increased frequency and reliability. One of the reasons the express bus system works so well is that people can simply show up at a bus stop without a schedule and know there will be a bus within 15 minutes. We must strive to bring that number down to 10 minutes on key routes, and raise the level of frequency throughout the system as a whole. In addition to these general principles, specific projects I support are a bus to the H2O Centre, a transit exchange in the Rutland Town Centre, and expansion of the transit network to include Quail Ridge and the airport.