Hastings-Sunrise Community Meeting

This past Monday (October 23) I attended the second annual Hastings-Sunrise Community meeting at the Hastings Community Center. Although I had been to a Committee meeting in September, this was my first "real" exposure to the Hastings Sunrise CityPlan Committee as a whole and I have to say that I was (am) impressed. I found it extremely refreshing to see such a large group of people, from all points of the community, come together for a community that they clearly care a great deal about.

For those of you out there that don't know, CityPlan is an initiative of the City of Vancouver that engages community residents to develop a "plan" (with City support) that is then used to help guide future decisions affecting the particular community. In this case Hastings-Sunrise. CityPlan initiatives include such things as inventory and improvements in housing choices, shopping areas, traffic issues, parks and public places. The Hastings-Sunrise community extends (approximately) from Grandview Highway to Burrard Inlet and from Boundary Road to Naniamo.

While I can't really give justice here to everyone that set up a display or all groups that presented, meeting attendees were provided brief updates from sub-committee representatives in areas including:

1. Hastings-Sunrise Public Realm (described as those "things" outside of buildings).

2. The Neighbourhood Centers Program ( a department within the city that has money for such initiatives as community public realm).

3. Hastings-Sunrise Housing Sub-Committee (exploring density issues and looking at housing issues that will help attract people to the area).

4. Hastings-Sunrise Traffic Sub-Committee (works with the city to try and solve the most troubling traffic issues in the community)

5. Living in Communities (a group that works with the community to address issues surrounding the sex trade).

6. Hastings Park Conservancy (an organization dedicated to the re-greening of Hastings Park)

7. East Vancouver Port Lands (a joint effort between the city, Port Authority and the Burrard View community to address issues involving port lands).

8. North End Action Team (a group of residents from the "Forgotten Triangle")

9. Light Water Drums.

10. Hastings Elementary School (celebrating 100 years).

This meeting turned out to be an extremely informative and worthwhile way to spend an otherwise dreary Monday evening. As a relative newcomer to the community, the passion that I encountered here only served to strengthen my own resolve to do more. So, over the coming weeks I will try and find more information about the various groups within this community of ours and introduce them to you here but, in the meantime you may want to mark a couple of dates on your calendars:

Hastings-Sunrise CityPlan Committee Meeting - Monday Nov 27, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

Hastings-Sunrise Traffic Subcommittee Meeting - Tuesday Nov 7, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

Hastings-Sunrise Public Realm Subcommittee - Wednesday Nov 15, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

For More information on the Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision and its various subcommittees, go to www.vancouver.ca/visions