Editorial: Thoughtful solutions are essential to help house the homeless

Posted inIn the News

The Province
October 24, 2006

Helping the least fortunate is one of society’s greatest responsibilities. And it is one of the best reasons for paying taxes to various levels of government.

But housing the homeless in Vancouver is a complex issue not easily solved by simplistic solutions. And the situation is not improved by political zealots, seized with self-righteous fury, staging an illegal protest and using the 2010 Winter Olympics as a convenient scapegoat.

Second annual “A Night for All Souls” at Mountain View Cemetery

Posted inIn the News

In many cultures around the world, the days at the end of October and beginning of November are considered an important time for honouring the dead in our lives, through ceremony and celebration, and the practical maintenance of family gravesites.

Mountain View Cemetery once again invites the public to remember their dead at the second annual “A Night for All Souls”:

Saturday, October 28, 2006 1 pm – 10 pm
Mountain View Cemetery, north end, Fraser and 33rd

Concrete first steps proposed to address Vancouver’s homelessness crisis

Posted inIn the News

As a first step in beginning to address the serious issues facing Vancouver’s homeless population, Mayor Sam Sullivan and Councillor Kim Capri are proposing a number of initiatives that will result in more social housing and fewer people sleeping on the streets.
“Given the crisis facing our homeless population, we need to ‘think outside the cardboard box’ to get people off the street and into shelter,” said Mayor Sullivan. “The City must send a strong message to Victoria that we are serious about attracting new provincial investments in social housing in the next few months.”

Public Disorder Survey sample comments

Posted inSam's Blog

The response to the Mayor’s survey has been overwhelming. Thank you for your comments, your ideas, and your input on this topic. Below is a random sampling of your feedback so far.
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“Please find ways to support communities within the city to deal with the issues. We know our own neighbourhoods best, and I think that communities need to be involved in the solutions, since we live with the problems.”
“Most of these issues are just surface manifestations of much larger issues. The main issue firing the disorder in Vancouver is highly drug-related. It seems to be common sense to see this, but many people tend not to think further or they try to hide behind some morality which once again hides the truth. I would like to personally be involved in working out a long term solution to this ever growing problem. Unless we confront it directly, and stop skirting the issue, it will grow.”

Mayor’s plan will keep film industry an economic generator

Posted inIn the News

Mayor Sam Sullivan today launched the Task Force on the Film Industry, a new initiative aimed at supporting Vancouver’s film industry and improving its connection with local neighbourhoods.
The Mayor and Councillor Elizabeth Ball were joined by leaders in the film industry, business groups and community organizations to kick off the Task Force on the set of Amped, a television pilot produced by Vancouver’s Brightlight Pictures, for Fox 21 and Spike.

What are your views on public disorder?

Posted inSam's Blog

A problem we can solve as a community

Greetings from City Hall! Council is back in session after a busy summer break, and I am pleased to share with you a number of exciting initiatives and programs we will be developing this Fall.

Take the Mayor's Survey on Reducing Public Disorder One of the items at the top of my priority list is an initiative to address public disorder. This is an issue that affects neighbourhoods throughout the City, and I hear regularly from residents and businesses who tell me they want Council to be more proactive in improving safety and order on our streets.