Shaping Vancouver
Shaping Vancouver
Shaping Vancouver is a conversation series on urban issues in partnership with SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. The series has been running since 2015, covering topics such as the City of Vancouver Heritage Action Plan, “Our Neighbourhoods,” “Reshaping Conversations on Heritage,” and “Contested Places.”
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
2019 series –
What’s the Use of Heritage?
Reshaping Local Communities
Conversation 1 – Shaping Vancouver 2019
View overview
In our first session of Shaping Vancouver for 2019, we look at how heritage can be used to reshape particular places in the city. In particular, we examine how culture-led plans can fulfill economic, social and cultural objectives set for areas such as Chinatown and Punjabi Market.
What Do We Do About Neighbourhoods?
Conversation 2 – Shaping Vancouver 2019
View overview
As a key component of the health, vitality, and character of the city, we look at how neighbourhoods and neighbourhood character are part of the heritage discussion in Vancouver and how they function in the context of the City-Wide Plan.
Is Heritage Relevant?
Conversation 3 – Shaping Vancouver 2019
View overview
In this session, we examine the disruption taking place in heritage and the challenges it faces in remaining relevant, especially in the context of improving our city.
What's Happening to Heritage?
Conversation 4 – Shaping Vancouver 2019
View overview
In our final session of Shaping Vancouver for 2019, we look at the wider role of heritage as a storytelling tool, with a special focus on the City of Vancouver's Arts and Culture Plan and the city's social aims.
2019 series –
What’s the Use of Heritage?
The Heather Street Lands
Conversation 1 – Shaping Vancouver 2018
View overview
The Burra Charter advocates for a values-centered approach to heritage – the Heather Street Lands is a site of many different values. It is crucial that we work out how these values can be conveyed on the site because in addition to historical value, there are also cultural, social, architectural, natural and economic values.
2019 series –
What's the Use of Heritage?
Change in Living Communities –
False Creek South
Conversation 2 – Shaping Vancouver 2018
View overview
The “humanistic” approach exemplified by the planning experience of False Creek South sheds light on how ideas, associations of meanings, and people’s connections to places are all important aspects to heritage. In this session, the panelists discussed successes and failures of this vision, and the value that False Creek South’s particular heritage brings to Vancouver’s future.
Values and Change in Living Communities – Mount Pleasant and
the Skytrain
Conversation 3 – Shaping Vancouver 2018
View overview
In this session of Shaping Vancouver, we focus on social priorities and the unique cultural heritage of Mount Pleasant, in relation to the recently-announced SkyTrain extension that will pass directly through the neighbourhood.
2017 series –
The Future of Heritage in Vancouver
What the Thematic Framework Means for our City
Conversation 1 – Shaping Vancouver 2017
View overview
The new thematic framework being used to update the Vancouver Heritage Register under the Heritage Action Plan of 2015.
Subcultural Heritage – Emergence of Social Diversity and the Creation of Heritage
Conversation 3 – Shaping Vancouver 2017
View overview
By definition, subcultures are oppositional in nature and exist outside of the mainstream. As they fight for changes and recognition, these marginal cultural practices may assimilate and change society as a whole in the long term. Various subcultures have emerged and taken root in Vancouver such as punk rock, the LGBTQ community, hippies, the Georgia Straight, and Greenpeace and environmentalism.
2016 series –
Our neighbourhoods
What Is A Neighbourhood?
Conversation 1 – Shaping Vancouver 2016
View overview
This panel discussion focused on what features are necessary to have vibrant neighbourhoods and communities as well discussed what should be kept in mind as we manage change in Vancouver’s neighbourhoods.
What’s So Special About ‘The Drive’?
Conversation 2 – Shaping Vancouver 2016
View overview
Discussion around the mounting pressure for development on Commercial Drive and its surrounding neighbourhood. This area is renowned for its diversity and vibrant street culture, and the aim of this conversation was to discuss how future development could impact this identity.
What Do I Want From My Street? – Change Is Coming To Cambie, Main, Fraser
Conversation 3 – Shaping Vancouver 2016
View overview
Discussion around the impact of Transit Oriented Development along some of Vancouver’s prominent North South arterial streets, Cambie, Main, Fraser. These neighbourhood’s character and street level retail have been impacted by the development of high-density mixed-use areas close to public transport.
What Is The Vision For Chinatown?
Conversation 4 – Shaping Vancouver 2016
View overview
There is alarming concern in the community over the impacts of development, as Chinatown’s Neighbourhood has approved high density developments in order to increase housing. The introduction of new typologies to accommodate density and how that has disrupted the existing fabric of the area have fueled fears over the loss of Chinatown character.
2015 series –
Conversations on the Heritage Action Plan
Are Heritage Conservation Areas Right for Vancouver?
Conversation 1 – Shaping Vancouver 2015
View overview
The first panel discussion of the Shaping Vancouver 2015 series focused on heritage conservation areas, and whether they are a viable method to protect the historical character found in Vancouver neighbourhoods.
What is Vancouver’s Heritage?
Conversation 2 – Shaping Vancouver 2015
View overview
This event focused on what defines Vancouver’s heritage and what heritage values ought to be recognized.
What is Neighbourhood Character?
Conversation 3 – Shaping Vancouver 2015
View overview
This discussion focused primarily on the Heritage Action Plan’s goal of taking immediate action on priority character buildings which will draw information from the upcoming Character Home Zoning Review. Panelists discussed how heritage and character links to community identity and if these unique identifiers are worth preserving.
Our Main Streets
Conversation 4 – Shaping Vancouver 2015
View overview
Our main streets are at the heart of our communities, and have often played a key role in the history and evolution of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods. The defining character of these neighbourhoods are threatened by developmental pressure to demolish and rebuild.