Dunbar Residents Association News and Events

Beginning in 1996, residents in Dunbar participated in the Vancouver CityPlan visioning process to create a Vision for Dunbar’s housing, transportation, shopping areas and community services. The result was the Dunbar Community Vision Plan, approved by Council in 1998.

A local committee, the Dunbar Vision Implementation Committee (DVIC), was reactivated by the City in the fall of 2006 to help with the implementation of the Vision Plan. The DVIC is planning to hold an Open House in early 2008 (postponed from September 2007 due to the civic strike) to provide an update on the committee’s activities and the status of the Vision Plan action items., as well as to invite participation in the committee itself or in one of its subcommittees.

Minutes of the DVIC meetings and other Dunbar Vision-related information is available on the Dunbar Community Visions Program webpage on the Vancouver CityPlan website.

• Dunbar Vision Report (full)

In summer 2007, articles began appearing in the news about the Province’s proposed transfer of the University Golf Course to the Musqueam Indian Band as a result of court-ordered negotiations related to the sale of the golf course by the Province to UBC in 2003.

A group of ardent golf course supporters led by Park Commissioner Marty Zlotnik (www.savethecourse.ca) has argued for retaining the 120-acre golf course, most recently proposing that 120 acres of Pacific Spirit Park be transferred to the Musqueam instead of the golf course.

This has raised the ire of those who value the Park as undeveloped greenspace, and a group called Friends of Pacific Spirit Park (www.friendsofpacificspiritpark.com) has formed in response to Mr. Zlotnik’s proposal to give up Pacific Spirit Park land to save the golf course.

The Board has sent a letter to the Premier and the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation requesting clarification on a number of questions that have arisen regarding this issue. We will post any responses received as these become available.

In the interest of informing residents of the issues, the DRA Board has agreed to post information from all sides, including the articles that have appeared in the media over the past months, so that residents can read the background material for themselves and come to their own opinions on this issue. The most recent information suggests that a final decision will not be made until December 2007.