Van Change Camp

Vancouver Sustainability Initiatives

Vancouver has started a number of sustainability initiatives aiming to minimize its environmental footprint, among which Zero Waste Vancouver, the Renewable City Strategy, and Greenest City.

Zero Waste Vancouver

The city has taken a zero waste approach which includes repairing items to increase their useful life, refurbishing and reusing materials, composting, and preventing waste. The main pillars of the plan are dispose, recycle and energy recovery, reuse, reduce, and avoid.

All residents can visit the Vancouver Zero Waste Centre to drop materials and products for recycling or reuse. Items to drop at the centre include household batteries, glass jars and bottles, fire extinguishers, electronics, and textiles and clothing. Items that are not accepted include pesticides, medications, flammable liquids, and tires. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, new drywall and textiles and clothing drop-off has been cancelled. Landfill tours and the landfill open house have been cancelled as well. Residents are encouraged to keep recyclable and bulky items at home and bring them only after the pandemic.

Renewable City Strategy

Reducing carbon emissions by 1/3 compared to 2007 is a major goal laid down in the strategy. The target is to lower emissions by 80 percent by 2050. To this end, the approach that Vancouver has taken includes building renewable energy infrastructure, switching to alternative sources, and reducing energy consumption. Priorities have been outlined in different sectors, including transportation, construction, and city services. In transportation, for example, the strategy aims to enhance the capacity and reliability of public transit and to improve the cycling infrastructure and pedestrian and road network. The Renewable City Strategy also envisages a comprehensive approach for the city services sector, including municipal operations and service planning.

Greenest City Action Plan

The main priorities laid down in the action plan include building sustainable neighborhoods, healthy and thriving local economy, and an internationally recognized city. The key focus areas of the plan include healthy ecosystems, zero waste, and zero carbon. The action plan prioritizes ten goals: • Lighter footprint • Green economy • Clean air • Local food • Clean water • Access to nature • Zero waste • Green transportation • Green buildings • Climate and renewables

Clean air and water, local food, and access to nature fall in the category of healthy ecosystems. Green transportation and buildings are under climate and renewables. All goals fall into the key areas of lighter footprint and green economy.

The implementation of different programs is envisaged under the plan, among which the Home Energy Technology Program, Home Energy Efficiency Empowerment Program, and Green Condominium Program. Given that close to 30 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with buildings come from condominiums and apartments, the main goal of the Green Condominium Program is to reduce energy consumption and thus lower emissions by over 40 percent.

The plan also lists jobs associated with green building, some being policy researcher and analyst, energy-efficient lighting specialist, green roof technician, and building commissioning agent. Jobs with a focus on sustainable transportation include transit operator, car-share scheduler and manager, and public bicycle technician. Finally, positions that help reduce waste are building manager, supply chain manager, and recycling facility operator.

The action plan also looks at public local food assets in Vancouver and sets goals to increase numbers. Food assets under consideration include community kitchens and food markets, farmers markets, urban orchards, and community garden plots. A major goal of the plan is to develop a sustainable food system and eliminate or minimize hormones, fertilizers, and pesticides. Another goal is to minimize pollution levels and energy use in waste management and food distribution, processing, and production.

Vancouver – a City of Many Faces

Vancouver is certainly a city of many faces, rich heritage, diverse cultural practices, and multicultural landscape. The city is shaped by waves of migration and immigration of settlers from around the world and Indigenous communities that have long inhabited the territory of British Columbia.

Ethnic Minorities

Minority groups have certainly made important contributions to the city’s cultural heritage. A multitude of visible ethnic minorities lives in Vancouver, including Latin American, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and South Asian. Because of its diverse makeup, Vancouver is known as the city of neighborhoods, with those of Scottish, Irish, and English origins still concentrated in places such as South Granville and Kerrisdale. Prominent ethnic neighborhoods across Vancouver are Punjabi Market, Greektown, Little Italy, and Chinatown. Immigration since the 80s contributed to diversity and today, more than 50 percent of residents report speaking a language other than English as their mother tongue. This makes Vancouver one of British Columbia’s most diverse cities after Surrey (58.5 percent), Burnaby (63.6 percent), and Richmond (76.3 percent).

Cultures That Shaped the Cityscape

While First Nations communities make for a small percentage of the city’s population, their cultural heritage is visible across Vancouver. The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art features an impressive collection of jewelry, cravings, and artwork while the UBC Museum of Anthropology holds а collection of indigenous artwork and historical artifacts.

Vancouver was a thriving hub for businesses in the lumber industry during the last century, attracting many immigrants from India’s Punjab region. Many of them ended up and settled in Vancouver and more specifically, in what later became Punjabi Market, a thriving neighborhood known for aroma spices, silks, and gold bangles.

The Chinese immigrants to settle in Vancouver in the 1800s mainly worked in mining operations and on railroads. This is how Chinatown emerged and grew to become one of the largest Chinese neighborhoods in North America. Here visitors can drop at traditional teashops and markets, taste authentic Chinese cuisine, and enjoy thriving nightlife.

Thousands of Italian families settled in the city after the end of the Second World War. Found in eastern Vancouver, Little Italy is a neighborhood that has long been known for its multitude of Italian businesses and restaurants. Today, Canadians of Italian origin have visible presence in Burnaby Heights and on East Hastings Street, which is packed with restaurants, deli stores, and cafes. Masses in Italian are held in the Holy Cross and St. Helen’s churches.

Cultural Life and Activities

Vancouver has plenty to offer when it comes to entertainment and cultural activities. The city is the home to many theatre companies, art galleries, museums, community centres, and parks. Great places for history enthusiasts are the Irving House Museum, Gulf of Georgia Cannery, and Burnaby Village, featuring historic homes, a school, general store, and ice cream parlor. Galleries also abound here and are scattered across the city, great places being the Vancouver Art Gallery and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. A number of festivals and cultural events take place throughout the year, showcasing music, dance, food, and culture. Events that are worth joining include the Powell Street Festival, Coastal First Nations Dance Festival, and Harmony Arts Festival.

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