Who Gets to Live Here?

 Who Gets to Live Here?

I often look at the glossy graphics used to promote redevelopment projects and wonder if we're all looking at the same city.

The renderings are beautiful. The reality is often the loss of old character homes, mature trees, affordable rental housing, and neighbourhoods that took generations to build. A minimalist box replaces a family home. A tower replaces a streetscape filled with memories.

I was born near Kitsilano and have lived here on and off since 1997. I raised my child here. This isn't just a neighbourhood to me—it's part of my life story.

When I see plans that would dramatically reshape Broadway and Kitsilano, I understand why so many residents pushed back. Whether people supported or opposed specific projects, many felt they weren't being heard. There was a sense that decisions had already been made and public consultation was simply a formality.

The neighbourhood is changing rapidly. Old homes are being demolished. New developments rise in their place. People arrive from across Canada and around the world because Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

The truth is simple: people love it here.

Once they arrive, many don't want to leave.

But that raises an important question: who gets to stay?

As housing prices continue to rise, many long-time residents, artists, seniors, young families, and people working ordinary jobs are finding themselves pushed further away from the communities they helped build. Increasingly, it feels like Vancouver is becoming a city reserved for those with significant wealth.

I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I believe we need to think differently.

What if we embraced small-scale solutions alongside larger developments?

What if tiny houses were allowed on selected streets and underused land, connected to existing neighbourhood services?

What if high schools taught practical building skills and students graduated with experience in construction, sustainability, and community design?

What if every neighbourhood had shared gardens, fruit trees, and spaces where people worked together to grow food?

Previous generations understood the value of local food production. After the world wars, people planted Victory Gardens to strengthen communities and improve food security. My grandmother had a garden that could grow almost anything. Today, her modest home is gone, replaced by a much larger house that covers most of the lot.

That loss feels symbolic of what has happened throughout Vancouver over the past twenty years.

We have gained density, but have we strengthened community?

We have built wealth, but have we created belonging?

As we plan for the future, I hope we remember that a city is more than buildings. It is memory, culture, relationships, and the people who call it home.

The question isn't simply how many housing units we can build.

The question is: who gets to live here?

And what kind of city do we want to leave for the generations that follow?

And what kind of city do we want to leave for the generations that follow

Reflective Questions

1. What makes a neighbourhood feel like home?

2. How can cities balance growth with preserving local character?

3. Who benefits from redevelopment, and who may be displaced?

4. What role should community gardens and local food production play in urban planning?

5. What housing solutions would best serve future generations?

Keywords: Kitsilano, Vancouver housing, Broadway Plan, urban development, neighbourhood character, affordable housing, tiny houses, community gardens, density, gentrification, Vancouver history, city planning, local culture, redevelopment, housing affordability

Hashtags: #Kitsilano #Vancouver #BroadwayPlan #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #TinyHomes #UrbanPlanning #CommunityGardens #NeighbourhoodCharacter #VancouverHistory #CityBuilding #HousingJustice #KeepKitsUnique #FutureOfVancouver

Salmon, Rivers, and Our Survival: Why We Must Protect What’s Left

The image of a wild salmon fighting its way upstream is one of resilience, determination, and life. Yet, for all its symbolic strength, this species—and the rivers they call home—are in crisis. Dams, pollution, and climate change are choking these lifelines, and the repercussions go far beyond the fish themselves.

Salmon: A Keystone Species

Salmon are vital not only to ecosystems but to our survival. These incredible fish support countless species, from bears and eagles to the forests themselves, which benefit from nutrients carried by decaying salmon. For Indigenous peoples, salmon are much more than a resource—they are a sacred connection to the land, a source of food, and a cornerstone of culture and tradition.

But over the past century, the number of salmon returning to rivers like the Columbia has plummeted. Dams block migration routes, overfishing strains populations, and pollution poisons the water they need to thrive.

The Cost of Dams and Pollution

The Columbia River, once home to some of the largest salmon runs in the world, is now a shadow of what it was. The construction of massive hydroelectric dams prioritized power generation and flood control but at a devastating cost. Salmon populations dropped dramatically, and communities that relied on these fish—human and animal alike—have suffered the consequences.

Pollution further compounds the problem. Agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and urban development have turned many river systems into toxic environments where salmon struggle to survive.

A Time for Action: Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty

The Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the United States, established in 1964, was primarily about flood control and hydroelectric power. But as the treaty undergoes modernization, we have an opportunity to address the ecological and cultural costs of these priorities.

Any updates to the treaty must:

Restore salmon habitats by improving dam infrastructure or removing outdated dams.

Include Indigenous nations as equal partners in decision-making.

Enforce stricter pollution controls to protect water quality.

Address climate change impacts on river systems.

Why This Matters to Everyone

When salmon suffer, so do we. Their decline signals the degradation of ecosystems we depend on for clean water, food, and a stable climate. Restoring rivers and salmon populations isn’t just about saving a species—it’s about ensuring a livable planet for future generations.

What You Can Do

1. Educate Yourself: Learn about the Columbia River Treaty and similar policies in your region.

2. Support Advocacy Groups: Organizations like Wild Salmon Center and Indigenous-led initiatives are fighting for salmon and river restoration.

3. Reduce Pollution: Cut down on single-use plastics, use eco-friendly products, and advocate for policies that protect waterways.

4. Raise Your Voice: Contact local representatives to demand action on salmon restoration and sustainable water management.

Salmon are fighters. They’ve survived ice ages and predators for millions of years. But now, they need our help. Protecting them means protecting ourselves. Let’s not let political grandstanding or short-sighted decisions dictate the fate of these incredible creatures and the rivers that sustain us all.