Community members at UBC imagine a future of facing the climate crisis, decolonization and accessible housing.
The Let’s Imagine: Campus Vision 2050 virtual webinar was held on January 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event featured a keynote speaker and a panel discussion on community members' visions for what they hope UBC could become by 2050.
UBC is currently engaged in a public planning process as the school updates its land use and Vancouver campus plans.
The keynote speaker was Minelle Mahtani, associate professor at the Institute for Social Justice and the Brenda and David McLean chair in Canadian studies.
Mahtani gave a stirring address about reimagining UBC and decolonizing our perspective about the lands we are on.
“I would encourage each of you to consider not only the lands upon which you live, breathe, work and love, but also what your relationship is with the land, and how you might bring a decolonized perspective to all the work that you do,” Mahtani said.
“I've been thinking recently about the power of dreaming. What happens when we make the attempt to dream, to actually allow ourselves to dream in vivid technicolour about what is possible in our worlds.”
Moderated by former Vancouver city planner Larry Beasley, the panel consisted of four speakers — Musqueam representative Wade Grant, UBC Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President of Academic Affairs Moura Quayle, Master’s of public policy and global affairs student Will Shelling and longtime UBC resident Alex Volkoff — who shared what they envision for the next 30 years on campus.
When it comes to the climate crisis and the environment, the group echoed the sentiment of “how to make the big small” — the campus’ plans for building expansion in the coming years.
Grant referenced Musqueam’s ownership of their golf course as a balanced approach to growing their economy with an eye to environmental protection.
“There is [an] opportunity for [balancing economics and environmental protection] but I don't think that it's carte blanche to be able to build as much as possible to make as many people live in that in that area as possible.”
While Grant touched on many dreams for UBC, another focal point was transportation congestion at 41st and Marine Drive.
Quayle said she wanted to see a campus “that's really comfortable and engaging and welcoming, and I'm not sure that that's by adding thousands and thousands more students at Point Grey.”
She also noted that folks would be lifelong learners. One way to make learning accessible is by looking at weekend education opportunities for families.
Shelling said, “I'm a big proponent of divesting myself from the colonial mindset that progress means bigger or more.”
He said that while “folks are pretty divided on the idea of remote learning,” online options allowed for “accessibility for a lot of folks to participate in the university.”
Additional points from Shelling included increased transit opportunities in and around UBC, specifically the SkyTrain to UBC, options for financially accessible housing on campus and adequately compensating marginalized folks if UBC wants input on their lived experiences.
He also advocated for financially-accessible housing on campus and adequately compensating marginalized folks if UBC wants their input from their lived experiences.
Volkoff said the community prizes sustainability and the car-free green spaces on campus.
“What scares me is … chasing very good talent away because they can't afford to live close to the university,” she said.
The audience submitted a total of 36 questions, and the Associate Vice-President of Campus and Community Planning Michael White noted the team would follow up with anyone whose questions weren’t answered.
More information about Vision 2050, including how to have your voice heard, can be found here.