Thank You

I want to thank all those who voted for me
on Election Night Nov.19th!

I would also like to thank all the volunteers, friends and family who so generously donated time and effort to my campaign, as well all those who donated funds to help my election effort. I could not have done it without you!

On Dec.5th, I will be sworn in as a Vancouver Park Commissioner. It is my intention to work for all citizens, to listen to the community and to act in the public interest. I am very proud to be involved in this very key institution in the development of our great city.

Welcoming My New Campaign Advisor!

I am pleased to announce that former Park Board Communication staffer Terri Clark will advise my campaign for election to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. Ms. Clark was responsible for Communications at the Park Board over a long career spanning 35 years. She was also instrumental in spearheading numerous horticultural facilities and events during that time along with tracking the significant history of the institution of the Park Board itself, the only elected body of its type in Canada. Terri’s in depth knowledge of the Park Board and the City will enrich my campaign’s direction.

After many hours of  door knocking, mainstreeting and community meetings we feel that real change is coming to Vancouver.  Having Terri on board is a huge forward step to my campaign! Be sure to come out and vote for your Common Sense Team on November 19th!

You Are Invited to Save Horticulture in Our City!

Together we have saved the Bloedel Conservatory! Through this process I have realized the need to be more involved. My name is John Coupar I am running for Vancouver Park Board! Our current City Council and Park Board are destroying Vancouver’s proud heritage of fine horticulture and maintenance of our boulevards and many public green spaces.

Please join us at 7pm, Wednesday, September 21st

for drinks at Southland’s Nursery:

6550 Balaclava Street

(two blocks below SW Marine Drive at the corner of W. 49th and Balaclava St.)

Show you care by attending this fundraiser before it’s too late!

Admission is FREE ~ but please bring your cheque book!

NPA: Your Common Sense Team for Parks!

From the newly planted, but dead trees on Cambie Boulevard to weed filled garden beds at David Lam Park to dying trees on the City Hall grounds, it’s very clear something has gone wrong in Vancouver. It’s called a lack of common sense. It’s the kind of common sense that your NPA team wants to bring back to Park Board on November 19th.

My name is John Coupar and I’m an NPA candidate for Park Board this fall. My involvement in saving the Bloedel Conservatory opened my eyes to a desperate situation happening in our parks and facilities in Vancouver. It has become clear to me that there is a lack of stewardship for Park Board facilities and it has reached a critical stage. As I move around the City, I’m appalled by the deterioration of our public spaces. The practice of horticultural excellence that our city has become renowned for the world over has been eviscerated by the unrelenting and compounding cuts by the Vision Vancouver administration.

There’s plenty of work to do, so we hope you will join us by voting for your NPA candidates this November. Together we can bring common sense back to Vancouver!

Meet Your NPA Candidates!

Let’s put the “Park” back in Vancouver Park Board

Bloedel Conservatory at Night

Thank you everyone for all the support you have given me and all the volunteer hours and effort you have spent saving the Bloedel Conservatory, the shining Green Jewel at the Pinnacle of our great City. Presently, I am a Governor of VanDusen Botanical Garden and Chair of the Bloedel Committee. Together, we continue to make great progress with events and improvements at the Conservatory. However, as a result of challenges of working with the Vancouver Park Board during this effort to save Bloedel, I have come to the realisation that I need to do more!

The independence of the Park Board, its Horticultural legacy, and its very important role in the development of our City are under attack! While you are well aware that Vision voted to close Bloedel in November 2009, we can’t forget that we also almost lost the Park Board’s Sunset Nursery. The Nursery underpins the Park Board’s ability to keep our city Parks beautiful and inviting to citizens and visitors. In addition, we had the sad situation where Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper had to go, cap in hand, to City Hall to keep washrooms open in Public Parks. Further, in spite of plans by Vision to make Vancouver a green city we have seen cuts to tree planting and Park maintenance. These continuing cuts will, over time result in drastic declines to the quality of our Park System which was once the envy of North America.

Photo by Taz

Because of this and more, I have decided to seek an NPA nomination for Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioner. I have demonstrated a clear ability to engage the community with solutions as shown by the success of the Save Bloedel effort and the Bloedel  Conservatory’s integration with VanDusen Botanical Garden Association.

Now, once again, I need your support!  I ask you to join the NPA  http://www.npavancouver.ca/member/ to support my efforts in this campaign.

PLEASE JOIN PRIOR TO MAY 4^th, 2011 so you will be eligible to cast your vote!

IT ONLY COSTS $10 for a one year NPA Membership

Finally, I ask that you attend the June 4, 2011 Nomination Meeting at the Croatian Cultural Centre 3250 Commercial Drive Vancouver BC and cast your vote in support of my nomination.

Your support is critical… help me put the Park… back in Park Board

To contact me directly my cell is 604 818 2756

Follow me on Twitter:  JohnCCoupar