We're Getting Somewhere!

Deliberation in Action

Our Kitsilano mini-assembly was a great success. We had so many people we had to use the adjoining room for our deliberations. We started out with our typical go-around where people talk about the issues they are seeing in the city, and it was no surprise – homelessness,

We were joined by Mayeli Alvarez, one of the directors of Protect Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre, who presented our deliberation topic – a ward system for the city. Our deliberators brought up pros and cons and, with some concerns, the room was generally in favour of this shift from the at-large system we currently use.

We had some candidates for the 2026 municipal election in attendance – Devyani Singh (for council) and Melanie Cheng (for school board) from COPE and Kathleen Larsen (for council) from TEAM. Mayoral candidate Stephanie Allen just released COPE’s platform and citizens’ assemblies are on there! At the time I am writing this, we have not received confirmation that citizens’ assemblies are on TEAM’s official platform. We will update as more information becomes available, but when ANY candidates approach you to ask your opinion, please ask if they support citizens’ assemblies and if they do, let us know by emailing assemblevancouver@proton.me.

In July, we will be having a meeting for anyone who wants to help us with our next phase – vetting candidates and more public outreach. If you have even an hour or two a week to help out, please reach out! If you don't have the time, even sharing our website with 5 friends, acquaintances or colleagues will help! www.assemblevancouver.org.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with phase one’s mini-assemblies, everyone who participated, and everyone who passed on our information in whatever way they could. There’s more work to do, but we are on the right track!

Let's do this,

Jillian

Starting our social media presence

This is a work progress - bear with us while we figure this out ;-) Feel free to give us suggestions on social media. Apr 4: We've formalized our (fediverse compatible) social media identity as @engage@assemblevancouver.org and will be working on promoting this in the near term. Help

Correction

I sent a recent update suggesting that you can register for the February 17 7 pm mini-assembly by replying to the email – this is incorrect. You have to send an email to assemblevancouver@proton.me. Once I receive your registration email, I will send you the address. Sorry for

Thanks, Next Assembly and Door Knocking!

Thanks to all who attended the January mini-assembly. We had a full house at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre, despite the weather. At this assembly, we introduced a sample deliberation in the second half, which we had a fair bit of positive feedback on. We are learning and aim

Mini assembly participants by neighbourhood

In our initial mini assemblies we have involved citizens from the following neighbourhoods. As we continue in the new year we will be bringing assemblies to more of you closer to where you live and work.

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Starting our social media presence

Correction

Thanks, Next Assembly and Door Knocking!

Mini assembly participants by neighbourhood