Community Information for North Van Parents

Information from Translink Regarding North Shore Area Transit Plan

Planning and consultation to update and define a 30-year vision for transit service for the North Shore—the North Shore Area Transit Plan—are just getting underway. Your organization has been identified as a key stakeholder group, and I invite you to be part of the process and help shape this plan.

What is the North Shore Area Transit Plan?

The North Shore Area Transit Plan is a planning process that includes the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver, Bowen Island and the Village of Lions Bay. Building on the 2000 North Shore Area Transit Plan and on-going improvements made since then, the updated plan will not only define a 30-year vision, it will also identify priorities that can be implemented in the near and medium terms.

This phased planning process began in early September 2010 with early technical work, and will continue through to July 2011. Feedback from local stakeholders and the general public, in addition to factors such as land use and population density projections, will help us better plan for the future.

Your participation and input is invaluable

As a local stakeholder, your input will be invaluable to this planning process. In early December, you will be invited to answer an electronic questionnaire, asking you to describe the role transit plays for your members and constituents. This information will help us prepare for “visioning” workshops that are being planned for late January 2011, where you and other stakeholders will be invited to help shape the North Shore transit vision.

We have already started working with a Public Advisory Committee, and together with this committee, you will give TransLink the guidance it needs to plan for a transit future that best meets the needs of North Shore residents and businesses.

Visit us online for more information

Learn more about the North Shore Area Transit Plan goals, timeline and answers to frequently asked questions on our website. This site will be continually updated to provide you with the information you need to participate in this planning process.

Update:

Mark your calendars for the first workshops coming up in January!

Learn more about the North Shore Area Transit Plan, and help shape the future transit vision for the North Shore at our upcoming workshops. Two workshops are planned, and you are invited to attend the one that best suits your schedule.

Tuesday, January 25, Pinnacle Hotel, North Vancouver

Thursday, January 27, Gleneagles Club House, West Vancouver

Please email me directly at Andrew.Brooke@translink.ca or call me at 604.216.3210 to confirm if you or a representative from your organization will be part of this process, or if you have any questions.

Grants For Playground Surfacing

Grant Available for Playground Surfacing

If your school is looking to renovate your existing playground or construct a new one, this information may be of interest to you. Our provincial parent organization BCCPAC had the following links which provide details regarding a grant available to schools interested in resurfacing their playground:

http://www.tirestewardshipbc.ca/index.php

http://www.tirestewardshipbc.ca/pdf/2010BCDemonstrationGrantProgramFactSheet.pdf
http://www.tirestewardshipbc.ca/pdf/BCDemonstrationGrantApplication_2010.pdf

New NVSD Alternative Program Update

Based on the decision last May by the board education a working group has been formed to discuss the formation of a consolidated alternative program. The working group consists of representatives from the key stakeholder groups and has been meeting bi-weekly. The group’s main task have been to collect best practices and ideas from our existing programs, the professional industry literature, ministry reports, regulations and by benchmarking several programs in other school districts. All this information will be consolidated into a report by year’s end that will make recommendations for how to proceed with the design and implementation of the new program. Mike Sexsmith is your DPAC representative and if you have suggestions or comment please contact him at msexsmith@northvanpac.org

Earth Day Canada launches award and recognition programs

Earth Day Canada celebrates and supports environmental initiatives year-round through a suite of recognition programs and financial support, including scholarships, grants and cash awards programs.

Help the Earth Day Canada Team celebrate and recognize these contributions by directly applying or promoting the programs to your volunteers, supporters and/or community network today!

Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program awards twenty $5 000 scholarships to graduating Canadian high school and CEGEP students entering their first year of post-secondary studies. Eligible students can apply now at www.earthday.ca/scholarship. The application deadline is January 31st, 2011.

Earth Day Canada Community Environment Fund provides financial grants of up to $20 000 to support local not-for-profit organizations, charities and schools in the development and delivery of environmental initiatives in Ontario. Please visit www.earthday.ca/envirofund for more information. The Spring Grant Period deadline is February 28th, 2011.

Hometown Heroes Award Program rewards environmental leaders (individuals and groups) who have fostered meaningful, long–term community awareness and action in their communities with a $10 000 prize. Nominate a hero today at www.earthday.ca/hometown The application deadline isFebruary 28th, 2011.

Parent Series 2010/11 - December 2

Thursday December 2nd is the date of the next session for this year's Parent Series. The title for this session is "Getting to Know Your Community Support Networks". These sessions are hosted by the North Vancouver School District, and all parents are invited to attend. Registration is not required. All sessions will be held at the Leo Marshall Curriculum Centre from 7:00 to 8:30.

CBC/Radio-Canada opens its doors to support food banks

CBC/Radio-Canada invites you & your school to join us on Friday, December 3^rd as we open our doors in support of food banks in BC.

This is a great opportunity to watch live TV & Radio broadcasts, meet on-air personalities, tour our state-of-the-art CBC Broadcast Centre and help your local food bank by making a donation.

It’s a day full of great entertainment, exciting activities and heartfelt generosity.

For more information: please visit:

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/openhouse-foodbank/index.html

If you are interested in joining us, we would be more than happy to set up a tour for your students visiting our broadcasting centre. Please feel free to contact myself, Joyce Wu, at joyce.wu@cbc.ca / 604.662.6602. or Leo Damian at leo.damian@cbc.ca / 604.662.6620

Joyce Wu

CBC Communications

2nd NVPAC General Meeting - Thursday November 18th

Our 2nd NVPAC General Meeting for the 2010/2011 school year will be held this Thursday evening, November 18th from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in the main conference room at the LMCC building. The address is:

Leo Marshall Curriculum Centre,

810-21st Street West, North Vancouver

Our meeting agenda is below, and all DPAC Reps are strongly encouraged to attend. By popular demand, once again we've included a thirty minute open forum discussion at the bottom of our agenda, centred around two suggested themes; (1) workshops & education, and (2) future discussion topics to support PACs. Please feel free to bring your own questions, thoughts, ideas, or concerns for discussion.

Light refreshments will be served. There will also be prizes this Thursday!

If you are not able to attend, please send someone in your place! We're looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday.

Agenda - NVPAC General Meeting

November 18, 2010

Leo Marshall Curriculum Centre - Conference Room

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

7:00 Wealthy School Revolution (an exciting new fundraising program)- 15 minutes

7:15 Acceptance of Agenda

7:15 Approval of Minutes of October 21st General Meeting

7:20 BCCPAC Fall Conference report - Lisa Cartwright & Caroline Ramsay

7:35 NVPAC Constitution & Bylaws review - Lisa Cartwright

7:40 Community Forum report - Sandra Bridgman

7:45 School Planning Councils - Mike McGraw

7:50 Environmental Learning Centre Project update - Mike McGraw

7:55 Treasurer’s report - Jane Lagden Holborne

8:00 Open Forum Discussion - Suggested themes:

1. NVPAC Workshops - Workshop requests ad suggestions to support your PAC!

2. Future Discussion Themes - What topics do you feel would be great for open forum

discussions this year?

8:25 Prize Draw!

8:30 Adjourn