Vancouver Connects

Help shape our next City budget

As we gear up for a busy season of summer events and celebrate our recent graduates, we're also beginning the important work of planning for Vancouver's next City budget. Our biannual community survey launches on June 12. If you a receive a call or text, I hope you'll take ten minutes to share your thoughts on Vancouver's livability and satisfaction with City services. Your voice will help guide how we prioritize investments in what will be a challenging budget season for the City of Vancouver.  

The murals have been painted and the streetscape is set for what will soon be one of the world's largest bike gardens! Join us 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, June 8, for the grand opening of Vancouver's temporary Heights Bike Garden, 5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Both children and adults can enjoy this interactive, fun and safe space to develop cycling skills and learning about pedestrian road safety. 

For 22 years, Vancouver’s most recognized landmark has stood watch in Esther Short Park. This summer, the Salmon Run Bell Tower and Glockenspiel will be repaired and restored. Construction is expected to start in July. The majority of the park will continue to be open for events and play.

Last week, we kicked off a new Youth Climate Leadership pilot program designed to support and engage local high school students in advancing climate action efforts in Vancouver. The program will bring together a cohort of 12 youth from diverse backgrounds to imagine climate solutions at multiple scales, from community to career, and develop skills to meaningfully engage in climate justice, civic action and community resilience locally.

Summer fun is on the horizon! This year, we're presenting 13 free concerts and seven free movie nights in parks throughout the city starting in July. Weekends are packed with free community events, including the return of Four Days of Aloha July 25-28 and Vancouver's Arts and Music Festival Aug. 2-4 Escape the summer swelter at Vancouver's Columbia Water Feature or the action-packed Firstenburg Community pool.

Remember: the boom is banned in Vancouver 🚫

Fireworks can cause property damage, devastating wildfires, injuries and stress for some veterans, children and pets. No to mention, they're still illegal in Vancouver City limits. Fines for violators start at $500.