Vancouver — Residents of UBC’s University
Town have elected their first community based Board of Directors
to represent the town’s growing residential population.
The January 19, 2005 Annual General Meeting of the University
Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) resulted in the election
of three new council members, which transfers the administration
of the community from the university to the elected representatives.
Newly elected board members are Jim Taylor, Chair of the
UNA and resident of Hampton Place; Mike Feely, UBC faculty
member and resident of Hawthorn Place; and Brian Collins,
resident of Hampton Place.
According to Jim Taylor, “This is a real achievement
for the UNA and University Town. This election legitimizes
the UNA as a truly democratic board and legitimizes University
Town as a growing and well represented community.”
The UNA board now consists of six directors including three
elected UNA directors, two appointed by the university, and
one Alma Mater Society representative. The Chair, who is appointed
by the board and must be an elected member, has a second casting
vote, which ensures that control rests with the elected directors.
As University Town’s residential population grows the
number of elected officials on the council will increase,
diluting the number of appointed directors. This mechanism
will ensure a smooth transition of governing responsibilities
from the university to the UNA.
Dennis Pavlich, UBC Vice-President of External and Legal
Affairs, said, “UBC is very pleased with the outcome
of this process. The UNA was initially set up by the university
to ensure a governing body to focus and carry responsibility
for the services and facilities required to build University
Town. With this election the UNA has gained significant independence
that will serve the residents of the university community
in a democratically accountable way. For UBC, UNA, and University
Town this is an exceptional achievement because it reflects
the maturation of the UNA.”
The UNA represents the residents of University Town on community
issues including the operation and maintenance of recreational
facilities, recreational programming, traffic and transportation,
management of parks and green space, parking, infrastructure,
and safety. Funding for services is provided by a Services
Levy that is collected as part of the lease agreement that
each resident holds with UBC.
This governance structure is unique in the context of Canadian
universities because it combines an elected majority with
university-appointed representatives who, together, represent
the residents of the campus community while working within
the authority of the University Act.
The UNA was incorporated in the Spring of 2002 under the
Societies Act of B.C. Pursuant to the University Act the UNA
is an advisory body to the UBC Board of Governors. Currently
the UNA has 690 members from a total University Town population
of 2,500
University Town is an integrated community that supports
UBC’s academic mission and is transforming UBC from
a commuter campus to a work-live community. Eight new residential
and mixed-use neighbourhoods will increase the campus residential
population to approximately 21,000 residents by 2021 and will
include student, faculty, and staff housing, university-related
shops and services, parks, a community centre, a school and
a range of public amenities.
For further information on University Town please visit:
www.universitytown.ubc.ca.
For further information on the UNA please visit:
www.myuna.ca.
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