The newly released Official Community Plan (OCP) Moving Toward Sustainability is an exciting document that will guide the city toward 2041. It contains the required chapters, BUT it also includes whole chapters on Vibrant Cities, Agriculture and Food, Climate Change Response and Island Natural Environment.
In these chapters are words such as food security, climate change adaptation, car-share programs, and carbon sequestration. Most of us had not heard many of these phrases in 1999 when the previous OCP was adopted. It also coins new words such as "rolling", which describes all things with wheels from skateboards to scooters to electric bicycles.
Even more important, in my view, is the focus on people. It acknowledges our population is aging and that this trend will likely continue. So it makes plans for that with aging-in-place provisions, street lighting, space and types of recreation and facilities, without compromising service levels for other groups like families and youth. How people interact and recreate; personal and community wellness; reading, education and being creative - this OCP is a tool for interaction and discussion.
It acknowledges the diversity of our city with the difficulties this sometimes brings, but focuses on methods to overcome these.
Its chapter on Vibrant Cities starts to bring clarity in how to accomplish this. It describes arts and heritage as "the tangible products of culture" - that is of our residents and city's collective past experiences. It goes on to acknowledge that "culture is a means to community building, encouraging outdoor activity, healthy lifestyles and life-long learning." It notes that arts play an all-encompassing role in fostering community identity that also "helps individual self-confidence, personal and community well-being along with citizenship and pride."
The new Official Community Plan has also recognized the arts as a vital component to making Richmond a vibrant city.
Besides the chapters within the OCP and the newly updated Arts Strategy, art has permeated much of what the city does, from infrastructure projects such as pump stations to our planning - we give awards to architects and builders for well designed and beautiful developments, to public art and festivals.
To further solidify the city as a "thriving, resilient, diverse and creative community" focus areas have been identified along with policies to provide direction. Some include: z Cultural Engagement: facilitate and create an environment and culture that support the arts and culture and enhance their contribution to vibrancy and community vitality.
Livelong Learning: foster a joy of reading and a culture of life-long learning.
Celebrating Heritage: preserve, promote and celebrate community heritage.
Community Revitalization: encourage and develop a mosaic of appealing, lively and distinctive areas, vibrant public spaces, festivals, events and activities.
The newly updated Arts Strategy's vision says, "Richmond is an arts destination with a thriving arts community and a rich offering of festivals and events."
To accomplish this, the strategy has identified roles for the city to play including: facilitator, program provider, partner, supporter, communicator and advocate in advancing the arts.
Individually, these documents are commanding pieces of work that will guide our city life. Together, they will shape how we as residents live and interact; how we will feel about the place we live and each other; our quality of life in the city we live and love.
For the documents, visit www.letstalkrichmond.ca and www.richmond.ca.
Linda Barnes is a city councillor.
