News
HAMILTON WINS THE ENDORSEMENT RACE
Support Reflects a Bridge-Builder
November 14th, 2008
Vancouver, BC
Jamie Lee Hamilton, Independent candidate for Park board who early on had her civil liberties trampled on by the NPA board didn't allow this to derail her campaign.
Ms Hamilton went on to pile up endorsements from every area of the City, reflecting a true representation of Vancouver citizens. Her support spanned the left, centre and right divides of the political spectrum and is a testament to those who see Jamie Lee as a bridge-builder.
Besides racking up declarations of support from two newspapers, XtraWest and the Georgia Straight, a number of former politicians, community leaders, environmentalists, neighborhood activists, prominent and average citizens alike enthusiastically embraced the campaign of Jamie Lee Hamilton which was affectionately dubbed the Queen of the Parks campaign.
From former Mayor Philip Owen to former MP for Van-East, Art Lee to Deputy leaders Adriane Carr of the Green Party of Canada and Damian Kettlewell of the BC Green Party to former Councillor Tim Louis, Ms Hamilton earned their trust, received their blessings and faith for her record of community advocacy.
From prominent businessman Mark James to Downtown Eastside arts promoter & activist Irwin Oostindie to Women Leaders like Colleen Nysted of Movie Set Inc and Claudia Ferris to Chinatown community Leader David Wong, the Hamilton campaign show-cased the trust citizens have of her.
The Social, Cultural and Gender Diversity of the City was well represented with Councillor Elizabeth Ball, former Councillor Alan Herbert and Little Sister co-owner and Community Hero Jim Deva, voicing their support of the Hamilton campaign.
States Park board hopeful Jamie Lee Hamilton, " I have been blessed by the generous support, respect and kindness bestowed on my campaign. The encouraging words of support from every corner of this City is what keeps a candidate focused. While it was difficult at the beginning of the campaign due to the aforementioned mistreatment, my campaign overcame this and succeeded due to the countless volunteers, donors and faith of Vancouver citizens. This demonstrates to me that Vancouver truly is a world-class and compassionate City which cares deeply for the less fortunate in our society while embracing fairness and equality for all. This bodes well I think for the citizens as we get set to welcome the world in 2010 and if elected as a Park Commissioner, one of the strengths I bring is that of a bridge builder".
The Hamilton campaign will celebrate election night at the Railway Club starting at 8 pm.
QUEEN OF THE PARKS CAMPAIGN RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT
November 13th, 2008
Vancouver, BC
The Georgia Straight has officially endorsed Jamie Lee Hamilton:
"The Vancouver park board needs members who will stand up to the staff. Even if the public objects, park-board staff will figure out ways to justify the elimination of trees in Queen Elizabeth Park, the addition of restaurants on the beach, and the relentless expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park. The best candidate to stand up to the staff and act in the public interest is independent Jamie Lee Hamilton, who has a history of advocating for marginalized Vancouverites."
QUEEN OF THE PARKS CAMPAIGN RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER COUNCILLOR TIM LOIUS
November 13th, 2008
Vancouver, BC
The Jamie Lee Hamilton for Park Board campaign has received another high profile endorsements.
Former two-term City Councillor and two-term Park Commissioner, Tim Louis today has endorsed the campaign of Ms Hamilton.
The following is the text of the endorsement:
"Jamie Lee is a person who makes us think - she raises issues and asks blunt questions. She won't let the City get complacent. She works hard and, in my experience, she 'walks her talk".
"I am absolutely thrilled that former Councillor Tim Louis has given me his support. Tim Louis is a caring politician who displays the utmost integrity and he has served the citizens very well. Receiving this endorsement from Mr. Louis is the same as 1999 when I received the endorsement of the late Councillor Harry Rankin. Both these men are stellar politicians who always put the public interest first in their deliberations and they are my mentors and hero's ", states park board hopeful Jamie Lee Hamilton.
QUEEN OF THE PARKS CAMPAIGN RECEIVES MORE ENDORSEMENTS
Support Reflects the Issues Championed by the Hamilton Campaign
November 10th, 2008
Vancouver, BC
In a testament to the diversity and wide-spread support for her Queen of the Parks campaign, Jamie Lee Hamilton running for the Vancouver board of parks and recreation, over the weekend received the support of a high profile environmentalist, Damian Kettlewell, deputy leader of the BC Green party, Darren Bruce, Mr Gay Canada and a young professional couple, Ann Takagi and Colin Topham, who are newer residents to the Downtown Eastside.
Previous announced high-profile endorsers include former Mayor of Vancouver, Philip Owen, Little Sister co-owner and community hero, Jim Deva, Deputy Green party leader of Canada, Adriane Carr, prominent businessman, Mark James, former Member of Parliament for Vancouver-East, Art Lee and President and CEO of Movie Set Inc, Colleen Nystedt.
"I am excited that my campaign has attracted such a wide diversity of support from notable and average Vancouver citizens alike. Our politicians often do not reflect a true representative of the diversity of our City. Our campaign, I believe is a testament to us connecting with the citizens of this great City and it demonstrates the appeal we have. These endorsements reflect the support of issues brought forward by my campaign and I'm absolutely honoured and blessed to receive them ", states Jamie Lee Hamilton.
PARK BOARD HOPEFUL CALLS FOR CIVIC APOLOGY
November 6th, 2008
Vancouver, BC
Last night at the Xtrawest hosted mayoral debate, park board hopeful Jamie Lee Hamilton raised the issue of sex trade workers in 1982 being harmed by an act of Council.
The Council of the day along with then Mayor Mike Harcourt brought in the street activities by-law which began fining prostitutes. In the first six months of its implementation, the city brought in $28,000 in fines.
Along with these fines and other harsh city-imposed actions, sex trade workers endured significant human rights abuses which culminated in their mass evictions from the West End in 1984.
July, 2009 will mark the 25th anniversary of these civil liberties
violations.
Ms Hamilton asked mayoral hopefuls Mr Gregor Robertson and Councillor Peter Ladner last night on the public record, if they become Mayor on November 15, whether they would be willing to address this historical wrong by offering a Mayoral apology.
Mr Gregor Robertson stated he favours apologies of this nature because they assist in community reconciliation. He went on to say that he would look favorably to resolving this outstanding blight on the City's landscape.
In contrast, Councillor Pter Ladner questioned whether this would be helpful and further stated he didn't know this had happened and so he would not entertain the idea of an apology.
Harm associated with the sex trade can directly be tied back to the lack of political will during the early 1980's and this of course culminated in the mass murders of countless prostitutes in Vancouver, BC.
Jamie Lee Hamilton is asking candidates running for public office if they are willing to support a municipal apology to remedy the historical wrongs from 1982 and 1984.
Widow of the late Emery Barnes Endorses Jamie Lee Hamilton
Vancouver, BC
Following a number of prominent women leaders (Councillor Elizabeth
Ball, Colleen Nystedt of MovieSet Inc and Adriane Carr, deputy
Leader of the Green Party of Canada) announcing their support for
Jamie Lee Hamilton's Queen of the Parks Campaign, another terrific
women has stepped forward to endorse Ms Hamilton for Vancouver Park
board.
Janet Barnes, widow of the late Emery Barnes who represented the Vancouver-Centre and Vancouver-Burrard constituencies and was speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia has issued a public statement outlining her reasons for support. Here is the full text of Ms Barnes endorsement:
"Jamie Lee Hamilton has been behind the many scenes, which I believe are the backbone of the most important areas of concern in Vancouver. There are issues which many have tried to deal with in the Downtown Eastside, Aboriginal and the Gay and Lesbian communities, which have been spilling into the parks as they become social meeting places and even homes unto themselves. Whether parks are temporary or permanent grounds to those mentioned and the many other communities and visitors, the unique mosaic which Vancouver has become famous for, must be shaped and maintained in a usable, enjoyable and safe way for all.
Our parks serve to bind us as a community, and their viability is
undeniably of paramount importance. If we are, as a community going
to keep the parks vibrant and safe for the vast differences of people,
children and animals; with the purposes of who's ever needs they must
meet, there has to be tolerance, respect and the ability to genuinely
want to serve and meet the objectives for all citizens.
The northeast sector MUST be represented, particularly in these hard
times to bridge the ever growing gap between rich and poor. We must
rally together and create and be proud of where we are going. We
really do have the power to influence other communities, but we must
clean up our own first, and this takes courage.
I have known Jamie Lee since 1975, and I know that Jamie offers what I
would refer to as "prepaid" involvement and experience. Not only is
she strong and realistic, what comes with that is kindness, humor and
a genuine concern for all, not to mention a gift for the gab.
Jamie Lee was regularly involved and a great supporter of all that my
husband Emery Barnes did, including placing flags in the ground
together in support of CRAB park before it was created in 1987. I
support Jamie Lee's goals and intentions 100%, and no doubt with her
input, the city would have the direction it needs to go on to improve
it's health and image ".
States Ms Hamilton, " I am honoured that Ms Janet Barnes has chosen to
endorse me. Like her late husband Emery Barnes, who was a champion for
the downtrodden in my neighborhood, Janet Barnes has continued her
husband's legacy of ensuring less fortunate children and youth have
support and a decent start in life. This is the fight that I also
champion ".
As an Independent, Ms Hamilton has a groundswell of support rallying
for her. Prominent supporters include former Mayor of Vancouver,
Philip Owen, Little Sisters co-owner Jim Deva, prominent businessman
Mark James of the Mark James group and former City Councillor Alan
Herbert.
PROMINENT WOMEN LEADERS ENDORSE JAMIE LEE HAMILTON
The Jamie Lee Hamilton for Vancouver Park Board campaign is happy to announce that a number of prominent female leaders have endorsed her Queen of the Parks campaign.
Adriane Carr, the deputy leader of the Green Party of Canada, Colleen Nystedt, the President and CEO of Movie Set Inc and City Councillor Elizabeth Ball have thrown their support to Ms Hamilton and issued the following statements:
"Three years have passed since the last civic election, when I first met Jamie Lee Hamilton. Since our first fateful meeting, I have come to appreciate Jamie Lee as one of the most passionately committed individuals I have ever met. Her love of this City, and persistent representation of the disenfranchised is beyond reproach. Vancouver will benefit from electing Ms. Hamilton to the Parks Board. She will most certainly work hard on our collective behalf. "
Colleen Nystedt: President & CEO, MovieSet Inc.
"Jamie Lee Hamilton has been a leading voice for the voiceless in our community for many years. These days the work of a Parks Board Commissioner touches on many facets of life in our City and on urgent issues such as homelessness, addiction and prostitution which are manifest in our parks and green spaces. Ms. Hamilton would be a strong and compassionate spokesperson for everyone touched by those issues, and an able representative for her own neighbourhood, the park-deprived North East area of Vancouver. I am pleased to personally endorse Jamie Lee Hamilton’s independent candidacy for Vancouver Parks Board Commissioner."
Adriane Carr: Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada
"Jamie Lee Hamilton knows that parks programs can help all youth improve their lives. Jamie Lee is a determined advocate for youth in the inner city. Ms Hamilton works hard to improve the lives of all those who live in the DTES. She believes the Park board can bring positive change in the neighborhood. Her past record as an advocate would bring exciting new ideas to the table. I'm proud to endorse her campaign"
Councillor Elizabeth Ball: City of Vancouver
"I am absolutely overjoyed that these terrific women leaders have endorsed my campaign. Their faith and support of my ideas and campaign mean so much to me. I thank them for their belief in me", states Jamie Lee Hamilton.
The above mentioned female leaders add their support to other prominent leaders such as former Mayor Philip Owen, Little Sisters co-owner and Community hero Jim Deva, prominent Vancouver businessman Mark James, all who previously announced their support.
Vancouver Park Board for FIRST TIME in 50 YEARS Could be Without an NorthEast Representative this November
October 20, 2008
Vancouver, BC
Jamie Lee Hamilton, longtime Downtown Eastside activist and Independent park board candidate is expressing serious concern that the north east area of the City could for the first time in fifty years be without a park board representative who champions for this park deficient area.
States Ms Hamilton, "the Vancouver park board historically has always had representation from the north east quadrant of the City advocating our interests and serving on park board, however, the four parties in this election, the NPA, Vision, COPE and the Greens haven't a single candidate for park board who resides in our area and this is deeply troubling".
Citing former Commissioners hailing from the northeast sector of the City from the 1960's to the present, Hamilton names former Commissioners Andy Livingston, Nancy Chiavario, Libby Davies, Connie Fogal, Sue Harris, Donna Morgan, Spencer Herbert, Eva Riccius and others who tended to Vancouver's eastside neighborhoods and were strong champions for the north east areas.
" We are terribly park deficient in the eastside of Vancouver and the parks we do have, we have had to fight really hard for them and even then historically they have been used for other purposes or are at risk of being taken away from us", claims Jamie Lee Hamilton.
Ms Hamilton cites Hastings Community park which was taken over by Exhibition park, McLean Park in the Chinatown area which was eliminated for housing and later restored a number of blocks away as a smaller park. The City also earmarked False Creek park now called Strathcona park for its new City works yard but thankfully this park was saved by strong stewards for the area.
CRAB park also known as Portside has been an ongoing battle since the 1980's to ensure a waterfront park for eastside citizens. CRAB and the Downtown Eastside face serious development pressures, and this park could be lost forever as a community park if a new proposed waterfront stadium gets the go-ahead to develop right beside CRAB.
Running as an Independent for Park board isn't easy. Vancouver citizens has only once elected an independent, Ms Carole Taylor and that was in the 1980's and to City Council.
"I may well be the only candidate who hails from the north east corner of the City who has a small chance of making it onto park board, so it is imperative that citizens vote wisely on November 15 when casting their ballots for park board. It would be a real travesty if our north east areas of the City was shut out from having any representative on Park board", claims Jamie Lee Hamilton.
A number of prominent eastside park stewards have endorsed the campaign of Ms Hamilton.
Founder of CRAB Park, Don Larsen has endorsed Jamie Lee Hamilton as have Claudia Ferris of Hastings-Sunrise, David Wong, former Chair of Fraserview Forest and founding member of Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC and Irwin Oostindie, Executive Director of the W2 Media and Arts centre at Woodwards.
For further info contact Jamie Lee at (778) 329-1981
Park Board Hopeful calls for Pool to be Designated a Heritage Site
October 17, 2008
Vancouver, BC
Last night, the Mount Pleasant Community Centre held its all-candidate meeting for Park board.
This neighborhood is deeply concerned about the loss of its swimming pool and child-care space at the current centre which is being phased out. Their new Centre at 1 Kingsway is not what the community asked for but for some reason the Park board went ahead with plans to build this new space.
Accessibility will be a major problem for kids living west of Main street who will need to cross Kingsway and Main which is a major automobile thorough-fare. The City and park board obviously didn't think this through.
Speaker after speaker at the Mount Pleasant meeting stated they preferred child-care and the pool to remain exactly where they are now and this is a simple request.
In fact, long-time Mount Pleasant resident, Gavin Ross expressed his desire to have discussions re-opened regarding the Mount Pleasant child-care and the children's pool. All park board candidates in attendance when asked whether we would support this, stated yes.
States Jamie Lee Hamilton, "it was sad that not one NPA incumbent Park Commissioner attended the meeting to address their decision making and the residents concerns".
Three NPA candidates, Laura McDiarmid, Christopher Richardson and Sharon Urton tried their best to answer residents concerns but unfortunately, the audience was not supportive and it became very difficult for the NPA candidates to defend their colleagues who embarked on what turned out to be un-neighbourly decision making.
Perhaps a good case for saving the pool and the legacies of politicians like Nancy Chiavario might be to designate Mount Pleasant pool a heritage site. So many outdoor community pools have been phased out and Mt Pleasant is our last remaining outdoor pool.
"It seems a shame that kids are expected on warm summer days to swim indoors when community outdoor pools have always served a useful purpose in this City", charges Ms Hamilton.
Demolished outdoor pools include Sunset, Hastings and Marpole and soon Mount Pleasant. Interesting that 3 of these pools were located on the east side which is terribly park deficient to begin with.
For further info contact Jamie Lee at (778) 329-1981