Welcome to 2022! No one expected that we would still be swirling in uncertainty two years down the road, but here we are. The openness and perseverance of our team, as well as partners, City Staff, faculty and students is very easily the highlight of this past year. As we continually revisit the meaning of team in a time of crisis, I’m also reflecting on what meaningful leadership and support for staff might be. Key among the questions, and guiding us into the coming year, is a team reflection on the meaning and future of work: what experiments and support can we provide? How can we lead this work? With those questions at the centre of our thinking, I’m pleased to share some highlights for Winter 2022.
CITYSTUDIO SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTS
CityStudio Vancouver Society Annual Report
Our 2020-2021 Annual Report is now available on the CityStudio Vancouver website for reading and sharing. This report is structured to reflect our new three-year strategic plan, sharing our global and local work in the time of Covid. It highlights the growth of the global network and the continued growth of our local CityStudio in Vancouver.
New board members, Olga and Emily
We are very pleased to announce that two new board members are joining us this year. Thank you to Olga Shcherbyna and Emily Pearson! Please have a look at their bios and join me in welcoming them to CityStudio.
GLOBAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome to Natalia, our new Membership and Engagement Coordinator
Natalia Merced has joined the team as CityStudio’s Membership and Engagement Coordinator for the global network. Natalia will lead membership onboarding, training and engagement for our Network members, ensuring members have all the tools and training they need for their CityStudio to thrive. Natalia has a Masters in Global Communication from Simon Fraser University, and has professional experience in communication and education. We’re excited to have her on the team, welcome Natalia!
Three Global Network Learning Group are Established
Members of the 15-city CityStudio Network continue to meet monthly as part of our webinar and workshop series, most recently establishing three learning groups in the areas of JEDDI & Anti-Racism, Climate Action, and Evaluation & Reporting. Members connect to share ideas, resources and offer support for the ongoing and unique challenges that each CityStudio faces locally.
VANCOUVER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
HUBBUB 18!
Planning for our April project showcase is currently underway. We are exploring in-person options for #18, but currently this looks to be another virtual showcase. Although these have been surprisingly popular and wonderfully attended, we’re itching to get back inside City Hall with you all. Stay tuned for details.
Upcoming Project Highlights: The Stanley Park Train
Each year, the Stanley Park train welcomes over 200,000 visitors to ride the 2km track, enjoying sights celebrating a variety of holidays year round. Students from SFU’s new Sustainable Engineering Capstone course are working with City Staff this term to explore energy options, including fully-electrifying the diesel train, hybrid options, and hydrogen fuel cells. This is an exciting project development as it aligns very well with the City of Vancouver’s sustainability goals and will aim to address pollution and air quality concerns.
Farewell, Kelly!
This winter, we bid farewell to one of our Program Coordinator, Kelly Gardner. In her time with us she matched dozens of innovative projects, led the organization of our online project showcase, HUBBUB, and truly left her mark on CityStudio as well as the team. We are excited for her as she embarks on her adventure to the UK. Farewell, Kelly!
