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Small Business Month 2022: Celebrating Entrepreneurial Diversity Part 2

By feedwordpress on October 12, 2022

Small Business Month 2022: Celebrating Entrepreneurial Diversity Part 2 amber Wed, 10/12/2022 - 10:26

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Small Business Month 2022: Celebrating Entrepreneurial Diversity Part 1

By feedwordpress on October 12, 2022

Small Business Month 2022: Celebrating Entrepreneurial Diversity Part 1 amber Wed, 10/12/2022 - 09:33

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Librarian Picks: Holiday Reads

By phchow on September 13, 2022

‘Tis the Season! Librarians at Asian Library have compiled recommendations for you to read while you relax during the upcoming winter holiday break. You are welcome to visit the Asian Library and check them out.

Call number: DS740.4 B76125 2023
Title: Hubilie de lie bao: ba bai nian lai de Zhongguo yu shi jie
忽必烈的猎豹: 八百年来的中国与世界
Author: Timothy Brook; translated by Feng Yida 卜正民著, 冯亦达译

This book explores China’s history from a new angle. The author, Professor Timothy Brook, started the book from a Chinese rare map at UBC Library. He shows how China’s past can help us understand its present and future. The book narrates 13 fascinating stories from the Yuan Dynasty to the Republic of China, revealing the Chinese people’s interactions with the outside world. The stories feature the “Persian Blue Princess,” whom Kublai Khan chose for the Mongol throne; Korean envoys who ended up in China by accident; the Italian Jesuit missionaries who introduced Renaissance ideas; and the masses of European traders flocking to ports like Canton. The book has been translated into six languages, including this traditional Chinese one, published this year in Taiwan.

 

Call number: SB103 S8227 2020
Title: Ren wen cao mu: 16 zhong zhi wu de qi yuan, xun hua yu chong bai
人文草木: 16种植物的起源, 驯化与崇拜
Authors: Su Shengwen, Zhao Shuang 苏生文, 赵爽

This book is captivating plant history book. It narrates the historical transformations of 16 plants, focusing on their roles in China’s history. The story of each plant can be read separately. It is suitable as a fragmented reading book for understanding plants, that connect people and places. You can discover the global travels of a potato; find out how the “golden apple” from ancient Greek myth became real; and learn about the lost classical works through the “Rose Bible”. You can also explore the original worship of gourds in different ethnic groups. It has over 100 beautiful illustrations throughout the book.

 

 

 

Call number: PL872.5 U26 Y67 2022
Title: Yoru ni hoshi o hanatsu 夜に星を放つ
Author: Kubo Misumi 窪美澄

Yoru ni hoshi o hanatsu 夜に星を放つ, roughly translated as “Releasing the Stars into the Night,” is a jewel of a collection of medium-length stories. Comprising five narratives, each intricately woven through constellations in the zodiac, it delves into various stages and moments in life: falling in love and parting, birth and death, friendships, and estrangements. Every story is absorbing and engaging, but what’s truly breathtaking is the emotional depth of the characters revealed through short phrases and small gestures. This book earned the author, Kubo Misumi 窪美澄, the prestigious Naoki Shō 直木賞 award in 2022, hailed as a “beautiful and pure novel” by one of the selection committee members. In an interview at the time, Kubo mentioned that she had written the book during the Covid-19 pandemic, aiming to brighten people’s hearts. If you appreciate well-crafted short stories, this book will not disappoint and will lift your spirit through its sheer beauty.

 

Call number: PN6790 J33 G34 2020
Title: Bōizu ran za raiotto ボーイズ・ラン・ザ・ライオット
Author: Gaku Keito 学慶人

Bōizu Ran za Raiotto ボーイズ・ラン・ザ・ライオット is a wonderfully crafted manga series originally published in Shūkan Yangu Magajin 週刊ヤングマガジン, a popular weekly manga journal targeting the young adult, primarily male audience. This short series captivates readers with a wonderful ensemble cast of cool, odd, and beautiful characters. It chronicles the adventures and heartbreaks of a group of high school students on the margins of their school and extracurricular communities. The main character, Ryō, a young transgender man, along with his circle of hip and eccentric friends, finds creative outlet in the fashion business. Through this journey, the friends authentically grow into themselves. The author, Gaku Keito 学慶人, is a transgender man, who has been awarded the Young Category Prize of the Chiba Tetsuya Award, which commemorates renowned manga artist Chiba Tetsuya ちばてつや. The prize is for emerging manga creators, and Gaku’s impactful winning entry, Akarui (Bright), can be viewed online.

 

 

Call number: PN6790 K62 K8 2022
Title: Kŭ kil ro kal pa en: chŏlmŭn manhwaga t’ema tanp’yŏn jip
그 길로 갈 바엔: 젊은 만화가 테마 단편집
Author: 재활용 and four others

To deviate, to digress, to leave the expected path and go this way instead of that way—what does it mean, in the grand scheme of our lives? What will happen, to us or to society? Kŭ kil ro kal pa en 그 길로 갈 바엔 is a collection of themed short stories in graphic novel format, by new and upcoming artists. The given theme was “deviance/digression” and the title translates roughly to “Rather Than Going That Way”. There is a lighthearted school/romance comedy, a surreal/horror story, a dreamy introspective end-of-life tale, and more. One might dance with an alien; one might deliver oracles via eggs. Perhaps because these are newer artists, the material reflects a bold energy and original ideas, together with a less-processed feel. It is like sitting in your neighborhood café listening to live sessions by the best local bands.

 

 

Call number: QH541.13 C475 2022
Title: Tongne esŏ chayŏn ŭl kwanch’al hanŭn 9-kaji pangpŏp
동네에서 자연을 관찰하는 9가지 방법
Author: Ch’oe Sŏng-yong 최 성용

In our polished urban environment, what little nature there is has been artificially managed to such a degree that we couldn’t possibly find anything interesting to observe. Is it true? The author finds a scary-looking wasplike insect building its nest over the doorway of a barbershop and is suddenly struck by curiosity: what is that bug with the alarmingly narrow, bright yellow waist? What’s its name? Is the nest going to become a hive? Most importantly, does the insect sting? Finding the answers to these questions is the beginning of a six-year observation period in which the author, who used to travel across the country to watch birds and study trees, stays put in a smallish satellite city and documents the urban life that you can see from your sidewalk, but only if you keep your eyes open. This book is of course on the nature you can observe in Korea, but it will be a fun introduction to the kind of attitude a budding citizen scientist might have.

 

 

Call number: PK2098 S7 G6165 2007
Title: Godāna ਗੋਦਾਨ (in Panjabi)
Author: Premchand

“Godaan” refers to the donation of a cow in charity to absolve one of sin and receive divine blessing. Hori, a poor peasant who yearns to own a cow, finds himself strung up and bound by a series of dream-crushing events despite doing as much as possible to uphold his duty to his family. The honest man in Hori drowns under the hardships he unfairly faces. Premchand weaves a story of village politics, colonial landownership, and the burden of having a dream. Still, there is hope that Hori will fulfill his life’s desire of owning a cow. The question is: How far will he go in the struggle for survival and self-respect? This story will bring tears, it will bring laughter, but most of all, this story will remind you of the blessings of being human.

 

 

Call number: PR9499.3 G644 B55155 2022
Title: Āndhārī आंधारी (in Hindi)
Author: Namita Gokhale; translated by Prabhat Ranjan

The blind matriarch, Matangi-Ma, lives on the topmost floor of an old house where she hovers unseeingly over the lives of her family. One day, the world comes to a standstill, forcing Matangi-Ma’s long-time companion Lali, her three overprotective children, and her growing grandchildren to look inward at the lives they’re leading. Structured with the warp of memory and the weft of conjoined lives, the novel follows generations trying to break out of the stranglehold of the all-encompassing Indian family. Ebbing and flowing like the waves of a pandemic, the novel is a clear-eyed chronicle of the tragedies of India’s encounter with Covid-19, the cynicism and despair that accompanied it, and the resilience and strength of the human spirit. We are prompted to remember the true meaning of family, and the value it holds.

 

 

 

Posted in Carousel, Chinese language, Collections, Festivals, Japanese language, Korean language, South Asian language | Read More | No Comments

Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office Impact Report 2021/2022

By feedwordpress on September 13, 2022

Recently the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office released its 2021/2022 Impact and Activity Report, showcasing some of the year’s highlights and accomplishments.

For more information, or to share feedback please contact scholarly.communications@ubc.ca

Read the Report

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Upcoming Closure [UPDATE]

By feedwordpress on July 6, 2022

The Rare Books and Special Collections and University Archives temporary reading room (IKBLC 142) will continue to be temporarily closed until January 31, 2023 to accommodate a facilities upgrade project. As a result, there will be some changes to library services.

University Archives (as well as RBSC) will provide remote reference services (by phone and e-mail), some reproduction services, and digital instructional support (when feasible) during this time. In addition, some collections maybe be inaccessible until early 2023. Please contact us for more information on supports available for remote research and instructional support requests.

We regret the inconvenience this may cause to researchers and other visitors.

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Law Library Intersession & Summer Hours

By feedwordpress on July 5, 2022

Mon - Fri9 am - 5 pm
Sat & SunCLOSED

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UBC, the UEL, and How They Got That Way

By feedwordpress on June 21, 2022

Anybody who has ever attended or worked at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus knows that it is not actually part of the City of Vancouver – despite the fact that its mailing address clearly states “Vancouver”.  Together with the University Hill neighbourhood and Pacific Spirit Regional Park, it actually forms an “unincorporated area” – part of Electoral Area A within the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

Electoral Area A, commonly known as the “University Endowment Lands” or UEL, is subject to several overlapping jurisdictions: Metro Vancouver, the provincial government, Musqueam First Nation, and of course UBC itself.  However, there is nothing that can be considered an elected local government, answerable to people who live and/or work there.  The resulting governance situation can be confusing for students, residents, and businesses alike.

However, this was not always the case.  In fact, it is likely that few people know the historical circumstances that led to this situation.  Those circumstances centred, as so many things do in Vancouver, on money, real estate, and politics – and the issue was decided by the votes of only a few hundred local residents.

Vancouver as originally incorporated in 1886 included only the areas immediately south of Burrard Inlet and around False Creek.  Its southern and western boundaries were what are now 16th Avenue and Alma Street, respectively.  The lands beyond those boundaries – still covered in old-growth or second-growth forest except for scattered farms and homesteads – remained unorganized.

In 1892 the District Municipality of South Vancouver was established, extending west of Boundary Road (Burnaby) and south of Vancouver.  It was also defined as enclosing the land “along the low water mark” of the North Arm of the Fraser River and the south shore of English Bay, including Point Grey itself.

In 1908 South Vancouver was divided roughly in half, at what is now Cambie Street.  The western part was incorporated as the Municipality of Point Grey, and included “all of that portion of the said present Municipality of South Vancouver lying west of the line of division”.

In 1910 a provincial University Site Commission selected the western end of Point Grey as the site for the proposed University of British Columbia.  In response, the government reserved 175 acres from their extensive Crown land holdings in that area of the Municipality of Point Grey for UBC’s future home.  The Province also reserved about two million acres in the interior of British Columbia as a source of financial support for the university.  Proceeds from the sale of these lands were to be used to fund its construction and maintenance.  However, it was soon discovered that the reserved lands did not have enough value to ever provide significant revenue.  The government eventually exchanged the original endowment for about 3000 acres adjacent to the Point Grey site.  Both the university site and the surrounding University Endowment Lands were Crown land owned by the Province, but still located within the municipal boundaries of Point Grey.

Map of Point Grey showing proposed streets on future UBC campus site

Vancouver Map and Blueprint Co. Ltd. (1910). [Map of Point Grey showing proposed streets on future UBC campus site – cropped]. UBC Rare Books and Special Collections.

From an early date the Municipality had high hopes for the development of the Point Grey lands.  A map dated 1910 shows a proposed network of roads extending westward to the end of Point Grey, culminating in a park or “Village Green” near the site of today’s Rose Garden.  Beginning in 1909 the town had campaigned for the University Site Commission to consider the area for the site of UBC’s campus.  A petition that year asked municipal council to borrow up to $375,000 to build roads and other infrastructure to serve the lands around the point if the Commission chose that area (Vancouver Sun, 19 January 1929).

Construction of the campus began in 1914, but was suspended at the outbreak of the First World War, and further delayed by financial shortfalls and government inaction.  UBC opened its doors in 1915 at the “Fairview campus” near Vancouver General Hospital.  It took a 1922 student publicity campaign, culminating with the “Great Trek” parade and the presentation of a petition with 56,000 signatures, to convince the provincial government to renew construction at Point Grey.

The following year, the Province began planning the development of the UEL for sale as residential properties.  Lots had to be surveyed; roads, sewers, and other infrastructure had to be built.  The question of how to pay for this work soon became a source of tension between the Province and the Municipality of Point Grey.

During the 1923 Point Grey municipal elections, George A. Walkem of the UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering ran for the position of reeve (equivalent to mayor).  Walkem’s position was that the Province “should develop the grounds … and on completion turn the entire site over to the municipality, debt free”.  He cited the development of Shaughnessy by the CPR, which turned over the high-end neighbourhood to Point Grey upon completion, as a precedent (Vancouver Sun, 5 January 1923).  Walkem insisted that once the University was established at Point Grey the surrounding lands would increase in value, so that their sale would pay off any debt incurred from developing the area (Vancouver World, 10 January 1923).  Walkem would go on to win election and serve as reeve for two years.

In a meeting with Point Grey municipal council on November 19, 1923, Provincial Engineer E.A. Cleveland outlined the provincial government’s own plans.  According to Cleveland, about 100 acres had already been cleared and made ready for the necessary improvements.  He told the council that this initial offering was “an experiment on the part of the government”.  If it was successful, further tracts within the UEL would opened up in a similar manner.

Sample of clippings regarding University lands, November 1923

Scrapbook #16, p. 31 (November 1923). [Newspaper clippings from Vancouver “World”, “Province”, and “Sun” regarding development of University lands]. UBC Scrapbook Collection. University of British Columbia Archives.

Contrary to what Reeve Walkem had suggested, Cleveland explained that the cost of those improvements would ultimately be borne by the buyers of the building lots through their property taxes.  However, the immediate financing of that work had to be addressed.  It was eventually agreed that the provincial government would continue development of the site and finance all improvements.  Point Grey would take them over upon completion and reimburse the Province for the work, issuing bonds to raise the money.  The Municipality could then assess a local improvement tax on those properties to retire the bonds.

However, the Province insisted that assessments on the built lots not be raised for an extended period.  The government’s concern was that the UEL lots were likely to be of higher value than other properties.  Assessed at a higher rate, they would carry a disproportionate share of costs of other municipal improvements, and so be less attractive to buyers.  Point Grey council, however, did not want this limitation imposed, arguing that “the provincial government should not expect an artificially-low tax assessment for its buyers when such a privilege was not open to the ordinary ratepayer” (Vancouver World, 20 November 1923).

Apart from toney Shaughnessy, the neighbourhoods known today as Kerrisdale, Marpole, and West Point Grey, and a few farms, most of the Municipality consisted of undeveloped land which generated no tax revenue.  With such a narrow tax base, the council did not want to be made responsible for new local infrastructure that it could not pay for.  The provincial government also saw this, and suspected that Point Grey would eventually treat the UEL area as a “cash cow” supporting the entire municipality.

By the spring of 1924 the assessment question still threatened to block a final agreement.  Minister of Lands T.D. Pattullo was quoted in the Vancouver Sun on April 12 saying “that the new subdivision cannot pay for all its own improvements and also be saddled with the cost of improvements in other parts of the municipality is [a position] that we cannot very well recede from…”.  He then hinted at a possible consequence of not reaching an agreement:

Our only alternative would be to establish a new municipality, which, of course, we do not wish to do.

The suggestion that UBC and the lands surrounding it could be carved off from Point Grey caught the imagination of at least one editorial writer at the Sun:

To permit the formation of a Greater Vancouver without embarrassment and hindrance, Government and University holdings in Point Grey should be created into a separate municipality to be known as University Municipality….
It would take years to develop this tract of land under Point Grey government, because Point Grey is an expansive municipality with troubles of its own.
Separated from Point Grey, this tract could be developed by the University and the Government in a manner that would yield most profits from this area which will be a future important residential section of Vancouver. (Editorial, Vancouver Sun, April 16, 1924)

View of University Boulevard after paving and landscaping

Frank, Leonard (26 March 1929). [View of University Boulevard after paving and landscaping]. UBC Archives image UBC 1.1/117

Negotiations dragged on through the spring and summer.  In August Pattullo issued a statement reiterating the government’s stance, and repeated his threat to remove the University and the UEL from Point Grey if no agreement could be reached.

By this time the improvement work was nearing completion.  On 108 acres, containing the first 100 lots to be sold, about 26 miles of pipe for water, sewers, and drains had been laid, with connections up to the property lines of every lot.  Contracts for paving 2 ½ miles of road and 1 ½ miles of sidewalk were about to be awarded, and that work would be done within six weeks.  According to Pattullo, immediately upon completion of the paving, those 100 lots would be put on the market so that “purchasers may have their homes built by the time the University opens its new home” the next year (Vancouver Sun, August 19, 1924).

Minister Pattullo and Provincial Engineer Cleveland met with Point Grey council on August 29 in an attempt to reach a final decision.  When newspapers reported on the meeting the next day, it was obvious that while the assessment question had been side-stepped, the main issue – that the UEL properties could not be exploited to support improvements elsewhere in Point Grey – had been settled in favour of the Province.  Both sides publicly agreed that neither the Province nor the eventual purchasers of the improved UEL lots would assume any of the Municipality’s current financial obligations.  Whatever taxes or fees might come from from the UEL properties, regardless of their assessment, would not go towards those old debts.  The neighbourhood would be responsible only for its own improvements and for its share of the general cost of Point Grey’s municipal administration.

However, conflict re-emerged when the government introduced the Point Grey and District Lot 140 Agreement Act to the legislature in December.  The proposed act called for Point Grey to take over the administration of the entire UEL – some 3000 acres – rather than just the land currently being readied for sale.  Also, the Province would have the power to put on the market any additional amount of land without municipal consent.  Finally, the legislation included a clause that empowered the government to take those lands (officially known as “a portion of District Lot 140, Group 1, New Westminster District”) out of Point Grey entirely if the Municipality objected to the government’s terms.

Sample of clippings regarding removing University lands from Point Grey, March 1925

Scrapbook #16, p. 134 (March 1925). [Newspaper clippings from Vancouver “Province” and “Sun” regarding removal of University lands from Point Grey]. UBC Scrapbook Collection. University of British Columbia Archives.

Point Grey council saw these as unilateral changes to the deal they thought they had reached with the Province.  They feared that the immediate transfer of such a large area would be a burden to Point Grey ratepayers.  Council insisted that they would only take control of the 108 acres initially intended for sale, with the rest to remain as Crown lands until they were similarly ready for the real estate market.  Based on their conversations with the Provincial Engineer the previous year, they had assumed the plan was intended as an “experiment” to test public demand for those properties, and that further negotiations would be necessary to decide how to dispose of the remaining lands.

There was no provision for Point Grey residents to approve this deal through election or referendum.  Feelings ran so high, however, that a referendum was scheduled for March 28, 1925.  The question was put to voters: were they for or against the transfer of the UEL from the Crown to municipal administration on the government’s terms?  Minister Pattullo and the British Columbia government stood firm: vote yes, or the Municipality of Point Grey would lose the University, the UEL, and ironically the geographical Point Grey itself.

The government’s threats had no effect, as the proposal was rejected in a landslide vote of 860-264.  It was one of eleven measures submitted for approval that day, all of which were rejected – it is possible that the voters of Point Grey were simply of a mind to say “no” to everything.  However, regarding the University lands question it is almost certain that the heavy-handed approach of the provincial government played a role as well.

The government lost no time in responding: Minister Pattullo made it clear that the Province would take the UEL out of Point Grey.  However, they would administer it as an unorganized territory.

While it was never said outright, the decision not to immediately set up a new municipality was likely due to the immediate need to upgrade the area’s water supply.  According to Minister of Public Works W.H. Sutherland:

The [water] pressure at the University is now so low that it affords no fire protection at all….  We have to pay an abnormally high rate on our insurance.  We … shall probably have to put in a storage tank, acquire fire fighting apparatus including pumps, and organize a volunteer fire brigade among the students and employees.  We can not afford to have a disastrous fire in the new University buildings. (Vancouver Evening Sun, March 30, 1925)

This was a time-sensitive priority, for the sake of the University facilities still under construction as well as for the building lots that were due to go on sale on May 1.  It was likely simpler for the Province to deal with this directly, without any additional political distractions.

The idea of a new municipality still had some public support:

“Students Wish to Establish Town in Wesbrook’s Memory…”

[S]tudents who have been wishing to find some way of commemorating the memory of the late Dr. Francis Fairchild Wesbrook will now likely turn their attention to a plan asking the provincial members to form a new municipality called Wesbrook, B.C….
Already several members of the Alumni Association have expressed their willingness to support the movement…. (Evening Sun, March 30, 1925)

“VARSITY MAY RULE DISTRICT”
“Rejection of Pt. Grey Pact With Gov’t May Result in Novel Municipality Being Formed”

A university municipality with undergraduate mayor and undergraduate councilmen may result from the Point Grey voting Saturday, the ratepayers of that municipality having turned down the University Lands Agreement submitted by the government….
[It would give] students a chance to obtain practical insight into civic administration…. (Vancouver Star, March 30, 1925)

Map of proposed development of UEL lands, 1926 (UBC Archives image 1.1/569-2)

BC Department of Lands (1926). University Endowment Lands … Plan showing General Arrangement of Blocks and Roads [map]. UBC Archives image 1.1/569-2.

Some commentary was more satirical in nature:

The New Municipality
By P.W. LUCE

… No man will be allowed to vote unless he holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  Votes of money by-laws will be confined to Masters of Arts.  Men who hold two or more degrees may vote two or more times, but in no case will absent-minded professors be allowed to vote for last year’s candidates at next year’s election….
All newcomers into the municipality will be considered as freshmen ratepayers, and must be initiated, before casting a ballot.  Those who object will be taken to the westerly boundary and shoved off into the saltchuck….
Whenever there is a surplus in the treasury the professor of mathematics who happens to be treasurer that year will be requested to go through his books carefully and find out how the mistake occurred.  If there has been no mistake and there really is money on hand, the shock will probably kill all the members of the council, and a beautiful experiment will come to an untimely end. (The Province, March 30, 1925)

Official confirmation of the Province’s intentions came in a letter from Pattullo to Point Grey council on April 8, which read, in part, “I beg to inform you that it is the intention to withdraw the University lands from the confines of the Municipality of Point Grey”.  A provincial order-in-council would later set the new boundaries at Camosun Street, 16th Avenue, and Blanca Street.

Responses from council were low-key and tinged with regret, but the general feeling was that it was all the government’s doing and it was out of their hands.  “I regret that the Government has taken this course,” councillor T. B. Bate was quoted in the Morning Sun on April 9. “Undoubtedly, had the Government given Point Grey anything like an equitable agreement, I feel sure that the residents of Point Grey would, without the slightest hesitation, have taken over this area, and that it would have been in the best interests of all parties concerned. But the agreement, as it stood, was absolutely detrimental to the interests of taxpayers”.

University Endowment Lands Plan of Unit No. 1

BC Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resources (1923). University Endowment Lands Plan of Unit No. 1. UBC Archives image UBC 1.1/569-3

Ironically, considering that it was the selection of Point Grey as the site of UBC’s permanent campus that spurred the residential development of the area, the University administration had little involvement in this dispute.  No recorded public statement regarding the matter was ever made by President Leonard Klinck, or (apart from George Walkem during his 1923 election campaign) by any other University official.

Also, almost no discussion of the matter was noted in the minutes of the UBC Board of Governors – the governing body responsible for property and business affairs of the University, and therefore the body presumably most directly concerned with the political status of the Point Grey lands.  One exception is recorded in the minutes of the meeting of 31 March 1924, when the Board approved sending a letter to Minister Pattullo “in regard to placing reserve on University site and adjacent lands”.  While this is vague, it might have been in connection with Pattullo’s suggestion of 12 April to create a separate municipality if no agreement could be reached.  Almost exactly a year later, on 30 March 1925 the Board approved a map submitted by Provincial Engineer Cleveland “showing the changes in the boundaries of the University site”.  Almost certainly this map was intended to show the areas to be separated from Point Grey Municipality.

Aerial view of Point Grey showing new UBC campus (right) and early development of UEL Lot No. 1 (centre)

Royal Canadian Air Force (19 September 1925). [Aerial view of Point Grey showing new UBC campus (right) and early development of UEL Lot No. 1 (centre)]. UBC Archives image UBC 106.1/197.

The UBC campus and the UEL were placed under the control of the Department of Lands, which would carry out the Province’s development plans.  Lots on the first 108-acre unit – part of today’s University Hill – were placed on the market in May.  Two years later, lots in a second subdivision of 83 acres were offered for sale.  However, by 1930 the costs of surveying and servicing University Hill had outstripped the demand.  UBC never saw any money from those sales – the revenue went towards debt retirement and general operating expenses.  Development slowed during the Depression, and the last remaining lots were not sold until well after the Second World War.

For its part, Point Grey merged with the City of Vancouver in 1929.  The University lands remained separate, and are still separate to this day.  There is no municipal government.  The University now controls most of what happens on the campus itself and the residential areas immediately surrounding it – collectively known as “University Town” – with input from the University Neighbourhoods Association.  University Hill and the “University Village” mini-mall on University Boulevard are still part of the UEL, governed by the Regional District and with services provided by the provincial government and paid for with residential and commercial taxes.  Local schools are governed by the Vancouver School Board.  Finally, as it is part of their traditional un-ceded territory, Musqueam First Nation has an increasing amount of influence on how the area is developed and governed, especially with their leləm̓ neighbourhood now nearing completion.  There is no local government, and the overlapping jurisdictions can be confusing for residents and businesses alike.

University Endowment Lands streetscape

Frank, Leonard (26 March 1929). University Endowment Lands streetscape. UBC Archives image UBC 1.1/651-2

Occasionally, the idea to form a new municipality is brought up again.  However, residents voted against it in a 1995 referendum.  Apart from a detailed proposal published in The Ubyssey student newspaper in 2011, no other serious attempt to revive the issue has been made since.  The other possibility would be a merger with the City of Vancouver.  This was proposed most recently in a 2006 Metro Vancouver planning report, but has otherwise also garnered little serious support.

The unique governance structure of the UBC-Vancouver campus remains intact.  Almost a century after the campus and the University Endowment Lands were established as a separate entity, it is assumed that it has always been this way, and will be for the foreseeable future.  Its origins – in a relatively minor political dispute decided by a small-town vote – remain largely unknown to students, staff, and residents alike.

Sources

Posted in History, UBC_history, UEL | Read More | No Comments

Collection Spotlight: May is Mental Health Awareness Month

By feedwordpress on April 30, 2022

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed annually in May, is dedicated to shining a light on mental health concerns, combating the stigma associated with mental illness, and fostering greater access to resources and support for individuals facing mental health challenges. It serves as a rallying point for individuals, organizations, and communities to unite in advancing mental wellness for all.

By fostering education, advocacy, and supportive initiatives, Mental Health Awareness Month underscores the vital message that mental well-being is equally significant as physical health. It underscores the fundamental belief that everyone deserves equitable access to care and resources necessary for their flourishing.

Below are some resources on mental health, mindfulness, and meditation that can be borrowed from UBC Education Library:

Teacher resources

The mindfulness teaching guide: essential skills & competencies for teaching mindfulness-based interventions
by Rob Brandsma.

BF321 .B735 2017

You must embody mindfulness in order to teach it. The Mindfulness Teaching Guide offers a thorough and practical guide for mindfulness teachers and professionals, offering a systematic approach to developing the teaching methods, skills, and competencies needed to become a proficient mindfulness teacher.

Mindfulness has captured public attention like never before. From the classroom to the boardroom, everyone is trying to make present moment awareness a part of daily life. Likewise, more and more professionals are adopting mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in their work, whether it’s in healthcare, education, counseling, or social services. However, many people lack the resources needed to teach mindfulness well.

In this guide, you’ll learn the three essential skills of being an effective mindfulness teacher: how to guide mindfulness practice, how to explore mindful inquiry, and how to give didactic presentations. Along with teaching underlying theory, this book also offers practical options, suggestions, examples, and even reminder lists so you can swiftly put what you learn to use. The approach in this book is descriptive instead of prescriptive, offering options instead of instructions to help you develop your own style of teaching.

If you want to improve the way you teach mindfulness–no matter what kind of setting you’re in–this book is for you.

School mental health services for adolescents
edited by Judith R. Harrison, Brandon K. Schultz, and Steven W. Evans.

LB3430 .S4546 2017

Evidence-based mental health services are lacking in many school systems, but especially in secondary schools. Adolescents who can benefit from school mental health services are those who experience disruptive behaviour disorders, anxiety, depression, alcohol/drug use, sexual or physical abuse, chronic health problems, crisis situations such as suicidal ideation or attempts, natural disasters, and exposure to community or family violence that can interfere with academic success. Currently, one-half of students with emotional or behavioural disorders drop out of school prior to graduation, pointing to the need to disseminate proven strategies that strengthen effective secondary school services.

School Mental Health Services for Adolescents includes a range of expert guidance on the implementation of school mental health services in secondary schools. The significance of this information cannot be overstated, as only 20% of children and adolescents who need such services receive them. Schools are a logical venue for service provision because emotional and behavioural problems interfere with academic achievement, and a lack of access to mental health services is a major barrier to treatment for youth. Authors discuss services that can be implemented by school-based professionals and methods of overcoming implementation barriers. Chapters cover the history and need for services, issues of identification and referral for treatment in schools, descriptions of evidence-based interventions, proposed service delivery models, assessment strategies, and integration of mental health programs in schools. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers, trainers of school mental health professionals, school administrators and supervisors, and school-based mental health providers including psychologists, counsellors, and social workers.

The grit guide for teens: a workbook to help you build perseverance, self-control & a growth mindset
by Caren Baruch-Feldman, PhD.

BF723.R46 B37 2017

https://tinyurl.com/yjhfw25z  Full Text Online

As a teen, setting and reaching goals is an important part of growing up. Whether you want to do well in school, get into a good college, make friends, excel in sports, or master the fine arts or music–you know you need to persevere in order to succeed. You’ve probably heard the term “grit” at school or from your parents, but what does it really mean?

Made popular by Angela Duckworth in her New York Times bestseller, the term “grit,” embodies all the characteristics that help people accomplish the things they want, such as self-control, tenacity, and the ability to fail well. Using the skills outlined in this book, you’ll develop both grit and a growth mind-set–a way of thinking that focuses on improvement and hard work in order to achieve any goal you set for yourself. You’ll learn how to make grit an everyday habit, turn disappointments into opportunities, embrace challenges, manage stress, and be the very best version of you that you can be.

Studies show that grit isn’t something you have to be born with–it can be taught and learned! This book will give you everything you need to get gritty, open your mind to all life’s possibilities, and succeed in everything you do.

How to develop growth mindsets in the classroom: the complete guide
by Mike Gershon.

LB1060 .G46 2016

How can we help our students become more resilient, more determined and happier to embrace challenges? What can we do to change how they think about mistakes? And how can we help them appreciate that targeted effort is the number one path to mastery? In this timely and compelling book, bestselling author Mike Gershon presents you with everything you need to develop growth mindsets in your classroom. Calling on a wealth of teaching and training experience, Mike sets out the different areas of pedagogy you need to focus on, then gives you the practical strategies you can use to make change happen. With more than 200 exemplar questions and over sixty strategies, activities and techniques, this book is your go-to guide for establishing, cultivating and sustaining growth mindsets in the students you teach. It’s the starting point for your growth mindsets journey.

Chapters Include: – Getting the Language Right – Changing how Students Perceive Mistakes – Targeting Student Effort – Giving Great Feedback – Thinking About Thinking – Creating a Challenge Culture – Engaging Parents with Growth Mindsets.

Picture Books

Olivia wrapped in vines
Maude Nepveu-Villeneuve; illustrations by Sandra Dumais; translated by Charles Simard.

PZ7.1.N455 Ol 2022

The world is a really big place for little kids.

When Olivia starts to feel overwhelmed by her big feelings, she sprouts vines. They are thorny and twisty and make it impossible for Olivia to do the things she loves to do, like ride her bike or play with her friends. Plus, no one wants to come near a giant ball of thorns. Luckily, Olivia has a very special teacher. Someone who sees past the prickly and the pokey to the upset little girl and helps Olivia learn to manage the vines.

This quirky picture book is the perfect introduction to the idea of anxiety and those big feelings that seem impossible to manage. Olivia’s teacher provides some tricks to help manage the feelings, and a special message at the end of the story encourages young readers to think productively about their own anxieties.

Living with Viola
by Rosena Fung.

PZ7.7.F858 Lv 2021

Heartbreakingly honest and quietly funny, this #ownvoices graphic novel from a debut creator is a refreshingly real exploration of mental health, cultural differences, and the trials of middle school. Livy is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school–and then there’s Viola. Viola is Livy’s anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola’s relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola’s days are numbered. But when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola. Rosena Fung draws on her own early experiences with anxiety and the pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents to craft a charming, deeply personal story that combines the poignancy of Raina Telgemeier’s Guts with the wacky humor of Lumberjanes. Exuberant, colorful art brings Livy’s rich imaginative world–filled with everything from sentient dumplings to flying unicorns–to life on the page.”– Provided by publisher.

I will be okay: my name is Max, and all day long, I know I’ll be okay
by Laurie Wright; illustrations by Ana Santos.

BF697.5.S47 W85 2018

Everyday situations can cause hard-to-handle feelings for kids.

Things like:

  • Feeling grumpy but having to go to school anyway
  • being scared in the dark at nighttime
  • having a babysitter when you don’t want your parents to leave

Kids desperately want to know they’ll be okay, but adults just telling them doesn’t work.
Reinforce the idea that children are not helpless, and can do things for themselves to help them feel ‘okay’ again.
Worried about mom and dad going out for the night?
Make them a surprise present to find when they return!
Scared of a thunderstorm?
Hide in a fort with a friend.
Start practising the ‘OK’ sign with your kids as you read this book and help them realize that they WILL be okay!

The rabbit listened
by Cori Doerrfeld.

PZ7.D6934 Rb 2018

When something sad happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen . . . which is just what Taylor needs.

With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustration, The Rabbit Listened is about how to comfort and heal the people in your life, by taking the time to carefully, lovingly, gently listen.

I am peace: a book of mindfulness
by Susan Verde; art by Peter H. Reynolds.

PZ7.1.V46 Im 2017

Mindfulness means being fully in the present moment. Children can learn how to manage their emotions, make good choices, and balance their busy lives by learning to be mindful, express emotions through speech, find empathy through imagination, and wonder at the beauty of the natural world.

From the bestselling team that created I Am Yoga, I Am Human, I Am Love, and I Am One comes a gentle expression of the tenets of mindfulness, encouraging children to breathe, taste, smell, and be present in the here and now.

Includes a guided meditation.

You hold me up
Monique Gray Smith and Danielle Daniel.

PS8613.R3894 Y69 2017 Full Text Online

This vibrant picture book, beautifully illustrated by celebrated artist Danielle Daniel, encourages children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other’s well-being in their everyday actions. Consultant, international speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote You Hold Me Up to prompt a dialogue among young people, their care providers and educators about reconciliation and the importance of the connections children make with their friends, classmates and families.

This is a foundational book about building relationships, fostering empathy and encouraging respect between peers, starting with our littlest citizens.

My heart fills with happiness
Monique Gray Smith; illustrations by Julie Flett.

PZ4.9.G784 Mh 2016 Full Text Online

The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.

International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.

J’ai le cœur rempli de bonheur
Monique Gray Smith ; illustrations de Julie Flett ; traduit de l’anglais par Rachel Martinez. French

Full Text Online

Qu’est-ce qui te remplit le coeur de bonheur ? Le soleil sur ton visage ? L’odeur de la banique qui cuit au four ? Tenir la main d’une personne que tu aimes ? Ce magnifique album cartonné, illustré par la talentueuse artiste Julie Flett, rappelle aux petits et aux grands de penser aux moments de la vie qui leur apportent de la joie et d’en profiter.

La conférencière et autrice de réputation internationale Monique Gray Smith a écrit J’ai le coeur rempli de bonheur pour soutenir le bien-être des enfants et des familles autochtones, et pour encourager les bambins à chérir les moments qui les rendent heureux.

I can handle it!
by Laurie Wright; Illustrations by Ana Santos.

BF723.E6 W75 2016

“Can Sebastien handle his problems? Of course he can, with the help of a mindful mantra! He could try something silly, or he could try something funny! Chances are whatever his problem may be, he can handle it.

Help your child learn to deal with difficult emotions along with Sebastien, and provide a tool for lifelong confidence! Depression and anxiety don’t discriminate and our kids need help. ‘I Can Handle It’ equips children with a necessary skill in order to alleviate everyday anxieties that arise in their lives.”–Back cover.

Juvenile Literature: Non-Fiction

Where to start: a survival guide to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges 
from Mental Health America; illustrated by Gemma Correll.

Call number: in process

A comforting and useful resource for anyone who’s struggling emotionally and looking for help, from the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness

It can be extremely hard to figure out what’s going on in our own heads when we are suffering—when we feel alone and unworthy and can’t stop our self-critical inner voice. And it’s even more difficult to know where to go for answers. But this book can help. Here you’ll find clear, honest, jargon-free information about all the most common mental illnesses, including a first self-assessment test; tips on how to get help and how to talk about your mental health with friends, family, and medical professionals; and tools for staying healthy. Plus, the book’s accessible and reassuring information and resources are interspersed with insightful and very funny drawings by acclaimed cartoonist Gemma Correll. This will be a book that you’ll cherish.

Heads up: changing minds on mental health
by Melanie Siebert; illustrations by Belle Wuthrich.

WS463 .S54 2020

Featuring real-life stories of people who have found hope and meaning in the midst of life’s struggles, Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health is the go-to guide for teenagers who want to know about mental health, mental illness, trauma and recovery. For too long, mental health problems have been kept in the shadows, leaving people to suffer in silence, or worse, to be feared, bullied or pushed to the margins of society where survival is difficult.

This book shines a light on the troubled history of thinking about and treating mental illness and tells the stories of courageous pioneers in the field of psychiatry who fought for more compassionate, respectful and effective treatments. It provides a helpful guide to the major mental health diagnoses along with ideas and resources to support those who are suffering. But it also moves beyond a biomedical focus and considers the latest science that shows how trauma and social inequality impact mental health. The book explores how mental health is more than just “in our heads” and includes the voices of Indigenous people who share a more holistic way of thinking about wellness, balancing mind, body, heart and spirit. Highlighting innovative approaches such as trauma-informed activities like yoga and hip-hop, police mental health teams, and peer support for youth, Heads Up shares the stories of people who are sparking change

(Don’t) call me crazy: 33 voices start the conversation about mental health
edited by Kelly Jensen.

WS462 .D66 2018

What does it mean to be crazy? Is using the word crazy offensive? What happens when a label like that gets attached to your everyday experiences?

To understand mental health, we need to talk openly about it. Because there’s no single definition of crazy, there’s no single experience that embodies it, and the word itself means different things—wild? extreme? disturbed? passionate?—to different people.

In (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics:
their personal experiences with mental illness,
how we do and don’t talk about mental health,
help for better understanding how every person’s brain is wired differently,
and what, exactly, might make someone crazy. If you’ve ever struggled with your mental health, or know someone who has, come on in, turn the pages . . . and let’s get talking.

Anxiety and phobias
Carrie Iorizzo.

WM178 .I587 2014

“Anxiety disorders, such as phobias, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are the most common group of mental illnesses in the United States.

Recent studies suggest eight percent of U.S. teenagers suffer from an anxiety disorder. This informative title examines different anxiety disorders, including their causes, symptoms, effects, and treatment options.

A chapter on caring for others discusses how anxiety and phobias affect young people with siblings and parents who have the disorder”–

Mental health [6 pack]
Jacqueline Nemni.

WM30.1 .N45 2015

In Canada, 3.2 million 12-to-19-year-olds are at risk of developing depression. Only 1 in 5 Canadian children who need mental health services ever receives professional help.

In Canada, 50 percent of mental disorders develop by age 14 and 75 percent develop by age 24.

After accidents, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for young people in Canada.

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We’re moving (but only temporarily)

By feedwordpress on April 27, 2022

The Rare Books & Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room on Level 1 of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) will be temporarily relocated to IKBLC 142 beginning May 9th, 2022, due to construction for an upgrade project.

To prepare for this relocation, the Rare Books & Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room (IKBLC 110) will be closed to the public on May 5 and May 6th and will reopen on Monday, May 9th. University Archives’ staff have already been relocated to Level 2 of IKBLC, but can still be reached by phone and e-mail and in-person consultations can still be arranged.

Also, before visiting please contact us, as some of our collections will be inaccessible until early 2023, due in part to this project.

See below for location of satellite Reading Room to open May 9th.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause to researchers and other visitors.

Map - relpcated meeting room

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Collection Spotlight: Earth Day, April 22, 2024

By feedwordpress on April 19, 2022

April 22, 2024 is Earth Day!

Earth Day is an annual event held to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote action to protect the planet. The first Earth Day was held in 1970, and since then, it has grown into a global movement with participation from over 190 countries.

UBC is celebrating Earth Day with various events including bike repair info, a beeswax wrap workshop and a children’s gardening workshop, all put on by the UNA (University Neighbourhoods Association).

You can also celebrate by stopping by UBC Education Library and browsing the Earth Day book display located in the breezeway on the main level.  The display features books about sustainability, conservation, and the natural world.

This Earth Day, let’s acknowledge our strides in protecting the planet while recognizing the challenges that persist. From individual actions to global initiatives, our efforts matter. Let’s pledge to live sustainably, advocate for the environment, and work together for a healthier planet. #EarthDay2024 🌍✨

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