Overview of discussions at March 25, 2026 VVCA board meeting:

– SUM Theatre preview show, Thursday May 14, 7PM, Raoul Wallenberg Park (10th Street & Munroe Avenue).
– Spring Clean-up, Saturday, May 30. Meet at Church of Latter-Day Saints parking lot, 10th St & Cumberland.
– meeting held regarding Colonial area issues. Notes to come.
– meeting planned for newsletter committee to discuss editorial process
– next civics meeting to discuss upzoning draft document
– rink light pole replacement is going ahead, waiting for better weather. Working on coordinating Brunskill student assistance in maintaining rink.
– President Murray Park: memorial bench policy is in development by City. Dog poo issues. Lighting requires much planning with different City departments. Planning a committee meeting, requests input of ideas for park.
– spring program registration held on March 24.
– need new Equipment Coordinator.
– what to do with old VVCA jerseys?
– outdoor soccer awaiting final accounting. Payment to SYSI upcoming.
– Albert Community Centre construction continues
– neighbourhood parking issues on University Drive. Contact City to reduce 2-hour parking to 1-hour on some streets.
– Mann House to prepare proposal and budget for festival idea.
– concern about ‘jungle gyms’ attached to trees during winter. Develop an article for August newsletter.
– next meeting is the AGM, Wednesday, April 15, 7PM

Overview of discussions at the November 19, 2025 regular board meeting:

– cross-country ski trails request has been submitted. City will be only doing Grosvenor Park trail.
– street trees update: representatives from VVCA, Nutana Community Association and SOS Trees attended the public hearing and spoke out against the proposed City bylaw to allow front yard underground excavation/parking for multiplexes. The bylaw passed unmodified, however the City expressed hope that admin would find more effective methods of public consultation. Also, a representative of SOS Trees will be part of any discussions where developers and urban forestry disagree.
– 14th Street tree planting project is going well. Two spruce trees that were eaten by rabbits are been replaced by the City. Watering going well. Project under budget this year.
– winter 2026 indoor programs are booked. Tae Kwon Do had a successful competition in Scotland, winning 6 silver and 2 bronze.
– Basketball program is looking for coaches to form Junior and Senior skills teams.
– Brunskill SCC suggested a rink warm up shack with water access be built. Shacks can be expensive and lack security, and water access is difficult. Quote will be asked for.
– work continues on contacting rink board advertisers to renew contracts. Principal contacted regarding students destroying the ad boards.
– newsletter going to printer at beginning of December. Johanna attended City newsletter workshop.
– Albert Community Centre renovations continuing. Some delays, but not unexpected due to project size and complexity.
– discussions about Colonial Hotel and frustration in neighbourhood with increased theft, vandalism, needles, garbage. Possible meeting with Hotel manager or invitation to future meeting?
– trees in President Murray Park: Cate, of City urban forestry/parks, attended along with Councillor Jasmin Parker. Plan to deal with trees will take time and (scarce) resources. Preliminary plans are to plant east end of park (Wiggins Ave) in 2026 with a few deciduous trees. Contract for stump removal (grinding) will be tendered in spring 2026 with work done in summer.
– next board meeting will be January 21, 2026.

Overview of discussions at the Wednesday September 17, 2025 VVCA board meeting:

– VVCA has applied for a City WinterCity micro-grant for a winter skating and hot chocolate event in January.
– Unfortunately no Parks representative was able to attend the meeting to discuss the trees in President Murray Park. Councillor Parker stated that ~70 trees were in decline or dead and therefore removed. Cause was likely drought and extreme heat. There is a plan to replant more diverse species, but questions remain about budget and timeline. VVCA may be interested in partnering with City (and possibly Patterson Gardens) to replant some of park. Question whether they will be grinding the (approx 8″ high) stumps?
– A tent was spotted in President Murray Park this week. Fire department is responsible for dealing with homeless encampments. Fire department has 48hr response time due to backlog of cases. Email seems to be a good option for reporting – send a photo with location.
– tree planting at 14th Street: money spent on refilling water tanks and tree wraps. Trees doing well. More wood chips needed and some will be provided from excess at the community garden. Tree Canada event later in September will be planting more trees east of our location.
– upcoming Open Houses on USask Properties development south of Merlis Belsher Place: Sept 22 and Oct. 1.
– City survey open on the 2026-29 Strategic Plan. Please review. Accessibility plan survey is also open until Sept. 22. Review of VVCA bylaws to come. VVCA has paid the school invoice for rink electricity use.
– all programs are running.
– basketball registration information to come soon from SMBA. After that, teams and schedules will be set up.
– two teams registered for indoor soccer. May have a practice-only format for U5 soccer, waiting for registration results to confirm.
– VVCA asked if association can groom cross-country ski trails independently. No, only City can do it.
– rink snowblower needs to be serviced. Need a work-bee to clear rink, fix some boards and ready it for winter. Need to renew contracts with advertisers and replace any damaged signs.
– winter newsletter deadline is December 1. May only need 2000 copies printed next time as there were extras left over from door to door deliveries.
– Albert Community Centre is being renovated. Schedule may be a little behind, which can be expected when doing work on an old building. ACC is accommodating long-tern tenants during the construction, which means few or little outside bookings.
– website moved to new server, complete with SSL.
– community garden had 124 plots, with about 80-90 families or groups participating. Fall clean up coming this Saturday.
– some concerns about new sidewalks that have curb cuts for driveways – tend to accumulate snow and ice in winter, making them awkward for walking. President prefers newer style (suburbs) sidewalks with rounded curbs. Discussion in future.
– Next meeting is Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Overview of some of the discussions at the June 11, 2025 VVCA board meeting…

– VVCA 40th Anniversary Celebrations – final preparations for event on Saturday June 14.
– committee formed to update bylaws, etc.
– receive and approve the 2024 financial statements.
– fall program registration will be Thursday September 4 and Tuesday September 9, 2025.
– leftover drinks and candy from SUM Theatre event will be sold at 40th Anniversary event.
– Albert Community Centre tender process is complete and a company has been selected to begin construction. Details still being finalized.
– some vandalism to one of the signs at the Brunskill rink. Also someone ransacked VVCA equipment at the school.
– VVCA social date set.
– next meeting, Wednesday, August 20. Location to be determined.

Overview of some of the discussions at the April 16, 2025 VVCA board meeting that followed the AGM:

– thanks to Matthew Wiens for his term as President over the last two years
– Councillors report: homeless shelter downtown on Pacific Ave opened recently, although it is only a temporary (18 month) solution. Four possible permanent sites are being considered within the City, and negotiations are happening with the province to narrow down to one location. Public engagement will follow.
– comments about property crime in neighbourhood. Issues with Colonial Hotel on 8th Street?
– possibly a recent cycling death on Clarence Avenue?
– SUM Theatre performing Thursday May 15, 7PM, Grosvenor Park. New play is “Breathe” and free to attend. Need volunteers to deliver flyers. VVCA will sell snacks and drinks before the show.
– Community Cleanup on Saturday, May 3, 8am – 1pm. Bins will be located at Church of Latter-Day Saints parking lot (Cumberland and 10th Street). Need volunteers and trucks!
– invoice for ski trail grooming should come mid-April. Question whether there were third-parties available to groom President Murray Park next year.
– Year 2 of 14th Street tree planting area: spruce had bark stripped by rabbits and may not survive, replacement plan needed; new mulch likely mid-May; costing signage; projecting three water bin fills this year; budget submitted.
– 4 outdoor soccer teams registered, 8 volunteer coaches. Season starts in May. Schedule just released by SYSI.
– spring programs on the go: Badminton, Tae kwon do, Intermediate Spanish, Yoga. New location for program supplies and equipment.
– rink done for the season. Have to spray weeds in the rink area.
– Albert Community Centre renovation tenders should close April 17. Renovations may cause issues with rentals. Currently no permanent City rep on ACC board.
– Brunskill SCC hosting movie in the park June 7.
– inquiry from school about possibly paving the rink surface.
– community garden cleanup mid-May.
– 40th Anniversary event: volunteer signup sheet to be created online; street barricades, stage set up by City; distribution of flyers in early May and early June; possible t-shirt sales; BBQ by VVCA; Douglas and Ted will emcee event; bike valet and bike tuneups; 5 live bands and 4 dance groups, games, history walk and much more!

Next meeting is Wednesday May 21, 2025, 7PM, Brunskill School library.