Realizing our founders' vision for a complete
learning community

Jim and Judy Taylor couldn't be more pleased with their university community. A former Law professor, Jim and his wife live on campus in Hampton Place. He heads the University Neighbourhoods Association which includes the eight campus neighbourhoods that form part of UBC’s plan to create a vibrant, sustainable University Town. With plans for green space and shops, a more complete community is emerging on UBC's Point Grey home.

"This is the ideal community in which one could live," says Taylor, who enthuses about being surrounded by forest and ocean, while being within walking distance of world-class libraries, theatre and learning.

The emerging University Town plan fulfills the vision of its founders, who convinced the government to set aside the endowed lands with the express purpose of being used to create an international-calibre public university. "For example, beautifully designed residences," says UBC Vice-President Dennis Pavlich, "will allow people to live in sustainable communities close to their work, reduce transit, and also endow improvement of learning programs and scholarships."

With two neighbourhood plans approved (Mid-campus and Theological Neighbourhood), efforts focused last year on the University Boulevard Neighbourhood Plan. It envisions opening up green space by taking transit underground, re-locating the aging outdoor pool, and integrating shops and student housing. In initial consultations, all students, faculty and staff were invited to participate in the plan, and 20 open houses, 60 stakeholder meetings and three public meetings were held.

Says Taylor, "Through really intelligent decisions, UBC is encouraging a community that will attract students and faculty with all the cultural and social qualities people dream about."

Judy and Jim Taylor enjoy their campus home, believing it is "the ideal community in which one could live."

Related Links

• University Town
• University Neighbourhoods Association

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UBC - A Portrait. The university published a hardcover book presenting a wealth of information on UBC’s people, programs and campuses through photos and descriptive highlights.

First Nations youth come to UBC. Over 1,000 First Nations youth and their families from throughout B.C. attended the Musqueam Indian Band All Native Youth Soccer Tournament in June. UBC also held its first Summer Forestry camp for aboriginal youth in August.