All filming took place before COVID-19 restrictions.
Winning projects have been adopted through a community vote and are being implemented with the support of the City.
What is participatory budgeting?
Participatory budgeting is a process used in cities around the world to involve citizens in government spending decisions that impact or benefit them.
While the mechanics and processes of participatory budgeting can vary, they generally follow an agreed upon series of steps:
- Community outreach and engagement
- Proposal development for community improvement projects
- Community vote
- Report back
- Project implementation
Help us decide where to invest funds in the West End
We’ve launched a participatory budgeting process to distribute additional revenue collected through West End permit parking fees.
We made the commitment at the time that this incremental revenue would be directed back into the West End community, and that the community would decide where the funds would be invested.
Why we are piloting participatory budgeting in the West End
- It is a part of the follow up to the West End Parking Strategy implemented in 2017, which resulted in additional parking revenue being collected
- The West End is an ideal neighbourhood to pilot the participatory budgeting process because of its manageable geographic size and rich community networks
- To test and evaluate the process for possible future use with other projects in other areas of the city
Status of West End participatory budgeting projects as of July 2022
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Sidewalk improvements | Complete |
| Christine Fretwell and Kathryn Gibbons memorial gift to West End students | Complete |
| West End calisthenics park | Complete |
Your involvement
We thank everyone who contributed to the WE Choo$e community vote earlier this spring. From January 25 to February 4, over 8,600 people who live, work, or volunteer in the West End cast their ballots in Vancouver's first participatory budgeting community vote. 14 community-identified projects were on the ballot vying for $100,000 in potential funding.
The winning projects were presented to City Council on March 31 2020, and implementation for them are underway. Review this page for updates on the implementation of the following projects:
- Christine Fretwell and Kathryn Gibbons Memorial Gift to West End Students
This is a grant to students in King George Secondary and Lord Roberts Elementary for much needed equipment and will be distributed using a simplified participatory budgeting model. Project value: $20,000. - Sidewalk improvements
Sidewalk replacement and repairs at six locations in the West End to remove tripping hazards and enhance safety. Project value: $30,000. - West End Calisthenics Park
Creation of a calisthenics space at Barclay Heritage Square to enable residents to pursue and maintain their physical fitness. Project value: $50,000.
Increases civic involvement
An effective, meaningful and measurable participatory budgeting process can increase civic involvement by:
- Allowing members of the public to practice empowered decision-making for their community
- Creating opportunities for the community to discuss local needs
- Delivering projects that reflect the needs of the majority of residents