Ronald Bourgeois is a Hampton Place resident. He serves on the council of West Hampstead Strata and is a retired chartered accountant.
Q+A
What is the most important issue facing the campus neighbourhoods today?
Whereas the Provincial Government has approved the UBC Land Use Plan, how can UNA residents ensure that their quality of life is maintained and hopefully improved between now and 2050? A projected resident population of 35,700 versus 14,900 today, as well as an estimated 9,000 more jobs on campus, will stress the infrastructure.
Is UBC building a livable, viable, safe, and environmentally-friendly community for residents through Campus Vision 2050? Why or why not?
The 2050 Plan is flawed as it does not clearly address the need for additional recreational centres and more retail facilities. Wesbrook’s recreational facility does not have the capacity to serve 20,000 more residents. Motor, cycling and foot traffic is heavy and increasing around Wesbrook Place. Additionally, as there is no definite timeframe for the Broadway Line to be extended into the campus, the densification rate needs to be slowed.
What is the most pressing safety issue facing the campus neighbourhoods and where would you put your focus in addressing it?
Roads and sidewalks in our neighbourhoods are owned either by the province or UBC. Having no control, UNA is limited to lobbying. As the number of electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) increase, we need to address the risk of a caustic lithium-ion battery fire in underground parking below residences. South Korea has implemented stricter safety regulations for underground parking lots in response to rising public concerns about EV fires.
What are your thoughts on the UNA’s current fiscal situation?
One reason for running for the UNA board is fiscal responsibility. The 2024-25 budgeted expenditures exceed $8.1 million, a 24.6 per cent increase from $6.5 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year. Over the last 4 years expenditures have increased by 69 per cent. The UNA’s primary responsibility is to administer the Neighbours Agreement with UBC on our behalf. The purpose of this agreement is to provide municipal services to our neighborhoods. There is a need to refocus council on this mandate.
How can the UNA better foster a sense of community and connection among residents?
There is a high level of apathy among UNA residents. Only 9 per cent of the 13,000 participants who responded to the request for comments to Campus Vision 2050 were residents. I am encouraged by UNA chief administrative officer Paul Thorkelsson’s outreach to create a dialogue with the strata councils. As a board member, I would make outreach an ongoing program to create a constant dialogue with the neighborhoods.