We’re delighted to share a small zine that imagines “future Vancouver”. The small graphic document is the result of conservation leaders being facilitated by UBC researchers to dream up their shared vision for a biodiverse, just, diverse, and healthy city. The zine is to be shared; please download and share it! Read on for impressions and ideas.
What does “mutualistic” mean?
“Mutualism” is a type of relationship between creatures in nature, where two or more form close bonds and support each other. Pollinators are a good example, in that the flower nourishes the bee, who spreads the flower’s pollen. Both benefit from the relationship. The workshop was named “Co-creating a mutualistic city” because it focused on finding and strengthening opportunities for people and nature to support each other.
An earlier blog about the project shared the graphic outcomes from the focus groups: Coastal, Industrial, Residential and DiverCity. Props to artist Alana McPherson, whose renderings are as accurate as the academic process was rigorous. Our founder, Christine, participated in the Coastal group and she is evidently in the image below (she often wears her scarf over the shoulders, as shown). Unmistakable beside her are bearded Zaida (Director at False Creek Friends) and bespectacled Douglas (Principle at NW Seacology). The drawing looks identical to a photograph in the previous blog.
Collaborative conversations within the Coastal group integrated the needs of people with those of pollinators and herring, but also salmon and orca, songbirds and soil. Water is a potent element, with an ability to adapt to whatever context. This might explain why our group was so coherent. Water is life! (Below is the top half of our graphic recording, produced by Melissa Kendzierski of Drawing Change.)
Bringing together biodiversity, health and justice
Collectively, we “sought to nurture diverse pollinators and people in community, to steward our work and homes as habitat. To create a future where urban life is plentiful”. Indeed, we imagined a city abundant in resources, experiences and joy. A Metro Vancouver in which all living beings can exercise their rights: to homes, to connection, to darkness, to light, to silence, to sound, to washrooms, etc. The graphic below evokes a certain sweetness.
Last but not least: what is a zine?
Zines (short for “magazines” or “fanzines”) are a type of graphic short story, like a comic book. The format was developed by marginalized communities as a way to share their art, views, poetry, and personal stories in an accessible format that’s easy to copy and distribute! Zines have a long history in grassroots movements, including the Harlem Renaissance, feminist movement, the punk rock scene and more. While urban ecology might not be as radical as those movements, this zine was designed to be shared! For example:
- Share it on social media like LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc.
- E-mail the PDF to colleagues and friends
- Print it and leave them in public spaces like libraries, coffee shops, community centres, and markets
- Include it in your organization’s next newsletter or blog post
- Put it up in your office’s lunch room or at your desk
- Whatever and wherever else you like!
We love hearing from you. Please Let us know your thoughts, and what you did with your copy if you downloaded it. If you share it on LinkedIn, please tag us. Thank you and be well!
1 thought on “‘Zine unites art, ecology and vision: “Co-Creating a Mutualistic Future Vancouver””
Christine – you have made me misty. This “pairs” so well with our ‘mutualistic’ endeavors – inspired of course by the work of Kai Chan and his scholars. Would love to be part of this – I will share as you suggest. I have found the .pdf version of this amazing zine and will share it widely!
Bowing low at the waist in your direction,
Zaida – False Creek Friends