Capitol Hill pioneer to take part in community mapping project

March 11 , 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Call her Ruby Johnson of Capitol Hill. At age eighty, having lived much of her life in the area, Johnson knows the Hill, and she?ll be one of many citizens participating in a unique community mapping project on March 20.

The project is the final event in the Capitol Hill Greening Project, a series of workshops hosted by the Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology and sponsored by the VanCity Community Project Grant.

Every community has its special places, whether it be an especially beautiful grove of cherry trees or a pile of rocks children love to climb on. The Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology invites Burnaby residents to put Capitol Hill?s special places on the map, whether they have ecological, cultural or personal significance.

Johnson?s special place is the north side of Capitol Hill, which runs down to Burrard Inlet. ?Unlike most other parts of Burnaby, it hasn?t been changed - people didn?t build there because it?s unstable,? says Johnson. ?There?s unmarked paths and when I was much younger, there was a trail down to the river.?

Johnson and the other participants will be able to put the places that matter most to them on the map.

?The idea is that people get together in the community and look at what is significant and meaningful to them and the environment,? says Nadine Pinnell. ?Then we put it all together on the map, so we have a record of what people value in the community.?

The event takes place Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. at the McGill Library on Albert Street, and includes volunteer recognition ceremonies and an informal question and answer session with native plant gardening specialists. Cake, light snacks, coffee and tea will be served.

Please RVSP to the Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology by calling 604-527-5522 or visit the Web site at www.douglas.bc.ca/community/urban-ecology/.

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For more information, please contact:
Kimberley Fehr, Communications & Marketing Office: 604-527-5325
Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology: 604-527-5522