The West End Residents Association (WERA) is a group of community based activists seeking to improve and maintain quality of life for West End residents of Vancouver. Through education and advocacy we want to celebrate and encourage greater community voice, responsibility and empowerment. We believe that addressing issues of social equity and environmental sustainability will benefit everyone in the community. Among the issues that WERA addresses are transportation, community gardens, housing, pedestrian safety, and parks and recreation. If you’re interested, and would like to get involved in any of these areas, let us know.
The West End Residents Association is incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia.
Officers of the West End Residents Association are:
Brent Granby (president)
Brent Granby is a West End community activist interested in developing public space that engages citizens in a participatory manner. He has just completed a successful ten-year assignment as the primary care giver to his two daughters. He is currently transitioning from the domestic and the volunteering sector to part-time furniture designer and visual artist. In addition to being the point person for his children, Brent has participated in developing two community gardens, the Mole Hill Community Garden and The Stanley Park Community Flower Garden. As a director of the West End Resident Association (WERA) he was the Project Coordinator for the Mole Hill Community Public Art Project Community Light. He was also on the Board of the West End Community Centre Association (WECCA) and is a past president of this Board. He is also past chair of the West End Integrated Neighbourhood Network (WEINN). Brent is currently President of WERA, Vice Chair of the Save St. Paul’s Coalition, member of Renter at Risk Campaign and member of the Citywide Housing Coalition.
As President of the West End Residents Association (WERA) Brent has been focusing his activism on issues that create happy and healthy communities. In this regard he has been advocating for a comprehensive housing policy in Canada with all three levels of government because housing is an important determinant of positive health outcomes.
Christine Ackermann (director)
Christine Ackermann is a self-employed community organizer with nearly 20 years of experience working as a professional administrator and events coordinator in corporate and non-profit organizations. Dealing with the stress and adversity to fight a mass eviction for renovations (The Glenmore, April 2008) was a life-changing event for Christine. Her renoviction experience has taught her the importance of a supportive, connected, diverse, happy and healthy community. She has become a passionate and dedicated volunteer advocate for tenants rights in BC.
Christine has lived in the West End since 1993. Her interests and activities with WERA are based in electoral reform, social justice, GLBT, public transit & cycling, environmental, and social justice issues. She hopes to engage and motivate people to become active in the political process.
John Whistler (secretary-treasurer)
John Whistler is one of WERA’s founding Directors and has interests in transportation, energy, social justice and environmental issues. John’s activities with WERA have focused on advocating for re-orienting West End streets to favour pedestrians, cyclists, other non-motorized users and public transit.
John is also a Director of Pedal which has a mission to encourage people to use bicycles. Pedal believes the bicycle empowers people to reduce their negative environmental impacts on the planet, in a way that improves their personal quality of life and the quality of life of their local community. Previously,John has served as a Director of Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC), which has a focus on urban environmental issues, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation Association (BEST) which promotes sustainable transportation and other non-governmental organizations. John works part time managing contracts for materials and services for Spectra Energy’s Western Canadian operations.
John is a third-generation Vancouverite, has lived in the West End since 1980 and loves its vitality and energy. To relax, he likes to skate on the seawall, smell the ocean and trees in Stanley Park and to vacation by bicycle.
- Other Directors:
- Arminder Randhawa
- Sharon Isaak
- Jonathan Chapnick
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