Frances Bula
@fabulavancouver
Cities are life! I've written in the Globe and elsewhere about urban issues, politics, housing for 30 years. Mom/step-mom to four millennials coping with housing market. Now aiming to run for Van city council with OneCity francesbulaforcouncil.ca
Interesting that ABC has decided that killing off future missing-middle homes is an ideal fundraising pitch
Brief commercial break here. If you join my OneCity gang of fun, progressive but practical idealists or come out canvassing with us, you will likely get some of my cooking at some point. Just sayin’
Political campaigning for a newbie like me has had a few surprise bumps, but one of the nicest parts is the people support. Today, a 30-something woman who looked like she was on her way to some important office on West Hastings called out “so excited to vote for you” when she saw my buttons.
I came across a little village the city created several years ago with no fuss or fanfare: 22nd/Rupert. It had a small node for years then got boosted with a few new buildings that gives the corner a bit more heft. A good location, provides some extras in a retail-sparse area
Fabulous to run into Melissa Lem at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival this morning, while I was campaign schmoozing in between sets. Melissa, a doctor and advocate with Canadian Assoc of Physicians for the Environment, does amazing work speaking out on environmental issues.
Loving the craft thing going on at the blanket next to me, three young women, two knitting, one with an embroidery hoop
As of 530, I will be at the yellow tarp halfway between main stage and sound booth. Come get one of my collectors’ item buttons and tell me what needs to be fixed in the city. iykyk
I recently was lucky enough to do swims in the barge pool on the Seine in Paris, one Atlantic beach and two Mediterranean beaches in Spain, and two Mediterranean beaches in France. But very happy to be back now to my all-favourite, New Brighton in east Vancouver
On the other hand, every bar is packed and soccer fans are seeming pretty happy, all in their Qatar Airways jerseys
If you’re feeling cranky about Vancouver road closures for FIFA, this is Paris today for the Arsenal-PSG Paris team) match — which is being played in Budapest
This is just one of the attractive six-storey apartment buildings going up on side streets next to Nanaimo near Broadway. This is what I’d love to see more of in the city snd they are a big part of my OneCity program. Love the little library and bench the builder included
Okay, people, today and tomorrow are the last chances to join OneCity so you can vote for me in the party "primary" -- aka nomination election -- to ensure I'm on the ballot for the October election. Online voting will be May 3-10 francesbulaforcouncil.ca
A young teacher friend is helping organize this petition, which asks the Vancouver school board to provide after-school care for the thousands of young families on waiting lists, wreaking havoc on their work and home lives.
Omg, my current fave grocery chain is opening a new store at the former London Drugs on Kingsway. A new place to get pea tips and gailan! And fresh clams! And mochi!
Thanks to the super-dedicated South False Creek residents who came out last night to talk to (quiz) me and fellow OneCity council candidate @jagglund Jarrett Hagglund last night. And we got this beautiful card at the end
Could everyone please go to Madame Danh on Fraser at 27th. Unique, creative items on contemporary Vietnamese menu. I have fallen in love with the squid-ink fried rice with scallops and tobiko. It’s not as packed as it should be for the great addition to the scene that they are
At Nettie Wild’s showing of her hypnotic, beautiful film about the salmon videos she projected onto the underside of the Cambie Bridge. A nice shout out from her to city engineering for their enthusiasm for the work, and OneCity William Azaroff for early Vancity money
1993), Larry Kuehn at the BCTF told me about a new comms tool activists were using to connect with each other. “The internet.” I did a story for the Sun. A few editors at the time thought it was too unreal to take seriously. Very satisfying thrilling to see Larry tonight irl.
I've been a fishing boat deckhand, covered six mayors, and endured more than a dozen municipal political parties. I spent five agonizing years building a laneway house for my family. Point is, I don't scare easily and I’m not afraid of hard work.
Dear my delightful tweeps, some news! So after 30 years of City Hall and urban-issues stories that you all know, I'm doing something completely different — I’ve decided to run for a City Council nomination with @onecityvan.bsky.social and hopefully run on their slate this October.
With 18/27 polls reporting, Orr/COPE and Maloney/OneCity galloping way ahead of the pack. Reilly/Green a distant third and Hardwick/TEAM behind her.
Reminding you all one more time that you don’t have to order from Amazon. Went looking for Njahi black beans from Kenya this week. Not a single local African grocery store had them. $40 for a 1.5 k bag on Amazon. $9 per 1 k bag from Chakula Tami in Toronto plus delivery.
Vancouver and District Labour Council endorsing the OneCity and Green candidates for council, mo mention of COPE's Sean Orr. (I'm guessing they feel like COPE didn't abide by an agreement that there'd only be two left candidates for the by-election. COPE says there was no deal.)