Acadia Park Resources

Acadia Park

Living at Acadia Park has many advantages. Eligible families get discounts and free admission at a variety of campus events and have convenient access to community resources like daycares, schools, fitness and learning programs, transit, and vast outdoor spaces.

Living in a shared community

Community culture is strengthened when everyone contributes in a positive way. Read on for information about parking, smoking, and living in a shared community.

Guidelines for living in a community
  1. If something your neighbour does bothers you, tell them about it before you get so upset that you cannot be calm and reasonable. Often, they are simply not aware that you are being disturbed. The prospect of approaching them may be uncomfortable, but, just as you would, they’ll appreciate that you came to them first.
  2. Be direct and to the point. Focus on the specific behaviour or situation that bothers you. Don’t make judgments about why your neighbours do their best opera impression at 6am in the shower; just let them know that it bothers you.
  3. Agree on a friendly solution to the problem, one that takes the needs to both families into account. Be specific about the steps to be taken. (Maybe your neighbour can arrange to practice their singing while you are out for your morning workout.)
  4. Find out if there is anything you do that bothers your neighbour. Be willing to modify your habits and show cooperation to improve neighbourly relations.
  5. If you have attempted to solve a problem with your neighbour and there has been no improvement, or if a neighbour is disregarding housing policies, you can call the Front Desk at 604 822 3172, and they will contact a community assistant to assist.
  6. If you think intimate partner or domestic violence is occurring, immediately call the RCMP at 911.
  7. In a diverse community of this size, with a wide variety of values, beliefs, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds, there are many different child-rearing practices. Nevertheless, if you believe that a child in your neighbourhood is being neglected or abused, and you feel unable to offer assistance, you can—and are obligated by law to—to call 310 1234 them of your concerns. They will not disclose your identity.
Living with noise in a shared community

The sounds of everyday life in our homes usually do carry into our neighbours’ units. We notice this more with the rainy season beginning, as we are more likely to stay at home and spend time indoors. As a result, we may become more sensitive to noise from our neighbours, and they, in turn, may begin to more prominently hear the sounds of our own activities.

During the rainy months of the year, the level of complaints about noise from neighbouring units seems to go up. Often, it is not loud music or parties that cause frustration – instead, it will more likely be the sound of footsteps, running water, or children at play.

Some amount of noise will always travel through shared walls in a community of apartments and townhouses. Much of that sound may be unavoidable and, by necessity, acceptable in our shared environment. It may take careful and thoughtful judgment to determine if sound level from a nearby unit is excessive and unnecessary. For example, a creaking floor in the upstairs apartment is a sound of “daily life,” while a television regularly kept at a high volume can be considered “controllable” noise.

If you feel that a neighbouring unit creates a noise level that is disturbing and which you feel can be better controlled, the best first step is to discuss your concerns directly with your neighbours. It may be best to wait a short time after the disturbing noise has occurred, so that you do not speak angrily, and you consider ways to negotiate a solution with your neighbours. Or, you can contact one of the Community Assistants and talk about the situation. They may have suggestions that can help bring a resolution.

What can you do about noisy neighbours

Show consideration for neighbours at all times by not engaging in noisy and disruptive activity. To date, we have not needed to designate specific quiet hours in student family housing. Instead, we have courtesy quiet hours. However, the custom observed by tenants is to not make excessive noise that could disturb a neighbour between 10pm-8am.

For more information regarding regulations about noise and quiet hours, please review your Residential Agreement.

If you need assistance with your noisy neighbours, please call the Acadia Park Front Desk at 604-822-3172 and the staff will be able to connect with a Residence Life staff member.

Noise in and around Acadia Park

During the summer months we tend to get an increase in noise complaints as children, and families are outdoors enjoying themselves.

All basketball courts in Acadia Park are closed at 10 pm every night of the week. Please ensure that your family is aware of the quiet hours policy, as it is quite noisy for residents of Fairview Crescent, Tennis Crescent and Yalta Place when basketball is being played after quiet hours. If you have a noise complaint about basketball being played after 10 pm, please contact the front desk at 604 822 3172 and a residence life staff member will address the situation.

The sounds of everyday life in our homes usually do carry into our neighbours’ units. As a result, we may become more sensitive to noise from our neighbours, and they, in turn, may begin to more prominently hear the sounds of our own activities. The best thing to do is to approach your neighbour kindly and let them know that their noise is disturbing you. Chances are they didn’t know. If the problem persists, contact Emma Chartrand, Acadia Park Residence Life Manager.

Remember that some amount of noise is reasonable as we live in a dense neighbourhood and some noise will always travel through shared walls in a community of apartments and townhouses. Much of that sound may be unavoidable and, by necessity, acceptable in our shared environment (ex. some footsteps). It may take careful and thoughtful judgment to determine if sound level from a nearby unit is excessive and unnecessary. For example, a creaking floor in the upstairs apartment is a sound of “daily life,” while a television regularly kept at a high volume can be considered “controllable” noise.

If you feel that a neighbouring unit creates a noise level that is disturbing and which you feel can be better controlled, the best first step is to discuss your concerns directly with your neighbours. It may be best to wait a short time after the disturbing noise has occurred, so that you do not speak angrily, and you consider ways to negotiate a solution with your neighbours.

Tips for sharing the laundy rooms in Acadia Park

When residents use the laundry room at night, it negatively impacts the residents who live above or beside it due to the noise. Both washing and drying of your laundry must be completed by 10:00 pm each night.

Plan your laundry time. Arrange a good time to do laundry that works for your schedule. Don’t start doing laundry when you know that you don’t have time to come back to move it out of the machines. Please only do laundry between 8am – 10pm.

Do not leave your laundry in the machine longer than 5 minutes after a cycle ends. If you can’t be back on time to remove your clothes from a machine, please expect that your clothes will be removed if someone needs the machine.

When removing laundry, be respectful of others. If you have waited five minutes and no one has shown up to remove them from the washer or dryer, please use your clean hands and place clothes on top of a table, washing machine or in the basket the person has left on top of or beside the machine. Do not throw clothes on the floor or into another machine. That’s just wrong. Wouldn’t you be angry if someone did that to your laundry?

Do for others as you would have them do for you. Ultimately, that’s what these rules are about. Do what you expect and want others to do with your laundry.

 

Parking

Parking is available at Acadia Park for residents and their visitors.

Please be aware that UBC Parking manages parking at Acadia Park, not UBC Student Housing.

How do I apply for parking?

We recommend that you apply for parking before you move in, if possible.

To apply for parking

  1. Set up a guest account
  2. Get your Acadia Park Resident Permit
    • Email parking.support@ubc.ca
      • Request an Acadia Park Resident Permit
      • Include your full name and Acadia Park address
    • UBC Parking will reply to provide further instructions on how to purchase your Acadia Resident Permit and get a parking stall.

Where can visitors park?

Visitor parking at Acadia Park is located at:

  • President’s Row (a section of units at Acadia Park)
  • the Acadia Park Commonsblock
  • Fairview Crescent

Each Acadia Park household may arrange for up to 7 days of complimentary parking per calendar month. Visitor parking is available 24/7.

How can I report a parking violation?

To report a parking violation at Acadia Park, please contact UBC Parking at 604 822 6786.

Smoking

Smoking in buildings is not permitted

Smoking is not permitted in any unit, hallway, elevator or balcony at Acadia Park. Smoking includes cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes and marijuana. These terms are outlined in your Residential Agreement.

Smoking too close to a building

Tenants and guests who smoke outside of these buildings must do so at a sufficient distance from any door or window – so that their smoking does not affect residents in the building.

If you are smoking too close to a building, smoke will enter windows and balcony doors and affect residents.

Proper disposal of cigarette butts

Please dispose of cigarette butts properly and do not leave them on the ground.

Subletting

You may sublet your unit provided you have obtained written authorization from Student Housing and Community Services (SHCS) to do so. Requests to sublet a unit are typically approved for the May–August period. Tenants subletting without the authorization of SHCS may have their tenancy terminated. Review the Acadia Park subletting guidelines for more information.

Any sublet must be in accordance with the terms of your Residential Agreement.

If you have additional questions about sublets, contact family@housing.ubc.ca

Your neighbourhood

There are lots of things to do around the neighbourhood. Read on for information about activities, spiritual services, public transportation and more.

Wesbrook Village

Wesbrook Village has ongoing children’s events, a community centre, high school, UBC Farm, grocers, restaurants, and shops.

Visit Wesbrook.

UTown@UBC Community Services Card

Exclusive to Acadia Park residents! Enjoy discounts at many campus activities, attractions, and events.

Apply now.

Family and child activities

If you are looking for activities for your kids, there are many places to look around UBC for activities.

Spirituality services

Many churches and religious services are near UBC and Acadia Park.

Learn more.

Around Kitsilano

Kitsilano Neighbourhood House is a great resource for information about local schools, daycares, learning and fitness programs.

Explore Kitsilano.

Take transit

Public Transit is a popular way to get to and from campus. At any time throughout the year, between 10-15 bus routes link UBC to Metro Vancouver’s municipalities, and two on-campus routes serve the on-campus community. Learn more.

Child care

Read on for information about schools and child care, babysitting, safe play and birthday party options.

Schools and child care

Acadia Park is surrounded by vibrant neighbourhoods with schools and child cares.

Read more.

Hiring a babysitter

As a parent, how can you be sure your local pre-teen or teenager is a good babysitter? And what responsibilities do you have as an employer?

What makes a good babysitter?

You want someone with maturity and judgement, someone who likes children and will do fun things with them. The babysitter should know something about child behavior, be able to handle basic needs such as meals and putting the child to bed, and have the training to deal with any problems or emergencies that may arise.

Employer responsibilities

  • Show babysitter the layout of your home, indicating areas which are off-limits or dangerous to the child.
  • Show location of bedrooms and emergency exits.
  • If required, show how to use certain appliances.
  • Show location of fuse boxes, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher or any other item which may be required in an emergency, and ensure the babysitter knows how to use them.
  • Introduce babysitter to children.
  • Provide information on such things as allergies, medications and bedtime.
  • Indicate what TV programs and music the children can listen to and watch.
  • Show location of child’s personal items, clothes and food.
  • Establish a rate of pay.
  • Arrange transportation to and from home for the babysitter.
  • Leave all necessary telephone numbers for the babysitter.
  • Establish expected time of return and phone babysitter if that changes.
  • Provide a list of people in the immediate area who will provide assistance if needed.
  • Call babysitter at least once during your absence to ensure that all is well.

(Information is from the Canada Safety Council at cfc-efc.ca.)

Did you know we have a list of babysitters at the front desk?

Find more information on the get involved page.

Babysitter training 

The UBC Aquatic Center hosts Red Cross babysitting training camps on a regular basis. Sign up today.

 

Safety

Student and campus community safety is important for everyone. Read on for information about fire alarms, storage lockers, tenant insurance, and more.

Who can sign out keys to my unit?

Remember when you checked into your unit? For some that may have been some time ago. At that time you were asked to indicate all your friends and relatives that you wanted to have access to the keys to your unit. The people on this list are the only people that the Front Desk staff will allow to sign out keys.

Only the people on the key authorization form are able to get keys. The list does not automatically include other other adult or over-13 child occupants of your unit. Children under the age of 13 are not permitted to sign out keys.

If your list of friends or family have changed since you last updated this form, please come to the Front Desk to update your key authorization form to indicate people you wish to have access to your unit.

When you are filling out your list, consider who may need access to your unit and include people like: nannies, babysitters, etc.

Safe play

As the weather improves and we start to enjoy sunshine and longer days during spring and summer, here are some reminders about children’s play in our community. Acadia Park offers many great places for play; the walkways and grassy areas provide children plenty of room to run. The following guidelines are offered in the spirit of maintaining a safe and conflict-free area for children:

  • Supervise small children at all times. Your presence can alleviate many problems. Older children may not need constant supervision, but please check frequently on their activities. If your child or teen likes to ride skateboard, rollerskate/blade, cycle or play ball hockey, please talk to them about being safety-conscious around the many small children who also play in the area.
  • Encourage your children not to swear, use profane language or making threatening actions.
  • Children are not permitted to play active games such as ball hockey, rollerblading and skateboarding (and other games/activities) around the cars in the parking areas. Children should also not use the parking lots as areas to ride their bikes. It is very difficult for drivers to see children on small tricycles and bikes. The safety of the children is our primary concern here. Please look to the pedestrian courtyards and grassy areas as better places to play.
  • If you observe another’s child misbehaving or being hurtful, please bring it to the attention of the child’s parent immediately. This will give the parent an opportunity to observe and respond to the behaviour as it happens. It is difficult to hear that another person has observed your child doing something inappropriate or hurtful. If you are delivering such a message, please use a calm and non-accusatory approach. If you’re on the receiving end of that message, please be open to the possibility that, in your absence, your child may sometimes behave in ways that are not considerate or appropriate.
  • If you see any behaviour that is dangerous or causing damage to another’s property and there are no parents nearby to whom you can report this behaviour, please contact the front desk at 604 822 3172. A community assistant can attend the scene and address the inappropriate behaviour.

The playgrounds are used heavily during the summer. It is important to remember that playground noise can have an impact on others. Please be especially considerate of others after 10 pm.

Five essential fire safety tips

Fires and emergencies are rare but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared.

  1. Never, ever disable your fire alarm. If the alarm sounds when you’re cooking, clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm and open the windows. Do not open the door to the hallway because it may trigger the alarm for the building.
  2. Check the batteries in your fire alarm once or twice a year.
  3. Make a plan with your family. Have an exit plan ready and conduct regular fire drills. Always use the stairs.
  4. If you hear a fire alarm, be prepared to act immediately but stay calm. Walk, don’t run.
  5. If there’s a fire, get out and stay out! Never go into a burning building, no matter the circumstances.
Keeping your bike safe

Cycling at UBC is a quick and healthy way to get around campus. Unfortunately, we are not immune to the bike theft that occurs in Metro Vancouver.
Consider these tips for keeping your bike safe from thieves:
•UBC Security recommends using a good quality steel U-lock and heavy cable lock for the front wheel.
•Don’t bring an expensive bike to campus.
•If possible, keep your bike indoors, but not in hallways, stairwells or common areas due to fire safety regulations.
•Never leave an unlocked bike on a balcony, even if you are above the ground floor.
•Residences have bike parking facilities and there are other places to store your bike around campus.

If you see or hear any suspicious activity, call 9-1-1 immediately and report a crime in action. If you see suspicious circumstances, individuals hanging around bike racks or engaged in any other unusual activity related to bikes please call Campus Security at 604 822 2222 to report it.

Reminder about your storage locker

Storage areas are not patrolled or regularly monitored by the University of British Columbia. Occasionally, items stored in these areas have been stolen and/or damaged. The University of British Columbia does not assume responsibility for the loss, damage, or theft of articles stored in storage areas, regardless of how such loss, theft or damage occurs. Your decision to store belongings in these areas is at your own risk. The University recommends that you do not store any item of value in storage areas.

There are actions that each resident must take to help maintain a safe living and learning environment for themselves and others. It is disconcerting to discover your valuables have been stolen, and we want to remind you to please ensure your personal and property safety in residence:

  • Do not let strangers enter the building or hold the door open. Ask visitors to contact their host by using the intercom.
  • Always lock your door when you enter or leave. The convenience of leaving your door unlocked is not worth the risk of a stranger being able to enter your unit at their will during the day or night.
  • If a crime or stranger intrusion is in progress, call 911 immediately. Time is of the essence for police to attend.
  • Part of living in a residence community is looking out for one another. So, promptly report any suspicious incident to Campus Security at 604 822 2222, the RCMP at 604 224 1322 (non-emergency number), and then report it to the Front Desk at 604 822 3172. Put these numbers in your phone.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact Emma Chartrand at 604 822 6389.

Do I need tenant insurance?

The short answer is yes!

In the Acadia Park Residential Agreement, UBC strongly recommends that tenants obtain a residential insurance policy to cover loss of personal property, liability for personal injury and property damage.

There are a few really good reasons for having tenant insurance. For one, as a tenant you are liable—legally responsible—for any harm you cause to any part of your building and to others who live or visit there. Yikes! If your faulty toaster oven starts a fire that damages not only your apartment, but also the entire complex, you may have to pay out a lot of money.

You could even find yourself in trouble if party guests get out of hand and cause damage.

Then, consider your possessions. You might think that you don’t have much of value. But what if you had to replace them all at once due to fire or water damage? Replacing your clothing, alone, could run you a few thousand dollars.

And that old couch and bed might not look like much, but buying new ones would be hard on the wallet. When you compare the cost to replace everything, monthly insurance premiums may look pretty good.

Talk to your insurance representative about an insurance policy that will cover the full cost to replace what you’ve lost. The alternative is a settlement based on how much or how little your old stuff may be worth.

Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada

Co-existing with coyotes

Seen a coyote roaming around Acadia Park? It’s totally normal. Co-existing with coyotes is a reality for the UBC community. Many coyotes live in nearby wooded areas and are active at all times of year, during the day and night.

About coyotes

  • They feed primarily on mice and rodents.
  • They are generally comfortable around humans and rarely pose a danger.
  • Like all wildlife, coyotes can be aggressive when people get too close.

Do not feed coyotes. It’s dangerous and illegal.
You may have heard this before: a fed coyote is a dead coyote. A coyote that becomes dependent on humans for food may become too bold, bite someone, and will need to be destroyed. Feeding coyotes is prohibited by the Provincial Wildlife Act and carries a $345 fine. This fine is enforceable by UBC Security.

Aggressive coyotes
Conflict between coyotes and humans in B.C. is extremely rare. If you encounter an aggressive coyote:

  • Stand up and be as big, mean and loud as possible.
  • Wave your arms and throw objects at the animal (not food).
  • Do not run or turn your back.

Call UBC Security at 604 822 2222 if you see someone feeding a coyote illegally or have a concern about wildlife at UBC.
Call 911 if you believe you are facing a life-threatening situation involving wildlife.

What if my smoke alarm sounds while I'm cooking?

Then it’s doing its job. Do not disable your smoke alarm if it sounds due to cooking or other non-fire related causes. Instead, clear the air by waving a towel near the smoke alarm, leave the batteries in place and open the windows. Do not open the door to the hallway until the smoke has cleared, as this will trigger and alarm for the entire building.

Cleaning

Read on for keeping your indoor and outdoor spaces clean and tidy.

Sorting out waste
Everyone in the community is responsible for ensuring that our waste management areas remain tidy. When you drop off your household’s trash, recycling and compost be mindful of the bins that you are using.If any of the recycling or compost becomes contaminated by something inappropriate being included, this creates extra work for our waste management staff and possibly results in that recycling or compost going to landfill instead of it’s intended destination. Things like plastic bags cannot go into either the recycling or the compost bin. Contamination makes it hard to properly recycle because certain materials cannot be removed from bins and an otherwise reusable resource becomes garbage. There are multiple bins at each waste station if they are full please use the next one. Alternately, if they are all full, please let the staff at the front desk know.

Not sure what goes into each bin? Visit UBC’s Sort It Out website for more information.

Cooking grease and baby wipes

Cooking grease and wipes have a significant impact on our infrastructure, causing damage to equipment, blocked sewers and potential sewage spills into the environment. Some wipes labelled “flushable” do not actually break down in the wastewater system, and may bind together in sewer pumps. When wipes combine with grease, the mass can further clog sewers, damage pumping equipment, and cause sewage to overflow into the environment. There is currently no regulatory standard in Canada for what products can be labelled ‘flushable’ – that’s why Metro Vancouver, in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Municipalities and other groups is supporting the development of an ISO standard on flushable products.

In the meantime, please put wipes in the garbage—even if they say they are flushable.

Cooking grease should be collected in a container and disposed of in the waste bins or trash.

Have you cleaned your range hood lately?

If your range hood filter isn’t cleaned regularly, it will not be able to function at its peak. A range hood that functions properly is able to remove airborne grease and odours from your kitchen. If the airborne grease isn’t removed, it can accumulate on your walls and in your kitchen causing a fire hazard.

Cleaning your range hood filter is easy.

Remove the filter by sliding it out
If the filter is particularly dirty and greasy, you can hand wash and soak the filter in hot soapy water, then scrub it.

Once you have scrubbed the filter, you can keep it clean by regularly putting it in your dishwasher.

Keeping clean balconies

Everyone wants to feel proud of their home. It’s where we go to escape the pressures of the world, unwind and enjoy life with family and friends. Parts of our homes are visible to neighbours and the general public, including the balcony.

While we all have different standards of cleanliness and tolerance for clutter inside our apartments, it’s a different story when the area is open for the world to see.

As you would have noted when you accepted your new Residential Agreement, there are details about what items may be kept on unit balconies. We encourage you to have and enjoy an attractive balcony, and things you can locate there include: outdoor patio furniture, personal bicycles, and modestly-sized planters that are raised slightly to allow air space under the planter. Items that are not consistent with the above include storage units, indoor furniture, appliances, recycling or recreational gear. You may be wondering, “Why does SHCS care how my balcony looks?” There are a few reasons.

We received a lot of positive feedback after Spirit Park and Point Grey renovations. Residents remarked how much more attractive the buildings looked because the balconies were clean. We are also expected to be thoughtful of fire safety, risk management and crime prevention.

Strategies for keeping your balcony clean:

  1. Downsize. Consider selling things you rarely use. UBC Families on Facebook is a good place to start or book a table at our next monthly garage sale.
  2. Donate. There’s a Developmental Disabilities Association bin near the Commonsblock. If your donation is too large for the bin, call 1 800 654 1331 to arrange pick up.
  3. Rent a storage unit. Nearby vendors include: WestPoint Storage Rentals and Kitsilano Mini storage.