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May 4, 2012
Unique project combines social media & Vancouver history to strengthen community
A Fraser Street Stories plaque located at the intersection of East 31st Avenue
Vancouver, BC – A new community project that weaves Vancouver history with social media technology is the first example of "digital placemaking" in Vancouver say organizers from a local neighbourhood association. At 11:30am this Sunday morning, a new initiative dubbed "Fraser Street Stories" has its official unveiling on the sidewalk in front of a new housing and commercial development located at 4588 Fraser Street @ 29th Avenue.
Fraser Street Stories is the latest iteration of the historical plaque with some unique differences. Each plaque describes a historical detail from the Fraser Street community in Vancouver, and it also has a QR code (commonly seen on many products and advertisements) that provides a direct link to a web page comment form. Each of the ten plaques has been assigned its own Foursquare check-in for users of that popular geolocation tool.
The project's slogan is "Find the Plaques to Make History" – and members of the public are encouraged to make their own mark by "checking in" and leaving a comment. See www.fraserstreetstories.com for more information.
"With Fraser Street Stories we set out to achieve three things," says community organizer Mike Klassen. "First, show off some neighbourhood pride. Second, recognize that history is always happening, provide a venue that is less static than just hanging a plaque. And third, we wanted to create ways for members of the community members to connect by creating a kind of listening post."
Fraser Street Stories is just the latest community-driven project from the folks in this east Vancouver neighbourhood. "Community members have initiated street banners, murals, sidewalk mosaics, and sundry permanent fixtures to create a sense of place along Fraser Street," comments Lilli Wong, the plaque project designer and coordinator. "It all makes me pretty proud to live here."
The Mountain View Neighbourhood Group has been the driving force behind many of Vancouver's best community development projects. In 2002 they were recognized by a major broadcaster for building a network to address crime and social disease in their neighbourhood. They partnered with Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House on the creation of the plaque project.
Fraser-Street-Stories-backgrounder
Posted by Mike Klassen at 9:34 AM |
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