Explore

Neighbour Relations

Our Good Neighbour Pledge
We work with our neighbours to pursue common goals and to resolve differences in the best interests of the school and the neighbourhood.
The purpose of our Good Neighbour Pledge is to provide a framework within which YHS will work with its neighbours to pursue common goals, communicate effectively, and to address differences in the best interest of the school and the neighbourhood.

This pledge will work under the following Guiding Principles:
  • To provide open and effective communication
  • To promote good neighbourhood practices
  • To minimize impacts on the neighourhood
  • To reflect and respect the objectives of the City of Vancouver, our neighbours and YHS

Neighbour Relations Committee

The purpose of the committee is to promote open and ongoing communication between area residents and YHS. Through committee meetings, residents will be kept informed of school initiatives and activities, and YHS will hear feedback, questions and concerns from residents.

Meetings:
Committee meetings will be held at least quarterly or on an as needed basis. Meetings can be requested by the school or members of the community.

Committee Members:
The Neighbour Relations Committee is comprised of residents of the neighbourhood area as well as members of the YHS administration. Residents can from time to time request to join the committee to ensure that neighbourhood issues are represented on the committee.

Communications:
The school website will list committee meeting dates and the meeting purpose.

Proactive Measures

Our YHS Shuttle Bus

York House provides students with a shuttle service from Chaldecott Park to the Junior School each weekday morning.

Traffic Management

Through our Transportation Management Plan, we aim to reduce the number of student and staff private vehicle trips to and from the school by promoting alternate modes of travel, such as subsidized bus passes (the Compass card), car-pooling, and our shuttle bus.

We also promote and facilitate smooth traffic flow and traffic safety. There are designated lay-bys for drop-off/pick-up, parent volunteers and Provident Security staff monitor traffic and assist with directing traffic and ensuring the safety of our girls during peak periods. Ongoing communication with parents includes reminders about the drop-off/pick-up zones and traffic duty protocol.
 

Documents

Problem Resolution

Neighbours are encouraged to contact the YHS Neighbour Liaison on an individual basis with any questions or concerns regarding the school’s operations. The Neighbour Liaison will receive, record and respond to the neighbours’ concerns as soon as possible within two school days.

Kathy Kealey
kkealey@yorkhouse.ca

All neighbours are required to provide their name, home address, email and/or daytime telephone number to the Neighbour Liaison for follow-up. 

Note: Neighbours are encouraged to report illegally parked vehicles directly to the City of Vancouver Parking Enforcement Office (Enforcement Requests: 604-257-8727).

YHS and neighbourhood residents will work collaboratively to resolve issues that arise in a way that aims to satisfy all affected parties. Should an impasse arise between the school and any of its neighbours, the following steps will be taken:

  • A Neighbour Relations Committee meeting will be held to discuss their input on the issue in question.
  • If, after the meeting and extensive communication between affected parties, fail to bring resolution, the issue may be referred to mediation, either by York House School or the affected neighbour(s):
    • City staff will be approached to suggest a mediator.
    • The mediator shall determine the process and procedures of the mediation but shall, at a minimum, permit each party to the dispute an opportunity to be heard.
    • The cost of a mediator shall be shared equally between the affected parties of the dispute – half of the costs by neighbour(s) and half by YHS.
    • The selected mediator will determine the amount of the required funds to be deposited prior to the mediation process. This deposit shall be shared equally between the parties to the mediation. Should the mediation not occur or should there be any funds remaining following payment of the mediator’s fees, the funds remaining shall be returned equally to the parties of the dispute.
    • Where a resolution is not achieved during the mediation process, the mediator shall provide to the parties to the dispute, in writing, his or her recommendations for resolution to the dispute.