The Blyth.
Who are you?
Sarah Blyth aka Commissioner Blyth.
What do you do for fun?
Organize events and go to events, go to meetings, play with my son, read blogs, snoop Facebook profiles, ride a bike or a skateboard, play street soccer, and hit the beach.
What is your favourite community and why?
I really don’t know. As a commissioner you get to know many different communities. I like the Drive because it is very eclectic. It reminds me a little of Haight St in San Fransisco. There is always something good going on in every nook and cranny. I always see folks when I walk down Main Street and I feel like the Queen of Kensington. The DTES is really community driven so I also love it. Marpole has a good family vibe. Kits has a beach – town feel to it. There are always good times to be had at Davie Village and good food like at Stepho’s. Point Grey is studentish and flowery with nice parks. I could go on…
What is your superpower?
Well, I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I am great event organizer and an idea person. I love to come up with ideas and then try to pull people together to make them happen.
How do you use it to build community?
I love working together with people volunteering, brainstorming, coming up with ideas, figuring out how to make them work or happen. It could be anything from building a float for a parade, to a neighborhood community garden, or an art project. Most projects require money, a lot of hard work , and lots of time and patience. I am still involved in a project that is 15 years old. Thankfully most projects take less time, but it is all worth it when its done and you cut the red tape, there is really nothing like it. It builds community like nothing else.
My three favourite things about Sarah Blyth are…
1. Commitment. As you probably figured, Sarah is all about community outreach. She works on the Downtown Eastside and spend the rest of her free time meeting and talking to every community in the city. She does all this while coordinating a soccer team for shelter residents and raising a groovy little boy.
2. She has a good head on her shoulders. As a politician, Sarah’s willingness to walk a pragmatic and thoughtful line, while always being supportive of her colleagues, friends, and constituents is always amazing to see. Her decision to find the silver lining in even the darkest clouds is encouraging to meager mortals like me and points to the core of what kind of community she stands for.
3. Her Priorities. Sarah had an interview request from the Gumboot and from CBC Vancouver. Guess which one she picked.
…as told by Kurt Heinrich