Draft:Melanie Cheng

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Declined by MediaKyle 9 days ago. Last edited by BattyBot 9 days ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Melanie Cheng

Melanie Cheng is a Canadian civic advocate, nonprofit founder, and former legal professional based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is best known for her grassroots campaigns to preserve public school facilities and green space in East Vancouver, as well as her advocacy on climate justice, equitable access to public infrastructure, and public accountability.

Early Life and Education

Cheng was raised in Vancouver’s Joyce–Collingwood neighbourhood by her single mother, who was disabled and of limited financial means. She is the sister of Tanis Crosby, a nonprofit executive based in San Francisco.^[1] Cheng attended Bruce Elementary School and later Windermere Secondary School. She earned a degree in Sociology from the University of British Columbia.

Legal Career

After university, Cheng worked as a senior paralegal and document automation specialist in the field of wills, estates, and trusts. She held positions at Russell & DuMoulin, Clark Wilson LLP, and Cobbett & Cotton. She contributed to legal education initiatives and was the recipient of three private industry awards for her work in legal innovation.

Advocacy and Community Organizing

School Closure Campaigns (2016)

In 2016, Cheng led a grassroots campaign opposing the Vancouver School Board’s proposal to close 12 public schools. She initiated a petition that gathered over 18,000 signatures, which were delivered by school bus to the VSB headquarters.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Save Bruce Field Campaign (2023)

In June 2023, Cheng discovered land surveyors working on Bruce Elementary’s school field, prompting concerns about a development proposal. She launched the Save Bruce Field campaign, coordinating over 300 lawn signs, a 2,500-signature petition, and a series of public events and delegations to the board.^[5]^[6]

Collingwood Recreation Society (2023)

In October 2023, Cheng founded the Collingwood Recreation Society, a nonprofit that promotes access to public play space and youth recreation, supports tree canopy restoration, and coordinates community events.^[7]

Climate, Infrastructure, and School Board Accountability (2023–2025)

As Chair of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council, Cheng advocated for school seismic upgrades, climate-resilient infrastructure, and more equitable access to public green space. Her work was featured in a series of media reports about the condition of Vancouver's schools.^[8]^[9]^[10]

She also criticized long-term lease and land sale decisions by the Vancouver School Board, including the proposed lease of Bruce Field and public lands like Kingsgate Mall.^[11]

Her advocacy during a period of board controversy was noted in coverage of VSB meeting restrictions,^[12] trustee backlash,^[13] and election-related education reporting.^[14]^[15]

Recognition

In September 2024, Cheng was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her public service and community advocacy.^[16]

Selected Media Coverage

^ "Management Team". SF-Marin Food Bank. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "School bus to deliver petitions to VSB to keep schools open". Global News. 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Fourth-generation of Vancouver students among school-closure protesters". Vancouver Sun. 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "School Closures Protest – YouTube". Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Parents protest Bruce Elementary field lease". CBC News. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Save Bruce Field Campaign". Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Collingwood Recreation Society". Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Vancouver high schools in need of seismic upgrades". Global News. 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Vancouver high schools earthquake risk". Vancouver Sun. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Over 20,000 Vancouver secondary students in schools that could collapse in earthquake: report". MSN. August 2024. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Vancouver School Board loses legal fight to boost rent on prime real estate". The Globe and Mail. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Trustee Takes Aim at School District Meeting Restrictions". The Tyee. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Vancouver School Board trustee faces backlash after post referring to parents' concerns as spam". CTV News. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Grading the education promises in the 2024 BC election". Vancouver Sun. 2024-10-12. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Vancouver School Board criticized over developer lease". Yahoo News. 2024-09-28. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
^ "Save Bruce Field – Coronation Medal". Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[1] "Management Team". SF-Marin Food Bank. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[2] "School bus to deliver petitions to VSB to keep schools open". Global News. 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[3] "Fourth-generation of Vancouver students among school-closure protesters". Vancouver Sun. 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[4] "School Closures Protest – YouTube". Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[5] "Parents protest Bruce Elementary field lease". CBC News. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[6] "Save Bruce Field Campaign". Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[7] "Collingwood Recreation Society". Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[8] "Vancouver high schools in need of seismic upgrades". Global News. 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[9] "Vancouver high schools earthquake risk". Vancouver Sun. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[10] "Over 20,000 Vancouver secondary students in schools that could collapse in earthquake: report". MSN. August 2024. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[11] "Vancouver School Board loses legal fight to boost rent on prime real estate". The Globe and Mail. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[12] "Trustee Takes Aim at School District Meeting Restrictions". The Tyee. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[13] "Vancouver School Board trustee faces backlash after post referring to parents' concerns as spam". CTV News. 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[14] "Grading the education promises in the 2024 BC election". Vancouver Sun. 2024-10-12. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[15] "Vancouver School Board criticized over developer lease". Yahoo News. 2024-09-28. Retrieved 2025-06-21.

[16] "Save Bruce Field – Coronation Medal". Retrieved 2025-06-21.

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