In this edition
- Vancouver Board of Trade
- Election Night in Vancouver
- Record of Achievement
Vancouver Board of Trade Luncheon Tribute to Mayor Sullivan
Join our celebrity roasters and toasters as they help us say “thank you” to Mayor Sam Sullivan for his 15 years on Vancouver City Council. This special Spirit of Vancouver® luncheon recognizes a unique life and Sam’s very special commitment to our community.
As an early advocate for individuals with disabilities, and as a city councillor, and more recently as mayor, Sam Sullivan’s perseverance in the face of often daunting challenges is a reminder to all of us that community service is an important part of our citizenship as individuals and businesses.
And while a skiing accident at the age of 19 made him a quadriplegic, “Citizen Sam” has never shied away from controversy, tough decisions or the rough and tumble of Vancouver politics, one of the city’s most colourful and entertaining contact sports.
Now, as he prepares to leave City Hall, join us for some memories and laughs as we hear from those who know Sam Sullivan best, including folks on both sides of the political fence.
Date: Monday, December 1, 2008 (event #090809)
Registration: 11:45 a.m. Lunch & Program: 12:15 – 2 p.m.
The Westin Bayshore Hotel – Grand Ballroom, 1601 Bayshore Drive
$56 members and guests/$81 future members + GST
Reserved tables of 8: $538 members/$842 future members + GST
Register at 604-641-1248 or www.boardoftrade.com
Election Night in Vancouver
Last weekend, residents across the province participated in municipal elections. For the first time in 15 years, I was not running.
Lynn and I would like to congratulate Gregor Robertson for his victory in Vancouver. I look forward to working with him in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition at City Hall.
I would also like to congratulate Councillor Peter Ladner and everyone else who ran in this year’s election for a hard fought and passionate campaign. And, most of all, I would like to thank the voters for their participation.
City Councillors Ladner, Lee, Anton, Capri & Ball
Record of Achievement
As my term is winding down, many people have stopped on the street to give me their best wishes. It has reminded me again that the people of Vancouver are the reason we are regularly ranked as one of the world’s best cities.
Our government has worked hard over the past three years to ensure we left Vancouver better than we found. We have strengthened our relationship with senior levels of government and delivered hard working, honest and steady leadership through one of the most challenging times in Vancouver’s history.
In addition to ensuring Vancouver is prepared to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, we have delivered on a broad range of issues that local residents and businesses care about the most. Most of these accomplishments were achieved under the framework of two major policy initiatives we introduced during the term – EcoDensity and Project Civil City.
The following is a summary of our achievements:
- introduced Project Civil City as comprehensive plan to use 2010 to leverage investments address Vancouver’s social challenges – and recruited Hon. Geoff Plant to lead process
- historic investments in social & supportive housing in partnership with provincial government – over 3800 units in development
- double digit reductions in violent crime & property crime
- over 200 new officers & civilian staff for Vancouver Police Department
- successfully introduced EcoDensity plan as an alternative to urban sprawl
- established strongest green building standards in North America
- delivered plan to expand laneway housing to as many as 70,000 residential properties in Vancouver
- secured the future of BC Place Stadium in Vancouver for generations to come
- adjusted community plans to allow for construction of new Art Gallery at False Creek
- managed construction of Hillcrest, Trout Lake & Southeast False Creek Olympic venues
- $20 million Olympic Legacy fund to promote community participation in the lead up to 2010 and establish two free family-friendly Live Sites downtown during the Games
- lowered property taxes for small business
- initiated plan to establish 311 phone service to Vancouver next year – replacing the current list of 550 numbers
- introduced Con-Air program to return criminals to their home jurisdictions and & street closures on Granville Street to combat public disorder in the entertainment district
- as Chair of Vancouver Police Board – hired Jim Chu as Chief
- historic investments in parks, recreation, arts & cultural facilities – including upgrades to Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Playhouse Theatre & Pacific Coliseum
- helped lead effort to reconstruct Stanley Park following wind storms – securing $4 million from senior governments and $2 million from City
- worked with provincial government to establish Community Court in Downtown Eastside
- Granville Street & Robson Square upgrades
- over $2 million for Cambie Street beautification & lighting projects
- approved new policies to facilitate the increased use of electric cars in Vancouver
- provided funds to expand the successful Downtown Ambassador program to other neighbourhoods of the city
- expanded street cleaning services in Downtown Eastside
- provided $500,000 to establish new Street to Home Foundation to encourage more private sector investment in social housing
- approve record numbers of new taxi licenses in Vancouver – particularly hybrid & wheelchair accessible vehicles
- worked with Translink to deliver 100% accessible transit service in Vancouver
- successfully lobbied provincial government to consider reopening Riverview Mental Health facility & include UBC rapid transit line in regional transit plan
- secured more than $30 million from federal government for treatment of drug addiction and mental health
- added 100km of new bike lanes over last three years – increasing total to 400km – the largest three year increase in Vancouver history
- funding for construction of a new animal shelter in Vancouver
- successfully fought to keep Vancouver’s safe injection site open
- vigorously lobbied to bring Major League Soccer franchise, 2009 Juno Awards & 2009 Liberal leadership convention to Vancouver
- increased funding for arts and cultural agencies by $1.7 million
- secured $10 million from provincial government to refurbish historic neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Japantown, Gastown & Strathcona
- represented Vancouver at 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy and 2008 Summer Olympics in China
- cut city red tape to allow for more daycare spaces in Vancouver & conversion of more boarded up buildings to artists studios
- initiated plans to reestablish Downtown Streetcar service in Vancouver – starting with pilot project for 2010 from Granville Island to Cambie Street station
- introduced tough anti-smoking & anti-idling by-laws
- increased number of licensed restaurant patios throughout city
- established funding program to support sporting events in Vancouver – including 2009 World Police and Fire Games
- delivered $1.5 million to establish a Cultural Tourism Strategy
On behalf of our entire City Council, I want to thank everyone that has helped make these successes a reality over the past three years.
Yours truly,
