Community Affairs

Greater Vancouver: A vision for the future
Community Affairs Committee
Social Issues
Police Funding
Vancouver's Central Business District
Granville Street Redesign
Electoral Reform
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
Community Charter
Planning & Zoning
A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver
Urban Study Trips

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Greater Vancouver: A vision for the future

A vision for the future
""My incoming message as chairman of The Vancouver Board of Trade focused on the need for Greater Vancouver to have a unified vision for the future of our region... it is a strong, well-integrated, differentiated, practical and, above all, shared vision that gives a business, a city, a province, or a country the ability to realize its competitive advantage over others."" Read statement from Daniel F. Muzyka.

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Community Affairs Committee

See more photos of the Community Affairs Committee by Dave Roels

The Community Affairs Committee monitors major urban policies and projects in the City of Vancouver and Greater Vancouver, including transportation and transit, land use planning, arts and culture, urban planning, urban development, regional government and community issues. The Committee is also responsible for exchange visits to other cities.

The Community Affairs Committee meets on the first and third Thursday of every month.

For contact information, please visit the Committees & Task Forces page.

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Social Issues

Board applauds initiative to combat public disorder in Vancouver
November 27, 2006 — The Vancouver Board of Trade commends Mayor Sam Sullivan and Vancouver City Council for their leadership in addressing the burning problem of crime and public disorder in Canada and Vancouver with the ""Project Civil City"" initiative, announced today. Read media release and related letter from business coalition, " target="""Crisis in Vancouver"" (PDF/4,356/kb).

Sustainability dialogues help shape the future of the region
October 2006 — In co-operation with the Greater Vancouver Regional District Board of Directors, The Vancouver Board of Trade supports the Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues, a series of high-profile debates and discussions intended to help shape our region. The series is moderated by well-known broadcaster Rafe Mair. More...

Draft Housing Plan for the Downtown Eastside
July 25, 2005 — Based on its review of the May 16, 2005, Draft Housing Plan for the Downtown Eastside prepared by the City of Vancouver, The Board of Trade's Downtown Eastside Task Force offers a number of comments and recommendations regarding the provision of affordable housing. Read letter to Mayor Larry Campbell and council.

Renewal of the Vancouver Agreement
February 23, 2005 — The Board believes that the Vancouver Agreement is a ""worthwhile device to facilitate inter-governmental co-operation in addressing social and economic problems in the City of Vancouver, and that it should be renewed."" Read The Board's letter.

Draft Homeless Action Plan
February 17, 2005 — Upon a detailed review of the 2004 draft Homeless Action Plan for the City of Vancouver, The Board offers its recommendations and applauds the city for its continued work on this difficult issue. Read letter to City of Vancouver senior housing planner Jill Davidson.

Task Force on Early Child Development and Child Care
July 1999 — Read report, Investing In Our Children is Good Public Policy.

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Police Funding

Vancouver's police resources are inadequate, says The Board
January 20, 2005 — The Board urges city council to allocate the funds required to substantially increase the number of police officers in the current city budget-planning process. Read The Board's letter to Mayor Campbell.

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Vancouver's Central Business District

Rezoning inquiry — Bay Parkade site and adjacent properties
December 12, 2006 — We understand that the City has received a rezoning inquiry with respect to the Bay Parkade and adjacent properties. We have reviewed the staff report on this, agree with the analysis it contains and support the recommendations in the report. Read The Board's letter to Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and council.

Proposed redevelopment of Renaissance Hotel
June 13, 2006 — The Vancouver Board of Trade continues to press for the retention of commercially zoned property in the Central Business District. With regard to the Renaissance Hotel located at 1133 West Hastings Street, The Board recognizes that there is an opportunity to revitalize a property that could well serve the City of Vancouver through 2010 and beyond. Read letter to Mayor Sullivan and council.

Downtown Vancouver development vital to province’s future
April 26, 2006 — In recent years, there hasn’t been much growth in office and commercial development or jobs in the city centre, while residential development has increased by over 50 per cent. Is the downtown core at risk of stagnation? To examine the trends and forecast the future of downtown Vancouver, a panel of experts gathered at the latest Board of Trade Policy Forum. Read event summary from The Board's Policy Forum^TM.

The future of the Central Business District of the City of Vancouver
May 20, 2004 — The Central Business District (CBD) in downtown Vancouver is the key business centre in Greater Vancouver and in B.C. The City should endeavour to retain businesses in the CBD and attract other businesses to the area — the future of the CBD must not be dictated by residential demand. Read The Board's Presentation to Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment.

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Granville Street Redesign

Board supports Granville Street redesign option recommended by DVBIA
March 21, 2006 — With respect to the section of Granville from Smithe Street to Cordova Street, we believe that too much caution has been applied to consideration of the one-sided flex lane proposal submitted by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA)... the plan suggested would have the merits of helping to revitalize that section of Granville Street. Read The Board's submission to Vancouver City Council.

Options for Granville Street Redesign
October 26, 2005 — The Board's Urban Infrastructure Task Force and Community Affairs Committee have reviewed options put forward by the City of Vancouver and other groups such as the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) for the Granville Street Redesign project.

Board offers recommendations on Granville Street Redesign
November 18, 2004 — The Board's Urban Infrastructure Task Force has been following the city's plans for redeveloping downtown Granville Street, and based on study of documentation and meetings with stakeholders, offers a number of recommendations on the project.

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Electoral Reform

Board recommends ""No"" vote on STV
May 12, 2005 — On Election Day, May 17, 2005, you will be asked to vote in a referendum on a new electoral process called Single Transferable Vote (STV). The Vancouver Board of Trade has studied the implications of STV as a voting process, and while it does support electoral reform, it does not support STV for a number of reasons. Read The Board's message to members.

City of Vancouver Referendum Question: To Ward or not to Ward?
October 13, 2004 — On October 16 of this year, voters in the City of Vancouver will be asked to decide whether or not to accept a ward system for the city. The Vancouver Board of Trade urges voters not to support a ward system. Read media release.

Report of the 2004 Vancouver Electoral Reform Commission
June 21, 2004 — The Board has studied with interest the Report of the 2004 Vancouver Electoral Reform Commission and comments on several of the recommendations in a letter to Mayor Larry Campbell and council.

Letter to Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform
June 2, 2004 — A Board of Trade task force has considered the question of reform of the electoral system in B.C. and forwarded a corresponding statement of principles to the Citizen's Assembly on Electoral Reform. Read letter and statement on The Electoral System in British Columbia (PDF/77kb).

Electoral Reform for the City of Vancouver
February 27, 2004 — The Board submits a report on the electoral system of the City of Vancouver to Thomas Berger, Commissioner of the Vancouver Electoral Reform Commission, recommending a mixed ward/at large system of electing city council. Read letter, Submission to the Electoral Reform Commission (PDF/130kb) and Appendix, Electoral Models for Municipal Government Governance Structure (PDF/116kb).

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Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre

Aquarium an integral part of city's cultural and tourism infrastructure
August 6, 2003 — In light of recent challenges faced by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre (VAMSC), The Board of Trade urges Vancouver Parks Board chair and commissioners to support the Aquarium. The Board also encourages its members to express their opinions regarding the Aquarium's policies and activities.

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Community Charter

Community Charter ""a work in progress""
May 7, 2003 — Following its initial review of the Bill 14 draft legislation, The Board writes a letter to Minister Nebbeling outlining areas of the Charter that require further attention.

Board reviews proposed Community Charter
August 26, 2002 — Letter to Minister Nebbeling regarding The Board's review of of the proposed Community Charter, identifying four main areas of concern. The two accompanying Board reports address the Proposed Community Charter: Part 6 & Part 7 only and excluding Part 6 & Part 7.

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Planning & Zoning

Highway Oriented Retail (HOR) on Marine Drive
July 5, 2006 — The Vancouver Board of Trade believes that the HOR Policies and Guidelines for the Marine Drive Industrial Area should be retained so that rezoning applications for all large format retail uses can be considered. Read letter to Mayor Sam Sullivan and council.

Northeast False Creek/Plaza of Nations
July 8, 2005 — The Board urges Mayor Campbell and council to take an integrated and broader approach to planning of the Northeast False Creek/Plaza of Nations area.

Rezoning submission for 838 West Hastings Street
June 14, 2005 — A rezoning submission has been submitted to the City for heritage property at 838 West Hastings Street. The Board of Trade is pleased to see the sensitive environmental approach that would see the new building likely qualify for LEED gold. Read letter to Mayor Campbell and Council.

Analysis of C-2 Zoning Review
September 26, 2002 — In a letter to Mayor Owen, The Board outlines recommendations from developers and architects concerned with the potential impact of the changes proposed in the C-2 Zoning Review: Part 1.

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FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver

The Downtown Eastside/City Drug Policy Task Force is continuing its work by exploring the need for strengthened prevention and treatment of drug addiction. In co-operation with the Crime Task Force, work has continued on aspects of the ""four pillars"" approach the City of Vancouver has adopted towards the drug problem and the fifth pillar (economic redevelopment) that The Board advocates.

Framework for action: A four-pillar approach
City Hall proposed a four-pillar approach to drug problems in Vancouver: prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction. Read report: A Framework for Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver (PDF/515kb). In response to the City's proposed strategy, The Board formed a task force to review the report.

Board congratulates VPD for Downtown Eastside initiative
April 16, 2003 — Letter to the Vancouver Police Department's Chief Constable Jamie Graham, congratulating the VPD for its initiative on the Downtown Eastside.

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Urban Study Trips

Every year, the Community Affairs Committee participates in an urban study trip. In 2001, a group of members travelled to Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond, Washington, to learn about the progress and liveability which those cities have achieved. See below for more information on recent urban study trips.

How Boston deals with rapid growth
May 2005 — The Board's Community Affairs Committee visited Boston, Massachusetts, to observe and assess how Boston was solving and dealing with the challenge of its rapid growth rate. One of Boston’s most significant assets is its world-class teaching hospitals which, combined with Boston’s top-notch universities, have allowed the city to consistently turn out a highly educated and skilled workforce. More...

Chicago study trip focuses on urban issues in the 21^st century
June 3-6, 2004 — Members of The Board's Community Affairs Committee and other delegates, along with Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, travelled to Chicago to discuss urban issues with a diverse group of the city's civic and business leaders. More...

Board committee’s urban study trip compares California and Vancouver
June 5-6, 2003 — Thirteen members of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s Community Affairs Committee conducted a two-day urban study in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, California. More...

Lessons in civic governance and more from Calgary
May 9-10, 2002 — The Community Affairs Committee took its annual study trip to Calgary to discuss the constructive approaches followed in civic governance in that city, its transportation developments and lessons to be learned from its Olympic experience. More...

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