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Chair's Message: Know what you stand for

Whether in your personal or business life, knowing what you stand for and why is fundamental to both success and happiness. Once we have that sorted out, it’s far easier to identify the things that matter.

Before becoming chair, I reflected on these key questions: what does The Vancouver Board of Trade stand for and why? Put simply, The Board of Trade exists to promote individual, business and community well-being as a vehicle for building a strong province and country.

A strong economy and vibrant public, private and not-for-profit sectors are vital to our families’ and our employees’ quality of life, and to our children’s future. The Board is determined to ensure we build a strong province for you, your family and your business.

Last June, I identified three core areas of focus, each building a strong economy in a different way: encouraging us to be healthy, engaging youth, and ensuring that we hosted an exceptional 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

So what, and how, did we do?

Health: If we are not healthy, we will not be a successful society. Health care consumes nearly 50 cents of every provincial revenue dollar. We need to find new, creative solutions. So, we charted a path towards a sustainably healthy community. The Board struck the Health, Wellness and Well-being Task Force. We hosted a health-care forum for 150 leaders to debate prevention and productivity, an H1N1 forum, and welcomed Minister of Health Kevin Falcon to speak on reform. Prevention is key to maintaining our health, central to both a successful economy and enhanced quality of life. On June 23, we will host a Workplace Wellness Forum on practical ideas promoting healthy lifestyles and workplaces.

Youth: Engaging our children in building a better society will be our most important legacy. Our youth are our future. We were determined to engage young people in our programs, events and issues. Building on the momentum created by the inaugural Rix Centre Engaged Citizenship Award, which honoured youth ambassadors Craig and Marc Kielburger, and raised money for families in Africa, The Board actively supported Vancouver’s first We Day, a Free the Children youth empowerment event bringing together 16,000 young people. Recently, the Board’s Spirit of Vancouver^® entered a fund-raising partnership with Free the Children.

2010 Winter Games: As we stood on the doorstep of welcoming the world, we were given an incredible opportunity. The Board wanted to ensure it delivered. We encouraged you to be involved, be a host, and show the world the fantastic potential of this province. And you delivered. The Board hosted signature events: the annual Countdown to 2010™ supporting athletes, the RBC Legacies Now Speaker Series, John Furlong, Spirit of Vancouver House™ breakfasts and more. Our Backstage Pass updates covered everything from transportation to inspiring employee engagement. The Board also hosted a Members’ Reception at BC Canada Pavilion and held Metro Cities Forum 2010 (Premier Gordon Campbell’s only speech during the Games) to draw investment to B.C. There is no doubt we delivered on expectations – as a province, a city and as a country. It was our proudest moment, realizing the vision of a British Columbia that is innovative, inspired, courageous and determined.

We’ve covered a lot of ground. It would not have been possible without our staff, and hundreds of volunteers, particularly the directors of the board. It also could not happen without you. Together, each activity has been a small step to building communities, a city and a province that is truly the best place to live, work, play and invest: that’s what we stand for.

Thank you to all of those who made this year a very special one. And a very special thanks to incoming chair Jason McLean, who will be an incredible leader for the Board.

And so, what do you stand for?

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