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Spirit of Vancouver Launch

Councillor Lynne Kennedy
City of Vancouver

Saturday, March 31, 2001

Event sponsored by

Thank you.  Good morning everyone! I'm so pleased to have been asked to speak at this morning's meeting and should say I'm wearing more than one hat at this forum today: the first as a City Councillor, a position I've held for the last 9 years; and the second as a Council representative on the Vancouver Economic Development Commission, an organization established by the City in 1996 to promote economic growth for our City by bringing the public and private sectors together, and third as a Board member of Tourism Vancouver.

Although the first two organizations I represent today end at the City's boundaries, the truth is that everyone in the Lower Mainland, no matter what municipality they live in, sees the City of Vancouver as "their" Downtown. People from Coquitlam or West Vancouver, go "Downtown" when they have tickets for a performance at the Orpheum, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, or the Vancouver Playhouse - all of which are owned and operated by the City of Vancouver. That's a very important point. While I recognize that the "Spirit of Vancouver" very clearly belongs to the whole region, I ask you to recognize the dilemma that our City has at the municipal level.

My specific focus as a member of Council is to enhance the quality of life and the prosperity of those who live and work within Vancouver's city boundaries. I don't need to tell any of you that establishing a sound economic climate and a vibrant cultural base are key elements in making this goal a reality. It's the very same goal that the Board of Trade espouses on behalf of its members - albeit on a regional level.

I fully support the objectives of the initiative. Vancouver becomes a more prosperous City if businesses and workers are attracted by its livability, and it's important that we have a great reputation globally. Being ranked Number 1, tied with Zurich, in William Mercer's recent Worldwide Quality of Life Survey doesn't hurt.

I recently came across an article in the magazine, Fast Company by Professor Richard Florida, a Professor of Regional Economic Development at Carnegie Mellon who contends that, in the race to attract a talent pool to businesses in the new economy, location is becoming more important than the corporation in how people are defining themselves. His quotes can be viewed on their web site:

www.fastcompany.com/online/42/pp_florida.html

He makes some interesting points that I think are worth considering:

"When talented people think about relocating, they don't just consider the job offer; they weigh whether the place has a community that they can plug into........People are finding community in the real world: places where the streets feel alive ....... and where a dynamic music scene, all-night cafes, and extreme sports are easily accessible. People want to feel the energy that fuels the creativity all around them....and look for the same things in a City that they look for in a company: energy, amenities, and a sense of fun. They want to see roller blades and cyclists out on the streets. They want to have a place nearby where they can go rock climbing. Now when we ask them if they mountain bike or rock climb, many times the answer is no. But they want those activities to be available, because someday they might want to do them. ....So we're seeing a trend back to urban locations that have high amenities."

Florida makes a point for us to ponder when he says: "Knowledge workers don't want to devote an entire Sunday to watching football. These people are active. They want to participate. They don't want to stand on the sidelines. A lot of cities believe that they'll make it in the new economy if they get a professional sports team and build a downtown mall. They couldn't be more wrong." So he concludes, "What cities need to do is really simple: Make it fun. Create a music scene. Build bike lanes. Make sure that there are parks where people can play Ultimate Frisbee. Think about the City's historic assets - the old buildings - as cool spaces for hot companies...... In the end," he says, "the regions that provide the most options will be the most successful."

Of course I liked what the Professor had to say because I think we're much of the way there, and perhaps that's why we're rated Number 1.

Now to the City ....... hopefully part of the solution not the problem. I think the City has an excellent record, of helping make fun activities happen here for the enjoyment of the whole region. Staff in various departments do their part to smooth the way for event organizers. Although it's for the most part unheralded, our very busy Special Events Office works with everyone from residential neighbours wanting to have a Block Party to major corporate sponsors organizing commercial events.

We have a FEST Committee that brings together City departments like Engineering, Permits and Licenses, Streets and Traffic Operations, Police, Fire, Risk Management, and Corporate Communications, as well as outside partners like the Park Board, BC Ambulance, and the Coast Mountain Bus Company, to meet with event organizers to advise and assist them in bringing their plans to fruition.

Not only is this service provided at no cost to the applicants, but many also qualify for a FEST Grant that helps offset some of the costs of City services needed to ensure that their event happens safely. Last year, the Special Events Office approved more than 240 events. To mention just a few things so far this year, the FEST Committee has been involved in the World Figure Skating Championships and SkateFest, as well as the upcoming Vasakhi Parade where thousands celebrate the Indo-Canadian festival, and next month's Vancouver Sun Run - the largest event of its kind anywhere in North America.

Most Vancouver residents are happy to welcome others from all over to a free party - but it's not always free for us. Take the Symphony of Fire, for instance. Of the people who come to see the fireworks on those four summer nights each year, two-thirds are from other municipalities. Yet the one-third of us from Vancouver who love and attend the show plus all the rest of the City's taxpayers shoulder the extra cost of maintaining a safe downtown core. It's Vancouver residents who experience closed streets, traffic gridlock, and noisy, festive crowds partying on in the wee small hours. We are the sometimes the ones who view the trash and evidence of vandalism left behind when thousands of exuberant people go home.

On a personal note, I choose to live in the West End and am a huge supporter of the Fireworks, so my replies to complainants are usually quite abrupt. However, I expect all visitors to value my neighbourhood as I do and treat it with respect. As it happens, the City is actively working with a group to continue the Fireworks event. City Council has agreed to put up close to a quarter of a million dollars to cover some of the expense, and to show our good faith in attracting other sponsors. We expect to be part of a happy announcement soon.

The City also has an ongoing program to support non-profit arts and cultural organizations, believing that we should be supporting community initiatives rather than producing events ourselves. You may have watched our Council debating a report that came before us last Tuesday on the issue of Cultural Grants for the year 2001. This year alone, the City of Vancouver will be contributing over $1.3 million to a total of 101 non-profit arts organizations, part of an overall $7 million that the City invests annually in these and other activities such as the Folk, Film, Jazz, and Children's Festivals, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Symphony and the Opera - the list goes on. That's more financial support than is provided in any other municipality in this province. If you wish to find out more get a copy of our "Creative City", or check our City of Vancouver web site, especially the Office of Cultural Affairs pages:

www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/oca/ocaindex.html

What I do believe is that events may have to have a life-cycle if they

are to avoid the weight of public (or media) criticism if, after some years, the event should become predictable. In my view, a tradition that ends before its popularity wanes not only makes the memories sweeter, but it also creates room for other exciting things to fill the space left behind. Although some of our beloved traditions may have gone, others have taken their place, and I know still more great ideas will materialise in the future.

Vancouver is still a young City with a very short history. If some of our traditional events are not to end, then what we need is commitment by the silent majority to get involved in some way - to be participators and not just spectators. Quite frankly, the organizers of some of our best-loved events in the past have simply been burned out from the expectations of so many on the shoulders of so few.

I hope this initiative can stir the silent majority, both businesses and private citizens, into getting involved; to make a commitment of time or money as volunteers or sponsors of arts and cultural events, to unleash their creativity and to spark our imaginations. I don't believe that people look to government to create their fun (maybe their comic relief), but I can assure you that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission will be happy to do our part to keep the Spirit of Vancouver alive. You have my commitment.

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