POST OLYMPICS REPORT

We Are Back On Track, Mayor Tells Ethnic Media

by ALEX P. VIDAL

VANCOUVER , British Columbia – This coastal city in British Columbia ’s lower mainland is establishing itself as a hub for cutting-edge firms in creative industries, disclosed Mayor Gregor Robertson, who met recently with top echelons of ethnic media.

The positive signs that Vancouver is "back on track and fulfilling its potential" began after Robertson said he took a proactive role on economic development.

"During the Olympics, my top priority was to use the exposure and draw of the Winter Games to promote local businesses and attract new investment," said Robertson, who assumed office on December 8, 2008. "Our economic program, Metro Vancouver Commerce, strategically targeted international businesses that were considering investing or moving here."

The 45-year-old Robertson said city hall has exceeded the target for November 2011 — $60 million in direct new investment in the region because of Metro Vancouver Commerce.
　

NEW CONNECTIONS
　

"The work is paying off after just eight weeks," he enthused. "That’s new jobs, new international connections and new partnerships for our local economy."

Over the weekend, the mayor revealed Pixar has chosen Gastown as its new Canadian office and they have signed a memorandum of understanding with Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley company that specializes in supporting startup businesses with connections to venture capital.

They will reportedly set up their first Canadian tech center here. 　

"These are major wins for our city’s—and region’s – local economy," he stressed. "It’s no wonder that the Conference Board of Canada predicts that Vancouver will have the strongest growing economy of any city in Canada this year."

Robertson added: "We’ve made headway on some of our toughest social problems. When we took office, there was a full-blown homelessness crisis in Vancouver. Since then, the city has partnered with the province to get real, visible results on homelessness.

"We opened several new emergency centers, providing people with an immediate way to get off the street."

The mayor said "the downtown core has seen significant drops in pan handling and open drug use since they opened."

"Over 400 people who were sleeping in doorways, on the street, or in parks are now sleeping inside in a safe place," added Robertson.
　

END OF HOMELESSNESS
　

Robertson said his goal "is to end street homelessness by 2015 – to make sure that everyone who is homeless has a warm, safe place to sleep at night. We’ve still got a lot of work to do but we’re making progress."

Robertson also pointed out the following positive developments in Vancouver :

1. Bringing in significant new policies to improve the city’s environ-mental performance as the city council implemented a curb-side compost pickup program, at no extra cost to taxpayers.

2. Approving new rezoning requirements, meaning that Vancouver now has the greenest building code in North America .

The Council also recently made the biggest two-year investment in bike infrastructure in Vancouver ’s history, reported the mayor. "We’ve introduced protected bike lanes and made our cycling network safer for everyone," said Robertson, who rides in bicycle when he reports in city hall.
　

TRANSFORMATION
　

Robertson said the city has gone through "an incredible transformation."

"We’re more confident, more assured, more ambitious. It seems like an eternity ago when the previous city council was bogged down in labor disputes, Project Civil City and secret $100-million loans," he said.

"We’re now at place where city hall has a steady, business-like approach to governing our thriving city. Real results have been delivered in the first 18 months, with more to come. Vancouver is stronger, more compassionate and is fulfilling its potential to be a model city for the world," he concluded. /MP