Posts Tagged ‘Sean Bickerton’

Back in the saddle

Posted by Jonathan Ross

CivicScene is back in the saddle with a holiday diet and a blogging schedule that once again need a steady regimen.

I have returned to the blogging horse, a little more weighty from no less than three holiday dinners within four days – a condition, I might add, that I fully intend to begin working off sometime today.

Today I am struck by two columns by two of Vancouver’s most respected scribes – Rod Mickleburgh of the Globe and Mail and Allen Garr of the Vancouver Courier – that offer assessments on two of Mayor Gregor Robertson’s most prominent and contentious policy directions over the past year.

There can be little argument with the fact that Vision Vancouver’s victory in last year’s civic election was predicated on a strong commitment to tackle homelessness in addition to a stated intention to create dedicated bike lanes on the Burrard Bridge (the former obviously having a far greater impact than the latter).

So if both of these policies were clearly articulated within the context of an election campaign that returned a decisive victory for the party proposing them, then it is safe to say that a majority of Vancouver’s electorate embraced them as something they were willing to see implemented.

This of course didn’t stop certain members of the outgoing regime from doing their damnedest to work up fervour to the contrary.

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VANOC is a disgrace

Posted by Jonathan Ross

If only we would all act like the inhabitants of this picture, VANOC's promises of blue skies would undoubtedly come true.

If only we all acted like the inhabitants in this picture, VANOC's promises of blue skies would undoubtedly come true.

As a former member of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO), and a current member of the West Cost Symphony Orchestra, Sean Bickerton’s outrage over VANOC’s treatment of both the youth and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra rings very true for me.

This apology is as useless as a Gordon Campbell promise not to use the practice of lip synching during the opening ceremonies, or a Gordon Campbell promise of inclusion into the opening ceremonies.

I am particularly troubled by the muzzling aspect of the contract signed with the VYSO, as it is indicative of the information/security/cost/etc. vortex that comprises the business of organizing the Olympics.

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Sat Jul 31, 2010

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FACT OF THE DAY

Vancouver’s West End is 204 hectares and is home to 44,000 people (as at 2006) and has increased 5.8% in the previous 5 years and 66% moved since the last census.  61% speak English as their mother tongue.  The majority are in the 20-39 year old age group.  59% are one person households, with 8,710 families and an average household inome of $38,000.  There is a total of over 28,000 private households.

Quote OF THE DAY

“We’re really asking people to be respectful of the diversity of our community.  People live down here because of the diversity, they feel safe within diversity, and that’s a really important value for us.” – Brent Granby, West End Resident’s Association

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