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FCM’S Green Municipal Fund announcement for Greenest City 2020 Action Plan

Press Release
Feb 23rd, 2011

Bob Long, a member of the national board of directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and of the Langley, BC, Township Council, and Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, today presented a Green Municipal FundTM

(GMF) grant contribution to Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. The City is putting the $324,500 toward a robust public engagement and planning process, research and analysis leading up to the creation of the Greenest City 2020 action plan.

“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Councillor Long. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

What will Vancouver be like in 2020? Green.

Press Release
Feb 21st, 2011

A draft Greenest City Action Plan, Video from VancouverCityHall's YouTube Channel

Curious what it’s going to take to become the Greenest City in the world by 2020? Find out what thousands of people have said by checking out the draft Greenest City 2020 Action Plans here

On this website you can read the draft action plans, watch the videos and - until March 5, 2011 - comment on the strategies and help prioritize the actions. 

A letter from the BC Mayors Climate Leadership Council

Press Release
Feb 10th, 2011

Image from Wikimedia Commons

The BC Mayors Climate Leadership Council, which includes local government leaders from diverse communities located in all regions of the province, has a request that is significant but simple: make the transition to a low-carbon society and economy a key and necessary part of your platform for improving British Columbia.

In September 2010, a number of mayors from large and small communities across British Columbia came together and agreed to form the BC Mayors Climate Leadership Council. The purpose of the Climate Leadership Council is to lead, mentor, and engage.

The Mayors represent award-winning local governments that have been recognized for their leadership in addressing climate change and creating sustainable communities. The Mayors recognize that the transition to a low-carbon society and economy is an issue that transcends regional differences, partisan politics, and ideologies. We encourage you to capitalize on the current North American leadership position that British Columbia enjoys in the transition to a low carbon economy.

Vancouver and Victoria recognized as greenest cities in Canada

Press Release
Feb 9th, 2011

The cities of Vancouver and Victoria were today named Canada’s greenest cities by Corporate Knights magazine at a ceremony at a Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting in Victoria.

“This is an honour for Vancouver to be recognized as a leading Canadian city on the environmental front for the second year in a row,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “The recognition confirms we’re on the right track with actions underway or planned to help us become the world’s greenest city by 2020.”

Vancouver won the medium city category, and tied with Victoria for the highest marks overall in the survey.

Vancouver scored highly in infrastructure and built environment, governance and empowerment and social well-being. Other categories included ecological integrity and economic security.

Vancouver stood out in the Canada-wide competition for its across-the-board sustainability, with its goal to transform into the world’s greenest city by 2020.

Report shows Olympic business program created $306 million economic impact

Press Release
Feb 4th, 2011

The Olympic cauldron in Vancouver, Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A new report released today shows that the Metro Vancouver Commerce 2010 Olympic Business Program was a huge success in strengthening the region’s local economy, bringing a total of $306 million in new investment and creating 2,558 new jobs.

Nine Metro Vancouver municipalities, including Olympic host city Vancouver, partnered with the Government of Canada on Metro Vancouver Commerce, an innovative Olympic business program that saw 64 international companies come to Vancouver in February 2010 to land agreements for new jobs and investment in the region.

“Our priority going into the Olympics was ensuring we secured long-term benefits for our City, and it’s clear that our Olympic business program did just that,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “With a strategic, targeted approach for attracting new jobs and investment to the region, we succeeded in leveraging the Olympic spotlight to put our economy on the map.

Ending homelessness only 450 units away, report shows

Press Release
Feb 1st, 2011

 A report to council today identified that the current gap to end street homelessness in Vancouver by 2015 is just 450 new units of affordable housing.

“We know from the data our staff collected that our work, in partnership with the Province and community partners, is making progress on ending street homelessness,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Now we’re just 450 units of new housing away from making sure no one needs to sleep on the street at night. I’m confident we’re on the right track.”

The Mayor also stated his commitment to use City land to keep leveraging support to end street homelessness. “By using City-owned land to leverage funding from senior levels of government and the private sector, we’ve been able to secure more than 1,500 new units of social housing. We need to keep this going.”

Staff provided an in-depth report on the challenges of homelessness and affordable housing in Vancouver, detailing the current situation of housing ranging from shelters and social housing to rental apartments and secondary suites. Data presented to Council today included:

Public information meeting on downtown building heights

Press Release
Jan 14th, 2011

Vancouver downtown, Photo courtesy of mschroeter140

The City of Vancouver is holding a public information meeting to provide details on two reports concerning downtown building heights that will be considered by City Council next week. The public meeting will be held on:

Monday, January 17 from 7 - 8:30 pm

(Presentation starts at 7 pm, followed by a question and answer session)
Empire Landmark Hotel
1400 Robson Street, Crystal Ballroom, Lobby Level


At the meeting, City staff will review the specifics of the Vancouver Views report, which protects public view corridors and looks at opportunities for limited higher buildings downtown that do not intrude into public view corridors.

Downtown cultural hub, possible Vancouver Art Gallery relocation, and public plaza

Press Release
Jan 13th, 2011

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

A staff report coming to Vancouver city council next week proposes setting aside two acres of 688 Cambie Street (the former Greyhound Bus depot and Olympic Downtown Live Site) for the development of a cultural hub and public plaza, which could include the relocation and expansion of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

“The exciting thing about this proposal is that it’s not just about the potential for a new cultural space, but also about the design and use of public space downtown,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “This site was the home for the Olympic Downtown Live Site and Four Host First Nations, and we want to create a lasting cultural and economic legacy from the success we saw during the Games.

First tenants move into Olympic Village affordable housing

Press Release
Dec 22nd, 2010


The first tenants of the affordable housing in Vancouver's Olympic Village moved in to their new homes this week, fulfilling the City’s promise to start housing people in need before the end of the year.

“This is great news, to have people moving into their new homes in the Village just in time for Christmas,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Many of these people have been on waiting lists kept by BC Housing and GF Strong for many months, if not years. With the Olympic Village affordable housing now filling up, we’re helping low and moderate income individuals move into homes and the City is receiving a steady rental income from the units. This is good news all around.

“Affordable housing is a major challenge in Vancouver, and we made a promise to our citizens that part of the legacy of hosting the Olympics is that we'd have a diverse, socially-inclusive community in the Olympic Village after the games. We’ve kept our promise and I look forward to seeing all these units fill up in the coming weeks.”

City Holds Candlelight Vigil for Gender Violence

Jarrah Hodge
Dec 10th, 2010

Councillor Ellen Woodsworth with Dalannah Gail Bowen and Miriam Palacios

A group of about thirty people came out to the City of Vancouver's first candlelight vigil on violence against women last night, held to coincide with International Human Rights day and the end of 16 Days of Activism on Gender Violence.

Miriam Palacios, representing We Can BC and the City's Women's Advisory Committee, emceed the event outside City Hall. She noted parallel vigils taking place in Victoria, Surrey, and Prince George.

Councillor Ellen Woodsworth spoke first, noting that although increasing rates of reported sexual assaults and the continuing violence against Aboriginal women present challenges to Vancouver, the City has been proactive in setting up a Women's Advisory Committee and working with police to address violence against women.

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