“This business mission to China will deliver real results for Vancouver – we’ve spent months preparing and we are confident we can secure a number of business deals that will directly benefit our region,” said Mayor Robertson. “We’ll be capitalizing on our momentum from the 2010 Winter Games by highlighting some of our top green businesses from Vancouver. China has set aggressive goals to promote low-carbon economic development and there is a huge opportunity for us to foster closer connections between Vancouver’s leading technology companies and the emerging green economy in China.”

The Vancouver Green Capital Business Mission has been developed over the last several months by the Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC), the City of Vancouver, government agencies like NRC-IRAP, agencies like the Canadian Trade Service, private sector partners like Cleanworks, Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre, RBC, and companies from the Metro Vancouver Commerce Program. Previous Vancouver Mayors have visited China but did not focus on promoting Vancouver’s economy.

22 local businesses have been selected by the VEDC to participate in the business mission. They represent three of Vancouver’s fastest growing and most innovative sectors: clean technology, green building, and digital media. Delegates will take part in several one-on-one business meetings with Chinese executives and government agencies, as well as showcasing their technologies to potential partners.

“The Vancouver Green Capital Mission will especially focus on business matching and investment opportunities, similar to what Vancouver did during the 2010 Games,” said Lee Malleau, CEO of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. “This is another ideal opportunity to use a major global event as a platform to promote bilateral trade, which leads to additional investment and employment growth, especially with one of the fastest growing markets on the planet. We are helping our Vancouver companies deepen the connections they made during the Olympics, and make new ones that will generate similar results.”

The partnership between the City and Vancouver’s local businesses with Mayor Robertson leading the delegation is a unique way to help support Vancouver’s economy, says Tourism Vancouver Chairman James Terry. “From our perspective, the City of Vancouver is extremely well-positioned as the gateway to North America for Chinese visitors who will now be able to visit Canada as an approved destination,” said Terry.  “Vancouver’s brand is already strong among business and leisure travelers from China and the Mayor’s visit will further solidify our city as a destination of choice.” 

Mayor Robertson has made economic development a top priority while in office. With a background in business, he has worked to have City Hall assist where it can in supporting local businesses. This kind of support is needed and is appreciated, say local business leaders:

“China has clearly asserted its intentions to invest in energy efficiency as a way to manage the rapid growth of its cities, and they have a large and growing need for Pulse Energy management software. Mayor Robertson knows that companies and technologies like ours can help them achieve those goals while at the same time acknowledging that we can learn a great deal from the development of China’s green industries.” 

- David Helliwell, Chief Executive Officer, Pulse Energy

“We’ve seen Vancouver develop as an international hub for digital media in recent years, and we’re pleased to be partnering with Mayor Robertson and the VEDC on the Green Capital Business Mission. China is a market that we want to expand into and the meetings we have in Shanghai will develop new business connections, grow our name recognition, and provide more exposure for Vancouver’s top-notch digital talent.”

- Warren Franklin, Chief Executive Officer, Rainmaker Entertainment

“With its mandate to move towards solid-state lighting, huge infrastructure programs and rapid development, there is a massive opportunity for our energy efficient control technology to make inroads in China’s solid state lighting industry. Vancouver is developing a reputation as the ‘green capital’ and by meeting with companies in China, we can strengthen our own business at home.”

-Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Light-Based Technologies 

“China’s rapidly growing green economy provides enormous opportunities for the green building expertise we have in Vancouver. This business mission to China will allow us to build connections with Chinese companies and help us grow our company on a global scale.”

- Martin Nielsen, MAIBC, P.Eng., LEED^® AP, Principal, Busby Perkins + Will 

With China’s economy growing at a rapid pace, Vancouver is uniquely positioned to be a global hub for clean energy, and Mayor Robertson understands that we can achieve success by forging partnerships with China. China is a major opportunity for Westport and we’re looking forward to expanding our presence in China and developing new connections and partnerships across the clean tech and alternative energy sectors on this business mission.”

- Nicholas Sonntag, Executive VP Westport Innovations; President Westport Asia.

“Digital media – visual effects, animation, games – is rapidly growing in Vancouver. Image Engine wants to expand our reach into new markets, especially ones as large as China. This business mission gives us the opportunity to connect with Chinese companies with whom we can collaborate and grow our company in the process.”

- Shawn Walsh, Visual Effects Executive Producer, Image Engine

The Vancouver Green Capital Business Mission will coincide with Vancouver Day at the Shanghai Expo. Vancouver is one of only three cities from North America with a stand-alone pavilion at the World Expo. The Vancouver Pavilion, which is a partnership between the City of Vancouver, BC Forestry Innovation Investment, and Canada Wood, showcases Vancouver’s sustainable urban planning and green building practices, which have made the city an international model for urban design.

Photo credit: City of Vancouver

A proposed STIR rental residential project on Comox Street that has generated concern in the West End will not go forward to public hearing at this time, says Mayor Gregor Robertson, so that the City can work with the neighbourhood to first identify key planning priorities, issues and community needs.
 
“We’ve heard from the West End community that people are concerned about new development in their neighbourhood,” said Mayor Robertson. “There’s no question we need more rental housing, both in the West End and throughout Vancouver. However, it’s clear that we also need more discussion about how rental housing goals and other critical needs can be met in the West End.
 
“I’m inviting community leaders to engage with my office in a special advisory process about the West End,” Robertson said, “and I’ve advised the developer it would not be appropriate to move the project forward at this time until further engagement with the community is completed. We want to hear from people about their current priorities.”
 
Robertson said that Westbank and Petersen Group, who own the site of a now-closed church, have agreed with this approach. Westbank and Petersen Group have a solid track record of accommodating community needs into new developments, including Woodward’s. Westbank President Ian Gillespie said that their organization understands the need to work with the City and the neighbourhood to better understand community priorities.
 
“We want to keep working with the neighbourhood and the City to develop a proposal that reflects the need for more rental housing and is sensitive to other priority needs in the West End,” said Gillespie.
 
Mayor Robertson stressed the importance of new rental housing being created in a way that engages the public.
 
“Our council is committed to getting new housing built,” said the Mayor. “We’ve shown that we’re not afraid to look at creative options, whether it’s the STIR program to get new rental built, laneway housing, secondary suites or modular housing. But we need to do it in a way that also builds trust and public confidence in the way the city consults with neighbourhoods.
 
“That’s why waiting for more neighbourhood consultation in the West End is the right thing to do. We need to strive for a win-win.”
 
The Mayor’s West End Advisory Committee, which will be made up of 12 individuals from the West End, is taking applications up until September 10, 2010. It will be charged with gathering an updated list of community priorities. For more information, please visit www.vancouver.ca/westend.

Some of the top minds and business leaders in North America’s technology industry are in Vancouver this week for the City of Vancouver co-sponsored Grow 2010 Conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The conference runs from Aug. 19 through 21 and is designed to help promising entrepreneurs meet and interact with technology leaders and investors from the Silicon Valley and Canada. The goal is to build stronger relationships and inspire and stimulate more Canadian business successes.

“We are committed to partnering with local industries to help them achieve their goals and to make Vancouver an economic centre of green technology and business,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Our goal is to strengthen Vancouver’s economy by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship and attracting investment. We want to be the world’s greenest city by 2020.”

Mayor Robertson will deliver tomorrow’s opening remarks to start a day featuring representatives of a host of successful tech companies in the U.S. and Canada. Speakers include founders and executives from companies such as Zappos, Pandora, Groupon, LinkedIn, Research in Motion, Nokia, Microsoft and Google.

Participants will also have the chance to be part of small roundtable discussions on: cross-border investing and deal-making; building and maintaining networks from abroad; trends and new models in advertising, e-commerce, gaming, web services and media; and ways to develop partnerships and marketing strategies in another country.

“Through our Vancouver Green Capital economic development initiative, our city has developed a strong business community of clean energy firms, green building technology and creative companies, including growth industries such as digital media,” Mayor Robertson added. “These and other local businesses have helped Vancouver rank as the city with the highest rate of entrepreneurship per capita in North America.”

The Vancouver Economic Development Commission and the City of Vancouver are event sponsors.

Photo credit: City of Vancouver

A motion coming to city council next week calls for the City to begin exploring the creation of modular housing in Vancouver, something Mayor Robertson says can potentially provide a solution to part of the affordable housing crisis in the city.

“Modular housing can be built much more quickly and for a lower cost than permanent housing, which makes it a good tool for easing the affordable housing crisis in Vancouver,” said Mayor Robertson. “We have over 1,500 new social housing units being built in partnership with the Province, but it will take years until they are all completed. We have a shortage of affordable market rentals, there is a lack of family and workforce housing, and seniors and students are being priced out of Vancouver.

“Given these conditions, it makes sense for the City to explore what options are available with modular housing, and to test its feasibility. We need to be looking at every creative housing option that’s viable.”

Modular housing is becoming more common for addressing affordable housing needs in BC, with the Province recently announcing in June 358 units for seniors in rural municipalities. Modular units are cheaper to build because the construction of identical units reduces costs and time.

The motion, introduced by Councillor Kerry Jang, directs the City Manager to undertake an Expression of Interest to evaluate the range of possibilities and partnerships available involving modular housing in Vancouver. Possibilities could include interim social housing, live/work studios for artists, workforce housing, and affordable rental units.

The motion can be viewed at: http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100720/documents/motionb2.pdf

“We’ve made a lot of progress on housing in the last year and a half,” said the Mayor. “Our shelters have decreased street homelessness by 50%, and we’re finally getting social housing and rental units built – now we need to find a way to fill the gap as we wait for new housing to be completed. Whether it is for low-income housing, seniors, or affordable rental, modular housing has worked in other cities.

“With the lack of affordability in Vancouver, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be exploring modular housing in our city.”

Photo credit: Peter Aaron/Esto

Almost one year after a separated bike lane pilot project started on Burrard Bridge, the millionth cyclist crossed the bridge just after 10 pm Wednesday evening.

“This is a remarkable achievement,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Over one million riders in less than a year shows that when you build safe, protected bike lanes, people of all ages will come out and use them. The Burrard Bridge bike lanes have been a big success and helped make cycling and walking over the bridge safer for thousands of people every day.

“Before the bike lanes were in place, only the most dedicated cyclists used Burrard Bridge. Now it’s become a popular route for families, seniors, kids – it’s a safe and fun way to get into downtown or head towards Kits beach.”

City staff recognized the achievement by giving away T-shirts celebrating one million riders to cyclists crossing the bridge Thursday morning. Staff calculate the number of cyclists using wire loops embedded in the bike lane which detect metal wheels.

A 24 per cent increase in cyclists has been recorded since the Burrard Bridge bike lane was opened on July 13, 2009. An estimated 200,000 more bicycle trips have been recorded on the Burrard Bridge than without the lanes in place. This week, approximately 6,000 bicycle trips a day are being made over the bridge; during peak periods, between 500 and 800 cyclists an hour cross the bridge.

The number of vehicles on Burrard and Granville Bridges has not changed significantly since the trial began. Pedestrian traffic over the bridge is also unchanged. Over 730,000 walking trips have been made since the trial began.

Findings from a UBC cycling safety study indicate that accident rates have decreased since the separated bike lanes have been added. In a five-month period before the lane separation, four cyclists were injured severely enough to require hospitalization. In the same five-month period during the trial, the number of cycling trips increased but only one cyclist went to hospital.

A report coming to council on Tuesday will recommend by-law changes to make it easier to start and operate a farmers’ market in Vancouver, which will increase access to local food and help expand markets around the city, said Mayor Gregor Robertson.

“Farmers’ markets are increasingly popular in Vancouver, and supporting locally grown food is a key part of our goal to become the greenest city in the world,” said Mayor Robertson. “In recent years, we’ve seen farmers’ markets expand from Trout Lake into Gastown, the West End, and Kitsilano. People want to eat locally and these changes will help make it easier.”

The report, scheduled for Tuesday’s Council meeting, provides a number of recommendations to make it easier for new farmers’ markets to open, while supporting current markets. These include:

Reducing permit fees for farmers’ markets;

Expanding the zoning in which a market can operate;

Increasing the permitted maximum market size; and

Establishing a streamlined process for setting up a market.

The report can viewed at http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100706/documents/p1.pdf

Mayor Robertson stressed that farmers’ markets benefit the city in a variety of ways.

“Supporting farmers’ markets makes sense, both for our environment and our economy. People get greater access to locally produced food, and in the process we create new gathering places for neighbours and local businesses to come together. It’s also a good way to invest directly in our local economy.

“The changes recommended in this report are a response to the growing popularity of farmers’ markets in Vancouver, and I hope council will support them.”

Photo credit: City of Vancouver

Granville Street will turn green this weekend with AstroTurf stretching from curb to curb in the 700 block and the Canadian Olympic badminton team joining buskers, dancers and drummers for the first weekend of a summer-long, car-free celebration on the re-designed street.

“We saw during the Olympic Games how people came together, had a great time and enjoyed festivities on Granville,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said. “As a legacy from the Games, we are creating a car-free space where people can come and enjoy summer in the heart of the city.”

Over the course of the weekend and summer, events will take place all along Granville. In the 700 block between Georgia and Robson, there will public seating with 100 chairs and other pieces of patio furniture set out so people can relax and soak in all of the activities happening around them.

“After construction, we saw Vancouverites reclaim Granville as their own,” says Charles Gauthier, Executive Director of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association. “The business community is excited about what the future of this destination street will mean to the vibrancy of downtown.”

Free events and activities taking place this weekend include a chance for people to test their badminton skills against the Canadian Olympic badminton team on Saturday on courts set up in the 700 block. On Sunday, there will be free yoga and dance fit classes in the 600 block.

Other activities include a chance to sample street cuisine from three food carts, roving street performers, buskers, dancers and improv teams, and special guests, the Nissga’a First Nations Drummers.

Granville Street between Smithe and Hastings is closed to traffic all summer and open to the public for five blocks as a community space. Events and activities will take place every weekend from July 3 through September 6.

“With the City and downtown businesses collaborating on these car-free weekends, we’re delivering on our commitment to build on the successful street activities we had during the Olympics,” Mayor Robertson added. “This is a great way to get people of all ages to come downtown and enjoy the type of energy and vibrancy we had on Granville Street during the Games.”

Festivities begin at noon on Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4 and carry through the afternoon.

For more information and a complete schedule of events visit: www.rediscovergranville.com

Photo credit: City of Vancouver