June 2024 Update: Broadway Line Hard Hat Tour & New Community Banners

June 2024 was an incredibly vibrant and engaging month for our community. I am thrilled to share some highlights from the various events and activities I had the pleasure of attending.

Italian Day on the Drive was a fantastic celebration of culture, food, and community spirit. The streets were alive with music, delicious Italian cuisine, and joyful interactions among residents.

FCM in Calgary: I had the honour of being one of the City of Vancouver representatives at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference in Calgary. The tour of the Glenbow Museum reconstruction was not only enlightening, but an amazing model of how to do adaptive re-use well. They are building this affordably, and the model will have free admission for visitor. I also benefited from taking a tour of Calgary’s new BRT (bus rapid transit) system with fellow councillors, as well as visiting their splendid downtown library.

Another benefit of this Calgary conference was meeting in person with CAO David Duckworth. He provided valuable insights into urban management and development strategies that we can potentially implement here in Vancouver.

Finally, when time allowed I took a ride on one of Calgary’s shared e-scooters for a ride along the Bow River to the fantastic Peace Bridge.

Downtown Van After Work Gathering: This informal gathering was a great opportunity to connect with local business owners and professionals who work in our downtown core. We discussed various initiatives to boost our downtown economy and enhance the vibrancy of our city centre.

BC Lions Proclamation: It was a proud moment to issue a proclamation in support of the BC Lions. Their contributions to our community, both on and off the field, are truly commendable. It was great to catch up with Lions’ Chief Operating Officer Duane Vienneau during his stop at City Hall.

Appearance on the Simi Sara Show: I had the pleasure of discussing key city issues on the Simi Sara Show. It was an excellent platform to address residents’ concerns and share updates on ongoing projects.

Continue reading below…

Proclamation Presentation for Filipino Heritage Month: Celebrating Filipino Heritage Month was a highlight of the month. The proclamation presentation was a heartfelt event with many community leaders present — with Council member recognizing the significant contributions of the Filipino community to our city’s cultural mosaic.

Urban Transit Infrastructure Symposium: As a speaker at this symposium, I emphasized the importance of sustainable and efficient transit solutions, and the impressive growth of our rapid transit infrastructure in Metro Vancouver. The City of Vancouver is on track to be a leader in urban transit infrastructure provided our partners in senior levels of government are at the table to support these projects.

Announcement of Web Summit (Collision Conference): It was amazing to finally announce that Vancouver will host the Web Summit, also known as the Collision Conference. This event will bring together over 15,000 tech innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world in its first year, positioning our city as a hub for technological advancement.

Hard Hat Tour of Broadway Line Emily Carr / Great Northern Way Station: The hard hat tour of the Broadway Line’s Emily Carr / GNW station left me awe struck at the scale of work taking place to build this impressive extension of the SkyTrain network. It promises to significantly improve our public transit system.

Tour of Firehall Theatre: Visiting the Firehall Theatre was a reminder of the vital role arts and culture play in our community. The theatre continues to be a beacon of creativity and expression, and our Council is committed to finding the funding to make it into the best facility possible for generations to come. It’s taking longer than hoped, but we can’t waiver in the goal of restoring this heritage building.

Pinoy Fest: Pinoy Fest at Swangard Stadium was a vibrant celebration of Filipino culture, featuring traditional music, dance, and cuisine. It was wonderful to see so many of my fellow elected officials and the local Filipino community come together in such a joyous manner.

National Indigenous People’s Day Ceremony: This ceremony was a profound experience, honouring the rich heritage and contributions of Indigenous peoples. It was a day of reflection, learning, and celebration.

Fraser Street Banners Launch Party: The launch party for the Fraser Street Banners was the final step in a process that I had involved myself in prior to running for the job of City Councillor. I have huge admiration for the leadership of Lilli Wong and Sharole Tylor for spearheading this neighbourhood banners initiative, and I’m grateful to the artist who designed the banners and to the sponsors who made it all possible.

Other June highlights:

  • Strathcona Block Party: The Strathcona Block Party was a fantastic community event, filled with activities, food, and entertainment to showcase this business area to local residents. It was great to see so many families with children connecting and enjoying the day together.
  • Greek Day on West Broadway: Greek Day on West Broadway was another cultural highlight, with lively performances, delicious food, and a strong sense of community. I spent time speaking with constituents during my time at this popular festival.
  • Jennifer Gray-Grant retirement: We bid farewell to Jennifer Gray-Grant, who retired from her role as Executive Director of the Collingwood Neighbourhood House. Her dedication this critically important organization and service to the public have left a lasting impact on the community.
  • Chinese Canadian Military Museum with Bud Wong: Visiting the Chinese Canadian Military Museum with Bud Wong was an educational experience, highlighting the contributions of Chinese Canadians to our nation’s history.
  • UGM Summer Connect BBQ: The UGM Summer Connect BBQ was a heartwarming event, bringing together community members for a day of food, fun, and connection.