REPORT TO COUNCIL

MILLENNIUM STEERING COMMITTEE

APRIL 28, 1998

1. Recommendations for the City's Involvement in Millennium Activities

Summary

The following report sets out conclusions reached by the Millennium Steering Committee and provides recommendations for City Council regarding the forthcoming new millennium, offers background on actions by other levels of government, sets forth criteria for evaluating millennium options, offers a selection of possible millennium initiatives and presents next steps for the approval of Council.

Background

This report is presented by the Millennium Committee struck by Council on July 29, 1997 to report on recommendations for the City's involvement in millennium activities, if any. The Committee's Terms of Reference are attached as APPENDIX A.

The Committee had seven members with liaison staff from the City, Park Board and School Board. Its four citizen members were Janet Fraser, Kelly Ip, Diana Lam, and Richard Mulcaster. Its institutional members were VSB Trustee Barbara Buchanan, VPB Commissioners Allan De Genova and Laura McDiarmid (alternating), and Councillor Jennifer Clarke, who served as chair.

The Committee had six regular meetings and two brainstorming meetings with citizens. In addition, the Committee reviewed the experience of the 1986 City Centennial Legacies Program with Larry Beasley, and met with representatives from the Vancouver Board of Trade, the Province of British Columbia, and Millennium Vancouver 2000. The Vancouver Foundation, represented on the Committee, reported on a proposed national campaign for grass-roots giving spearheaded by the Community Foundations of Canada. Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver Hotels Association, and the Vancouver Cultural Alliance were invited to address the Committee, but reported that they had no plans in progress.

Most local organizations are in the early stages of millennium planning, as are otherCanadian municipalities surveyed by the Committee. See APPENDIX B for other municipalities.

In addition to these consultations, Councillor Clarke attended the Federal government’s Millennium Task Force discussions in November 1997.

In contrast to the local level, senior governments are taking steps to recognize the millennium.

The provincial government is considering a large scale celebration for New Year's Eve 2000 as well as a variety of other activities, pending the appointment of staff from the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs. The federal government has announced a substantial millennium initiative following its consultation process and a national poll. The Angus Reid public opinion survey attached as APPENDIX C, shows Canadians want the millennium marked in a special way and that they favour events and activities that will have a lasting impact. Accordingly, on March 12 the federal government announced the formation of a Millennium Bureau to provide $160 million over three fiscal years. Terms of Reference for accessing funds will be announced shortly. Priority will be on partnerships with other sources of funds in the private and not for profit sector. Municipalities will be eligible for partnerships.

During the course of the Committee's deliberations it was recognized that while senior governments were moving on the issue, most organizations in the private and non-profit sector have not firmed up their plans. Many are in the formative stage or are uncertain whether they'll do anything at all. Most are asking what the City and senior levels of government are doing. The Committee has considered the following:

Millennium Activities for Vancouver

Endorsement Policy

In view of the formative stage of much of the local millennium planning, the Committee anticipates there will be requests by third parties for City endorsement to assist with fundraising or other forms of public participation. The Committee recognizes the risks and possible liability for the City in endorsing activities over which it has nocontrol/participation, and which lack definitive plans from the applying organization. Therefore, the Committee recommends the City not provide broad endorsement of millennium initiatives by third parties. The Committee did agree on the need to be open to specific partnerships that are consistent with existing City objectives.

Communications

As we get closer to January 1, 2000, the Committee recognizes there will be increasing requests of the City for information on millennium activities throughout the Lower Mainland. Depending on Council’s decision to proceed further, it is recommended we respond on our website, informing the public about what the City, Park Board and School Board’s own millennium commitments are. Second, the website could also refer inquiries to other millennium organizations listed on websites of the Government of Canada, the Community Foundations of Canada, Tourism Vancouver and other local organizations. This approach avoids the appearance of endorsement. Use of the City website, possibly augmented with a a printed brochure, would provide a quick response to inquiries at a nominal cost.

The City’s website would

1.List the City, Park Board and School Board activities, if any; and outline the City's own priorities with respect to the millennium.

2.Refer to other millennium-related websites and sources of information while disclaiming any endorsement of the organizations or activities listed.

If Council wants to expand the information service to include listing of initiatives beyond the City, Park Board and School Board, there will be additional costs and staffing required to "vet" and list activities on the website. Keeping in mind the principle of non-endorsement and the appearance of endorsement a listing might bring, this approach is not recommended.

This position reflects input from the Communications Department, who also note that more detailed planning and costing would be required if Council opts to pursue a specific millennium initiative.

Celebrations

It appears from the Committee's review that the private sector, the Province of British Columbia, and perhaps the Park Board through its Community Centres, will be pursuing a number of celebrations focussing on the New Year's Eve. Therefore, it was concluded that the City should not duplicate or compete with those efforts. Hence the Committee's recommendation that the City not undertake any celebratory initiatives.

Legacy

In light of the above conclusion and the Angus Reid survey findings, the Committee felt the City should focus its interest on options having a lasting or legacy nature. Citizens seem to want activities that are community focussed, allow them to give back to their community and have lasting value. Having decided to focus on legacy initiatives, and recognizing the need to report to Council promptly, and that the deadline for applying for federal funds will be announced shortly, the Committee convened two small brainstorming sessions with citizens. Participants included private sector professionals from Vancouver’s media, public relations and entertainment sectors, plus Community Centre Associations, students, and teachers from Vancouver schools. The sessions augmented the Committee’s own deliberations and provided a broad range of ideas on which to base further development. A list of participants and ideas are attached in APPENDIX D.

Evaluation Criteria

Out of those sessions and the Committee’s subsequent discussions, the following criteria are recommended in evaluating City millennium options:

- Legacy benefits

-Innovative and significant

Impact, creates an impression

-City-wide appeal

-Inclusive, crossing age, gender and cultural lines

-Potential for joint action by City, Park Board and School Board

-Potential for City investment to lever other resources

-Corporate sponsorships or partnerships, and federal and provincial partnerships

Ideas for Millennium Projects

During a brainstorming session, the point was made that we need to decide whether we want our legacy to be primarily for Vancouver citizens or be so innovative as to capture international attention. The ideas that the sessions produced were intended to be freewheeling and to stimulate further discussion. They were not intended to be fully developed proposals ready for implementation. After some review by the Committee, the following appear to fit with the criteria:

1.Capital Projects:

(a) a campaign to expedite the redevelopment of Hastings Park.

(b) a campaign for early completion of the seawall around the city

(c)a campaign to purchase and develop the Arbutus Right of Way as linear park/greenway.

(d) a campaign to fast-track the development of the False Creek Heritage Streetcar project.

2.A youth legacy, growing future leadership through a youth-driven initiative.

3.A Millennium Endowment fund to sustain future worthy endeavour(s).

4.Identify a major challenge and fix it - go against the grain of what everyone else is doing. e.g., build a drug-treatment centre.

Some of these ideas if not pursued by Council might be picked up by the Park Board or School Board or by the private sector.

Next Steps

With the proposed criteria in place, and some key ideas for further development, it is time for direction from Council. Should Council wish to proceed, the Committee recommends the following sequence of steps.

1.Reality check for technical review and feasibility. Ideas 1-4 given to two-person teams of a staff person and member of the current Committee for analysis. To provide brief report on technical, timing and other issues, noting constraints and opportunities.

2.Devise Terms of Reference for a new Millennium Legacy Committee, including public participation, identifying skills needed and potential appointees. Some carry-over from the current Committee is recommended.

3.Request a report back in early fall containing a detailed action plan for one option, with a budget for Council’s consideration.

4.Provide a maximum of $7,500 from Contingency Reserve for public participation and meeting costs for the process.

Therefore, the Millennium Steering Committee

RECOMMENDS

A.THAT any City millennium activities focus on long-term legacy initiatives, using the criteria in this report.

B.THAT the City not initiate millennium celebratory activities.

C.THAT as a matter of policy the City not provide broad endorsement of third party millennium activities; but that the City may be open to specific partnership proposals consistent with City objectives.

D.THAT information be provided to the public on millennium initiatives which the City, Park Board and School Board may choose to undertake on the City’swebsite, and that the public be referred to the websites of other organizations undertaking millennium-oriented activity.

E.THAT Council approve analysis and review of legacy ideas, and appoint a Millennium Legacy Committee with appropriate skills and new terms of reference, to report back with an action plan and budget in early fall.

Chair, Millennium Steering Committee

CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A to E.

* * * * *

APPENDIX A

Page 1 of 2

MILLENNIUM STEERING COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

General

The Committee is a task group, appointed by Council for a limited term (February through April) that reports back to Council with analysis, rationale for civic involvement, options and recommendations.

A second committee, if necessary, will be appointed in the new year to implement Council’s approved plan.

Councillor Clarke will chair the first meeting, then the committee members will select a chair.

One staff person from each of Parks Board, School Board and City will sit with (not on) the Committee, to provide information, to channel inquiries back into the respective organizations, and to liaise between agencies. A clerk will be present to take minutes.

Following the Committee’s final report, Council may wish to direct the report to staff for review, costing of proposals, or comment on feasibility, in the usual manner.

Policies re: civic theatres, police and engineering cost-recovery etc. would continue to apply. If ultimately funds are dedicated to civic involvement in the Millennium, these would be run as a separate budget line item.

Specific Tasks

1.To examine the rationale for civic involvement in Millennium activity, including the option of non- involvement, and report options to Council, School Board and Park Board.

2.To provide some definitions and distinctions between celebrations and legacies. Further, that the report contain information on Millennium plans by other levels of government and other large cities in Canada and the (western) USA.

3.To consider how ideas and proposals for marking the "Millennium" would include people with non-Christian cultural calendars.

4.To articulate and recommend options, and resources required, for potential civic involvement. (Specific project proposals could be the purview of the second committee.)

5.To also address the following questions:

a)What are the benefits/ feasibility issues in developing a co-operative program with initiatives by the Government of Canada or the Province of British Columbia?

b)Is there a single objective, activity or project which would be a common thread for City Council, the Park Board, and the School Board involvement?

6.To work within existing policies requiring full payment for the use of Civic Theatres, Park and School Board facilities, as well as cost recoveries for police and engineering services.

Options

In general, there are two categories for civic involvement : celebrations and legacies. These may intertwine in some instances but call for different time frames and levels of commitment.

In either case, options include:

a)facilitating others without generating additional costs to the public. Some staff resources and civic facilities would be needed.

b)participating in the Millennium through programs delivered by existing non-profit organizations rather than directly. Staff resources, facilities and new program funds would be needed.

c)direct management of Millennium programming by staff. Substantial staff resources, facilities and new program funds would be needed.

d)establishing and funding a new legal entity to undertake activities, which is free to compete with existing non-profit organizations for funding and sponsorship support.

e)endorsing an independent organization to be the City’s official Millennium organizing body. Legal issues may attend such an endorsement.

f) none of the above.

The Committee will no doubt be presented with a number of costly proposals but this cost need not necessarily fall to the City. Some activities may have revenue potential from private sector partners, event participants, or citizens acting in a concerted campaign.

APPENDIX B

Page 1 of 2

Canadian Municipal Involvement in Millennium Activities @ February 1998

City of Edmonton

Millennium 2000 Celebration Secretariat was formed in August 1997 to manage the primary responsibilities of receiving and exchanging information regarding the celebration, with a budget of $52,500 in 1999 and $42,500 in 2000 to cover the costs of managing the Secretariat (funding from Communications Branch budget).

In October 1997, $8,000 was allocated from the Council Contingency fund to the "City of Edmonton Millennium 2000 Project Committee" to enable it to conduct public input sessions. On Feb. 3, 1998, the public input results were reported to Council -- proposed to develop Louise McKinney Park, and to establish a Working Group within Community Services with appropriate civic and community representation (business, associations, service clubs) to plan how best to turn this park development into a noteworthy Millennium legacy for the City. Provincial assistance in the form of an Alberta Provincial Tourism Grant will be sought.

City of Calgary

CALGARY 2000, a private organization, is organizing Millennium activities there. CALGARY 2000 (Calgary Celebration 2000 Society) is endorsed by Calgary City Council as the official Millennium organization for The City of Calgary and its citizens. The City of Calgary is a Sustaining Founding Partner financially as well as providing goods and services in the form of office space, internal city mail support, telephone and voice mail (secured 2000 as phone number and mail code number) access to fax, photocopying and printing at city rates, office furniture.

Charitable tax receipts for donations are processed with cheques payable to The City of Calgary who in turn deposits 100% of the donations back to CALGARY 2000 and issues tax receipts to the donors from The City of Calgary. Initial seed funding in 1996 was $50,000 as a grant, $20,000 in 1997 and in subsequent years for every 3 dollars raised the City will match $1 to a maximum of $20,000 per annum. The partnership also entails reporting back to The City of Calgary yearly with recommendations on how The City of Calgary can participate as well as the activities of CALGARY 2000.

City of Winnipeg

Winnipeg Millennium Committee was created Sept. 1996:

·530·as a focal point in keeping track of Millennium activities and maintaining dialogue with the public·530

·530·to assist community groups and organizations to stage events and develop projects·530

·530·to promote public involvement, and ·530

·530·to fundraise for support of committee staff, legacy projects, events, public information and participation, and Millennium celebrations·530

City funding of this Committee, established as a non-profit organization, "Winnipeg Millennium Inc.," is $30,000 per year for 4 years. The organization acts on behalf of City Council in co-ordinating Millennium activities. Theme: Winnipeg is "The Centre of the Planet."

Ottawa

Millennium celebrations in Ottawa are being coordinated by the National Capital Commission. Two municipalities in the Ottawa region have passed resolutions concerning their potential involvement in a Capital millennium project. Further details about the NCC’s Millennium initiatives are attached.

City of Toronto

In the Mayor’s inaugural address (1998), he stated that he will be proposing the creation of a Toronto Millennium Committee to plan celebrations for the year 2000. No further action yet.

Halifax Regional Municipality

At the Millennium, the region will also be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of Halifax (1999) and the 250th anniversary of the founding of Dartmouth (2000). Councilhas approved the appointment of a special 20-member volunteer committee to plan, organize, and deliver a wide variety of festivities and celebrations throughout the region during the years 1999 and 2000. One City staff person has been assigned as Project Manager, to launch and support this committee.

Cities with no Millennium involvement to-date

City of Regina - Currently nothing planned, waiting for possible approach by community. Provincially, something may be done but nothing formed yet -- greater concern with provincial centennial in 2005.

City of Hamilton - No celebration planned.

City of Portland (OR) - No celebration planned.

No response from: Victoria, Saskatoon, Toronto, Windsor, London, St. John’s, Seattle (WA)

Other source of information: Millennium Council of Canada

www.2000.ca

See attached for details.

APPENDIX C

1 of 3

Angus Reid Group Inc.

MILLENNIUM RESEARCH PROJECT

Executive Summary

Introduction

The turning of the millennium is a rare event -- only one generation in thirty live through such a time. As the year 2000 approaches, media and popular culture are already beginning to focus on this milestone. It is anticipated that as the attention and focus on the Year 2000 builds, so

will the public's expectations for special events and activities that commemorate the occasion.

Some observers argue that society is suffering from "millennial fever" -- a nebulous anxietyabout the future, characterized by a perception that the pace of change is careening out of control. Certainly, much seems to be in flux: technology and the "information revolution"; the nature and cohesion of the family; the size and scope of governments; and the globalization of society are all seemingly less defined at this point in history.

With this as the backdrop, this study sets out to determine what role, if any there is for the Government of Canada in marking the millennium. The study did not explore the day-to-day role of government or the use of the Year 2000 as a start or end date for government programs.

Research Methodology

On behalf of the Government of Canada, the Angus Reid Group conducted a national quantitative research study consisting of telephone interviews with 3,025 adult Canadians with the following provincial distribution:

 

REGION BC Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec Atlantic Provinces TOTAL

SAMPLE SIZE 300 300 250 250 525 1000 400 3,025

MARGIN OF ERROR 5.7 +% 5.7 +% 6.2 +% 6.2 +% 4.3 +% 3.1 +% 4.9 +% ± 1.8%

The survey was conducted between October 27th and November 4th, 1997. A total of 3,025 adults were surveyed. The data are weighted to ensure the sample is representative of Canada's regional, age, and gender composition according to the 1996 Census. The overall margin of error associated with a sample of this nature is ± 1.8%.

Research Objectives

This millennium research initiative was undertaken with the following objectives in mind:

-to assess how Canadians view the millennium (awareness, significance, and expectations);

-to assess the publics' view of possible millennium activities including potential areas for government sponsorship or partnerships; and,

-to examine attitudes regarding what the role of the federal government should be leading up to and marking the year 2000.

Key Findings

Most Canadians think that the millennium should be marked in a special way and that the Government of Canada should be actively involved in events and celebrations to mark the millennium.

Canadians tend to favor events and activities that will have a lasting impact on the country. Activities that will help young Canadians improve the environment or encourage science and technology initiatives receive high marks from Canadians.

Most Canadians feel that the Government of Canada should pursue partnerships with other levels of government, business and community groups to develop millennium activities.

Awareness of planned millennium events is low and few Canadians have made personal plans of their own to mark the millennium. Of those who have made plans, many intend on travelling.

Canadians see the millennium as both a time for celebration and as a time for serious reflection and setting priorities for the future. When asked to choose between these two, 6 in 10 say that the millennium is a time for serious reflection and setting priorities.

Most Canadians are optimistic that the millennium will have a positive impact on society/communities as whole. Fewer, (but still a majority) expect the millennium to have a positive impact at the personal level.

Despite their optimism surrounding the millennium, a majority of Canadians are also concerned about their economic future and are worried that the pace of change is out of control.

Canadians view the millennium as an opportunity to work together to

achieve collective goals.

Canadians place a greater importance on millennium events with their family and friends than they do on events within their community or provincial, national or international events.

Regional attitudinal differences are small and often not statistically significant.

Overall, Atlantic Canadians and Ontario residents tend to be most supportive of federal government funding of millennium activities, albeit by a small margin over Quebec and British Columbia residents, who tend to be less supportive. Quebec residents tend to be most optimistic about the future and are more prone to support the idea of the millennium as a time for serious reflection. Atlantic Canadians tend to be more worried about the future and more likely to feel that come the millennium, the pace of change in society will be   "out of control ". British Columbians tend to be somewhat more negative about the future, when thinking about the millennium and Ontarians are the most likely to want to celebrate the millennium.

From: http://www.millenaire.gc.ca/stats/angus_e.html

APPENDIX D

1 OF 6

MILLENNIUM BRAINSTORM SESSION

Tuesday, April 7, 1998 Plaza 500 Hotel Councillor Clarke: chair, L.von Fersen:notes

In attendance:

Annette Antoniak PNE Muriel Honey

Diana Barclay Barclay/Gazeley Group Diane Johnson Disney Corp.

Kevin Gass Orca Bay John Plul CKNW

Howie Young Zlotnick/Lamb Kelly Ip MM Committee

Diana Lam MM Committee

The group suggested these criteria for a civic MM initiative:

City-wide appeal Low Cost Legacy Impact Broad Appeal

Age, Gender, Diversity No duplication of Provincial/Federal

Has to be good for Vancouver Meaningful, Warm & Fuzzy Significant Generate excitement, fun Participatory Sense of ownership and pride

The following ideas are in the order they came up, no grouping, theming, or ranking was made.

Vancouver Millennium Awards

Annual basis, ‘ 99 is a run-up year - dinner -medallion not a fundraiser

recognize "random acts of kindness": awards should include the regular Joe

City building or structure - or wall etc. to name e.g. VPL roof garden plaza

An emotional, moving monument Tie to award winner names , decades,

virtual monument

Millennium Clock - countdown to mm Sponsorship opportunities?

What kind of a feeling do we want to have for a legacy?

Good lessons from 1967 Centennial? also 1986 City Centennial legacies lessons?

Hastings Park

(Change name too!) Plant a tree

City event, festival celebrating Vancouver. Fun.

Opening a time capsule

Something Grass Roots

Community based event/activity

A big idea that we can all join

e.g. green space - families adopt a park

Youth led?

Kids do the talking, they pull in adults e.g., Trees in Hasting Park - 2000 trees

- each community centre plants some or each community is represented by individuals who have been identified - i.e., award, recipient

Millennium Project in each of 22 neighbourhoods Arbutus right of way as linear park

identify historic aspects of Vancouver for acknowledgement at Millennium

Bring together Youth Council

- high school presidents or reps.

- build on school spirit

- they’ll get involved.

Can we bring seniors and youth together to do what?

Can we tie in sister cities

Can we help the needy, e.g., children in poverty, school lunches, corporate challenge

Target a needy school for example

A legacy to help in the long term (example of a committed person at Midland Walwyn)

Meals, sports

Ask youth council

There’s a need to recognize and co-ordinate community celebrations

logos, umbrella pr. website/registry

Themed activity that donates to a city - wide cause.

Central promotional group

City-wide fundraising e.g Parks, Arbutus corridor, trees

Re-dedicating buildings?

Challenger maps? save?

Save the roller coaster

Spirit - Who is involved How to include

Science fair idea - what do we see for the future (s.c. worked) 100 years (past & future) posters

Fence around Hastings Park

Focus on a major City Project

e.g., Kids - what’s important ( to you?)

Make a public art piece

Millennium Park

Challenger map with slides, info, multimedia

Big project to beautify city e.g., Bury power lines What does the public want to make it a better city Bike Route or greenway

Downtown railway/streetcar line -False Creek to Stanley Park

Use the (existing) right of Way Millennium Heritage Rail

Granville mall Seaforth Park

Logo on Everything Banners Contest Make it look like a big celebration

Post-Office tunnel

As a Museum

Millennium People mover

Seawall (completion) Project Advance timing (to get it done in 2000)

Buy bricks (do the ) S.E.False Creek (section)

New Trade and Convention Centre - put a Vancouver story in it

Vancouver’s Birthday

Replace (lost sponsorship) $ for fireworks

Encourage private sector partnership, city absorbs its (staff etc.) costs

Notes from 2nd Millennium Brainstorming session April 20, 1998

Chair: Councillor Clarke Notes: Clarke, Lam, von Fersen

Guests:

Norman Stowe PACE Group Rosalynn Kellett Teacher, U-Hill

Kanchan Rahkra Tupper Secondary Miriam Levy University Hill Sec

Erin Ritchie Tupper Secondary Ian Gray University Hill Sec

Trustee Ted Hunt Vancouver School Board Jennifer Fisher Planet Hollywood

Erinn Kredba Tourism Vancouver Ray LeBlond BC Pavilion Corp.

Teresa Whitehouse Riley Park Comm. Assoc.

Committee members present:

Diana Lam Janet Fraser Richard Mulcaster

Additional criteria were: (previous criteria were mentioned, these were added)

Lasting Impression Honours our history Innovative Idea

Ideas:

Something that identifies or helps to define our communities

e.g., - Names of all Vancouverites here on Millennium Eve

on a sculpture ( like Vietnam Memorial) a place for later generations to visit

or a Picture wall

if Sculpture wall is in a park, add tree planting by area or neighbourhood representatives

Theme of nature and Environment, plant trees, support our natural beauty

Sculpture or monument showing the time-line of our growing cultural diversity

and significant events eg. names of people who arrived, showing the demographics

and important events in Vancouver’s growth so far

- Scrapbook on display

Re-dedicating a major car street for bikes

- On this street, add commemorative names on bricks or put sculpture (as above)

Scholarships

- for those entering school in 2000 or those graduating

Youth involvement

Youth have a say take pride in Vancouver maybe a scholarship

Youth conference on future: e.g., - jobs, technology

Start a Youth "City Council" to "mediate" between youth and adults

- Day where youth take over, e.g., Annual or one shot

Show the plans for Vancouver - Transport, City plan , talk about all the reports & initiatives planned for the City. Make a commitment to execute (one or several)

A year free of litter

- Set a goal for something, then celebrate its achievement

Create a Town Square

- Names on bricks, Mural Art

English Bay Pier

Vancouver Museum

Increase focus, add a section as time passes

2000 milestones 0/1900s

Centre for Intellect ( re SFU’s new centre for dialogue)

- Continue with series of discussions, with Vancouver as site

Film Museum - Vancouver? Canada?

Millennium legacy throughout city

- join together different areas

e.g., walking tour, millennium tour

similar to Freedom Trail, Boston

Send message that The Future is okay

- optimism

- pioneers positive

- how to develop into legacy

City getting large = Sun run fitness

- can we do one participation event for a cause

- city that walks one day a month

Traffic gridlock walk and transit more

- expand transit service - Broadway Corridor

"Millennium Fund" for common charity to be determined by city - everyone contributes

- Youth in Philanthropy project of Vancouver Foundations

- Youth in Problem solving

- age of youth 13/14 - 19/24

Go big or Go Home- Don’t want to be disappointed at end of Millennium year that the project etc./in Boston or Cairo has the world talking, but not ours.

- Needs to be innovative/significant

- We have great expectations of ourselves

- could be something opposite to what everyone expects from a Millennium event.

- Some not "grabbed" by Millennium so project needs to include them as well as capture the imagination/heart of our other communities.

Can invite citizens from around the world, i.e., "BC invites the world" like Expo‘86 sent out cards all over the world- Premier’s office in ‘86 - invitation in 5 languages

- Tourism Vancouver doing postcard on Internet

- Could do something on April 6th city B-day or another day besides New Year’s.

- Have a Millennium day every year, not New Year’s

Park or building that has different cultures (like pavilions at Expo for countries)

- Washington DC Millennial Society

- New year’s eve party at Great Pyramid of Cheops - Egypt.

We should identify a problem/issue that needs fixing - focus resources

i.e., Downtown Eastside as a legacy

- This is the opposite of party "mode", is oldest part of city

Build tunnel to north shore and turn Lions Gate into amazing park extension -with benches, plantings vines, Rhodos, etc.

Millennium lottery 1 year in advance to pay for project.

- buy the Arbutus Row for linear park - cycling, walking etc.

- a significant project for each of Vancouver’s communities - something to make each one better - this way you get community buy in

- The projects should be connected somehow

- need to have a focus, like Expo ‘86 was about Transportation

- Need to have a target to hit

- What do we have that other cities don’t have?

Combination of things that make for liveability - setting, etc. diversity, locations.

- Clean up Downtown East Side

-How do you use the wisdom and creativity of long time community to improve the Downtown East Side - don’t do it "to" them but "with" them.

- Clean up entire city like "Keep Vancouver Spectacular"

- themes: environmental theme preservation/keeping things.

- Day in the summer to jump in the ocean because it’s now clean (fun!)

-Thinks we should do something for whole city as local communities will do their own thing.

- Look at corporate sponsorships/private donations

- Involve arts community

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver