www.vancouver21.com

January 03, 2013

Dear Mayor Robertson,

Re: NYE Bash for Vancouver for 2014

Vancouver needs a public, outdoor, open-to-all New Year’s Eve (NYE) Party. Not only for all citizens to celebrate the new year but also a perfect opportunity to remind the world of our unique heritage and formidable capabilities in hosting global events like the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Expo 86 and so on.

New Year’s Eve is the single most recognized event in the world among all cultures. That is why all major cities around the globe put on an elaborate show and are competing for attention. Not only should Vancouver be among them, we should shine in our own special way to claim our position as the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Please do not hand Seattle that honor. To not participate in the NYE party tradition and be in tune with the rest of the world is to miss out on one of the best times of the year to promote our city.

Yes, there is a mini-NYE celebration at Robson Square for 2013, but the skating ring area is simply too small to host such a premiere event. Jack Poole Plaza is the right place to do it. We have the Christmas tree there with the Vancouver Convention Center and Canada Place nearby, two buildings that have connections to the city’s glorious past as host to a winter Olympic and world exposition as we look forward to build even better future.

We could further reinforce our international image as a city that is committed to sustainability principles and reducing carbon footprint by only re-lighting the Olympic Cauldron at the moment of count-down. This would be even better than a simple ball-drop to serve notice to the world of our serious intention to become the Greenest City in the World by 2020, a vision of yours, Mr. Mayor, that many of us wholeheartedly support and feel have a role to play in the implementation of the Greenest City 2020 plan.

Vancouver is not only a world-class city but one that many others look upon with admiration and even envy. To be without a NYE bash for a city like ours is like running a global business without an impressionable web site these days. It is not even an option. People won’t take you seriously.

Please Mr. Mayor, allow me to urge City Hall and Council to take action to start the new year right for 2014 and plan a NYE bash for those of us who live here and use that opportunity to tell the world of our many attractive attributes as a global destination for tourists, innovative hub for leading businesses and great place to live.

Thank you very much. My very best wishes to you and your council and have a wonderful 2013!

Sincerely,

Ray Van Eng
Media Professional

__________________________________________________________

To the readers of this blog –

If you believe in having a public outdoor NYE Bash in Vancouver that all can enjoy, please join me in sending a request to Mayor Gregor Robertson at this City of Vancouver Facebook address – https://www.facebook.com/CityofVancouver?fref=ts

Vancouver 2012 Christmas Tree with 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Cauldron [Photo by Ray Van Eng]

Ray Van Eng is a long-time Vancouver media professional, screenwriter and movie & TV producer. One of his videos is currently on view at the Hava Nagila Exhibit, Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City. from Sep 2012 to May 2013.

Vancouver Convention Center & Jack Poole Plaza

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On Remembrance Day (Nov 11, 2012) in Vancouver, the Seaforth Highlander Pipes and Drums Band lead by Pipe Major CWO Mitchell “Mike” Bain, together with the Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services band performed a moving musical tribute at the Cenotaph in Victory Square in downtown Vancouver BC, Canada. Some of the musical compositions played included The Lament, Sands of Kuwait, Maple Leaf Forever, God Saves the Queen, In Flanders Fields and others.

Of those present to place a wreath were BC Premier Christy Clark, Mayor Gregor Robertson, the RCMP, veterans, dignitaries and military personnel. After the official ceremony is over, the public got to lay their poppies on the wreaths. Kids and adults from age 8 to 80 and over all participated.

Lest We Forget.

Sands of Kuwait by Seaforth Highlander
[A Video by Ray Van Eng | www.vancouver21.com ]

Ray Van Eng is an award-winning photographer, screenwriter, journalist, Internet publisher and movie/video producer. One of his videos is currently on view at the Hava Nagila Exhibit, Museum of Jewish heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York from Sep 2012 to May 2013.

Victory Square, Vancouver BC, Canada

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On October 24, 2011, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson’s party had what was dubbed as the Vision Vancouver Time Raiser, a free event for members of the party to gather together at the Waldorf Hotel where a silent auction was being held. Volunteers bid their time with Vision Vancouver for items donated by the Vancouver’s art and culture community such as dance lessons, paintings, screen-printing workshop etc.






































Waldorf Hotel , 1489 East Hastings, Vancouver BC

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On April 26, 2011, Vancouver celebrated the city’s 125th birthday (1886-2011). A special ceremony was held at the Jack Poole Plaza right next to Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Cauldron being relit. BC Premier Christy Clark, Mayor Gregor Robertson, First Nations chief Ian Campbell and tens of thousands of others were there to help celebrate this special occasion. Local rock band 54-40 performed some of their hit songs including Ocean Pearl & Crossing A Canyon presented here.

54-40 Hit Songs at Vancouver 125 Birthday Party

Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Canada

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Vancouver rock band 54-40 performed One Day In Your Life at the Jack Poole Plaza next to Canada Place and Vancouver Convention Centre. That day was April 06, 2011 and also Vancouver’s 125th Birthday where a big celebration was held earlier including the singing of the national anthem O Canada by the Vancouver Bach Choir, cake cutting, and the relit of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Cauldron. Those present in the official ceremony included BC Premier Christy Clark, Mayor Gregor Robertson, the First Nations and other performers such as Leela Gilday, Uzume Taiko etc. 54-40 also celebrated its 30th anniversary this year also.

VIDEO – 54-40 One Day In Your Life @ Jack Poole Plaza

1055 Canada Way Vancouver BC

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At the Vancouver 125th Birthday on April 06, 2011, Leela Gilday, a Dene/Canadian singer-songwriter from Yellowknife, NWT, sang some of her signature songs including One Drum, At The End of The Day etc. This Juno-nominated artist writes of her native urban experience with the hallmark free spirit of the True Canadian North. The Vancouver 125th birthday bash was held at the Jack Poole Plaza near Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre. In attendance were BC Premier Christy Clark, Mayor Gregor Robertson, First Nations chief Ian Campbell and others.

VIDEO – NWT Leela Gilday at Vancouver 125th Birthday

Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver BC

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It’s Vancouver’s 125th Birthday on April 06, 2011. BC Premier Christy Clark gave thanks to the First Nations who had been here for thousands of years, long before Captain George Vancouver, the first European to explore the westcoast of Canada. The Canadian National Anthem O’ Canada was sung and Mayor Gregor Roberson did the countdown to relit the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Cauldron. A number of large birthday cakes of different designs were cut for the tens of thousands of guests that showed up at the Jack Poole Plaza right next to Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre to party and celebrate and party. The evening’s festivities was capped off by a performance from 54-40, a local band from Vancouver. Aboriginal singer Leela Gilday and Asian drum group Uzume Taiko also perfomed earlier in the day. Happy 125th Birthday, Vancouver, 1886-2011.

VIDEO – Vancouver 125th Birthday Party at Jack Poole Plaza

Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Convention Centre

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Tour de Gastown (Photo by Ray Van Eng)


[This article contains EXCLUSIVE INFO!]

Vancouver is being selected among other metropolises around the world including Portland, Melbourne and a number of European cities to host the 2012 Velo-City Global conference, a bi-yearly international cyclist convention. This will also be the first time since 1996 that Velo-City will be held outside Europe.

[In fact, Vancouver may well be the first North American city to host Velo-City based on information listed at the European Cyclist Federation (ECF), the organizer of the event. Outside of Europe, only Australia has ever hosted the event - Perth in 1996.]

“Velo-city will bring together hundreds of planners, transportation experts and cycling specialists from around the world to discuss the fast-growing role of cycling in urban transportation,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson on October 19, 2010 when he and ECF President Manfred Neun joined announced the city’s winning bid at City Hall.

In odd-numbered years, Velo-City is mainly a European program or one that targets a specific region. For example, Velo-city 2009 Brussels and Velo-city 2011 Sevilla. In June this year, the event was global in scope and held in Copenhagen which marked the 30th anniversary of the convention that started in Bremen, Germany, in 1980.

Cyclist on Dunsmuir dedicated bike lane (Photo by Ray Van Eng)


It is estimated that 1,000 delegates and their guests will come to Vancouver in 2012 for the event which will be held in June. The exactly location of the Velo-City 2010 conference has not been decided yet. Neither is the budget which will likely be shared by the City of Vancouver, TransLink, Tourism Vancouver and corporate sponsorships. Unlike the 2010 Olympics, however, the cost is expected to be quite minor. The Province had reported on Oct 19, 2010 that City Councilor Geoff Meggs indicated the city’s cost “would be closer to $10,000 than $100,000.”

Rick Antonson, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver is excited about the prospect of Velo-City 2012. “Not only will Velo-City generate business for the local tourism industry, it reinforces Vancouver’s reputation as a clean and green travel destination with exceptional offerings for cyclists”, he said.

Vancouver City Hall 453 West 12th Ave., Vancouver BC

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The Musqueam first nations people have been living in the Vancouver area for thousands of years. In acknowledging that, the Mayor of Vancouver Gregor Robertson on June 22, 2010 said, “whereas the contribution of the first nations people past, present and in the future are significant”, they are “sometimes not well-recognized.” And so the mayor re-dedicated June 21, 2010 for the city of Vancouver as the National Aboriginal Day which was first declared as such by the then Governor General of Canada Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc in 1996. It is an important day not just for the first nations people in all parts of Canada but also the people of Vancouver, about half of which are immigrants. Others who gave speeches include Larry Grant, Musqueam Elder, Duncan McCue, educator and journalist and Inspector Mario Giardini, VPD. Francis James of the Coastal Wolf Pack sang a first nations ceremonial song. The ceremony was concluded by Councilor Wade Grant who himself is Musqueam First Nations. Councilor Grant said, “We are all here, we need to learn from each other.”

(L-R) Mayor Gregor Robertson, Musqueam Elder Larry Grant and Musqueam Councillor Wade Grant.

Proclaimation “National Aboriginal Day” document framed.

Free lunch for everyone and a short video afterwards.


Vancouver City Hall 453 W 12 Ave, Vancouver, BC

Despite some protests from those who called for the city to provide ‘Homes For All’, the Olympic Village Open House in Vancouver on May 15, 2010 was much enjoyed by the public who got a first look at the condos available for sale in the city’s Falsecreek southeast. Billed as the World’s Greenest Neighborhood and most sustainable community, the former residence for the Olympic athletes in the 2010 Winter Games has much to offer to those who desire downtown living with an active outdoor lifestyle. LEED environmental standards, eco-friendly designs, sustainability, urban landscaping, and a balcony view to kill for. Prices start from $389,000 for a 475 sq. ft. single room apartment to more than $10 million for a 4,000 sq. ft. penthouse unit.

Take a look, even if you are not in the market to buy one.

Olympic Village, 181, 1st Avenue West, Vancouver BC, Canada


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