Jody Andrews, a former favourite at city hall who resigned from his job as Southeast False Creek project manager only a couple of months after Vision Vancouver took over at 12th and Cambie, has landed a new job in Abu Dhabi. According to one of my sources, “he will basically be charge of implementation of […]
Entries from July 2015
Olympics village manager gets a new gig in Abu Dhabi
July 20th, 2009 · 23 Comments
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Letter from Vancouver: Bologna, Paris, eat your hearts out
July 20th, 2009 · 23 Comments
My first full week back in Vancouver and I am of course overwhelmed with how beautiful and lively the city is, filled with festivals and outdoor movie screenings and people walking around and sunshine and it seems, today, like the perfect perfect city. This will pass, but it was an especially lovely weekend and the […]
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Burnaby #1, Surrey #2 in national cities ranking
July 17th, 2009 · 39 Comments
You have to look at this survey out in Maclean’s this morning, looking at the best and worst run cities in Canada. Burnaby, Surrey and Vancouver are in the top four — with Vancouver down from the usual number-one spot it enjoys in other lists because of inefficiency in “recreation and culture.” ???? I haven’t […]
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Adair appointment confirmed + more in Ballem memo
July 17th, 2009 · 9 Comments
This memo from city manager Penny Ballem is making the rounds today at city hall. I’m curious about the hint when it comes to the new deputy city manager. Who could it be? There have been rumours of at least one strong internal candidate for this one. We await the news. OFFICE OF THE CITY […]
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Former B.C. Liberal candidate to join Vancouver city hall
July 16th, 2009 · 18 Comments
It’s not formally announced yet, but one more body is about to be added to the crew at 12th and Cambie — former journalist and recent B.C. Liberal candidate Robin Adair. He’ll be handling “intergovernmental relations” and, for the time being, communications — something that Laurie Best was doing until recently, but she’s being moved […]
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Everyone should chill — think about gardening instead
July 16th, 2009 · 10 Comments
Hmm, getting a little heated in some of the blog exchanges. Everyone should relax here, people — it’s a beautiful day. FYI, I’m hosting CBC’s noon-hour show, BC Almanac today and tomorrow, so you can listen in to hear me talking about everything from Facebook privacy (or lack of), gardening, and how to take a […]
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Burrard Bridge: Political winner or loser?
July 14th, 2009 · 140 Comments
Whenever politicians take on something controversial, they spent their political capital. That’s what’s happening in Vancouver right now with the Burrard Bridge. But, as I found out yesterday, some unexpected people think Vision will actually gain political capital by putting on the bike-lane trial, not spend it. My story on this in the Globe is […]
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Burrard bike lane open; 13 injured in protests, scuffles
July 12th, 2009 · 52 Comments
Just kidding, folks, about the last half of that headline — although I’m almost expecting it tomorrow, given the level of hysteria that has erupted over this short stretch of pavement. Good thing no one tried anything really radical or I can’t imagine what would have happened. Anyway, as part of my first full day […]
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Vancouver artists give Paris and Olympics a run for their money
July 12th, 2009 · 1 Comment
In my last post, I wrote about meeting two American artists I met in Paris who are working on a series of installations throughout the city, and wondered whether Vancouver has anything as interesting going on. Just by coincidence, I got a notice in my alerts about Vancouver artists who are mapping the city in […]
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Last letter from Europe and thanks to all blog commenters
July 10th, 2009 · 9 Comments
Before I post my last couple of days of observations, I just have to thank everyone who has posted comments while I’ve been gone. It’s been a total pleasure to read people’s comments, additional information, disagreeing posts, lengthy descriptive essays, and just everything. I hope everyone reads all of the comments because some of them […]
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