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DVBIA members are invited to join us for Downtown Libations on March 5, 2008.
We will be hosting our next social networking event in the heart of the high-end Burrard district at Saltlik.
Details will follow next week. Be sure to register for this fun, free, social mixer.
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| Upcoming Events |
Downtown Libations
March 5
Celticfest Vancouver
March 12
(website)
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
March 25
(website)
Get the scoop on
DVBIA events
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Welcome to the DVBIA's monthly newsletter for member businesses in our 90-block downtown area. This e-newsletter is read by over 1800 subscribers.
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MOSAIC ART TILES IN THE 2010 CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
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 The DVBIA is proud to be co-presenting the Mosaic Art Tile Project as one of 60+ organizations participating in Cultural Olympiad 2008 running February 1 to March 21.
In celebration of its 15th anniversary in 2005, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) launched a public art project aimed at beautifying downtown streetscapes. The project involved a collaborative process between DVBIA members and a team of artists to create 12 original tile mosaics, each measuring nine square feet and permanently installed in city sidewalks throughout the DVBIA's 90 block area.
Phase two of the Mosaic Art Tiles Project creates six more tiles to add to the collection.
As they did in 2005, accomplished local mosaic artists Liz Calvin and Bruce Walther are spearheading the design and production of the mosaics.
The piece-by-piece creation of the mosaics takes place during the seven weeks of Cultural Olympiad 2008. Artisans are working in Sinclair Centre on West Hastings St. between Granville and Howe Streets, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
Vancouverites and visitors can watch the designs come to life, ask questions and interact with the artists. Members of the public are also invited to help design two of the mosaics. The tiles will be installed in downtown sidewalks by Summer 2008.
 Co-presented by:
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LAST CHANCE TO COMMENT
ON
GRANVILLE ST. RE-DESIGN
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 Major upgrades to Granville Street are coming. But, before the construction actually begins, DVBIA members have one last opportunity to review and comment on the new designs for the street.
Display boards from the Open House held on January 23 are now on the City website. Please review them and submit your feedback online by February 10.
Beginning in Spring 2008, construction and re-design of the street, from the bridge to the Burrard Inlet, will begin. It will be completed about a year later to coincide with the opening of the new Canada Line stations along Granville Street and in time for the 2010 Winter Games.
In the coming months, the DVBIA will assist the City in getting the word out regarding the construction schedules and information to help businesses impacted by the construction. |
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR DVBIA COMMITTEES AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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 Do you have a keen interest in downtown issues, experience with committees or boards, and occupy a leadership role within your company? Let the DVBIA Nominating Committee know if you'd like to be considered as a future, potential candidate for a DVBIA committee or the Board of Directors. .
Contact Charles Gauthier, Executive Director, at 604-685-7811 or by e-mail to charles@downtownvancouver.net for more information.
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CELTICFEST TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN
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MARCH 12 - 16, 2008
 Get ready for the 5th Annual Edgewater Casino CelticFest Vancouver, March 12 -16, 2008 - the ultimate neighbourhood party for those who live or work downtown! With hundreds of gifted performing artists and more than 50 events at dozens of large and small venues, there's something for everyone at this immensely popular celebration of Celtic music, dance and culture.
The festival kicks off at noon on Wednesday, March 12, with a musical street procession winding its way to Canada Place, followed immediately by a lively and tuneful concert with favourite local band Tiller's Folly and award-winning Ottawa Valley stepdancer Stephanie Cadman.
Other free lunchtime stage performances bring more great Celtic bands to Canada Place - North End Pointe (noon - 1pm) and Granville Square (1pm - 2pm) Wednesday to Friday, March 12-14.
On the St. Patrick's Day Parade weekend the action moves to the Celtic Village area (800 & 900 blocks of Granville St). There are free daytime performances on the Street Market Stage and terrific family entertainment, including medieval fencing demonstrations, impressive circus acts and interactive bagpipe sessions at the KidsZone (Saturday and Sunday March 15-16).
Full festival details can be found online at www.celticfestvancouver.com and in the CelticFest Program Guide, available after February 15 at most 7-Eleven outlets throughout the Lower Mainland and at participating venues.
The DVBIA is the proud founding and presenting sponsor of CelticFest Vancouver.
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CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF
WITH CHERRY JAM ON MARCH 25
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 On Tuesday, March 25, Downtown Vancouver celebrates the return of Spring with Cherry Jam, a multi-faceted event kicking off the DVBIA-sponsored 2008 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival.
Between 12-1:30pm, drop by the canopy of blossoms downstairs at the Burrard Street skytrain station for a free concert featuring taiko drumming and dueling, Blossom Brass, Suzka Gypsy Jazz Violin and more.
In addition to the tree talks and walks and cherry blossom trolley tours, new this year are bike the blossoms tours, the BC blossom watch photo contest, workshop and exhibition, and the cherry tree planting and dedication of the Festival's new home at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
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WEST PENDER CLOSURES FOR
TUNNEL BORING MACHINE
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 The Tunnel Boring Machine for the Canada Line is nearing completion of the second of the two side-by-side tunnels between False Creek and the future Waterfront Station. Once the machine arrives at the exit shaft on Granville Street at W. Pender, it will be disassembled using large cranes and relocated to the 2nd Avenue site. This will mean significant traffic disruptions starting on February 10 with the majority of work starting the week of February 17 and running for 3-4 weeks.
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NEW DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT
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FIRST INSIGHTS
The Vancouver Board of Trade is hosting a luncheon on the new Downtown Community Court on Thursday, February 14 as part of its Quality of Life Dialogue series. The Hon. Judge Thomas J. Gove of the Provincial Court of B.C. and Deputy Chief Constable Bob Rich from the Vancouver Police Department will discuss B.C.'s first community court in Vancouver.
The new Court will bring together justice, health and social services to improve our response to crime. The emphasis of the Court will be on problem solving and to address the problems that underlie the criminal behaviour of repeat offenders. Find out how community courts work, why they have been so successful in other jurisdictions and what "success" looks like to each of them using this new model of justice.
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JOIN THE 2010 BUSINESS NETWORK
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Business Network is a free online supplier database that allows companies to profile their goods and services to potential buyers and business partners now, and in the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Games.
2010 business opportunities are available now for small and large companies across a wide variety of sectors. Current members include restaurants, hotels, event managers, consultants, advertising and PR agencies, architects, construction firms, independent contractors, special occasion rentals, manufacturers, IT suppliers, photographers, film and sound companies, and many more.
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MAYOR'S LUNCHEON SOLD OUT!
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 Mayor Sam Sullivan presented his Annual State of the City Address to a sold out audience on January 24, 2008.
Sullivan addressed the economy, homelessness & disorder, government priorities and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics at the luncheon hosted by the DVBIA.
His speech can be viewed in text or video format at the Vancouver NPA Caucas Website.
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APPRECIATION AWARD NOMINATIONS
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Know an individual or organization making an exceptional contribution to Downtown Vancouver that deserves kudos? We'd like to hear about it.
Nominating a deserving individual or organization is easy. Simply drop us an email to dvbia@downtownvancouver.net outlining in a paragraph or two why your nominee should be this year's recipient by March 5, 2008.
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