| Upcoming Events |
Project Civil City Lunch with Geoff Plant
March 5
(website)
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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PROJECT CIVIL CITY: One Year Update
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 The DVBIA is proud to present a luncheon with Project Civil City Commissioner, Geoff Plant. The downtown business community is invited to hear how almost one year into his new role, how close Mr. Plant and his team are to reaching the targets set for Project Civil City and what work lies ahead for the coming year.
Date: April 24, 2008.
Time: 12 noon - 2pm
Location: Sutton Place Hotel
Tickets:
Members: $55+GST - Buy now!
Non-Members: $70+GST - Buy now!
Corporate Table (10 seats): $550+GST - Buy now!
Register online or call Barb Fairbrother, DVBIA Administration at 604-685-7811, administration@downtownvancouver.net.
About Project Civil City:
In May 2007, former Attorney General of British Columbia Geoff Plant was appointed Commissioner of the City of Vancouver's Project Civil City - a bold initiative to to tackle Vancouver's crime and social issues aimed at eliminating homelessness, aggressive panhandling and the open drug market, with a minimum 50 per cent reduction by 2010. When announcing the effort, Mayor Sullivan said that while he wants to use the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as a catalyst, Project Civil City is a long-term initiative that goes beyond the Games.
Proudly Sponsored by: |
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DUMPSTERS TO BE REMOVED IF NO PERMITS IN PLACE |
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 Downtown business owners and managers that use dumpsters on City property are reminded to ask their current waste hauling company as to whether or not it has renewed its yearly license with the City.
All hauling companies must have a license to store and use City property for their dumpsters. The license requires that each dumpster location must be approved by the City. Approval is only granted if the hauling company applies to the City for a permit and the application meets specific conditions. New permit applications must be co-signed by the business that will use the dumpster.
Dumpsters without permits risk being impounded by the City at any time.
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MOSAIC ART TILES PART OF CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
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Still time to see the artists in action
 The DVBIA is proud to co-present phase two of its Mosaic Art Tile Project as part of Cultural Olympiad 2008. Local artists Liz Calvin and Bruce Walther are spearheading the design and production of six new tile mosaics that will be in place by summer.
Between February 1 and March 21, artisans are working in Sinclair Centre on West Hastings St., Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm. Visitors are invited to watch and interact with the artists, and members of the public can even help design two of the mosaics.
In 2005, the DVBIA launched the Mosaic Art Tile Project to beautify downtown streetscapes. The project initially involved collaboration between DVBIA members and a team of artists to create 12 tile mosaics - each measuring nine square feet - to be permanently installed in city sidewalks throughout the DVBIA's 90 block area.
 Co-presented by:
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STREET CLOSURES FOR CELTICFEST PARADE
MARCH 15 & 16
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 You're invited to take in the music and pageantry of the 5th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade as part of the Edgewater Casino CelticFest Vancouver 2008 on Sunday, March 16 starting at 11am.
The parade begins at Howe & Davie and marches north on Howe to Smithe, turns right on Smithe onto Granville Street and marches south on Granville Street, ending at Drake & Granville.
With approximately 100 entries and at least 2,000 parade participants, they'll be something for everyone.
Festival program guides are available at most 7-Eleven outlets throughout the Lower Mainland and at participating venues.
MORE INFO: Street Closures & Transit Detours
The DVBIA is proud to be a founding and presenting sponsor of the festival.
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CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF
WITH CHERRY JAM ON MARCH 25
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 On Tuesday, March 25, Vancouver celebrates the return of Spring with Cherry Jam Downtown, 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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BIKE TO WORK WEEK LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
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 The second annual Bike to Work Week runs May 26 - June 1. Interested in being a sponsor? The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition is now recruiting corporate sponsors, prize sponsors and commuter station event sponsors. With more than 3,500 participants and 500 teams last year, you'll want to get in on this growing and successful event.
For more information, contact Mia Kohout, Program Director, at biketowork@vacc.bc.ca or call 778-833-3773.
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THANK YOU FOR SURVEY PARTICIPATION
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 Thank you to members that participated in the recent Membership Survey commissioned by the DVBIA and conducted by an independent survey company.
We appreciate you taking the time and sharing your thoughts and opinions. Results of the yearly survey help the DVBIA set priorities for the coming year. |
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ARTS AND CULTURAL GUIDE WINS AWARD
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 Congratulations to arts and cultural leader Trudy Van Dop who received the Best Tourism Marketing Campaign Award for her legacy projects: the Arts and Cultural Guide to BC and the BC Cultural Crawl. The ten-year-old Guide is a consistent feature in many retail and hospitality outlets in BC.
Through the DVBIA's partnership in the Guide, downtown cultural businesses are able to receive a reduced advertising rate. The deadline to receive the reduced rate is March 10.
The Best Tourism Marketing Campaign Award is presented annually by
Tourism British Columbia. The award recognizes a British Columbia
tourism company, city, regional destination marketing organization or
sector association for their success in launching an innovative
marketing campaign to increase business and enhance the tourism
industry in British Columbia.
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LIBATIONS EVENT SOLD OUT
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 DVBIA's social networking event, Downtown Libations, entertained a capacity crowd at Saltlik on March 5th.
Join us for the next Downtown Libations event in May. This quarter's event sold out 1 week prior. Register early to ensure your spot! More information to come in the April e-newsletter.
If you own or manage a restaurant in the DVBIA member area and are interested in being a host venue for a Downtown Libations event please contact Ivy Fong, Member Services at 604-685-7811 or email ivy@downtownvancouver.net.
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TUNNEL BORING MACHINE PROGRESS
Pender street closures during dismantling
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 Sweet Leilani (yes, engineers name their big machines) erupted onto the 400 block of Granville street at a dedication ceremony presented by InTransitBC last Sunday. Leilani completes her second and final pass of the underground tunnel which will be part of the future Canada Line.
Over next couple of weeks, workers are dismantling the Tunnel Boring Machine so it can be hoisted out of the pit. Come down and take a look at Vancouver history in the making.
Pender Street between Seymour and Howe will be closed to all traffic, except pedestrians. This change of traffic will be in effect for four weeks, 24-hours a day, 7 day a week. Click the button to read more about the street closure.
photo credit: InTransit BC |
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