Best Olympic spin

“The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is working closely with its partners to provide a reasonable balance of interests at the 2010 Winter Games including freedom of expression in public spaces; the protection of Olympic marks and Games sponsors against commercial infringement and ambush marketing; and venues where athletes can compete at their very best before spectators who can fully enjoy the events.” Translation: “Expect to get carted away if you hold up a Pepsi sign, let alone a political placard, during Olympic events in public facilities like B.C. Place Stadium or the curling rink at Riley Park. That’s because these Games are brought to you by Coca-Cola. Fuck the charter.”

Best Vancouver remix of “Watching the Detectives”

In early September, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and Pivot Legal Society joined forces to launch a legal observer training program. The goal is to have 100 volunteers on the streets of Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. These teams will watch those who are watching everybody else. A BCCLA media release states that this will enable the organization to monitor and report on the actions of the more than 7,000 police officers, 5,000 private security guards, and 4,500 members of the Canadian armed forces that are being readied to swarm areas of B.C. affected by the Games. “Our observers will be there to record any rights violations,” said BCCLA president Robert Holmes. Activists’ laundry list of concerns includes protesters’ rights to free speech, the rights of spectators to wear the clothing they choose inside venues, and the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. Let the games begin.

Best example of voting with their feet

There was a major exodus of well-paid senior city staff after Vision Vancouver won the 2008 municipal election and fired city manager Judy Rogers. After council appointed her replacement, Penny Ballem, deputy city managers Jody Andrews and James Ridge both quit. The fire chief, Ray Holdgate, and the director of Olympic operations, Dave Rudberg, announced their retirements. After city council slashed the capital budget of the park board, its general manager, Susan Mundick, declared that she, too, would retire. Collectively, these six public servants received $1.64 million in remuneration from local taxpayers in 2008, according to the city’s financial statements. Perhaps they could afford to take some time off.

Best reason to crack down on Vancouver’s gang warfare

Between January and May, more than three dozen gangland shootings occurred in Metro Vancouver as rivalries heated up between the United Nations, Red Scorpions, and other combatants in the drug trade. Beyond the loss of life and threat to public safety, however, the real tragedy of it all is that when you Google “Bacon Brothers” now, the alleged Abbotsford gangster clan takes the top ranking over the musical side project of actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael. This injustice to Hollywood’s most versatile star (Footloose, Mystic River), and the inspiration for the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, must not be allowed to stand.

Best way to build loyalty in public institutions

Jack up the pay levels of high-ranking staff

The Vancouver Police Department increased deputy chief Doug LePard’s compensation by $72,534 in 2008. He made $247,887 in 2008. Deputy chief Bob Rolls enjoyed a $40,220 pay hike in 2008. This lifted him to $218,014.50. Over at Metro Vancouver, 248 staff members received more than $100,000 in remuneration in 2008. Only 129 Metro Vancouver staff were members of the $100,000 club in 2007. Of course, the B.C. Liberal government also got into the act, offering its deputy ministers annual increases of up to $105,000 before a public reaction forced the premier to back down somewhat. There has been no increase to the $8-per-hour minimum wage since 2001. Pity.

Best sleight of hand

Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance Minister Colin Hansen introduced a February budget with a $495-million deficit. After the election was out of the way, the deficit suddenly grew to $2.8 billion. Even Criss Angel couldn’t have pulled off a stunt like this.

Best political performance in a municipal election

The Burnaby Citizens Association pitched a perfect game in the 2008 election, winning every seat for council and school board. On election night, Mayor Derek Corrigan said he was “speechless”—which is a rare state for him. This year, Maclean’s magazine declared that Burnaby was the best-run city in Canada.

Best political performance under pressure

The unflappable Shawn A-in-chut Atleo was elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations in an election that started on a Wednesday morning, ended on a Thursday morning, and lasted eight ballots. Atleo, who spent a fair amount of time in Vancouver as the regional chief of the AFN, remained cool throughout what must have been an incredibly tense situation.

Biggest election issue that big media ignored

Last spring, childcare should have been a major provincial election campaign issue. Yet the Vancouver mainstream media barely touched it. Perhaps the gassy gadflies didn’t notice that B.C. ranks last among Canadian provinces in child-care delivery, or that Canada is last among Organisation and Economic Co-operation Development countries in spending on early childhood education. Mere weeks before the last election was called, the B.C. Liberal government quietly ditched the $600-million early-childhood-education initiative the party had promised to begin delivering this September. Childcare and early childhood education are inextricably bound to effective learning and social equity. You’d think we’d work much harder at getting it right. Instead, most politicians and pundits barely even talk about it.

Best Japanese tourists to the Downtown Eastside

In the past, the Japanese emperor was thought to be a god or possess magical powers. Today, the emperor may not be perceived to be divine, but his stature doesn’t fail to draw attention. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan graced Vancouver with their presence in July on a diplomatic trip to Canada, which included stops in Ottawa and Toronto and a five-day visit to British Columbia (including Victoria). The 75-year-old Akihito hadn’t visited Canada since 1953, when he was a 19-year-old crown prince. The royal couple toured the city, including UBC and Nikkei Place in Burnaby. Their regal heritage didn’t stop them from venturing into the city’s poorest neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside, where the Vancouver Japanese Language School and the Japanese Hall are still located in what used to be Japantown.