More reasons to love Gregor Robertson: Permanent rainbow crosswalks in West End

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      And lo, here are more reasons for queer people (and straight women, and the occasional straight guy who is into that sort of thing in the privacy of his bedroom but would never really admit it out loud) to love lust after Mayor Man-candy Gregor Robertson.

      Curses! Damn you, Gregor! (Double-fist-shaking at the sky here.)

      So anyhow, in addition to the fact that he's pushing to extend restaurant patio hours past 11 p.m., the mayor announced details about the family-friendly VIVA Vancouver summer series, which helps transforms public spaces, on July 3. The program will include:

      • VIVA Granville, which will bring entertainment to Granville Street every weekend, including Latincouver, a bike rodeo, Five Hole for Food, Axe Capoeria, TaiwanFest, and more.

      Yaletown farmers' markets every Thursday (from mid-August to September)

      • a Marpole street mural

      • an expanded Pilot Parklet Program, which turns parking spots into public spaces sponsored by businesses

      And just in time for Pride, permanent rainbow crosswalks will be created at Davie and Bute Street. Temporary ones had previously been painted at Davie and Denman for a trial run in 2012.

      The news arrives shortly after the public release of the Davie Village Revitalization Report, which is seeking to find ways to ensure queer presence is retained in the West End.

      In fact, this news makes me so ebulient that I am going to frolick around the office to the following cover by Sarah McLachlan. Whee.

      Comments

      15 Comments

      Candy

      Jul 4, 2013 at 1:00pm

      Considering we're all gonna be living on the streets soon due to a lack of affordable housing here it'll be nice to have them decorated I guess.

      Marcos

      Jul 4, 2013 at 2:01pm

      Nevermind that the westend is increasingly becoming unaffordable for most young gay people. Talk about bread and circuses.

      Sandwich Lover

      Jul 4, 2013 at 2:16pm

      They'll do anything to distract from the fact that they're turning the city into a resort getaway destination for the rich.

      Michael

      Jul 4, 2013 at 4:52pm

      To all you haters, move to Toronto already will ya? I know a couple of reasonable movers.

      candy and sandwich lover are correct

      Jul 4, 2013 at 7:03pm

      the most special thing about Vancouver is slowly being lost.

      james green

      Jul 4, 2013 at 7:38pm

      Haters my backside. This is a space for conversation and public opinion. Telling someone to move because they express how they feel is just illogical.
      Now to the issue of street colours. Does no one get it. While Gregor ignores the serious problems he works to paint streets a new colour, open patios later, and put plug in for cars in many places. How about some strategies and serious work to deal with drug addiction, high business taxes, violence against women, gangs, homelessness and not shelters, affordable housing and the breakdown in the democratic process at city hall and the continued pandering to developers by this mayor and Vision councillors? Does anyone want a change or are we just going to allow this ,mayor to run this city as if it was a small village with no serious problems. Please tell me you want more.

      Mark Bowen

      Jul 4, 2013 at 8:03pm

      Blow it out yer arses, Negative Nancies. Yes, the city does have real problems, but you don't need to shit on every little thing they do to try to make things a little nicer.

      Lighten up a bit eh?

      Randy

      Jul 4, 2013 at 9:09pm

      I agree, Michael. The beauty of Toronto is waiting for you, people.

      Max

      Jul 4, 2013 at 10:52pm

      I think its interesting to note people complain about many issues in their community, and often with valid complaints/concerns without actually understanding which level of government is responsible for this issue. Housing, for example is primarily a provincial responsibility (and was once a federal one as well) and yet, rather than focus on those policy makers that have the real power(thorough access to larger streams of taxation) to change and create a regional housing strategy, the Mayor and council, draw the eire of criticism when their work on affordable housing, which has well stretched their constitution mandate, falls short of perfection.

      Blame the province and federal government when the city has few policy tools at its disposal to grape with a complex and mammoth issue like affordability.

      I think the cross walks are great addition to the community. :)

      Craig Takeuchi

      Jul 5, 2013 at 9:33am

      And if it the plan was nixed, there would be cries of NO FUN CITY.
      The real problem in Vancouver is not the city itself but the pessimistic, complaint-laden, possibly SAD-influenced outlook of an overly vocal portion of the population. The rest are too busy getting out there and enjoying life.