We’re not even halfway through the Olympics, but in some circles the conversation is already shifting to a post-Games analysis—that is, aside from the bad press, particularly from cities that have hosted the Games (see a story from Utah’s Daily Herald newspaper here) or are set to (coverage from London here). What’s that about?
There are several local events and fora in the offing to examine the impact the event had on the city, their legacy (get used to hearing that word), and where we’re headed more generally without a massive deadline or international audience to steer our efforts. Vancouverites who lived through Expo 86 must experiencing profound sense of deja vu.
An article in Fast Company magazine posted online last week described the governing principle of Vancouver’s Olympics as “leave no trace.” Full story here. We won’t have a Bird’s Nest stadium to look to like Beijing, nor will Vancouver become a major winter sports training hub like Calgary became after ‘88 (though Whistler is certainly and rightfully poised to). From the outset, VANOC and City Hall’s long-term vision for the city involved green condos and facilities that could be repurposed into stunning community centres that were already needed. The Olympic Village just received LEED Platinum certification making it officially the greenest neighbourhood in the world; current—and more widely read—headlines about the malfunctioning zamboni and fenced-off cauldron, et al, seem pretty useless in this context. And at the risk of getting into this further, why do we seem to care so much about what a reporter from the Times says about us? I highly doubt Londoners will scrutize our coverage of their Olympics so closely. Good on them.
Back to 2050. Busby Perkins + Will and Concord Pacific recently launched Shape Vancouver, a website/poll that allows users to manipulate the existing downtown skyline to see how increasing building density leads to a more sustainable city, reducing carbon emissions, taking cars off the street, etc. An amalgamation of all 4,840 users’ skylines is now on the site. Click here to see it.
There’s also a panel discussion on the future of arts and culture here planned for April 24 at the Arts Club Revue Stage on Granville Island. Entitled “Vancouver 2050: A Creative City!” it will feature addresses by Vancouver Symphony’s Maestro Bramwell Tovey and PuSH Festival’s Norman Armour, and will be moderated by Max Wyman. A few more details about it here.
We also hear that the B.C. chapter of the Urban Land Institute will be hosting an ongoing series of events on what Vancouver will look like in 2050. We’ll post further details as they emerge.
Our role? To be the memory of the time, collecting everything from notable media coverage to programs to protest signs—all the ephemera that gets so easily lost but drives the story. Please do keep an eye peeled for flyers, banners, buttons, hats, and other objects of potential significance. Collect it, and carefully attach a note stating its provenance (where, when, who, and why). After the Games rush is over, get in touch with Wendy Nichols, our curator of collections at 604-730-5312 or send her an e-mail at wnichols@museumofvancouver.ca.
