Meet the new DVBIA president Ultan Kampff - Downtown Vancouver

Ultan Kampffcontinued from page 1…Granville Street, the success of theDowntown Ambassadors program,and advocating for more equitableproperty taxation for downtownbusinesses.“We are continuing to help addressissues of homelessness and mentalhealth, working with various levels ofgovernment and community groups tohelp make a difference,” says Kampff,who is personally motivated to findsolutions to homelessness.But just as important as thestrategic initiatives and long-termgoals, Kampff says, the DVBIA willcontinue its focus on serving members.“We are an advocate for businesses inour 90-block area. We need to hearfrom owners and tenants about theissues they’re dealing with and to letthem know we’re here to help.”Human Rights Tribunal Update:Hearing AgainstAmbassadorsHeld OverThe BC Human Rights Tribunal hearingto review allegations brought by PivotLegal Society and VANDU againstthe DVBIA’s Downtown Ambassadorsprogram concluded its initial 12-day sitting with an additional 12days scheduled between August andOctober.In the two years since the claimwas filed, the claimants have notproduced any evidence of systemicdiscrimination or harassment againsthomeless people as alleged. TheDVBIA has begun to present 17witnesses from service organizationsthat support disadvantaged people,to a number of current and formerDowntown Ambassadors, some ofwhom were homeless or battledsubstance abuse themselves.Six-Month Update. Bosman’s social housing onHowe Street accepted itsfirst 50 residents andstruck a partnership withthe DVBIA to providegum removal services.A social enterprise,Bosman’s can also be hiredby downtown businesses toprovide additional cleaning.. At the June AGM, Ultan Kampff, GeneralManager Cadillac Fairview/Pacific Centre,was appointed President of the DVBIA.Peter Jackman, Vancouver Foundation, isVice President, Darcy Brabbins, Bentall,is Past President and Ronald Mon-Kau,Mayfair Hotel & Resorts, is Secretary-Treasurer. Other directors include EdFurlan (Altus Group), Ruth Steverlynck(RES Consulting), Bill Stanbury, (Hudson’sBay Company), Lesley Diana, (Wolford),J.A. (Jim) Steffler, (Omni Companies), BobGlass (Macdonald Development Corp.),Francis Parkinson (Fairmont WaterfrontHotel) and Lizette Parsons Bell.. John Furlong, President & CEO ofVANOC, accepted the association’sindividual Annual AppreciationAward for his leadership of the2010 Olympic Winter Games.SFU downtown campus receivedthe organizational award incelebration of its 20th anniversarydowntown and entrepreneur JosephSegal received the Art Jones LifetimeAchievement Award.. The DVBIA and City of Vancouverpartnered on the summer RediscoverGranville 2.010 initiative to animate thenewly completed street while five blockswere closed to traffic. Extending buskinghours, hosting World Cup viewing parties,foodie tours and Sunday afternoondancing events and providing extraseating were highlights.. Mayor Gregor Robertson is the firstspeaker in the DVBIA’s year-long luncheonspeaker series called Beyond 2010. Futureevents are scheduled for Fall 2010 andWinter 2011. (see below)BEYOND 2010 LUNCHEON SERIES:Building on the Games —One Mega Project at a TimeDowntown was ‘centre ice’ for the 2010 Winter Games, with more than a millionlocals visiting the core during the 17-day once-in-a-lifetime event. Going forward,what will infrastructure upgrades and enhancement projects mean for locals, visitorsand businesses downtown?Hear updates from David Podmore, Chairman of BCPavilion Corporation on the progress of the BC PlaceStadium roof replacement and the new tenants andactivities planned for the venue, the success andchallenges of attracting convention businessto the Vancouver Convention Centre andthe partnership with Paragon DevelopmentLtd. to create a $450-million megaentertainment destination attached toBC Place to replace the Edgewater Casino.Save the date: Wednesday, October 27.Thanks toour sponsors:2