<strong>Ultan</strong> <strong>Kampff</strong>continued from page 1…Granville Street, <strong>the</strong> success of <strong>the</strong><strong>Downtown</strong> 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 <strong>Kampff</strong>,who is personally motivated to findsolutions to homelessness.But just as important as <strong>the</strong>strategic initiatives and long-termgoals, <strong>Kampff</strong> says, <strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong> willcontinue its focus on serving members.“We are an advocate for businesses inour 90-block area. We need to hearfrom owners and tenants about <strong>the</strong>issues <strong>the</strong>y’re dealing with and to let<strong>the</strong>m 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 against<strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong>’s <strong>Downtown</strong> Ambassadorsprogram concluded its initial 12-day sitting with an additional 12days scheduled between August andOctober.In <strong>the</strong> two years since <strong>the</strong> claimwas filed, <strong>the</strong> claimants have notproduced any evidence of systemicdiscrimination or harassment againsthomeless people as alleged. The<strong>DVBIA</strong> has begun to present 17witnesses from service organizationsthat support disadvantaged people,to a number of current and former<strong>Downtown</strong> Ambassadors, some ofwhom were homeless or battledsubstance abuse <strong>the</strong>mselves.Six-Month Update. Bosman’s social housing onHowe Street accepted itsfirst 50 residents andstruck a partnership with<strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong> to providegum removal services.A social enterprise,Bosman’s can also be hiredby downtown businesses toprovide additional cleaning.. At <strong>the</strong> June AGM, <strong>Ultan</strong> <strong>Kampff</strong>, GeneralManager Cadillac Fairview/Pacific Centre,was appointed President of <strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong>.Peter Jackman, <strong>Vancouver</strong> Foundation, isVice President, Darcy Brabbins, Bentall,is Past President and Ronald Mon-Kau,Mayfair Hotel & Resorts, is Secretary-Treasurer. O<strong>the</strong>r 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 <strong>the</strong> association’sindividual Annual AppreciationAward for his leadership of <strong>the</strong>2010 Olympic Winter Games.SFU downtown campus received<strong>the</strong> organizational award incelebration of its 20th anniversarydowntown and entrepreneur JosephSegal received <strong>the</strong> Art Jones LifetimeAchievement Award.. The <strong>DVBIA</strong> and City of <strong>Vancouver</strong>partnered on <strong>the</strong> summer RediscoverGranville 2.010 initiative to animate <strong>the</strong><strong>new</strong>ly 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 <strong>the</strong> firstspeaker in <strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong>’s year-long luncheonspeaker series called Beyond 2010. Futureevents are scheduled for Fall 2010 andWinter 2011. (see below)BEYOND 2010 LUNCHEON SERIES:Building on <strong>the</strong> Games —One Mega Project at a Time<strong>Downtown</strong> was ‘centre ice’ for <strong>the</strong> 2010 Winter Games, with more than a millionlocals visiting <strong>the</strong> core during <strong>the</strong> 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 <strong>the</strong> progress of <strong>the</strong> BC PlaceStadium roof replacement and <strong>the</strong> <strong>new</strong> tenants andactivities planned for <strong>the</strong> venue, <strong>the</strong> success andchallenges of attracting convention businessto <strong>the</strong> <strong>Vancouver</strong> Convention Centre and<strong>the</strong> partnership with Paragon DevelopmentLtd. to create a $450-million megaentertainment destination attached toBC Place to replace <strong>the</strong> Edgewater Casino.Save <strong>the</strong> date: Wednesday, October 27.Thanks toour sponsors:2
Ambassador of <strong>the</strong> Year:Rohini DeviRohini Devi is a multiple award recipient in2010, claiming both <strong>the</strong> Stolen Auto Recoveryaward and <strong>the</strong> coveted Ambassador of <strong>the</strong> YearAward. With <strong>the</strong>se two most recent awardsadded to her collection, Rohini has now claimedher fourth award since joining <strong>the</strong> <strong>Downtown</strong>Ambassador program, an accomplishmentthat she says makes her very proud.Rohini joined <strong>the</strong> Ambassador programin September of 2006. She became anAmbassador because of her love of meeting<strong>new</strong> people and helping o<strong>the</strong>rs.“There was this one man who hadbeen living on <strong>the</strong> streets for several years,”recalls Devi. “He had come from outside of<strong>Vancouver</strong> and had not seen his family foryears. One day his mom came to <strong>Vancouver</strong>to look for him. I k<strong>new</strong> of his favourite spotsand was able to help her locate him. Theywere both so happy to be reunited and it wasa great feeling to see him find his home andhis family again.”<strong>Downtown</strong> AmbassadorProfile:Manuel ReyesManuel Reyes has been a <strong>Downtown</strong>Ambassador since April 2008. This year hewas <strong>the</strong> recipient of <strong>the</strong> Tourism Award.With a background in security trainingand customer service, Manuel was drawnto <strong>the</strong> Ambassador program for <strong>the</strong>opportunity to interact with people inmore than just a security role.“One day I was leaving a parking lotpatrol and I heard someone screaming forhelp,” recalls Reyes. “I rushed to her aidand found that she had fallen running for<strong>the</strong> bus. I quickly called <strong>the</strong> paramedicsto <strong>the</strong> scene. I was able to reassure herfriends in Spanish that she would be okayand walked <strong>the</strong>m to St. Paul’s to meet<strong>the</strong> ambulance. Being able to help <strong>the</strong>mwithout hesitation is what makes meproud to be an Ambassador.”Photo: jonbenjamin.caMaking a differencedowntownEach year, individuals who have contributedto making downtown a more vibrantcommunity are recognized at <strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong>Annual Appreciation Awards Ceremony andReception. The ceremony also recognizes<strong>Downtown</strong> Ambassadors who have made anexceptional contribution to <strong>the</strong> program.Ambassadors log all of <strong>the</strong>ir activity during<strong>the</strong> course of <strong>the</strong> year and award recipientsare chosen based on those activity logs.From January to June, <strong>Downtown</strong>Ambassadors achieved <strong>the</strong> following results:<strong>Meet</strong> &GReets withbusinesses12,616parkingpatrols22,596Recordingincidents oftrespassing894‘The hard work of <strong>Downtown</strong> Ambassadors Rohini Devi and Manuel Reyes was acknowledged at<strong>the</strong> <strong>DVBIA</strong> Annual Appreciation Awards Ceremony’<strong>DVBIA</strong> wins two peer awards for 2010 Winter Gamesreadiness initiatives:. ‘Award of merit’ from <strong>the</strong> International <strong>Downtown</strong> Association in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Downtown</strong>Leadership & Management category. ‘Associations Make a Better Canada Award’ in <strong>the</strong> Public Information/Educationcategory from <strong>the</strong> Canadian Society of Association ExecutivesThe <strong>DVBIA</strong> hosted 35 business readiness presentations to 1,200 attendees representing800 unique businesses, distributed 30,000 copies of two hard copy readiness guides andweekly e-<strong>new</strong>sletters, and worked closely with City, VANOC and TransLink partners.Both awards will be presented at <strong>the</strong>ir respective conferences in September.Recordingo<strong>the</strong>r streetincidents6,250Hospitality(providinginformation anddocuments to visitors)25,7293