Vancouver View – Unexpected Elections and Dome Costs Revealed

Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the 2008 IIHF World Championship on May 18, 2008 in Quebec City, Canada. (Getty Images)National Election Could Mean Focus on Vancouver

Pocketbook issues are expected to be the major theme when Canadians go to the polls on Oct. 14, almost a year earlier than expected.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the election Sept. 7 in Ottawa after asking Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean to dissolve parliament.

Harper's Conservative Party, which won the 2006 election, had 127 of the 308 House of Commons seats, more than any other party, but not enough for majority control.

The election comes as talks between the federal and British Columbia governments apparently continue over funding Vancouver 2010's security budget. Federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said in July that the budget will be more than $175 million.

While many of the major projects for Vancouver 2010 have been completed, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan stated earlier this week that the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games need to be a campaign issue.

He emphasized that the federal government will need to focus on several key problems in Vancouver, including the need for a transportation network that will connect the city’s growing suburbs to the downtown area. He also highlighted the need for assistance on key social problems such as homelessness.

"It's pretty clear Canada can benefit if they do what it takes to ensure we do a good job," Sullivan told a Canwest News Service reporter during a telephone interview.

Meanwhile, David Emerson, who was Olympics minister for much of the Conservative term, announced his retirement from politics on Sept. 5. Emerson became foreign minister in June and was Canada's senior representative at the Beijing Games' opening ceremony. The Olympics portfolio was downgraded from a full ministry and given to Emerson's parliamentary secretary James Moore.

Paralympics Reception in Beijing

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong wrapped his trip to the Paralympics with a media reception Monday night at the Intercontinental Hotel adjacent to the Main Press Center.

Furlong says he was impressed with what he saw during the opening ceremony for the Paralympics held Sept. 6.

"This was a magnificent, moving, human experience that no one will ever forget. Beijing did it again. What a performance. Being here has only emboldened our excitement to host and cheer on these world-class athletes when the Games come to Canada in 2010."

A delegation from the host city will remain in Beijing for the International Paralympic Committee's official observer program. On their schedule are venue visits and workshops on topics such as accessibility, athlete experience and the look of the Games. Media from Vancouver and the U.S. were among a crowd numbering about 40.

The Winter Paralympics in Vancouver take place March 12 to 21, 2010.

Dome costs Disclosed

Vancouver's Olympic stadium is getting a $65 million pre-Olympic renovation. The project was announced May 16, but B.C. Pavilion Corporation chairman David Podmore did not disclose the cost or contractor until Sept. 4. Dominion Fairmile Construction began work on Sept. 3 to upgrade concessions, washrooms, suites, seating and signage at the 25-year-old dome.

Podmore said the fixed-price contract will be complete well before the 2010 Winter Olympics open at the taxpayer-owned dome on Feb. 12, 2010. According to media reports, repairs will be paid from cash reserves and revenue from future development of Pavilion Corp. lands around the stadium.

Major improvements were not contemplated in Vancouver’s 2010 bid but they were proposed after Podmore was hired Dominion Fairmile Construction recently began a $65 million renovation to B.C. Place (ATR)in April 2007, four months after the roof ripped and collapsed under the weight of snow. VANOC had budgeted $3.8 million for a minor facelift.

After the Games, the air-supported fabric roof will be replaced with a German-devised spoke-and-wheel retractable system by 2011. That cost has not been revealed.

Meanwhile, the stadium is seeking a new operations director after Brian Griffin was made construction director.

Griffin was on duty Jan. 5, 2007 when the roof ripped and collapsed because it wasn't heated during a snowstorm. Griffin has no construction or engineering experience, but Podmore said he will function mainly as a liaison, not an "overseer" of construction.

Richmond Oval hires a GM

One of the founding fathers of Vancouver's 2010 Games has been hired as general manager of its biggest indoor competition venue.

John Mills was president of the province's amateur sports coalition, Sport BC, in 1996 when he chaired the Vancouver Olympic Advisory Committee. He began his new job with the Richmond Oval on Sept. 8.

Mills spent the last two years as an assistant deputy minister of tourism, sport and the arts with the B.C. government after almost a decade as president of the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA).

CODA was the financial and facility legacy of Calgary 1988.

Speedskaters will begin training at the $178 million Oval this month, but a grand opening isn't scheduled until February's one-year countdown celebrations.

Olympex in Richmond

Meanwhile, the City of Richmond wants to hold the first winter version of Olympex, the IOC-sanctioned coin, stamp, pin, art and torch show which has been held at past Olympics, including Beijing. The Richmond version would run eight weeks in fall 2009, tour other cities in Canada and then return for the duration of the Games at Richmond's O-Zone live site.

H&K tolls for Dobell

Premier Gordon Campbell's former right-hand man is now chairman of B.C. operations for Hill & Knowlton.

Ken Dobell now leads a public relations and government lobbying agency that counts VANOC sponsors Coca-Cola, Molson, Royal Canadian Mint and Purolator as clients.

Dobell is the VANOC and 2010 Legacies Now director who was given an absolute discharge earlier this year by a Provincial court judge for lobbying without registration.

Dobell was Vancouver's city manager during Campbell's mayoralty and became deputy minister to the Premier after the 2001 election victory.

VANOC Ad Campaign Imminent?

Many believe that a new Vancouver 2010 ad campaign will launch in September. (ATR)At its Aug. 22 news conference in Beijing's Main Press Centre, VANOC CEO John Furlong said the Vancouver 2010 advertising campaign and slogan launch would happen in September as a lead-in to the Oct. 3 ticket sales date.

Speculation is that the campaign could launch on Sep. 10.

Several reporters have been invited to interview sessions with Executive VicePresident Dave Cobb and VicePresident Caley Denton to talk ticketing on an embargoed basis.

The embargo expires at 3 a.m. PDT Sept. 10, at which time VANOC will issue a nationwide news release.

This week could be an opportune time for VANOC because it's the first full week of the new TV season, when viewership naturally increases.

“Celebrate the Possible” is the slogan VANOC has employed since 2006. Hyphen Communications is VANOC's official creative ad agency. Cossette Communications Group handles media buys.

With reporting from

Bob Mackin in Vancouver.

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