131 replies to this topic

[earseyeswideopen]

Here is an update I got from this weeks Business in Vancouver, for all of the interested viewers following the topic re: the Scandal surrounding the Vanoc & the Callaghan Valley Nordic Venue:

Business in Vancouver September 4-10, 2007; issue 932

NEWS HEADLINES
- 2010 Gold Rush
- Aquilini's 22-storey GM Place office tower has fall date with permit panel
- Countdown: 127 weeks until opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- International Olympic Committee 2010 Coordination Commission set for return visit with VANOC brass

The circus is back in town. The good time gang known as the International Olympic Committee 2010 Coordination Commission is paying VANOC its second visit of 2007 from September 11 to 13. This time, the meetings, chaired by Rene Fasel, include the heads of the seven international sports federations that are sanctioning Vancouver 2010 competitions.

VANOC's next closed doors board meeting is September 19 in Whistler at an undisclosed location.

GM tower

Mark October 9 on your calendar.

That's when Francesco Aquilini's proposed 22-storey office tower connected to General Motors Place goes to the city's development permit panel. Aquilini wants to capitalize on downtown's hot office market, with its 3.5% vacancy rate and high rents that are second only to Calgary. Such an opportunity was a driving force behind Aquilini's interest in the arena.

The Peter Busby-designed edifice could affect VANOC's most important revenue-generating Games venue in 2010. VANOC already forked out $18.9 million – including $300,000 interest – for unspecified venue upgrades, such as buckets and buckets of paint to cover up the old Canucks colour scheme. It's also paying almost $4 million for 36 days' rent and projects $70 million revenue from ticket sales, merchandising and parking. Aquilini gets to keep food and beverage sales, which will be exponentially higher than parking.

A construction site at an all-important section of the arena – the corner of Griffiths Way and Expo Boulevard – that's used by broadcasters and those delivering all manner of goods would pose a significant logistical and security problem in 2010. But nobody has said a peep about how this can be avoided or mitigated if the sod is turned before the Games.

Maybe we'll find out on October 9.

Union fight

Aquilini's Vancouver Canucks got new uniforms. Aramark food and beverage workers at the Garage may get a new union.

UNITE HERE local 40 is staving off a raid launched by the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union. Some 550 workers voted in July, but the ballots haven't been counted because the B.C. Labour Relations Board is considering UNITE HERE's complaint.

Powder Mountain update

Update: 2010 Gold Rush revealed last month that the RCMP is reviewing new 2010-related evidence in the never-ending Powder Mountain affair.

Now Ombudsman Kim Carter has heard the allegations of proponents Nan and Dianne Hartwick. The mother and daughter duo, who still want to build a four-season resort in the Callaghan Valley, were joined by lawyer Stuart Hankinson when they met with Carter on August 23 for an hour and a half. No details of the meeting were revealed.

Media buyer named

The other half of VANOC's advertising equation has been answered. The Hyphen Alliance – led by Vancouver's David Martin – was named creative agency of record in July. Cossette Media was quietly anointed media buyer in August. The value of the contract is a secret only VANOC and Cossette know.

Parent Cossette Communication Group is no stranger to VANOC or the Olympic movement. Blue chip clients include Bell, Coca-Cola, General Motors and McDonald's, all 2010 sponsors.

Downtown lowdown

While the Economist Intelligence Unit gives Vancouver high marks as the world's most livable city, the United Nations Population Fund painted a different picture when it released its State of the World Population 2007 in June.

An article accompanying the report described Vancouver's Downtown Eastside ghetto as "a two-kilometre square stretch of decaying rooming houses, seedy strip bars and shady pawnshops." Many of its 10,000 residents are homeless, drug- or alcohol-addicted and/or mentally ill. We know that. But did you know that the Hepatitis C rate is just below 70%, and HIV prevalence is estimated at 30%? That's comparable with Botswana, says the UNPF.

Only 127 weeks until the world media discovers "The Worst Neighbourhood in Canada" in a province that claims to be "The Best Place on Earth." •

2010goldrush@gmail.com Bob Mackin

[baron-pierreIV]

Ho hum. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Kenadian]

Wow! No details were released! This amazing news.

Also in the News, VANOC hasn't unveiled its mascot and Pope Benedict XVI is not dead. More non news after the movie.

[agenthuggles/agentr]

earseyeswideopen, on Sep 7 2007, 02:41 PM, said:

Here is an update I got from this weeks Business in Vancouver, for all of the interested viewers following the topic re: the Scandal surrounding the Vanoc & the Callaghan Valley Nordic Venue:

Business in Vancouver September 4-10, 2007; issue 932

NEWS HEADLINES
- 2010 Gold Rush
- Aquilini's 22-storey GM Place office tower has fall date with permit panel
- Countdown: 127 weeks until opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- International Olympic Committee 2010 Coordination Commission set for return visit with VANOC brass

The circus is back in town. The good time gang known as the International Olympic Committee 2010 Coordination Commission is paying VANOC its second visit of 2007 from September 11 to 13. This time, the meetings, chaired by Rene Fasel, include the heads of the seven international sports federations that are sanctioning Vancouver 2010 competitions.

VANOC's next closed doors board meeting is September 19 in Whistler at an undisclosed location.

GM tower

Mark October 9 on your calendar.

That's when Francesco Aquilini's proposed 22-storey office tower connected to General Motors Place goes to the city's development permit panel. Aquilini wants to capitalize on downtown's hot office market, with its 3.5% vacancy rate and high rents that are second only to Calgary. Such an opportunity was a driving force behind Aquilini's interest in the arena.

. Aquilini gets to keep food and beverage sales, which will be exponentially higher than parking.

A construction site at an all-important section of the arena – the corner of Griffiths Way and Expo Boulevard – that's used by broadcasters and those delivering all manner of goods would pose a significant logistical and security problem in 2010. But nobody has said a peep about how this can be avoided or mitigated if the sod is turned before the Games.
The Peter Busby-designed edifice could affect VANOC's most important revenue-generating Games venue in 2010. VANOC already forked out $18.9 million – including $300,000 interest – for unspecified venue upgrades, such as buckets and buckets of paint to cover up the old Canucks colour scheme. It's also paying almost $4 million for 36 days' rent and projects $70 million revenue from ticket sales, merchandising and parking
Maybe we'll find out on October 9.

Union fight

Aquilini's Vancouver Canucks got new uniforms. Aramark food and beverage workers at the Garage may get a new union.

UNITE HERE local 40 is staving off a raid launched by the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union. Some 550 workers voted in July, but the ballots haven't been counted because the B.C. Labour Relations Board is considering UNITE HERE's complaint.

Powder Mountain update

Update: 2010 Gold Rush revealed last month that the RCMP is reviewing new 2010-related evidence in the never-ending Powder Mountain affair.

Now Ombudsman Kim Carter has heard the allegations of proponents Nan and Dianne Hartwick. The mother and daughter duo, who still want to build a four-season resort in the Callaghan Valley, were joined by lawyer Stuart Hankinson when they met with Carter on August 23 for an hour and a half. No details of the meeting were revealed.

Media buyer named

The other half of VANOC's advertising equation has been answered. The Hyphen Alliance – led by Vancouver's David Martin – was named creative agency of record in July. Cossette Media was quietly anointed media buyer in August. The value of the contract is a secret only VANOC and Cossette know.

Parent Cossette Communication Group is no stranger to VANOC or the Olympic movement. Blue chip clients include Bell, Coca-Cola, General Motors and McDonald's, all 2010 sponsors.

Downtown lowdown

While the Economist Intelligence Unit gives Vancouver high marks as the world's most livable city, the United Nations Population Fund painted a different picture when it released its State of the World Population 2007 in June.

An article accompanying the report described Vancouver's Downtown Eastside ghetto as "a two-kilometre square stretch of decaying rooming houses, seedy strip bars and shady pawnshops." Many of its 10,000 residents are homeless, drug- or alcohol-addicted and/or mentally ill. We know that. But did you know that the Hepatitis C rate is just below 70%, and HIV prevalence is estimated at 30%? That's comparable with Botswana, says the UNPF.

Only 127 weeks until the world media discovers "The Worst Neighbourhood in Canada" in a province that claims to be "The Best Place on Earth." •

2010goldrush@gmail.com Bob Mackin

The circus is back in town. The good time gang known as the International Olympic Committee 2010 Coordination Commission is paying VANOC its second visit of 2007 from September 11 to 13. This time, the meetings, chaired by Rene Fasel, include the heads of the seven international sports federations that are sanctioning Vancouver 2010 competitions.

This is sure interesting??? Hope all goes well.
]Powder[/b] Mountain update

Update: 2010 Gold Rush revealed last month that the RCMP is reviewing new 2010-related evidence in the never-ending Powder Mountain affair.

Now Ombudsman Kim Carter has heard the allegations of proponents Nan and Dianne Hartwick. The mother and daughter duo, who still want to build a four-season resort in the Callaghan Valley, were joined by lawyer Stuart Hankinson when they met with Carter on August 23 for an hour and a half. No details of the meeting were revealed.

Go for this too......soon all too prevail.

Thanks Bob for the News you do publish, and earseyeswideopen for putting it here.

I can see where the taxes are and will be outrages before 2010.....!!!!!
Hope I can afford a ticket for the games...yikes!!!!!

[earseyeswideopen]

Yes, agenthuggles, it will be interesting to say the least, to see if any reporters actually do their jobs (seems too many journalists are being blocked by vested interests in the mainstream media for actually reporting the news these days, even in the State - it must be demoralizing) & ask the hard questions are asked of the IOC during their visit that begins today in Vancouver & all venues, including the Callaghan Valley Nordic site. Let us hope that Bob Mackin, who I agree has done a superb job in his columns to date, furthers the facts surrounding this scandal as we speak. He sure must have good Editors supporting him that believe in ethical, investigative reporting.

The public deserves the whole truth not just the sanitized version from the MSM who of course are too often part of the vested interests hooked into Vanoc etc. - read: like the buying of BIG advertising contracts - hint hint I long for the good old days when the Vancouver Sun etc. used to do investigative reporting.

Wow - with an active RCMP investigation reopened with new evidence surrounding "players" directly linked to Vanoc & the Nordic Venue & the same characters to the derailment of a private sector international ski resort - couldn't get much more dramatic than that! Not to mention the new angle with the Ombudsman also on the case. Especially since I read in my research that the IOC was shielded from hearing the truth surrounding this growing scandal in 2003 - heads will roll on this one Wonder who the scapegoat will be?

They have a huge accommodation problem in neighboring Whistler/Blackcomb. The IOC are not happy about this. Think what a huge alpine resort from the private sector, could do for the Olympics with Todd Brooker attached, as the article stated - the World Cup Champion, former Crazy Canuck, now NBC exclusive analyst (I watch this guy doing his play by play every winter for CBC & NBC last year in Torino - do your avid skiier sons? The way I figure it is that he would never attach his name to a product unless it was top notch. It is an no brainer with all of us following this story. This whole scenario continues to stink - with the suspect linkages to anyone who 'gets it'. It will be fascinating to watch it unfold - oui

Whistler's skiing conditions are iffy as reported elsewhere on this site. The Callaghan Valley's snow conditions are far superior. Friends of ours say the alpine conditions are just out of this world. What is wrong with this whole picture???????

[earseyeswideopen]

BTW - For any new viewers that happen across this site as I did through a Google Alert or just checking in to GB out of curiosity, if you are interested in Part 1, please refer to the topic below which was closed by someone:

"Vanoc Scandal: Callaghan Valley Nordic Venue: Cover-up"

That is where you will find the factual information that I stumbled upon in Business in Vancouver & the Whistler Pique (interesting that a Whistler paper would actually report all of this - I hear many residents are not happy about what is coming down surrounding Vanoc re: this unfolding scandal & other issues.

If anyone comes across any further reports on this issue, my associates & I would be appreciative if you would post them on this topic.

[mr.x]

you know, you'd be a great Toronto Sun writer.....or maybe you could be Bill O'Reilly's advisor.


The only thing here that deserves comments:

Quote

Whistler's skiing conditions are iffy as reported elsewhere on this site. The Callaghan Valley's snow conditions are far superior. Friends of ours say the alpine conditions are just out of this world. What is wrong with this whole picture???????

FYI, if you had done your homework you'd know the only skiing event at Whistler/Blackcomb are the downhill events, at Whistler Creekside on the other face of Whistler Mountain. And downhill Olympic runs are very rare, because of steep terrain grade requirements and particularly the long course length, and it's quite expensive to build such a run from scratch. It makes all the sense that an existing run is renovated and improved to host an Olympic event.....VANOC has spent $28-million on the Whistler Creekside venue, mostly to improve snow-making facilities.

The Callaghan Valley is unsuitable for downhill, it's only suitable for cross-country. I believe there are only two skiing runs in B.C. that are suitable, the first one is in Whistler and the second in another resort in the interior.

[earseyeswideopen]

Thanks for the complement, Mr. X! I do enjoy writing - it goes with my research training.

Quote

The Callaghan Valley is unsuitable for downhill, it's only suitable for cross-country. I believe there are only two skiing runs in B.C. that are suitable, the first one is in Whistler and the second in another resort in the interior.

Give your head a shake Mr. X! Then open those ears & eyes.

OK . . . . Johnny Furlong - fess up - you've been in hiding behind your computer spending hours on this site - why haven't you been at work for weeks on end? - tut tut, leaving all those problems with the disasters regarding accommodation, deep trouble over highway concerns. Shame on you!! I know, your former job as the Manager of the Arbutus Club is looking mighty good about now.Where have you been getting YOUR lessons from? References please for your statement above - lets hear the facts, sir.

Just as an aside: did you hear that VP Terry Wright couldn't come up with any solutions re: what happens with car accidents blocking the highway during the Olympics as it has several times in the last few days? That happened right at the base of the road into the Callaghan according to the news. He is kind of at a loss for words - I think he needs you to bail him out & fast!!

Speaking of doing one's homework with the right sources? Where on earth did you come across this fiction you spouted above? Could it be from all those land bureaucrats "players" named by Mackin that were deeply involved with the Bid & Vanoc, that are linked to the scandal?

Oh my side is aching from chuckling . . . Maybe you have missed your calling & should audition for the Comedy network

So pray tell, Mr. X, do you really think that people trust what you believe or what World Champion Downhiller, Olympic competitor, Todd Brooker knows about the conditions for Alpine skiing in the Callaghan Valley? Why would someone of his stature associate himself with this resort company? Maybe you'd better ask Mr. Brooker first

Man alive, give me a break. Are you a Downhiller analyst? Better yet, have you ever been on skis?

So, tell us all, as what you know specifically about the Callaghan Valley topography and the alpine conditions which leads you to state with great grandstanding, the above silliness? I am sure that many people following this thread are waiting with bated breath.

Until then, have a good day . . . & don't forget the homework.

[Ruling Czar]

Can we Change the 2010 Winter Olympic Hosts already? Please? It has become really evident that the IOC made the wrong choice. I don't want to be lewd but Vancouver 2010 has ED. There will be no climax

[earseyeswideopen]

That was a little lewd, Ruling Czar, but . . . . by George, YOU GET IT!

You really DID make me laugh after a long day -Thanks