Vancouver and Beyond

The City of Vancouver and Bombardier Transportation will provide a modern streetcar demonstration service to Vancouver residents and visitors during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and Bombardier Transportation President of Light Rail Vehicles Grego Peters announced today.

The Downtown Streetcar 2010 Demonstration Project is a state-of-the-art, accessible and sustainable transportation project that will connect Granville Island to the Canada Line Olympic Village Station (Cambie Street and West 2nd Avenue) during 60 days of celebration between January 21 and March 21, 2010.

As part of the partnership agreement, Bombardier Transportation will bring two modern streetcars on loan from Brussels, Belgium to Canada. Bombardier will also operate and maintain the vehicles during the demonstration project.

“As Host City of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the City of Vancouver is delighted to be able to partner with Bombardier Transportation to offer a modern transportation experience,” said Sullivan. “This sustainable transportation showcase is an important first step in realizing our vision for the future of the streetcar – a clean, sustainable public transit option for which we believe the day has once again come.”

Sullivan also announced that the City of Vancouver has received permission from the International Olympic Committee and The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to name operation of the streetcar service The Olympic Line – Vancouver’s 2010 Streetcar for the duration of the 2010 demonstration project.

“Vancouver’s Olympic Line will demonstrate a new mode of sustainable rail transportation in one of the world’s most progressive transit environments,” said Bombardier Transportation’s Grego Peters. “We are delighted to contribute to the Downtown Streetcar 2010 Demonstration Project and are eager to showcase our high-performing streetcars in Vancouver and to visitors from around the world.”

The City of Vancouver is investing $8.5 million to upgrade the Downtown Historic Railway (DHR) infrastructure, including a $500,000 contribution from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which owns and operates Granville Island. This funding will be used to replace the aging and deteriorating DHR rail infrastructure between Granville Island and West 2nd Avenue. The investment creates the opportunity to demonstrate modern low-floor streetcar technology during the 2010 Winter Games while ensuring the continued future operation of the heritage railway after 2010, and making an investment in a future potential streetcar service along the alignment.

About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation has its global headquarters in Berlin, Germany with a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide. The Group offers the broadest product portfolio and is recognized as the leader in the global rail sector.
For more information, visit www.bombardier.com.

Media contacts:

City of Vancouver
Corporate Communications
604.871.6336

David Slack
Bombardier Transportation
450.441.3190
david.slack@ca.transport.bombardier.com

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) is inviting ten Canadians to Beijing to participate in the 2008 Paralympic Games Torch Relay, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee jointly announced today.

The 2008 Paralympic Games Torch Relay will take place between August 28 and September 6, 2008 in the People’s Republic of China. Canadian torchbearers will participate on September 5 or 6 in Beijing. The Resort Municipality of Whistler will select two torchbearers, the Canadian Paralympic Committee will select four torchbearers, and the remaining four torchbearers will be selected by the City of Vancouver. Each organization will have its own selection process: full details on each partner’s process will be available on their individual websites.

“We are extremely pleased that BOCOG has provided this opportunity for Canada to be involved in the torch relay,” said Vancouver’s Mayor Sam Sullivan. “It is a true honour and we thank BOCOG for this invitation.”

“We are all incredibly proud to be co-hosting the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler,” said Whistler mayor Ken Melamed. “And the added opportunity to participate in the 2008 Paralympic Torch Relay will help to build even more awareness and excitement around Paralympic sport in our communities and across the country.”

Torchbearers are to be selected based on the following criteria set out by BOCOG:

Uphold the Olympic and Paralympic spirit and dedicate themselves to the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.
Support the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Be distinguished for remarkable feats in their profession or community, or for a personal story that serves to inspire or motivate fellow citizens.
Be generous and dedicated to community service.
Be distinguished for contributions to the Olympic or Paralympic cause, or for extraordinary performance at the past Olympic Games or Paralympic Games.
“The 2008 Paralympic Torch Relay will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 10 fortunate Canadians to celebrate our country and our Paralympic athletes in Beijing,” said Carla Qualtrough, the President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

All travel, accommodation and meals for torchbearers will be covered by BOCOG, based on travel originating in Vancouver.
For more information:

City of Vancouver Corporate Communications
vancouver.ca
604.871.6336

Resort Municipality of Whistler Communications
www.whistler.ca
604.935.8104

Canadian Paralympic Committee Communications
www.paralympic.ca
613.569.4333 X 227

A world-class attraction, showcasing the distinct cultures of the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation, will open in June 2008 in North America’s premier alpine resort and event site for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Located in the Upper Village of Whistler in a spectacular natural setting on a 1.76 hectare (4.35 acre) site, it is the result of a historic Protocol Agreement signed by the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation in March 2001.

This Agreement committed the Nations to working together on issues of concern in their shared territories and identified three major common objectives: to respect the Nations’ current and historic presence in the region, to protect their respective Aboriginal Rights and Title, and to take advantage of the economic opportunities.

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

This agreement, called “Partners Creating Shared Legacies from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games”, was signed in 2002. It provides for additional land, funding, employment, and other benefits for both Nations. This agreement outlined ! a package of economic, cultural, sport and capacity-building benefits, and legacies for the Nations, including assistance for the SLCC.

The Centre has been architecturally designed to pay tribute to the Coast Salish longhouses that once dotted the shorelines of Squamish traditional territory, and to the shape of the Istken, which was the underground dwelling favored by the Lil’wat people. In keeping with the First Nations’ traditional values of honoring Mother Earth. The Cultural Centre has been built to respect the landscape and act as a doorway to the forest. It is a “green” development, symbolizing the importance of responsible land stewardship, a value held by both Nations, by the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and an increasingly important value in the world.

Once inside, massive spindle whorls, suspended canoes, intricate wool and cedar weavings and other cultural displays – with a spectacular backdrop of mountains seen through unobstructed glass – provide a truly dramatic setting. The building features a Great Hall, Class A museum space, 80-seat theatre, gift gallery, café, and meeting space. Four Seasons Resort Whistler, the exclusive catering partner and Canada’s only five-diamond hotel, has created First Nations inspired menus for the café and for meetings and events held at the Centre.

Featured Programs

A key objective of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is to provide training and skills development opportunities for youth and community members through cultural apprenticeship programs. The programs will utilize the expertise of the accomplished artisans within the two Nations, ensuring that these skills are passed on to the younger generation. Visitors will be able to see artisans working in the Long House and view the larger completed work on exhibition in the Great Hall. Other artisan pieces will be available for sale in the gift shop.

Heritage Canoe Carving Apprenticeship The great canoe culture of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations will be the main theme! of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s majestic Great Hall. The He ritage Canoe Carving Project has created a number of canoes in styles that have not been created in the community for several generations. Those selected for the canoe carving apprenticeship program are youth who are role models of a healthy lifestyle. The program incorporates a strong cultural component to ensure that the participants are able to build upon their existing cultural knowledge.

Salish Weaving

The Squamish First Nations have been known for their basket and wool weaving for thousands of years. Northwest indigenous people were called the Weavers of the Pacific Northwest. The Salish Weaving Program has identified the accomplished weavers of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation, reviewed historical blankets and other weavings, and trained a new generation of weavers. The weavers are creating contemporary designs and using traditional ones based on the blankets worn by Chief Joe Capilano and other Chiefs on the occasion of their famous 1906! trip to London to meet the King of England. The weavings will be proudly displayed in the Great Hall.

Cedar Weaving

The Lil’wat First Nations have been known for their basket weavings for thousands of years. Cedar bark was utilized for many things, ranging from wide brim hats to baby diapers. Traditional clothing was woven from inner bark of xpay (red cedar). Recently, however, this fine art has been in decline and in danger of being lost altogether. The Cedar Weaving Program is providing a venue for venerable weavers to pass on their considerable knowledge to a new generation. They are weaving large mats to hang in the Great Hall, and will weave baskets for sale in the gift shop. The Squamish are also recognized cedar weavers.
Vera Edmonds teaching basketry

Aboriginal Youth Ambassador Program

The Aboriginal Youth Ambassador Program, created by the Squamish Nation, has been created to develop the skills and capacity of the talented youth of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. The program teaches hands-on aspects of Squamish and Lil’wat cultures including canoeing, drum making, paddle making, cedar bark weaving, and carving. The youth will be the cultural guides at the Centre.

The Cultural Journey Begins in Vancouver

Along the highway to Whistler, beginning at Horseshoe Bay, there will be distinctive paddle shaped signs ! marking to indicate stops of cultural and historic significance. There will also be large twelve panel sign shelters at several major pullouts, each depicting supernatural occurrences, culture, language, and place names of First Nations significance. These scenic stops will emphasize the link between landscape and legend, and help visitors understand and appreciate the vibrant cultures and history that existed in this territory long before Europeans came to these shores.

Featured Artists

Jody Broomfield, Squamish artist

Jody is testimony to the inherent artistry found in his Squamish culture. Although he has only been carving full time since 1999, he has always con! sidered himself an artist. From childhood he observed his uncles, Jim Paull & David Nahanee, as they carved. He constantly asked questions about culture, history, and carving techniques, and his uncles would patiently coach him through the techniques and draw the classic form lines.

Jody apprenticed with Klatle-Bhi (pronounced “Cloth Bay”), a well known Kwakwaka’wakw/Coast Salish artist in a studio within the Capilano community, North Vancouver. Jody would sit knee to knee to watch and listen while Klatle-Bhi carved – until he progressed enough that Klatle-Bhi would carve half and Jody would carve the other half, thoroughly learning the northern Kwakwaka’wakw style of carving.

Jody graduated from assisting in several projects such as totems, wall panels, doors, and large masks with several artists to becoming a prominent solo artist. For the past two years he has dedicated himself to learning the unique Squamish way of carving.

In addition to carving one of the cedar entry doors and one of the giant spindle whorls that will greet visitors as they enter the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, Jody has also designed the offi! cial logo for the Four Host First Nations for the Vancouver 2010 Olymp ic and Paralympic Winter Games, as well as a 2008 gold coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. Entitled “Four Seasons Moon Mask,” this 14-karat gold coin was inspired by a hand-carved red-cedar mask originally created by Jody.

Melvin Williams, Lil’wat artist

Melvin Williams’ grandmother, Adlina Sylvia Williams, was an accomplished weaver who specialized in cedar root baskets, which she sold to support her family. At her daughter’s urging, Adlina began to teach her weaving arts to her grandchildren. She first taught Melvin’s sister, Gabrielle, to weave wool belts for berry baskets and for carrying babies. Gabrielle taught Melvin everything their grandmother taught her. Once his grandmother knew that he was interested, she began to teach him directly, showing him how to weave a little boat from ce! dar roots.

From that beginning, Melvin has become an accomplished wool and cedar weaver, much of his skills self-taught. He wanted to learn something that didn’t cost money, so he learned how to gather, prepare, and weave both wool and cedar. Once he taught himself how to make cedar hats, he verified his techniques by visiting the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA). He continues to make belts, hats, and capes, and will design a 6’ x 6’ cedar mat for the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Melvin honors the skills of his ancestors by carrying on the weaving tradition, weaving the functional tools and clothing items that have been made by those who have gone before him. In addition to teaching his cousins and nephews, he is also teaching a course on cedar hat weaving.

originally printed in Pique Newsmagazine
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One incredible huge “Thank You” goes out to Grant Lamont. A Chinese delegation of journalists came to Whistler last Friday. Representing Whistler for the Disabled, I was asked by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada to hold a press conference for our honored guests visiting from China.

We started the press conference off by thanking them for visiting Whistler and Canada and introducing ourselves. We then told them how and why I created Whistler for the Disabled and accomplished so much on my own, without funding but with the passionate support of good friends dedicated to helping others out and supporting the Whistler and disabled communities.

Some of the items that were discussed and brought up in the hour-long press conference that I would like to share with everyone:

1. Inclusively and how important it is for people with disabilities to show what they can do.

2. Planning must incorporate people with disabilities into initial planning and not just in band-aids and hand-outs.

3. Spiritual value of the acceptance and inclusion and the healing value it has.

4. Transportation and access in a community and the many good things that Whistler is now trying to do.

5. Economic benefits with many people traveling to destinations that embrace and consider those with disabilities who they are with.

6. Why Whistler and Beijing, along with the rest of the world, need to make sure that there is follow through from the Games and not just let it ride once the spotlight is off.

They asked Grant how much he makes by helping me or if he is volunteering. Grant responded: “I am here as a friend and supporter. It is funny how our society has so much money for sports stadiums and ski jumps but little time for the things that really matter. Hopefully the work Hugh is doing can influence a small degree of change in these attitudes. I know it has with many and with one corporation already benefiting the Whistler Resort community and people with disabilities.”

The delegation thanked us for our time and efforts but were perplexed how one person could do so much with so little support.

They were honoured to meet us and we were honoured to meet them as well. They were all so respectful of everyone; it was nice to see.

Media coverage in China from just one of the journalist’s newspapers is more than 200 million people. There were seven journalists from China in attendance.

Grant Lamont was truly incredible in this press conference with such a large, important delegation. He was as professional as someone who was being paid six figures a year to host such an important information session — but he did it on his own time and expense.

A huge “Thank You” goes out to Grant for helping me out once again. You came through for our community and for the disabled like so many others have for me over the years, time and time again.

Hugh Tollett

Whistler for the Disabled

Vancouver / Whistler