Month: August 2008

The Province
BY JOE COUTURE STAFF REPORTER

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan leaves for Beijing from Vancouver International Airport with his latest wheelchair gizmo, this one to carry the Olympic torch.

It’s the same device that helped him bear the flag at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, but modified to hold the torch. With flames and the possibility of gusts of wind now involved, he said he’s going to be extra cautious.

“My job is to come back with my hair intact,” he joked to reporters at Vancouver’s airport yesterday as he prepared to board his flight.

By KRISTEN THOMPSON, METRO VANCOUVER
Mayor Sam Sullivan barely squeezed through the doorways at City Hall yesterday while testing out the wheelchair attachment city engineers designed to hold the Paralympic Torch in Beijing.
Sullivan, who is heading to China today, is one of only a few non-Chinese participants in the Paralympic Torch relay on Sept. 5.
“I think (it’s) in recognition of Vancouver and Canada being the next host,” said Sullivan.
“I put a lot of effort into raising the profile of the Paralympic Games and it’s important … to be in China to say that people with disabilities can work and take their place in society.”
“I think that’s a message that really needs to be told.”

Mayor Sullivan and Councillor Kim Capri confirmed today that the city has purchased another site for more supportive housing. Vancouver has acquired 514 Alexander Street and will lease it to the Lookout Emergency Aid Society to provide non-market housing for the next 45 years. The nominal pre-paid rate of rent Lookout will pay to the City represents a municipal grant of approximately $460,000.

The 20 SRO units currently on the property are expected to be upgraded to supportive housing – in partnership with the Province of BC. City staff expects these renovations will not require the relocation of tenants. In the long term, this purchase may facilitate a consolidation with an adjoining City owned site at 510 Alexander Street – which is also leased to the Lookout Emergency Aid Society.

Click the link to view Mayor Sullivan's appearance on CTV news to defend the Insite facility.