Updates & events
October 30, 2008
Dearest community folk, allies and friends,
First off, thanks from the bottoms of our 'resisting 2010' hearts to the hundreds of people that stepped up in the community to resist the Olympics at Britannia.
Although we have some disappointing news, we also have a proposal for you that is filled with creativity and resistance. Last night, despite a strong showing of opposition in this community, the Board voted in favour of the Olympics at Britannia, 8-5.
But this is NOT THE END...it is A BEGINNING. At the end of November, we will be contacting you about a public meeting to discuss next steps.
What happened at the special meeting?
The room used was the one underneath the library, which ironically was the room a group of us used last December to hold a community meeting of people opposed to Olympics at Brit. The room was filled with 50 passionate community people, over 90% of them opposed to the Olympics, various media and 13 board members sitting around a table at the front of the room. Of course the air was filled with anticipation and nervous tension and a really strong feeling of community coming together. The meeting began at 7 pm and the first order of business by the board was to propose and vote in favour of a secret ballot, a move that is highly unusual (yup, you heard us right, they could not even openly face the community in their decision).
Then three board members spoke; two in favour of the Olympics, one opposed (complete with clever heckling by community members). Crazy as this sounds, one of the pro-olympics at brit board members actually used the "argument" that "the East Side is going to be surrounded by venues (PNE, athlete's village, trout lake, riley park) and filled with police and security anyways, so one more venue won't make any difference." Seriously.
After an extremely short discussion, they voted by secret ballot, the count was done, the announcement of the "yes" side winning and the meeting ended at 7:25. Twenty-five minutes to make a decision that will put in place an attempt to destroy this community with that corporate circus
....except we ain't going to let them do that......
The Olympics are coming to the DRIVE - Let's show them what creative resistance looks and feels like!
The totally positive and amazing part to this long (almost a year) struggle is that resistance to the Olympics and all its detrimental and harmful effects is ever GROWING in this community. Through this Britannia process we proved that that the Drive is STILL filled with a host of activist/artists/musicians/parents/writers/gardeners etc types who are not afraid to tell the truth, not afraid to stand up against all that is wrong with these games, not afraid to do what it takes to ensure the opposition to the Olympics is NOT SILENT and REMAINS VISIBLE. Other amazing victories from this past year include:
- This year long process was filled with ever growing education and awareness among hundreds of us community folk on the detrimental effects of the Olympics.
- Starting last December, ever-changing groups of folks came together to discuss and implement creative resistance tactics to build awareness and support.
- A group of folks built and created educational street theatre props that were used around the drive (and used in a hilarious/effective car parade complete with an air horn).
- Over 200 people came to a public meeting in April to articulately express their opposition, (even though we were only given six days notice about the meeting).
- Tons of folks called, e-mailed and 'talked' with board members about their concerns.
- We managed to organize and get rid of three pro-olympic votes on the board at the May AGM by voting against the head librarian, school principal, and recreation manager being allowed voting privileges on the board.
- 400 people signed a petition opposing the Olympics at Britannia (over 200 people signed in five days).
- And, without all of our efforts, the Olympics vote would have quietly happened a year ago without any awareness-raising at all.
What's Next?
Building on this effort, we propose that we get together and plan ways we can protect this community and its most vulnerable members and continue to express our opposition and creative resistance to this corporate circus in our back yard. This is an opportunity to continue to build an educational, creative, fun, strong, determined VISIBLE presence of opposition to the Olympics in this community.
VANOC and the IOC's greatest fear is embarrassment and disruption of their multi-million dollar plans and events by articulate, passionate and creative folk who expose the REAL effects of the Olympics and express the huge opposition to their corporate circus.
Let's respond by becoming stronger, funnier, more creative, clearer, supportive, clever, silly, protective and determined. We will be calling for a huge community meeting at the end of November so that we can discuss the multiple variations of what our next many steps will look like.
Very, very, very much look forward to working, laughing and resisting with all of you.
With love, respect and continuing resistance,
The No Olympics at Britannia Group
Past events
Wednesday, October 29, 7:00 pm
On Wednesday October 29, the Britannia Community Centre Board will vote on the proposal to allow VANOC to use Britannia as an Olympics venue. VANOC is pressuring Britannia Community Centre to become an Olympic hockey practice venue.
We need to send a strong (and fast) message to the Britannia Board that this decision will impact the entire community, and the Olympics are not welcome in our neighbourhood!
We need to get moving right now! Here's what you can do:
- Attend the board meeting on Wednesday Oct. 29th (7 pm) underneath Britannia library.
- Tell all the East Vanners you know about the meeting on the 29th.
- Email the Britannia Board: britanniacc@vancouver.ca
- Email the mayor and city council: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca and the parks board: pbcomment@vancouver.ca
The newly elected Britannia board members have committed to holding a community meeting to consult with residents of the neighbourhood before holding their vote, but there has been no consultation.
Community members have raised many concerns about the potential use of Britannia as an Olympics venue, including:
- Increased police/military/security presence
- Heavy weaponry (guns, tasers, tear gas, pepper spray, helicopters) near our schools, libraries and day cares
- Increased racial profiling, especially of Indigenous youth
- The impact on homeless people including "sweeps" by police and harassment
- That "security parameters" will cut off or severely restrict access for our seniors, students and children
- Increases in traffic and rents, due to proximity of an Olympic venue, and general increased gentrification
- That needed upgrades shouldn't be tied to the Olympics deal which uses public money anyway.
Sunday October 26, 10am-12pm
There will be a "Public Information Session" at Britannia Ice Rink. The Britannia Board has received the final proposal from VANOC, and though it has not been made available to the community, apparently they will be releasing some details of "improvements to Britannia Rink." Come out and ask the Board about all the other details: on security presence, service interruptions and so on.
Vancouver Park Board Meeting
Trout Lake Community Centre, 3350 Victoria Drive
Let the Park Board know your concerns about the Olympics at Britannia and Trout Lake.
Anti-Olympics Block Party at the Commercial Drive Car-Free Festival. Kitchener Street, east of Commercial.
Help create a resist 2010 community banner, see communtiy performers, dance, get balloon accessories, join the community jam, get info, hang out, enjoy music, spoken word and more on Kitchener street....shake your anti-olympics butt all day long....
June 14, 2008
Update
As of June, the Board is still waiting for more information from VANOC. A vote on the matter is not expected before September (unless an emergency meeting is called during the summer).
The Board has also committed to holding another community meeting once they have received more information from VANOC.
Photos from past events
Photos by Murray bush and Kim murphy.
