11779 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

I would say that our small and separated conference halls are a significant issue in attracting conferences to the city. We should have one large one elsewhere besides the Empress.

[Nparker]

...We should have one large one elsewhere besides the Empress.

Hmmm, but where to put it...

[spanky123]

I would say that our small and separated conference halls are a significant issue in attracting conferences to the city. We should have one large one elsewhere besides the Empress.

 

Great then why did we pay tens of thousands of dollars to an "expert" who told us otherwise and then which justified spending the money to expand in the first place?

 

I don't buy the "it isn't big enough so conferences don't book here" BS quite frankly. There is no evidence to support that other than a few anecdotal comments from various vested interests in the community. Conference bookings are way down even with the established clientele the City has relied of for years.

 

We have gone from 8 international flights into Victoria a day down to 3. Other than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal (over the summer), anyone else coming here needs to take at least one connection. Our streets are a cesspool. Much of what was charming and attractive to tourists in the downtown core has been knocked down and replaced with condos, coffee shops, pot shops and 2 star restaurants. Those are the reasons why tourism in down in Victoria and projected to continue to decline despite every other major destination in Canada being up. Paying the Bosa family to add more pace to the Empress isn't going to change any of those things.

Edited by spanky123, 17 January 2020 - 08:47 AM.

[Nparker]

 

Much of what was charming and attractive to tourists in the downtown core has been knocked down and replaced with condos...

I am not sure this is a 100% fact, at least in as far as condos are concerned, as most of those have been built on vacant land or parking lots. I'd be surprised to learn that these are what drew tourists to Victoria in years gone by.

[Mike K.]

High ferry costs are also an issue, and due to the near constant waits in the summer months (or cancellations in the fall and winter) word is spreading that “you could get stuck on the Island and miss your flight home.” For a tourist from who knows where, they take that sort of information very seriously and budget their time/excursions accordingly.

[spanky123]

I am not sure this is a 100% fact, at least in as far as condos are concerned, as most of those have been built on vacant land or parking lots. I'd be surprised to learn that these are what drew tourists to Victoria in years gone by.

 

It is all part of the experience. There are a lot of nice harbours along the coast. If a scenic view from your hotel window is what you are looking for then you have lots of options. Most tourists like to wander around and see the sights, if all they see are the same shops and sights that they can see at home then they will (and have) go somewhere else for their vacation.

[Nparker]

So why is Vancouver so popular with tourists? It has far more condos than Victoria.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria taxpayers will continue to pick up the tab for providing city councillors and senior staff with a catered lunch during daytime meetings, at a cost of about $10,000 a year.

Councillors Marianne Alto and Charlayne Thornton-Joe tried to remove the lunches from the city’s budget during deliberations Friday. They maintained that it was an unnecessary expense and that councillors would be better off getting out of city hall for some fresh air and buying their own meals.

They were outvoted by other councillors, some of whom justified the free lunch on the grounds that they have stressful jobs and don’t make a lot of money, and that other government bodies provide similar lunches. They said sharing a meal improves collegiality and taking time to “break some bread together” is in keeping with Indigenous traditions.

Staff say the catered lunches, which began last May, are costing the city about $1,000 a month and, at the current pace of meetings, will likely exceed the budget estimate of $10,000 a year.

 

https://www.timescol...oted-1.24055680

[VIResident]

 

Victoria taxpayers will continue to pick up the tab for providing city councillors and senior staff with a catered lunch during daytime meetings, at a cost of about $10,000 a year.

Councillors Marianne Alto and Charlayne Thornton-Joe tried to remove the lunches from the city’s budget during deliberations Friday. They maintained that it was an unnecessary expense and that councillors would be better off getting out of city hall for some fresh air and buying their own meals.

They were outvoted by other councillors, some of whom justified the free lunch on the grounds that they have stressful jobs and don’t make a lot of money, and that other government bodies provide similar lunches. They said sharing a meal improves collegiality and taking time to “break some bread together” is in keeping with Indigenous traditions.

Staff say the catered lunches, which began last May, are costing the city about $1,000 a month and, at the current pace of meetings, will likely exceed the budget estimate of $10,000 a year.

 

https://www.timescol...oted-1.24055680

 

 

"....in keeping with Indigenous traditions."  Using First Nations traditions to prop up their argument for a free lunch is insensitive and offensive.  Just wow.  

Edited by VIResident, 18 January 2020 - 07:26 AM.

[Nparker]

"....in keeping with Indigenous traditions." Using First Nations traditions to prop up their argument for a free lunch is insensitive and offensive. Just wow.

But it plays well with Council's base and that's all that matters.

[VIResident]

Did anyone catch Helps' plan to introduce children as neighbourhood climate change ambassadors who will patrol their neighbourhoods for climate-harming infractions?

I did.

Now that this has been re-introduced at this time - someone made mention of this last night (dragged up from 2018) we can expect to see it move forward. (Way to go Mike!)

There will be one or two kids who will start the 'patrol'.  Lisa will help them develop the 'reporting' aspect.                   

Local media will pick it up, it will turn national media's head, then international. 

Gretta will meet with these kids and so on.  Wait for it.  

Edited by VIResident, 18 January 2020 - 08:52 AM.

[Rob Randall]

My ancestors told me long ago of the times when the elders would gather for meals under the mighty ancient cedars when from far away the catering truck would arrive.

[Rob Randall]

Thornton-Joe's further comments on the free lunch she voted against:

 

I also stressed that if a majority of Council wanted to keep this, then we should be correct in its description and amount......it should be $15,000 to provide lunches to Council members and staff. As we no longer get a half hour break, staff are also unable to get away for lunch so the catering has provided for them as well and our amount is over $1000 a month so $10,000 is not enough. And because the lounge area does not have enough space or chairs, most people eat standing up. There are other places in the budget I could see spending the funds on. The fresh air and break is good for all of us.

 

[Mike K.]

I did.
Now that this has been re-introduced at this time - someone made mention of this last night (dragged up from 2018) we can expect to see it move forward. (Way to go Mike!)
There will be one or two kids who will start the 'patrol'. Lisa will help them develop the 'reporting' aspect.
Local media will pick it up, it will turn national media's head, then international.
Gretta will meet with these kids and so on. Wait for it.

Oh that’s the dream, for sure.

[Rob Randall]

I've had a catered lunches at City Hall and unless the catering has changed it's the standard veggie tray and wraps. You can get more interesting food by walking a block in any direction.

[Mike K.]

Not the ones for council. They’re getting all sorts of items.

[Spy Black]

I've had a catered lunches at City Hall and unless the catering has changed it's the standard veggie tray and wraps. You can get more interesting food by walking a block in any direction.

^^Indeed^^'

Probably 30% or 40% of that $1000.00 cost per meal is for delivery driver labour, delivery vehicle maintenance and fuel, and the not inexpensive cost of "going green" that results in that delivery driver and vehicle having to come back to pick up the serving utensils.

 

If they went out for lunch, they'd likely save 50% (or more) on the costs, and get some decent food beyond those awful wraps, taco chips, and olives that tend to make up the typical catered and delivered Victoria B.C. "working" lunch.

[DavidL]

So why is Vancouver so popular with tourists? It has far more condos than Victoria.

 

Direct flights.

[Nparker]

So why is Vancouver so popular with tourists? It has far more condos than Victoria.

Direct flights.

So the "proliferation" of condos in downtown Victoria really doesn't factor into the equation then.

[DavidL]

Did anyone catch Helps' plan to introduce children as neighbourhood climate change ambassadors who will patrol their neighbourhoods for climate-harming infractions?

 

 

I did.

Now that this has been re-introduced at this time - someone made mention of this last night (dragged up from 2018) we can expect to see it move forward. (Way to go Mike!)

There will be one or two kids who will start the 'patrol'.  Lisa will help them develop the 'reporting' aspect.                   

Local media will pick it up, it will turn national media's head, then international. 

Gretta will meet with these kids and so on.  Wait for it.  

 

"In quarter four, Council directed staff to move forward on a number of climate actions in 2017, including creating a process and format for citizen-led Climate Ambassadors to provide input and inform development of the City’s climate leadership plan, and to take climate and sustainability action out into the community"

-2016 Operational Report

 

It's been around in theory for awhile but truly no less terrifying.