An Innovative Approach to Governing and Planning for the Urban Future

October 15, 2007

THE VANCOUVER AGREEMENT

THE VANCOUVER AGREEMENT

THE VANCOUVER AGREEMENT

• An urban development initiative of the governments of Canada, British Columbia and Vancouver

• First focus – Vancouver’s inner city• Promotes innovative and creative

partnerships

THE VANCOUVER AGREEMENT

• Public disorder, including extensive drug dealing and use, in the city’s historic heart

• A public health crisis caused by epidemic HIV rates and drug overdose deaths

• Economic and business decline

• Issues addressed separately with little coordination

Context

The Community

• Building relationships and strengthening people-based policies

• Developing strategies to achieve common goals with the community and business

• Working to revitalize the inner city through partnerships and collaboration

Working Together

Revitalization without displacing the area’s

people or problems to other neighbourhoods

Objective for the Downtown Eastside

Economic Development/ Employment

Health

Safety

GOALS

•Increase economic developmentand employment opportunities

•Increase public safety

•Improve health of DTES residents

Housing

Integrated Strategic Plan

• Health and Safety Improvements

• Improved Economic Environment

• Better Housing Alternatives

• New Partnerships

• Links to Other Key Initiatives

Creative Projects and Initiatives

Building Community Cohesion

• Diverse groups, structures, and mandates

• Balancing needs

• Building trust amongst partners

• Resources

Challenges and Opportunities

• UN cited first phase of VA as an example of best practice for cities in Canada and abroad

• Used as a successful model for projects in Bangkok, Thailand, and Santiago, Chile

• Significant resourcing and policy challenges as VA entered its second five-year phase with changes in elected governments.

Transferability

• Courage and a willingness to change

• Creating the environment to trust

• Cooperation instead of competition

• Time, commitment and innovation

• Work in progress

Lessons Learned