Every Tuesday in March, thousands of Vancouverites await their chance to take on the best hike in downtown Vancouver, the Harbour Centre Urban Grind.  

The Urban Grind is a 633-step stair climbing challenge that takes participants to the top of the Vancouver Lookout. At the top, 'Grinders' are rewarded with a stunning view of Vancouver, DJ entertainment, and a refreshing Steamworks beer. Additionally, every participant received a $5 Food Court voucher to redeem at any of the Food Court vendors downstairs. 

On the last night, participants are invited to pick up a chip-timer and set a personal record or compete for the fastest time. Outstandingly, the fastest male and female completed the circuit in under four and a half minutes and won the grand prize of two tickets for the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, BC. 

Anyone who used the hashtag #urbangrindyvr on social media had a chance to win some weekly prizes.

Check out Harbour Centre’s new Urban Grind Instagram page @urbangrindyvr and watch this year’s event video here: https://www.facebook.com/HarbourCentreMall/videos/833933216960000/

We love working with Harbour Centre and the Vancouver Lookout on this annual event. It’s one you don’t want to miss!

Elettra had the honour of working with Tsleil-Waututh Nation on the Nation’s most recent annual report. The theme of the report was the legacy of Leonard George, late Chief of the Nation and inspiration to countless people locally, nationally, and internationally.

Elettra provided project management, copywriting and design services. Our Art Director, Lisa Edward, conceived of the stunning timeline that graces the cover and inside front leaf. We are very proud of this work!

Today we helped GWL Realty Advisors mark the groundbreaking of 1500 Robson with an industry and media event. Winter outdoor events are always a fun challenge. Many thanks to our tenting (and heater) supplier and to our special guests, pups Hazel and Trink! Here’s the key news:

The 128-unit building will bring much needed rental housing to the West End; Groundbreaking ceremony attended by Mayor Kennedy Stewart

GWL Realty Advisors , joined by Mayor Kennedy Stewart, formally broke ground today on a 21-storey market rental tower at 1500 Robson Street. Located at the corner of Robson and Nicola in the West End, the new building will add 128 purpose-built rental units to a neighbourhood experiencing extremely low rental vacancy rates. GWL Realty Advisors is developing the project on behalf of the project owner, the London Life Insurance Company. 

“We are proud to be increasing the supply and diversity of rental housing in the West End of Vancouver,” says Ralf Dost, President, GWL Realty Advisors. “This new development will provide the neighbourhood with desperately needed rental units – especially those suitable for families – in a professionally managed building with great amenities. This project represents the type of community building we want to undertake in the City of Vancouver and for our investment clients”.

In response to the shortage of family-oriented rental housing, a third of the building will be made up of two- and three-bedroom units suitable for families. 

 The Lower Robson neighbourhood has some of the highest land costs in the city and new developments have tended to take the form of luxury condominiums. However, this new building at 1500 Robson breaks with this trend by being a purpose-built market rental tower from an institutional developer that intends to hold and manage the building on a long-term basis. 

By increasing density in a highly walkable neighbourhood like the West End, this development will help reduce car dependency as residents will be able to live, work, shop and play within the downtown peninsula. 

 “Developments like this one at 1500 Robson are adding much-needed supply to the downtown rental market,” says Mayor Kennedy Stewart. “In order to alleviate the housing shortage in our city, we need more of all types of housing – especially purpose-built rental. By incorporating larger units suitable for families into the design, this new tower at 1500 Robson will also help diversify the housing mix in the Lower Robson neighbourhood”.

Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) announced today that it is recruiting five full-time Indigenous faculty members. The cluster hiring initiative, designed to introduce an interdisciplinary group of Indigenous academics to the university at the same time, will double the number of tenured and tenure-track Indigenous faculty at ECU. 

Indigeneity is one of the core priorities of ECU’s strategic plan. The path towards indigenizing the university includes a commitment to increase the number of full-time Indigenous faculty. Aside from teaching and research in their respective fields, the new faculty will contribute to ongoing initiatives to build cultural competency at every level within the university through strategic planning and community workshops.

“Universities have a crucial role to play in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action by integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into their curriculum, pedagogy and governance,” says Gillian Siddall, President of ECU. “One of the most important ways we can do this is to increase the number of Indigenous faculty at the university who can lead that process. Hiring five faculty members at one time also creates a cohort of new Indigenous faculty and signals to both Indigenous and non-Indigenousstudents our genuine commitment to indigenization and creating a safe cultural space for Indigenous students.” 

ECU has a long history of supporting Indigenous creative practices and research methods. A concerted effort to increase Indigenousrepresentation among the faculty began in 2007, and the 2015 appointment of Richard Hill, Canada Research Chair in IndigenousStudies, marked another key milestone. 

The Aboriginal Gathering Place, a purpose-built facility designed to provide the 100 Indigenous students studying at ECU with support, cultural programming and a home away from home on campus, was established in 2010. Today, ECU offers courses such as Aboriginal Design and Technology, Studies in Contemporary Aboriginal Art, and BC Aboriginal Art History.

“Although we have amazing support throughout the Emily Carr community with working towards decolonization, there is still much to be done,” says Brenda Crabtree, a practising artist who has been leading Indigenous programming at ECU as the Director of Aboriginal Programs since 1999. “Our goal is to infuse Indigenous ways of knowing throughout the university. Hiring five new Indigenous faculty members is an important step in reaching that goal.” 

The hiring process is led by Bonne Zabolotney, ECU’s Vice-President Academic and Provost, and coincides with the recruitment of five other permanent faculty positions at the university. Interested applicants are invited to review the employment opportunities section of ECU’s website and submit their application online (ecuad.ca/current-job-postings). ECU will start reviewing applicants in March, and will accept applications until the positions are filled.

It’s one of our favourite events each year: YVR Stars! The event honours the worker and volunteers who go the extra kilometre to deliver exceptional customer care at YVR. The night is both a thank-you to the more than 500 people who are nominated throughout the year as YVR Stars, and an awards show that acknowledges the top customer care stories of the year.

This year’s award winners included Securiguard and Canadian Border Service Guards employees who teamed up to help a stranded family in distress; a Dexterra customer service employee who aided an injured passenger; another Dexterra employee who helped locate and aid a travelling couple with dementia; and G4S worker who, on his own personal time, showed compassion by going out of his way to help a visitor navigate the Skytrain system.

It’s always inspiring for us to hear these stories and it feels great to be part of honouring these dedicated employees.

Elettra is responsible for event management of the YVR Stars gala, but we couldn’t do it without our amazing event suppliers and partners, SW Audiovisual, Butler Did It Catering, Simon Cooksley Event Design, DJ Jay, Kim Bellavance Photographe, and Earnest Ice Cream.

A huge thank you also to our wonderful clients - the YVR Customer Relations team - it’s both an honour and a privilege to work with you folks on this event each year.

Vancouver-based mobile game developer, Kabam, today announced the next phase of its growth with the long-term lease of 105,000 square feet across seven floors at Vancouver Centre II (VCII). The project, which is being developed by GWL Realty Advisors, has a targeted completion date of 2021. VCII will be the first office tower completed in the current cycle of downtown office development.

Kabam is excited to collocate into one unified, agile work environment. The company thinks the amenities are fantastic, and they know their four-legged team members will be excited to have a special place to enjoy as well. 

“Kabam is exactly the kind of forward-thinking, industry-leading firm we had in mind when we designed VCII,” says Geoff Heu, Vice President, Development – Western Canada, GWL Realty Advisors. “With VCII’s premier location in the downtown tech hub and its direct connection to two transit lines, it’s not surprising the building is already one-third leased before excavation is even complete. With the current exceptionally low office vacancy rate of 3.9 per cent, we are confident that VCII will be fully leased prior to completion.”

Founded in 2006, Kabam has become a global leader in multi-player mobile games with blockbuster releases such as Marvel Contest of Champions,which has had more than 168 million downloads worldwide since 2014. With over 400 employees across its Vancouver, San Francisco and Austin offices, Kabam sees Vancouver as a key part of its long-term expansion plans. 

 As VCII’s lead tenant, Kabam will have access to first-class amenities, including the 29th Floor Skyline Rooftop Deck; a state-of-the-art fitness facility and yoga studio; end-of-trip cycling facilities; and dog-friendly facilities. The project is targeting LEED Platinum certification and is registered with the International WELL Building Institute™. VCII’s Wired Certificationwill ensure it has thedigital infrastructure to addresses the advanced technology needs of today and the capacity to upgrade to meet future needs.

 Kabam’s quest for a new location was driven by its long-term growth plans. After partnering with Colliers International to determine key criteria, it became evident that Kabam’s property search should be driven by the needs of current and future employees. Following a comprehensive review of available properties, Kabam found that VCII checked more boxes than any other offering and met the most important criteria for supporting Kabam’s team and their long-term growth for years to come. 

Today, Elettra helped its client, GWL Realty Advisors, celebrate the completion of a deal for Amazon’s new Metro Vancouver Fulfillment Facility. It was a great event with a great turnout. Thank you to Tsawwassen First Nation for the warm welcome.

The Board of Governors of Emily Carr University of Art + Design today named Dr. Gillian Siddall as the University’s next President and Vice-Chancellor. 

“I am delighted to announce Dr. Gillian Siddall as ECU’s new President and Vice-Chancellor,” said Kim Peacock, Chair, ECU Board of Governors. “As the University begins writing the next chapter of its story, Dr. Siddall has the qualities, experience and track record to harness the best ideas from the ECU community and the leadership experience to put them into action.”

The appointment marks the culmination of a year-long search by ECU’s Presidential Search Committee, guided by the international recruitment firm Caldwell Partners. The 14-member Search Committee comprised representatives from across the University, and included students, faculty, staff, alumni and a member of the Indigenous community at ECU.

“I am thrilled at the prospect of being the President and Vice-Chancellor,” Dr. Siddall said. “I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the people of ECU to help advance the priorities that they’ve already identified around decolonization; trans-disciplinary learning, research, and creative practice; social justice; and innovation. There are a lot of exciting things happening at Emily Carr, and it will be wonderful to be part of that.”

Dr. Siddall holds an Honours BA and MA in English from the University of Guelph and a PhD in English from the University of Western Ontario. She began her career as a sessional lecturer at the University of Guelph, before accepting a tenure-track appointment at Lakehead University in 1998. There she went on to become the founding Director of the teaching and learning centre, and then Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her research area is Canadian literature, and she has published extensively on the subject of musical improvisation, both within and outside a literary context. 

She most recently served as Vice-President Academic and Provost at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U) where she led the academic planning process. This experience, along with her personal connection to the arts as a jazz vocalist and choral singer, make her well-suited to understand the specialized nature of art and design education. She is an advocate of Indigenization and decolonization within the university sector, and co-led the Provost’s Taskforce on Indigenous Learning at OCAD U with Professor Bonnie Devine.

Dr. Siddall succeeds Dr. Ron Burnett, who has served as ECU’s President since 1996. Dr. Burnett will be stepping down from the position on July 31, 2018. Dr. Siddall’s term commences September 1, 2018. 

Michael Clifford, VP, Finance + Administration, and Bonne Zabolotney, VP Academic + Provost, have agreed to serve as co-Interim Presidents from August 1 until Dr. Siddall’s arrival.

We are pleased to welcome Nichole Kapalungan to our team at Elettra.

With her passion for arts and culture and an unbridled love for literature and film, Manila-born and Vancouver-reared Nichole is joining our team as an Account Executive.

As a communications professional she believes that access and transparency cultivate meaningful relationships and create valuable engagement. Having developed skill sets in marketing and communications within the retail and arts and culture sector, she is excited to pursue a career in Public Relations and collaborate with Elettra’s diverse clientele.

While pursuing her BA in English Literature and Arts and Culture Studies at Simon Fraser University, she co-created and curated a series of art exhibits called “The Postcard Show” which were focused on creating accessible art on a mobile medium. The series found homes in Vancouver galleries such as Ayden Gallery and Hot Art Wet City.

When she isn’t writing your strategy, you’ll find her trying out the newest microbrew in the city and finding the best nook to read her book. 

We are thrilled to thank our intern from the BCIT Marketing Communications Program, Yazmin Lara Yunes, for her work and contributions to Elettra Communications these past six weeks. Here are a few words from her:

I am really grateful for the authentic PR experience Elettra has enabled me to have during my nine-week practicum. 

Being able to see how two Public Relations veterans run their own agency and all the behind-the-scenes work that gets put into events really helped me have a deeper understanding and appreciation for Public Relations. 

With the help of the Elettra team, I was able to participate in countless projects happening around this very city and catch a glimpse of the discussion and decision-making process PR associates go through in order to come up with a recommendation for their clients. I was also able to further develop my communications skills and learn to come up with solutions quickly and under pressure. 

The variety of clients Elettra works with gave me the opportunity to learn about other industries as well. Working on projects such as the Chefs’ Showcase for the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, I learned about the dynamic food scene in Vancouver and all the ambrosial menu options for all tastes.

Now nearing the end of my time on the team, I look forward to working on Forestry Proud Day and continue learning about the various jobs that shape PR.

Thank you Elettra for the enriching experience!

Elettra Communications has been thrilled to be involved in the Forestry Friendly Communities initiative for nearly a year now. Through videos and features, we tell the stories of hard working forestry and logging folks – everyone from foresters to pulp mill workers; educators to students; truck drivers to scientists; as well as community leaders, business leaders, and local groups like outdoors clubs.

Our main platforms to date have been the FFC website and Facebook page, but this week something very exciting is happening. We're heading to Port McNeill for the first annual Forestry Proud Day event. It's a concept we've been developing over the past six months along with the FFC committee. The idea is to get people together in person, and stand up together and say: “we’re proud to work in forestry!” 

The event includes a flag raising, fun activities, and a BBQ, and we're looking forward to making it an annual event. 

If you're on the North Island, come to Port McNeill on Wednesday to see what it's all about. If not, take a look at this video and the head over to Facebook to tell us why you're forestry proud.

A celebration of art in public spaces

Over the past two weeks, a group of local and international artists have been creating new murals in Granville Island's Chain & Forge – a new public space located underneath the Granville Street Bridge.

The creation of the murals is part of Art Smash, a new annual event on Granville Island that celebrates visual art in public spaces. The completed murals will be officially unveiled on May 12th during the Art Smash Street Party Celebration that will be held from 1 pm to 9 pm and will feature live mural creation, non-stop music from local DJs, food trucks, BC craft breweries and live dance performances. Hope you can join us!

Want to know more about the artists? Read the Vancouver Sun's story here.

Peter and Joanne Brown gift painting by acclaimed B.C. artist

Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) celebrated today the donation of E.J. Hughes’ iconic painting Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC at an event attended by various members of university community – including donor Peter Brown and his family.

“The donation of this painting is further evidence of Peter and Joanne Brown’s commitment to the arts in general and to Emily Carr University in particular,” says Dr. Ron Burnett, President and Vice-Chancellor of ECU. “E.J. Hughes was one of the greatest painters this province has ever produced, and we hope that the presence of this painting on campus will inspire future generations of artists.”

This is the Browns’ second major donation to the University. The Peter and Joanne Brown Foundation were significant contributors to ECU’s THE BIG IDEA capital campaign, which helped fund the University’s new Great Northern Way campus. They also generously gave ECU a sculpture by Canadian artist Joe Fafard titled Emily Carr and Friends.

Completed in 1948, the oil-on-canvas painting depicts two steamships that used to ply the coastal waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It was originally purchased by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia in 1952.