As the provincial sport authority for sailing in British Columbia, BC Sailing wanted a new website that would serve as an information hub for sailors, instructors, officials and other members of the sailing community.

The Elettra team sat down with various members of BC Sailing’s executive team and board of directors to learn about their objectives for the new site, how they wanted to use it, and what they liked and didn’t like about their old site. Care was taken to understand how the sailing community was using the old website and what expectations they and other stakeholders had for the new website.   

Elettra then designed a new website that took all of this into account. The website’s structure was overhauled so that information is presented in a way that better reflects the organization’s objectives and makes it easier for users to find what they need. Content was condensed and refined to make it clearer and easier to read. New features and functionalities were added to provide greater utility to users and make it easier for BC Sailing to manage.

The new website was well received by the BC Sailing and the sailing community – especially in the context of the pandemic, where online communication and the timely flow of information have become all the more important.  

During an exceptionally wet fall, we lucked out with a couple of beautiful days for the filming of a Vancouver Centre II (VCII) 'update' video for our client, GWL Realty Advisors. 

Over four years ago, we helped GWL announce the ground-breaking of Vancouver Centre II, a 33-storey AAA office tower at 753 Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver. And today, this building is nearing completion, with plans to welcome tenants into the building this summer.

The goal of this video was to show off the building's beautiful design, its incredible amenities, and the fact that it is progressing and near completion.

As referenced in the video, VCII's occupants will have access to many attractive amenities, such as the 29th floor Skyview Deck, a stunning outdoor terrace and event space with sweeping views of the city. As well as a private state-of-the-art fitness facility and yoga studios with change rooms, showers, and end-of-trip cycling facilities.

The tower will also have several smart-building features, such as automatic parkade gates that recognize license plates, a hands-free elevator, and much more. And to top it off, it's designed to meet LEED Platinum, WELL and Wired specifications. 

This video was done with our video production partner – 44th Element Films.

Check out the final video here:

Remember back in 2019 when our client, GWL Realty Advisors, broke ground on the first new rental tower on Robson Street?   

Well, yesterday was a big day for GWL Realty Advisors as it officially opened Chronicle, a 21-storey, 128-unit residential rental tower located at 825 Nicola Street (at Robson). We helped GWL Realty Advisors celebrate the opening with an event and ribbon cutting. So thrilled to be planning events for our clients again!

Read more about Chronicle on Robson here and here.

Here few photos from the event:

Master plan envisions urban village with over 5,000 housing units, a 450,000-square-foot film studio and an Indigenous cultural centre; Sets precedent for the celebration of Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh culture in Burnaby

Musqueam Indian Band, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Aquilini Development unveiled today their proposed master plan for the redevelopment of the Willingdon Lands in Burnaby, B.C. The plan outlines the creation of a mixed-use, contemporary Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh urban village that will provide approximately 5,000 housing units and include a film studio that will bring more than 3,000 new, long-term jobs to the city.

“Our vision for the Willingdon Lands is to create a contemporary Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh urban village that provides a cultural experience, is interconnected with nature, and allows us to tell our stories through placemaking and design,” says Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow. “This is an opportunity for us to continue our legacy as land developers and economic forces within the modern landscape. With this project, we will continue to advance reconciliation and accommodation and create a positive legacy for future generations.”

The site’s design will incorporate a number of elements inspired by the nations’ history, culture, and connection to the lands and waters such as entry portals, artwork, native plants, a medicine garden, and wayfinding signage in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and English. At the heart of the development will be a Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh cultural centre and an outdoor hearth that will serve as a gathering place for both the nations and the wider community.

“Storytelling is an integral part of Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh oral tradition and culture,” says Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Jen Thomas. “In reimagining this site, we wanted to embed storytelling into the space in ways both big and small – from the film studio, the cultural centre and the community hearth to the use of native plants, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ placenames and educational signage.”

Care was taken when crafting the master plan to ensure that it blends in well with the surrounding neighbourhood. With approximately 5,000 residential units, the plan outlines a variety of housing tenures, types, sizes, and levels of affordability that will appeal to a broad range of individuals and families. Housing types include leasehold strata, market rental, moderate-income rental, affordable rental and live-work units in a variety of sizes and formats. A childcare centre is also planned for the site.

The master plan will be officially presented to the City of Burnaby’s Planning and Development Committee on November 23rd and will be followed by public consultations, which will culminate in a public hearing anticipated for next spring.

The connection to the lands and waters is a key component of the master plan. The landscaping will use native plants, trees will be selected for longevity and shade, gardens will feature edible and medicinal plants and rain gardens will naturally capture stormwater. The project will also daylight a section of Sumner Creek, restoring a part of the natural creek system to the neighbourhood.

The inclusion of the film studio in the plan aligns with Burnaby’s 2020 Economic Development Plan, which specifically identifies the Willingdon Lands as the site for a new media urban village. The 450,000-square-foot film studio will bring over 3,000 full-time, long-term jobs to Burnaby’s film industry. Once it is fully operational, the film studio is expected to contribute over $360 million annually to B.C.’s economy.

“This project is the first of its kind in Burnaby,” says Ryan Seminoff, President of Aquilini Development. “We are very grateful to have been invited by the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations to be a partner on this important project, which will celebrate Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh culture in Burnaby and add to the growing portfolio of Indigenous-led development projects.” 

Located on the southwest corner of Willingdon Avenue and Canada Way, the Willingdon Lands lie on the shared territory of the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations. In 2014, the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations along with Aquilini Development purchased the lands from the provincial government.

The master plan responds to many of the recommendations made by the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing in Burnaby. These include introducing a variety of housing forms (including ground-oriented and family housing), creating sustainable and accessible communities close to services and amenities, co-locating affordable housing with community facilities, and increasing the supply of affordable rental housing.

Salt Spring Coffee is celebrating its 25th anniversary and reinforcing its commitment to sustainability by launching a limited-edition collection of single-origin coffees grown using regenerative organic agricultural practices. Each of the three coffees in the collection is made from the same beans, but processed using a different method allowing consumers to appreciate how each method changes the coffee’s flavour.

“For our 25th anniversary, we wanted to create a coffee collection that exemplifies Salt Spring Coffee’s dedication to producing coffee of the highest quality and acting as a force for positive environmental change,” says Mickey McLeod, Co-Founder and CEO of Salt Spring Coffee. “When we started back in 1996, we were one of the first to roast organic coffee in B.C. and, with this new collection, we are proud to champion regenerative organic coffee in the province.”

Regenerative organic agriculture is a set of agricultural practices that allow for the cultivation of crops in a way that has minimal impact on the environment and even helps return it to a healthy state. For the production of this coffee, practices included fertilizing the coffee plants with cow manure enhanced with forest microorganisms, using honeywater produced during coffee processing as a natural insecticide and choosing coffee saplings whose roots run deep rather than wide, increasing the plants’ longevity and reducing the disruptions to the soil ecosystem associated with frequent replanting.

The coffee beans were sourced from Byron Corrales’ Finca Los Pinos in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Corrales is an expert grower and long-time Salt Spring Coffee partner who has been growing coffee using regenerative organic agricultural practices for over 25 years.

The three coffees in the collection – Legado, Momento and Porvenir – are made with the same beans, but are processed using three different methods. The methods (washed, natural and honey-processed) differ in the amount of coffee cherry flesh that is left on the bean as it dries, which results in the coffees having different flavour characteristics.

Washed coffee removes all of the pulp from the bean before drying, allowing the true character of the regional terroir and growing conditions to shine through. Natural coffee leaves the pulp intact allowing it to infuse the beans with intense fruit notes and give it a more dynamic character. Honey-processed coffee leaves only a thin layer of pulp (known as mucilage) on the bean, which eventually turns brown and sticky (hence the comparison to honey) and provides sweet, fruity notes that are subtler than natural coffee.

The names of the three coffees – Legado, Momento and Porvenir – represent the past, present and future of the company while the use of Spanish is a nod to the coffee’s Nicaraguan roots.

The limited-edition coffee collection is available for sale at saltspringcoffee.com and at Salt Spring Coffee’s Café & Kitchen in Ganges, B.C.

The company is also launching ground coffee and compostable pod versions of its existing coffee blends. The ground coffee is already available in store and online while the compostable pods will be available online starting in late November and in grocery stores starting early 2022. 

Under the Comma banner, Rize introduces a slate of design-forward, purpose-built rental developments from Vancouver to Los Angeles

Rize Alliance today unveiled Comma Properties, a new division focused on building better rental communities. Motivated by the need for uplifting rental that promotes social interaction, Comma will bring an integrated approach to rental property management, residential community programming, and retail leasing. Comma will deliver both residential and commercial spaces across the Lower Mainland as well as in Los Angeles.

“With Comma we want to shift the perception of what rental housing can be in our cities,” says Benn Duffell, VP of Development at Rize. “We are inspired to build communities where rental will no longer be seen as lesser than home-ownership. Comma’s rental properties will be design-forward, vibrant, and will strive to facilitate meaningful connections among residents.”

In its quest to build better rentals, Rize is expanding its portfolio to the US and developing a co-living rental project in Sawtelle Japantown, Los Angeles. Comma will bring the best of LA rental culture to its rental developments in the Lower Mainland.

“As a progressive city for renters, Los Angeles is home to a thriving co-living scene where social programming and shared living are at the core of its community,” continues Duffell. “We have been inspired by other cities with strong rental cultures and this is informing our work in Vancouver.”

The company’s first rental project, located in Fraserhood, broke ground in late 2020 and is expected to be move-in ready by spring 2023. This six-storey purpose-built rental will have a curated retail strategy that is geared towards independent and locally owned businesses. Rize is taking a hands-on approach to its retail strategy, ensuring that businesses within Comma buildings align with what matters to the residents and the surrounding neighbourhood. Comma-Fraser will have 104 total homes including below-market rentals and 13,500 square feet of commercial retail space.

Beedie Luminaries wanted to define their values and vision so that their scholarship recipients would know what the organization stands for. To help them with this, Elettra designed and facilitated a vision and values discovery process that allowed them to identify the core values that are at the heart of their organization and articulate their vision for the future.

The discovery process consisted of a series of workshops and engagement sessions with Beedie Luminaries’ scholarship recipients, board of advisors, executive team and other stakeholders to identify the organization’s values and vision. Care was taken to solicit input at various stages of the process from all corners of the Beedie Luminaries’ community to ensure that the final values and vision statement resonated with everyone.

At the end of the process, Beedie Luminaries unveiled its new vision and values to its community.

VISION

Brighter Futures for Bright Minds

VALUES

On June 14, our client Beedie Luminaries awarded $5.1 million in scholarships to 112 B.C. Grade 12 students as well as 15 single parents looking to pursue further education. This is the third year that Beedie Luminaries has given scholarships to high school students and the first year that it has awarded them to single parents.

The Beedie Luminaries program seeks out students who have not only demonstrated strong academic readiness, but who are also engaged in the world around them and have taken on life challenges and adversity with determination and optimism. These scholarships recognize students’ resilience and resolve while easing the financial pressure associated with post-secondary studies.

“Over the past three years, I have been blown away by the students who we have met through our program and can’t wait to see the impact that they will make in the world,” says Ryan Beedie. “In getting to know their families, and recognizing the barriers single parents face, we saw the potential to expand our program to also include single parents looking to upgrade their education. I am delighted to welcome our first cohort of 15 adult learners to the Beedie Luminaries community along with 112 recent high school graduates.”

This year’s Grade 12 recipients come from 65 high schools in 26 communities, with 35 per cent being the first in their immediate family to pursue post-secondary education and 75 per cent coming from single-parent or legal guardian families.

“It feels unreal to be part of such a distinguished community and knowing that I have security in my educational journey thanks to the support of my mentors, cohort members, and workers of Beedie Luminaries,” says Armen Bagdasarov, a 2021 Beedie Luminaries scholarship recipient. “I know that I now represent a high standard which I will do everything I can to uphold, in an effort to leave my mark on this program.”

The 15 recipients of the single parent award are embarking on their post-secondary studies at eight different universities, colleges and trade schools across British Columbia. The program anticipated to welcome ten recipients in its first year, but it was difficult for the committee to narrow down the selection to only ten, knowing the financial need and potential were so apparent.

Two of the recipients are parents of students who have previously been awarded a Beedie Luminaries scholarship and 13 are actively involved with Beedie Luminaries’ community partners.

“I have overcome so many challenges as a single parent and didn’t think that I would be able to go back to school, but now I am hopeful and excited that I can do this for myself and set a good example for my children,” says Nishani Sinthiya Rajkumar, a Beedie Luminaries award recipient and single mother of two. “I believe the program’s vision to help single parents who have struggled with adversity is unique and inclusive. Giving a second chance to others who haven’t been able to pursue better employment opportunities due to a lack of support and academic resources is no small feat.”

Beedie Luminaries launched on November 13, 2018, with a $50-million donation from Ryan Beedie, which coincided with his 50th birthday. To date, the program has awarded 335 scholarships to students across the province.

In addition to financial assistance of up to $40,000 per student, recipients are also paired with mentors, and offered paid work opportunities, Stay on Track student support, invitations to special events and access to the Beedie Luminaries online community.

Incoming Grade 12 students and single parents who are interested in applying to be part of next year’s cohort are encouraged to follow Beedie Luminaries on social media or visit beedieluminaries.ca. The application period for the 2022 cohort will open in fall 2021.

Salt Spring Coffee wanted to communicate more about its many values-driven initiatives, but did not have a clearly articulated set of values, which made storytelling difficult. Elettra worked with Salt Spring Coffee’s leadership team to identify and define the organization’s values as well as mission and vision statements.

Identifying our values definitely helped with storytelling, but in a broader sense, it also helps guide us in making business decisions, choosing strategic partners, and supporting relevant causes.

- Peter Chu, Marketing Manager at Salt Spring Coffee

The values were also woven into the company’s brand voice and photography guidelines so that they could be reflected in all of the company’s communications.

Salt Spring Coffee’s new vision, mission and values are:

VISION

A world where every business has a positive impact on humanity and the environment.

MISSION

We change the world for the better through coffee.

VALUES

Caring

We care deeply about the wellbeing of others and strive to create a safe and supportive team environment that welcomes all and celebrates diversity.

Responsible

We recognize the responsibility we have – both collectively and individually – to ensure that we have a positive impact on the world around us. 

Engaged

We are purpose-driven company that is acutely aware of the important issues that affect our world and passionate about championing solutions to effect change.

Authentic

We are an independently owned company that is authentic in how we present ourselves to the world and genuine in our desire to improve it.

Quality-Driven

We strive for quality in everything that we do and commit to producing products of the highest standard, both now and in the future.

Last week, we completed a successful four-week social media ad campaign for our client, go2HR, BC’s tourism and hospitality human resource and health & safety association.

The purpose of this campaign was to raise awareness and drive sign-ups for its new BC Safety Assured For Everyone (BSAFE) program, a free 90-minute online COVID-19 safety training program for staff and managers in BC’s tourism and hospitality industry. 

The training gives employees and managers a strong foundation in COVID-19 health and safety protocols and assists them in understanding evolving best practices. Upon successful completion of the course, participants can say they are BSAFE Trained, demonstrating their knowledge of and commitment to COVID-19 health and safety.

If you're interested in taking the program or want to learn more about it, be sure to check it out: https://www.go2hr.ca/training-education/bsafe 

Overdue fines discourage those most in need from using library services

Vancouver Public Library (VPL) is announcing a two week fine forgiveness campaign to welcome back library users affected by fines. Over 70,000 VPL patrons are impacted by fines and one in ten have lost their ability to borrow material due to fines. In addition to re-engaging those library users with blocked access, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the social impact of library fines. From June 14 to 27, Vancouver residents can contact their local VPL branch to have their fines forgiven.

“Whether it’s accessing educational resources, building literacy skills or getting lost in a book, library services should be accessible to everyone,” says Christina de Castell, Chief Librarian and CEO, Vancouver Public Library. “All too often we hear stories from people who have stopped using the library - sometimes for years - because of a simple error, like not returning a book on time. It’s often those most in need of library services that stop visiting us altogether. By forgiving fines, we hope to let these patrons know that we want them to come back and benefit from all the library has to offer.”

Once a VPL user reaches $10 in fines, their borrowing privileges are suspended. For lower income users, this can mean having to choose between life’s necessities and borrowing library books.

Fines disproportionately impact those facing economic and social barriers. Thirty per cent of all blocked cardholders live in four of Vancouver’s lowest income neighbourhoods (Strathcona, Grandview/Woodland, Downtown, Mount Pleasant). For example, in Strathcona (which includes the Downtown Eastside east of Main Street), the Vancouver neighbourhood with the city’s lowest median household income, almost one in five library users have lost the ability to borrow library materials. This is almost double the city average of one in ten.

"The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an economic challenge for citizens. In times like these, people have an even greater need to access to the resources and community services that the library offers. That’s why we are thankful that Vancouver City Council has provided funding for this event," continues de Castell. "Over the next two weeks, anyone with charges of any kind on their account can have their fines waived. It really couldn't be easier - just call, click or come in to your local branch.”

VPL is currently exploring ways to move towards a permanent fine free model. A February 2021 VPL survey suggests that there is strong public support for a fine free model. Of the 1,396 respondents, 63 per cent expressed support for a fine free library model, with only 26 per cent not in support.

The fine free movement has been gaining momentum across Canada and in the United States, with an increasing number of libraries permanently ending fine collection. In other jurisdictions, moving to a fine free model has enhanced goodwill, improved return rates, increased circulation, and encouraged the continuous return of users to the library.

Fine Forgiveness Event Details

• DATES: June 14 – 27

• WHAT: Outstanding charges will be cleared and blocked cards will be reactivated.

• HOW: It is easy to have your fines forgiven by calling, clicking or coming in during the event. Request your fines be cleared by contacting VPL in any of the following ways:

 Call 604-331-3670 or your local VPL branch

 Go online (vpl.ca/finefree).

 Visit any VPL location in person

We’re thrilled to share that our client, Edit Studios, has been featured in the latest issue of Western Living and Canadian Interiors! The office space featured is located in Vancouver’s iconic Marine Building and designed for BlueArck Private Equity. The design mixes the elegant comfort of French country with the sophistication of a modern Parisian office.

Take a peek at the print coverage above.

Great to see thoughtful and innovative thinking from our clients!

For Rize Alliance, rental housing is a key piece in building stronger, more connected communities in our city. Today’s opinion piece explores how thoughtfully designed rental can act as a social catalyst and deliver design-forward solutions for equitable living.

Read more below: