Gregor started off with a fishing story and somehow tied it into media arts, W2 and the Olympic Games. It was impressive to say the least.
In a once empty building on a forgotten stretch of street, scores of independent and accredited journalists mingled, tweeted, and blogged excitedly first thing today. The musty smell of disuse and neglect that would’ve hung in the air normally had been replaced by freshly roasted coffee, and the lingering essence of shampoo, hair product and cologne. It smelled like morning, like the beginning of something fresh and new.
As we converged on the W2 Culture and Media House, where Mayor Gregor Robertson and W2′s Irwin Oostindie were officially welcoming the world to the first (and maybe last) fully recognized independent media centre at an Olympics, I couldn’t help but notice all the new signs, upgraded building facades, park improvements, coffee shops and restaurants in our neighbourhood. Though the buildings might be charmingly old, there’s something excitedly new about the DTES. Perhaps it’s a new sense of confidence, a new sense of community empowerment, a sense that in once empty buildings on once forgotten stretches of street this neighbourhood is making history, in a good way.
After Irwin gave an excellent introduction to W2 with an overview of the centre’s several functions he introduced Mayor Gregor Robertson who immediately took some video footage of the packed room on his iPhone and stated “We’re all media” to a laughing and cheering crowd. As Gregor continued talking it became apparent that he wanted to acknowledge the transformation that the DTES has been experiencing, a change that “embraces the community” as he put it. “We have to acknowledge our problems but we also have to acknowledge the positive things that are happening in this neighbourhood”
Gregor acknowledged a handful of the organizations that have been working in the DTES including Building Opportunities with Business, who helped W2 find their space, secure funding, advised on their business plan, and have been major supporters (and fans) of their vision. As Gregor continued to discuss Vancouver’s inner city over top the sporadic clicking of camera shutters and laptop keys, he noted the role of social enterprise and art in the revitalization of the DTES and reminded all present that this part of the city has the more artists per-capita than any other neighbourhood in Canada.
Creativity is one of the most valuable assets that we as cities and as cultures posses and Vancouver has it in abundance. The Eastside breathes, sweats and bleeds creativity. While many see the Downtown Eastside as a liability during the Olympics, the value of that creativity actually makes it an asset to Vancouver. I was happy to see Mayor Gregor acknowledge the value of the creative economy and the role it’s playing in the rejuvenation of the DTES.
Photo by Kris Krug, renowned Vancouver photographer and multimedia maven
We congratulate W2 once again on their success. We’re proud as Vancouverites (well I guess Brian is from Gibsons…but he’s got major Van street cred) and as members of the DTES community that we can be here to witness such an innovative and historical moment in our community’s history. What’s happening at W2 has implications that extend well beyond Vancouver. Communications and Media are changing, and during these Winter Olympics Vancouver has asserted itself as a leading city in media arts thanks to the efforts of people like Irwin at W2 and other desingers, artists, bloggers and social media mavens that fill this city with a buzz that extends to New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney and the rest of the world. The international community has seen the natural beauty that we’ve become renowned for, sweeping mountains, rich forests, blue ocean. Now the world will see the beauty of our creative community, our innovative multimedia producers, photographers, artists, animators, filmakers, musicians and performers. There’s no doubt in my mind that when the Games are done we’ll be just as renowned for them too.
