Summer Celebration Amendment (Maloney)

in times of affordability that some of our beloved Vancouver traditions are, that we are fighting for them and we're not quietly just sort of letting them slip away. So I wholeheartedly support it and I will be coming back to speak to the amendment that is coming. Thanks. Thanks, Councillor. Councillor Maloney.

Thanks. If I could be put on an amendment queue, please.

So please add yourself there. Okay. Please go ahead.

Thank you. I very much appreciate the intention behind the motion that's been brought and I very much agree with the underlying purpose. But this amendment expresses a slightly different vision that doesn't have to be an either or. It could be an as well or in addition to. But I believe it better supports the goal of creating a vibrant, fun Vancouver if we do have to choose between the two of them. and providing opportunities for ongoing stimulation of the local economy and supporting the breadth of arts and cultural activities in our city rather than just a one-off event. It's designed to give us more bang for our buck.

There are conflicting views about fireworks and in particular having to make a choice between investing in the celebration of light while the Canada Day fireworks are cancelled and choosing between one big event versus investing in the festivals, events and organisations that do so much to enrich our city, both culturally and financially. Vancouver currently has major events that are struggling and reinvesting in them right now would leverage the economic impact of homegrown festivals and events. Thank you.

Thank you. We need a seconder. Seconded by Councillor Orr. Okay, Councillor Kirby on the amendment. Yeah, thanks, Chair. I'm just going to preface this by, I know that we often hear from some of our new councillors, and I think Councillor Mulaney often says, and I appreciate the honesty in the statement that she's new here. There is a lot of this work that is already being done, so much of it. And again, I'm probably deeply connected to this coming from the tourism sector, but I myself moved a motion making it easier to host outdoor festivals and events. We have our FEST committee and our FEST work. We are maintaining our grants. We're looking at ways to work together already. There's an actual FEST committee of industry that have been meeting and talking about recommendations and in terms of how the city can do that work and support them. A lot of this work is driven in partnership. We have an ongoing relationship and we fund with the Vancouver Hotel. Destination Association, VHDA, as well as Destination Vancouver. There is a table and a partnership agreement that already exists with the city. This council has advanced funding to support that as one of the financial partners. And they utilize some of that hotel tax in order to stimulate new events that can come in and complement the calendar, to stimulate and look at how they can support existing events. to help leverage them up and sustain them. And so we see a lot of that work happening. It's things like, you know, everything from the Ferris wheel popping up to trying to incubate Lumiere and different events that happen at different times of the year. So the city is sort of deeply involved in and supportive of this work. A lot of this, I think, doesn't recognize the work that's already happening. It doesn't recognize the partnerships with Destination Vancouver, Vancouver Hotel, Destination Association. and others. And I think we've had different motions such as the street festival on Davie that we've been investing in thanks to Councillor Miser and resuscitating and doing that work, supporting Pride. So we've had a lot of different motions already, I think, in supporting and lifting up a number of these events. And we just need to keep doing that work with the existing structures that they have. So I'm not seeing anything new here. And for that reason, I will not be supporting it. Thank you. Thanks. Mayor Sim.

Yeah, really quickly. So, Councillor Maloney, thank you. And, you know, I see where the intent is coming from. Also, Councillor Kirby-Young, thank you for highlighting all the additional work that's happening behind the scenes on a bunch of other events that are, you know, going through this current economic crisis or environment as well. I just want to be very clear. We're talking about the fireworks, which is the largest community event in the province. It's free. It's family friendly. It's safe. And like I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of individuals that are dealing with affordability challenges. So events like this give access or accessible to people who wouldn't actually have access to other things. We are focused on saving this event. As I mentioned earlier, When these events go away, they're so hard to bring back. And so I think we really, the purpose of this motion is to provide focus on saving a fireworks celebration in the city of Vancouver that's free, family-friendly, and safe. And time is of the essence. And so with that, I will be respectfully not supporting the amendment to my motion. Thanks.

All right, Councillor Orr. Thanks. Yeah, I appreciate that there is a lot of work going on and there's a lot of organizations, you know, working behind the scenes in this. But what is new in this amendment is an influx of $2 million to support. these events and festivals. That is absolutely new. That is a lot of money. And as we heard from numerous speakers in festivals like Bard on the Beach and Mural Fest and other groups, when we tried to bring forward a hotel tax to support those festivals, which was ultimately struck and replaced, that this funding could go so far And for every dollar I think we heard, it's $10 in return back to the economy. So, I mean, that's $20 million in benefits that would arise from this amendment alone to support the arts.

Thanks, Councillor. Okay, before I advance the next speakers, I'm looking at the time. I need a motion to extend this meeting, just in case.

Complete this item. Okay, moved by Councillor Meiszner, seconded by Councillor Davenato. All those in favour, say aye. Opposed, say nay. Okay, thank you. The motion carries. Councillor Maloney.

Yeah, thank you, and thanks to Councillor... for running me through all those things. I reassure her that I am very much laser focused on what we do and don't do for arts and culture in this city. And as Councillor Orr mentioned, the new thing here is the $2 million. I was very careful to draft this to emphasise the benefit to... ..the ongoing benefit to our local businesses from attracting visitors to our city, but not just once, not just a one-off day, throughout the course of the season to make sure that there's an ongoing source of funds so that... Different people get the opportunity to engage in different events that might interest them. And we really do benefit so much from the unique festivals and events and cultural organisations. And they contribute so much to making Vancouver vibrant and interesting and wonderful and unique. So I'm regretting that I'm thinking that this won't be supported. However, I would really encourage council to consider doing it as well as a one-off contribution or investment in the Festival of Light. Thank you.

Councillor Claston.

Just really briefly, just first of all, the original motion, which is asking for an additional $600 million or so thousand dollars to top up a typical grant of over $1.4 million is, I think, appropriate. This event obviously looms large in the hearts of people of the city. We know that it generates a significant amount of economic activity around it. And so I'm going to be supporting the original motion. I do sort of take heed to Councillor Kirby Young's words around the fact that a lot of this work is happening right now. I think we just need to think of this exactly for what it is, which is an ability to bridge through 2026 to make sure that we can revive and strengthen a festival of lights for future years to come. Thanks.

Thanks. Councillor Meiszner.

Yeah, thanks, Chair. I won't be supporting the amendment either, but I'm strongly in support of the original motion to bring back the celebration of light this summer. As mentioned, this is the largest free event in the province, and it's worthwhile to do this. I've been coming to the show since I was a teenager. My family used to take the ferry over from... from the island to attend the fireworks, back when it was sponsored by Benson & Hedges, and it was called the Symphony of Fire. And I still attend to this day. So as mentioned, there's already funds allocated for this year, and this is just a small top-up to those funds. And this is going to bring back the celebration of light for one night this summer. a year that's really pivotal for our city with FIFA in town. It's right before the Pride Festival, which I'm happy to have supported and will be supporting again this year with bringing back the block party to Davie Street. But this will secure this marquee event, and I know that we can work hard to get sponsors interested for 2027 next year and bring it back in its full form as it used to be. I think this is a fantastic motion and I'm really excited to support it. Thanks.

Thanks, Councillor Meiszner. So seeing no one else on the queue, let's go to the vote on amendment.