Robson Square name up for sale to corporate sponsor
Vancouver mayor writes stern letter to PavCo over B.C. Place sign
BY BOB MACKIN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER DECEMBER 16, 2011
For the second time since the 2010 Winter Olympics, the provincial government is trying to sell Robson Square’s name to a corporate sponsor.
Complex operator Shared Services B.C. published a Nov. 25 request for proposals seeking a marketing professional to introduce an “advertising partner” to the province. Dec. 19 is the bid deadline.
The government hopes to sign a three-to-five year deal with a company or individual whose main business does not sell alcohol, tobacco, weapons or pornography or harm the environment.
The bid document states that “City of Vancouver sign bylaws will be observed.”
In early October, residents near B.C. Place Stadium complained that the Terry Fox Plaza advertising screen was too big and too bright, prompting Mayor Gregor Robertson’s stern Oct. 24 letter to B.C. Pavilion Corporation minister Pat Bell.
“Minister, I would ask that you direct your officials at PavCo to look seriously at the concerns of the citizens who are neighbours of B.C. Place—bring your signage into compliance with our bylaw and address the issue of the stadium lights,” said Robertson’s letter, obtained via Freedom of Information. “This is an area of the city where there are innovative plans for further development, and it is essential that we keep the public fully engaged and supportive.”
The B.C. Enterprise Corporation Act puts the stadium under provincial jurisdiction, but Robertson wrote “it has been our assumption that, on issues related to the local community, PavCo would work hard to be a good neighbour.”
NDP critic Spencer Chandra Herbert grilled Bell in question period Nov. 17 for disturbing neighbours and dishonouring the Terry Fox memorial. Bell conceded that there were “challenges with the technology implemented” in the stadium.
“PavCo’s been working with the City of Vancouver to ensure that we’re working within the structure of the approved bylaws,” Bell claimed.
Community services general manager David McLellan told Robertson at city council on Nov. 29 that “they haven’t approached us to have any discussions of any sort on removal or adjustment of those signs.”
“It’s outrageous [Bell] would mislead the assembly like that,” said sign foe David Cookson. “You don’t put giant advertising screens in front of people’s glass houses.”
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http://www.vancourier.com/news/Robson+Sq...sponsor/5873441/story.html#ixzz1gry6QgbP
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