Nanaimo is getting better.

My compliments to Mayor Ruttan, Diane Brennan, Dianna Johnstone, Bill McKay and George Andersen for voting in a new Communication Manager position.

George's comments below (copied with permission from his Facebook page)  are well reasoned and positive.  The attitude, as much as the logic, expressed by George below is what I find exciting.  This is really what will lead Nanaimo to its potential as an attractive, efficient and balanced community.

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  George Anderson 
  

  , the reason I voted for a communications manager is because there is a lack of communication between the city and residents of Nanaimo that is one of the things I campaigned on. There are many examples of the poor communication on behalf of the city, such as the low barrier housing on uplands. In this example the city did not explain or give information to the public, and weeks later there were large ads in the paper with a family walking down a road and on the side a white picket fence with a woman injecting herself with a needle, that said "what’s wrong with this picture?"I think it very important that the city position on any project is clear and information is distributed in a fashion for everyone to understand. Instead the city allows for individuals in the community who do not know how things come about, nor do they understand the rational go ahead and define things that happen when they are not true.
  
  I am assuming that you read that the communications manager was hired in the Daily News. The question I would like to ask you is how many reporters do you think were in the room at the time the communications manager was voted upon? The answer is zero. I think it is shocking that a reporter can write a story on something and say there was almost no discussion on the topic when they were not even present at the time. We voted on this on Monday, and yet it did not come into the paper until Friday.
  
  Over the next three years the city will be moving forward with things such as the possible acquisition on Harmacs water system, or building a dam, or the dispute between the Snuneymuxw, that the citizens of Nanaimo have accurate information. Before being elected I had a belief that the government tells us the truth and I still believe that. My opinion on this is that the communications manager will facilitate ways to bring information to the community in new innovative ways so the public who elects mayor & council will know the rationale behind doing things. If I bring it back to the water issue, would you continue to live in Nanaimo if there was no water? I don’t think many people would and it is of the utmost importance that people have the information. Also you mentioned that this will be a "spin doctor" this job will not supplement mayor and council, its direction is to supply information to the community not to help mayor and council with the commentary or decisions council makes. If we were hiring a spokes person I would have voted against that as that is why we have the Mayor who speaks on behalf of the city, but also most people do not believe what politicians are saying which is why I think it is important we create this position.
  
  You say you had hoped for better when you voted for me. I would hope that you will understand my rationale on this issue. I take my job and the opportunity the people of Nanaimo gave me very seriously. I don’t think the electorate voted for me in the numbers they did because they thought I wouldn’t work hard. I spend numerous amounts of hours reading or agendas, briefings, researching issues, communicating with the constituents to make sure that I am making the right decision at the end of the day. I would say that people voted for me because they saw that we had commonalities. The way I see it is that we will not see eye to eye on each issue, but that on most issues over my term we will agree. I have tried to be as open and transparent as I can and I think I have accomplished it in that you are able to have this conversation with me right now through social media which you would not be able to with other elected officials. If you still have concerns please send me and email and we can discuss this further (george.anderson@nanaimo.ca)

  
  

  February 26 at 7:15pm ·  ·  4

The source of this quote can be found 19 comments down under the post below:

http://www.facebook.com/1GeorgeAnderson/posts/335096526532213?comment_id=4211550

Here's to the Crazy Ones

The following is from the Steve Jobs book by Walter Isaacson.  It is the text of a tv commercial that ran on the occasion of Steve Jobs taking over as CEO of Apple Computers in 1997 after a 12 year absence from the company he founded.  Apple was on the brink of collapse at that time. I believe that this "think different" mantra was very much how Steve saw himself and what lead Apple to become the worlds most valuable company.




Here's to the crazy ones.

The misfits.
The rebels. 
The troublemakers. 
The round pegs in square holes. 
The ones who see things differently. 

They're not fond of rules. 
And they have no respect for the status quo. 

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. 
About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. 

Because they change things. They push the human race forward. 


And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. 
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

Fighting in Hockey-Can the game live without it?

Good points of view on this question in the following articles.  The first 2 are ongoing points of debate -  obvious and old in my opinion, reflecting the differences between logic and emotion, health vs tradition.

1) End fighting in Hockey - Canadian Medical Association Journal
http://bit.ly/vNnDKF

2) Fighting is integral part of hockey - Josh Aldrich, Nanaimo Daily News
http://bit.ly/v2QF1b

The 3rd perspective I offer to add input to the analysis, is "historical".  Its about why the game came to be in the first place and how that process might serve to guide action on this debate now.

3) 100yrs today Hockey came to Vancouver Island
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/tom-hawthorn/a-centennial-for-ice-hockey-on-vancouver-island/article2288647

Frank and Lester Patrick promoted the game.  They not only brought big league hockey to Vancouver & the Island by opening an arenas in Vancouver & Victoria, they sold franchises and made rules.  The Patricks were credited with introducing forward passing, blue lines and "changing on the fly".

These guys were about money.  They wanted to put people in seats.

They introduced a product to appeal to a mass market.  They looked at the big picture.

I'd be surprised if now, they would not at least try, taking fighting out.

Vancouver is among the top NHL franchises generating approx:   $1.7Million per game in revenue.
The New York Islanders (and recently moved Atlanta) are bottom with approx:  $325,000/game

The point is that there is a big disparity.  The "recipe" is producing inconsistent results.

I sincerely believe that fighting in hockey has a profound and negative affect on minor league players, coaches, parents and refs.  This effect extends well beyond the rinks into daily life.  It conflicts with the positive messages promoted by sports.  But lets forget about this whoossie argument. Lets just think about the money.

I suggest a "non fighting" product would sell better, would reflect modern thinking and be supported better at the box office.

I suggest that if Frank & Lester were here today  - they would do what they had to, to get the game up to the highest level of regard, to a level at or above any other sport on the planet.

Fighting is hurting the game - Hockey can live without it.

Day Maker - Owen Kennedy

I ran into Owen Kennedy while riding up to rowing this morning. He walks from his Berwick on the Lake residence about the same time every Sunday. Owen was on Nanaimo City Council with Frank Ney and even ran against him one time for Mayor. Jolly sort, wonderful spirit and drive even thou he is losing his vision now in his mid 80's.


He still has big ideas to make the world a better place, he met the Occupy Nanaimo group recently and is working on a new social structure system - wow, I feel like a lightweight next to him.  


He made my day - said he voted for me

To Core or not to Core, that is the Question

The following 2 quotes are from:

CITY OF NANAIMO FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN 2012 – 2016

SECTION 1 Page 1

Executive Summary  

Report from the City Manager    

"A core services review is not the best way.............to deal with this concern about City operations"

"There is no point doing a core review without first undertaking a strategic plan" 

So is a Core Review bad or good?  

I don't need to know what a Core Review is, to sense the uncertainty in the "mixed" message contained in those 2 statements above.  If it is an inappropriate tool or misguided exercise then qualifying its use just makes me wonder if there is in fact, some good to be had.

The question of a Core Review dominates the City Managers Report on Page 1 and 2 of the 210 pages of accompanying explanations, graphs, charts and account by account, year by year details.  Good, Staff has a plan.  Life (and city operations) goes on.  City operations is a dynamic, moving process.    Corners are not turned, rather gentle changes of direction are "initiated". Unless someone "moves" to change it, an "internal auditor" will be hired to answer a question that I see as:

 "Can Nanaimo be more functional and efficient"?

Clear direction is required. It is time for unambiguous policy decision from Nanaimo Council.  What do the people want?  

Are we going to see debate and vote on this question? 

Is it "Core" time?  

Communications Manager needed in Nanaimo

Title:  Communications Manager needed in Nanaimo

Good words, written boldly on the back of my UBC Marketing Club t-shirt are

 "Nothing Happens Until Somebody Sells Something.”

Professional Communications is essential to Nanaimo going forward, it is desperately needed. There are people with World Class training and experience involved with every aspect of our City. It is time to put an equally high quality face on it. We have the high priced professionals in Finance, IT, Engineering, Planning, Operations, Parks and Recreation. Nanaimo is walking the walk; it’s time to step up and "talk the talk.

It is like a recent Candidate for Mayor I know who started the campaign with hands folded and black & white photocopied flyers. I quickly realized it was tacky, unprofessional and way below the standard people expected. Investment in professional communications brought me into the game. It does matter; it simply is not good enough to be good, looking good is essential.

Negativity towards the City hiring a Communications Manager exposes a lack of appreciation for professionalism in general - for why we bother doing things right and not just "good enough"

I am a professional marketer and have been since my UBC Commerce Marketing degree and work with IBM. It was as a marketing professional in 1976 with Molson's that I was introduced to Nanaimo. That year we sponsored the Nanaimo Amateur Golf tournament and (along with Mickey Mantle and Bob Ueker) of the opening of Serauxman Stadium.

A big issue in the recent election was the lack of "Transparency." For people to see what is going on, someone has to get the information out - efficiently. Volume and accuracy demands skill with a variety of tools and procedures. Like a surgeon who has to get it right for the patient to live, we need someone that can connect with the community in a timely and accurate manner in order for Nanaimo to live and grow. It is a complex, sophisticated and at times just boring, hard work job. It has to be done and done right. It’s not about "PR", not about "spinning", it’s about moving information when and where it’s needed, quickly and accurately.

Nanaimo has issues - money, control, waste, land use, culture, parks etc, etc.  Like any marriage with issues - a mediator, consultant or "councilor" will first and foremost suggest steps to improve "communications".  Well, let’s take a lead from life, if nowhere else and give it try. The top three positions in the City are accountants; let’s have a little balance. I want a salesman to run the world too.

Supportive Housing spurs Development

I bet you thought you had heard it all about Supportive Housing in Nanaimo's north end. 

Guess what?  

There’s more. It is stimulating growth - new opportunities for development and tax revenue.

During the 2011 civic election campaign I petitioned in favour of the Uplands Supportive House.  I called on about 1000 homes and businesses in the area around the planned location at Uplands Drive at Hammond Bay Rd. This location is near the centre of the image below where the brown, yellow and pink connect. Most of the big orange area is Woodgrove Mall.

This image is a zoning map.  The colours represent the different uses that are allowed under Nanaimo's zoning bylaw. Brown is agricultural (farming). Yellow is residential (houses, apartments). Pink is community service (schools, library, fire halls). The brown shaded area at the centre is the home of Green Thumb Nursery. 

It has been the home of the current owner since 1959.   The owner declined to sign my petition that day in November and expressed a readiness to sell the property and move. In the weeks since then I have come to realize that the comment was serious, that time and money has gone into preparing for a move.  

I choose to believe that several factors brought this on and that the supportive housing location is neither the main or even a significant reason. Perhaps it is a straw, as in "the straw that broke the camel's back."  I can relate to the situation in that like my own, the family has several generations.  I have learned to respect 3 different perspectives - the veteran wisdom, the youthful will and the responsibility of being in between.  

When I realized a move was serious, I took a different point of view. I looked at the map again and asked okay, what would I want to see where that big brown patch is? What colour would I make it? Woodgrove Mall is Nanaimo's #1 Taxpayer with almost $4 Million/yr or 3.1% of the $128 Million total collected.  I know a big water bill is coming so more tax revenue is good - right?

I got the appraisal and made a few calls. I do know people that have done and are doing things like buying, selling and building golf courses, shopping centres, care homes and hotels. This led to a call from someone in big "D" Development.  

As a small "d" developer I know the recipe or process for adding value to land. The result can be a tasty blend of profit, growth and opportunity - a win, win, win for business, families and the community as a whole.