Who is BOB?
BOB is a connector, a resource, and a facilitator.
Today, revitalization and regeneration is occurring in the inner-city. Residents, businesses, community groups, governments and a myriad of organizations are working together to ensure that the local residents and businesses benefit from this renewed interest and investment in the area.
BOB works to connect many different communities with the goal of bringing together the right combination of businesses, investors and residents that will assist in the revitalization of the inner-city.
The three projects outlined below highlight some of the work that BOB is currently doing. Read on for the full story.
Project 1: Pedicabs
A pedicab is a bicycle-rickshaw ridden by a tour guide for hire and usually seats one or two passengers. The pedicab project is led by the Chinatown Business Improvement Association (BIA), with BOB providing a grant to kick-start development of the project.
By providing visitors with an environmentally friendly, fun and novel way of seeing the sights, the BIA expects to boost tourism and employment in the inner-city. Best of all, passengers will find the pedicab experience from the waterfront through Gastown and Chinatown an adventure with knowledgeable guides willing and able to provide a unique and multi-faceted experience.
BOB's BusinessLink program will assist in the recruitment and training of pedicab guides in the inner-city. This project is just another example of how BOB is helping bring positive change to the inner-city.
For more information about this project, please contact Andrew McKay at (778) 328-7672 or email andrew.mckay@bobics.org.
Project 2: Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs)
Vancouver is a hot bed of development and construction, and with the support of the City, BOB is in a position to connect the inner-city to benefit from this flurry of activity.
Through the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), BOB connects major property owners and developers with inner-city businesses and workers. Each connection results in tailored agreements that create opportunities for the inner-city, such as:
- Fostering training and jobs for residents;
- Creating contracts for local businesses;
- Increasing housing for residents; and
- Establishing parks and other public-use facilities.
A major CBA currently in place is the Southeast False Creek Vancouver Olympic Village Community Benefits Agreement. The Millennium Group, the developer building the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Athlete's village and a partner in the agreement, has pledged:
- $750,000 for pre-employment and skill-development training;
- 100 construction jobs for inner-city residents; and
- $15 million of goods and services purchased from inner-city businesses.
CBAs benefit all parties involved, but most importantly, economic gains impact inner-city businesses and residents directly. If you would like more information about CBAs or are interested in training and employment opportunities, please email Lani Johnson at lani.johnson@bobics.org or call 788-328-7674. If you are a construction-related business that would like to be a supplier, call Whitney Larsen at 778-328-7663 or email whitney.larsen@bobics.org to become registered in BOB's directory.
Project 3: The Creative Industry Cluster
What is a cluster? A cluster occurs when a network of businesses and organizations with similar goals come together to create opportunities for success among their own organization and for residents of the inner-city.
And that is exactly what BOB does - creates and fosters industry clusters by connecting businesses, organizations and individuals together that leverage cooperation and collaboration to yield positive results.
The Creative Industry Cluster includes theatres, craft businesses, galleries and new media businesses that tap into the creative heart of Vancouver. The inner-city is particularly rich in culture, making it a dynamic environment to draw artistic and cultural inspiration.
For more information about this project, please contact Brian Smith at 778-328-7668 or email brian.smith@bobics.org.
A Year in Review
The Vancouver Olympic Village, bicycle rickshaws, and breakfasts. These are just a few examples of how Building Opportunities with Business Inner-city Society (BOB) is revitalizing Vancouver's inner-city.
2007/08 brought big changes and even bigger successes for BOB. With an innovative staff led by new CEO, Shirley Chan, the organization contributed to the actualization of numerous programs and business development strategies. These initiatives put into action the Vancouver Agreement's mandate of "revitalization without displacement".
The Millennium Community Benefits Agreement
One of the main highlights of the past year has been the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) between BOB, the city of Vancouver and Millennium Development. A CBA's aim and goal is to share with the local community the economic benefits associated with major developments. In support of this objective, Millennium, the winner of the bid for developing the buildings for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Village, pledged to secure $15M worth of goods and services from inner-city businesses, hire 100 inner-city residents in construction jobs, and contribute $750,000 for an inner-city employment training program.
Service Canada
BOB is uniquely suited to offer a Supported Employment Program (SEP). As a funder of the SEP, Service Canada specified numerous expectations for the 2007/08 year. BOB is pleased to report that as of the end of April we are on target and have already exceeded expectations for participant intake (+145% over target) and placement (+35% over target)!
Employer Breakfasts, SHINE, and Industry Nights
BOB recognizes the crucial role employers and suppliers play in the success of community development, and in order to better support them, numerous programs were launched last year including:
- Employer Breakfasts: sessions held monthly in partnership with the social enterprise, Potluck Café Society, to inform employers about resources available to them when hiring people with barriers;
- SHINE: sessions open to all participants of BOB's Supportive Employment Programs; an information resource utilizing personality tests and employer guest speakers to help participants SHINE in their workplace; and
- Industry Nights: mini "job fairs" for inner-city residents to highlight opportunities in specific industries (with employers from the selected industry as guest speakers) and inform participants of employment opportunities. These precede BusinessLinks, which are job-specific training programs sponsored by BOB.
Pedicab
BOB has also had the privilege of supporting and collaborating with Chinatown Business Improvement Association (BIA) on the Pedicab project. The business plan, funded by BOB, suggested creating a bicycle rickshaw adventure between Downtown Vancouver's waterfront, Chinatown, and Gastown as an innovative way to stimulate tourism and encourage sight-seeing. With the support of BOB's business development services, employment services, and the Tourism and Hospitality cluster, the Vancouver Agreement partners approved funding and Dragon Rickshaw Adventures is moving towards a launch for the upcoming summer.
So What's Next?
In addition to the excitement of the Pedicab launch, this upcoming year promises more opportunities and development for the Downtown Eastside. BOB recently launched a new Creative Industry cluster with a focus on the rich artistic and cultural business initiatives of the inner-city. We look forward to seeing the increased opportunities for the local arts industry as this cluster develops further.
BOB is in the midst of improving our communications plan in order to better connect with our stakeholders and community. We want to be of service to the community and invite your feedback. Expect great things as we re-vamp our website and set out with this new e-newsletter. Our next Word From BOB coming out in Fall 2008 will be featuring the Social Purchasing Portal, an effective networking system that combines supply chain economics and corporate social responsibility to achieve community benefits (www.sppvancouver.org).
With the successes of the previous year behind, BOB looks forward to working with you to strengthen community capacity, build upon untapped business opportunities, improve employment opportunities for inner-city residents and increase investment into the Downtown Eastside.
Making a Difference
Do you wonder what kind of a difference BOB is making in the inner-city community? Read on for some comments from organizations in the Downtown Eastside.
- Canadian Mental Health Association said "one client attended the landscaping training program. Not only did her confidence grow as a result of the program, but she was offered a position." With BOB's "BusinessLinks Program and job postings...clients who may lack recent work history or not interview well are given an opportunity to succeed."
- The YWCA said that their clients "benefitted from the individualized support they...received." They "recognize BOB as a resource for [their] clients for job postings, BusinessLinks training programs and supported employment."
- Potluck Cafe Society reported that due to their Social Purchasing Portal membership with BOB, they have received over $100,000 of business from a single purchaser met online and have secured many more new clients.
How Can You Help?
Are you:
- A business looking for business development support, to locate or connect to other inner-city businesses? E-mail Brian at brian.smith@bobics.org or call 778-328-7668
- An employer willing to hire from the inner-city with support from BOB? E-mail Liz at liz.charyna@bobics.org or call 778-328-7669
- A socially responsible business or social enterprise who wants to join the Social Purchasing Portal? Go to www.sppvancouver.org
- An organization that wants to support BOB's work? E-mail Shirley at shirley.chan@bobics.org or call 778-328-7670; or
- An inner-city resident looking for employment opportunities? Email Lani at lani.johnson@bobics.org or call 788-328-7674.
Introducing
CEO
Shirley Chan 778-328-7670 shirley.chan@bobics.org
Business Development
Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Coordinator
Whitney Larsen 778-328-7663 whitney.larsen@bobics.org
Business and Social Enterprise Developer
Brian Smith 778-328-7668 brian.smith@bobics.org
Business Analyst and Social Purchasing Portal Lead
Amar Virk 778-328-7671 amar.virk@bobics.org
Industry Initiatives Coordinator
Andrew McKay 778-328-7672 andrew.mckay@bobics.org
Workforce Development
Manager, Partnerships and Supported Employment
Liz Charyna 778-328-7669 liz.charyna@bobics.org
Employment Support Coordinator
Ramesh Lad 778-328-7675 ramesh.lad@bobics.org
Project Manager/Employment Services
Cory Wint 778-328-7665 cory.wint@bobics.org
Employment Support Coordinator
Lani Johnson 778-328-7674 lani.johnson@bobics.org
Administration
Office Manager
Kina Kenyon 778-328-7664 kina.kenyon@bobics.org
Finance Coordinator
Maureen Collier 778-328-7673 maureen.collier@bobics.org
Communications Liaison
Krystle Yeung 778-328-7662 krystle.yeung@bobics.org
Eastside Events
Vancouver Chinatown Night Market, May 16- Sept 7
A taste of Asia in a colourful street market taking place every weekend (Fri- Sun from 6:30pm- 11pm). Shop for gifts, clothes, and electronics while sampling delicious ethnic foods. Experience it at Keefer St and Main St. For more information please go to http://www.vcma.shawbiz.ca.
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Walk With the Dragon, July 20
The longest charity dragon in North America, carried by 40 martial artists, leads the way in this annual 7km walk. The event takes place along the scenic seawall in Stanley Park to raise funds for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Counselling services. Go to http://www.successfoundation.ca/walk for more information.
The Historic East-End Walking Tour, July & August
Explore and discover things you never knew about the Historic East End with tour guide John Atkin. This year's two-hour tours are being offered for Strathcona, Japantown, the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown. For more information and to pre-register go to http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org or call 604-264-9642.
The Annual Powell Street Festival, August 2-3
The longest running celebration of Japanese-Canadian art and culture in the Lower Mainland, this festival showcases and array of music, film, martial arts, sumo wrestling, crafts and delicious food.
Gallery Gachet
The Creative Industry Cluster created an affiliation with BOB and Gallery Gachet. This art gallery promotes the work of local artists living with mental challenges. For more information please visit www.gachet.org.
BOB-hosted Events
SHINE
SHINE is an event for everyone in BOB's Supported Employment Program (SEP) to network and gain more employment resources. To get involved, please email Lani Johnson at lani.johnson@bobics.org or call 778-328-7674.
Industry nights
Industry nights are open to the public and provide opportunities for individuals to network with people in specific industries. Please email Ramesh Lad at ramesh.lad@bobics.org or call 778-328-7675 for more information.
BusinessLinks
Business Links provide individuals with customized training programs that result in interviews with ready-to-hire employers. Completion of a BusinessLinks program also gives access to our Supported Employment Program. For more information please email Liz Charyna at liz.charyna@bobics.org or call 778-328-7669.
Employer Breakfasts:
Once a month, inner-city employers come together to receive information about resources available for hiring people with barriers. BOB partners with Potluck Cafe Society to deliver these sessions. Please email Liz Charyna at liz.charyna@bobics.org or call 778-328-7669 for more information.
BOB's Listening
Get in touch with BOB and tell us about your story or announce an upcoming event in the inner-city. Please email Krystle Yeung at krystle.yeung@bobics.org or call 778-328-7662.
See BOB online
Visit BOB online at www.buildingopportunities.org
