15 things that changed the BC wine industry in 2011
What's happening in BC wine country? A BCWineLover/CityCaucus.com cross-post
2011 was a watershed year for BC's young and evolving wine industry. Once again cool weather would test the resolve of both veterans and newcomers alike. The mild springs and hot summers British Columbia got used to during the last decade are doing a disappearing act, forcing wineries to adapt to much lower grape yields and in some cases causing inconsistent output.
On the bright side, however, BC wine seemed to shift into a higher gear in terms of its overall quality, and the industry gained respectability and influence both at home and abroad. It's easy to overlook our successes and lose track of the events that are helping to shape BC's wine industry, which is what brings me to write this industry retrospective.
What were the biggest events which impacted British Columbia's wine industry? I present them in ascending order of significance.
#15 Culinary experiences expand in the Okanagan
Two years back BC Wine Lover interviewed local wine pioneer Harry McWatters about what he felt the industry could do to add value to the wine travel experience in our province. His advice – seen in this short video clip – was to increase the number of culinary attractions. "We've had a deficit in great culinary experiences historically, and we're starting to see now a broader range of accommodation," remarked McWatters, who goes on to say the challenge is to expand beyond just the traditional (summer) seasonal business.
To that end, 2011 was the year Okanagan wine country saw an increase in choice for fine dining. In recent years the Naramata Bench has had a couple of options at Hillside Estate Winery and Lake Breeze Vineyards where wine travellers could pair with delicious dinner and lunch dishes.
Continue reading 15 things that changed the BC wine industry in 2011.
Tagged: bill c-311, christa-lee bond, christine coletta, dan albas, harry mcwatters, john schreiner, john skinner, naramata, ok crush pad, sandra oldfield, terry david mulligan, tim pawsey
Hopes & plans for 2012: A closer look at the civic scene in New West
Daniel takes a look at the year ahead in politics for New Westminster
As with last year, the New Westminster News Leader asked my colleague Daniel Fontaine to answer a few questions on the future of Royal City politics in 2011. The column is landing on the doorsteps of New Westminster residents this week and we've decided to also share it with you.
Q: Were there any surprises for you regarding politics in New Westminster in 2011?
Probably the biggest surprise was how successful the New Westminster District Labour Council slate of candidates was in the recent civic election. They won a massive majority and now Betty McIntosh is the lone independent candidate on council. We saw the return of former NDP MLA Chuck Puchmyr to the chamber while voters said goodbye to independent councillor Bob Osterman after many years of public service.
Q: What do you think is the most pressing issue in New Westminster politics right now and why?
The key issues of transportation and housing affordability will remain hot topics in the coming year. The future of the Pattullo Bridge could become a major issue if TransLink decides to move forward with its plans for a six-lane expansion. Despite the fact New Westminster remains relatively affordable, housing prices continue to rise making it harder for young families to call the Royal City home. It will be up to the current council to tackle these challenges in the coming years.
Q: What would be the best thing that could happen regarding in New West politics in 2012?
The new Municipal Auditor General decides to examine why residential property taxes are so high in New Westminster compared to other cities. In response, city politicians decide to curb and/or reduce unnecessary expenditures over the next three years.
Q: The worst thing?
With only one independent voice left on council, the needs of average tax payers are placed secondary after those of special interest groups.
Continue reading Hopes & plans for 2012: A closer look at the civic scene in New West.
Tagged: municipal auditor general, new westminster, pattullo bridge, river quay market, traffic, translink
Media Viewpoint: The top city story of 2011
Windows smashed & stores looted on Granville Street on June 15th
It's a year-end tradition – think about the past 12 months and ponder the ones ahead. Many media outlets assemble the year's top stories covered on their beat, and I thought it would be interesting to provide a unique collection of remarks from reporters and opinion leaders whom I follow with interest. I appreciated that during this time of year we're all either on vacation or distracted on more important matters such as family and holiday festivities, so I kept the request extremely simple and contacted only as many folks as my schedule would allow.
I asked respondents to provide a brief summary of their top "city" story of the year. A sentence or two would suffice. It could be something they had reported on, or not. The story had to tie back to cities (any city, not just one you work in) in some way – i.e. how they're governed, taxes, planning, politics, etc. I was pleased with the thoughtful and diverse responses, and not terribly surprised that Vancouver's internationally reported Stanley Cup riot still stood out as the #1 story.
I might add that it's also interesting what wasn't mentioned – such as Vancouver's debate about lack of affordability and the perceived reasons for it. See many of the comments on a previous post about this topic.
Many thanks to all of the contributors, whose unedited responses I've compiled below, and to others who responded but declined to contribute at this time.
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In a year when you have a Stanley Cup playoff series, a major riot that damages not only property but the city's psyche and reputation, a downtown occupation that tests the limits of leadership and democracy. and a civic election that is to be a litmus test for a government going in a new direction, how can you choose just one story as the best of 2011?
As a long-time city hall reporter. I might like to think that the civic election was perhaps the biggest story; after all, it heralded a new mandate for Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver's ambitious agenda. It also came with the requisite drama: the spurning of David Cadman by Coalition of Progressive Electors members in favour of an old warhorse, Tim Louis. And danger, at least for Suzanne Anton, who gave up a safe seat to run as mayor for the Non-Partisan Association. There is also newness for the three new councillors, Tony Tang, George Affleck and Adriane Carr, and renewal for re-elected NPA councillor Elizabeth Ball.
But in truth, the story that constantly comes back to me is not of civic politics but that of The Wall.
In the hours and days after thugs and drunks laid waste to parts of Vancouver's downtown on June 15, people from all over the Lower Mainland left messages of hope and encouragement on the boarded-up windows of the city's looted shops and stores. That every inch of the plywood boards around The Hudson's Bay store was covered in words of apology, outrage and encouragement revealed an engaged citizenry less interested in who won the Stanley Cup than who owned the city. We found out in those days afterwards that while people can be ambivalent about some things - as the turnout from the Nov. 19 civic election again reminds us - they love their city more and are unwilling to see it trashed.
It may take the Vancouver Police Department and the courts months, even years, to charge and convict those responsible for the damage of that night. But the people who showed up early the next morning with brooms and garbage bags, and who wrote "This is our city" on the window hoarding are those who made the top of my list for 2011.
- Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun City Hall reporter (@SunCivicLee)
Vancouver’s story of the year was the Stanley Cup riot. No other event in living memory has had a greater impact on the psyche of the city. It rocked city hall, nearly sunk a police chief and cost millions. The Canucks rule local culture, for better or for worse. (Canucks in five games, next June.)
- Mark Hasiuk, Vancouver Courier columnist & reporter (@MarkHasiuk)
The riot is an obvious choice. No one expected the severity of the situation. And whether the punishment will prevent the next riot from happening is still very much unknown. It's made many proud hockey fans fear another final.
- Theresa Lalonde, CBC reporter (@TheresaLalonde)
The Occupy movement in Vancouver (and elsewhere) is my pick for the most interesting city story of 2011. Occupiers were, at times, a sincere, earnest bunch—friendly and eager to talk to reporters. But the mood changed significantly after a couple of drug overdoses, one leading to the death of a young woman. This story had everything—interesting and sometimes unusual characters, debates about democracy and the distribution of wealth, and clashes between Occupiers and police/firefighters about safety concerns. Unions and individuals donated cash and food, while critics argued campers didn't represent the so-called 99 per cent. Some questioned the mayor's handling of the encampment and how Occupy Vancouver might affect the civic election. After court battles, the tents and structures came down peacefully, but now there's arguments about how much the camp cost taxpayers—the city says the bill hit close to $1 million, while Occupiers claim they saved taxpayers money because they provided food and health care. I expect repercussions will continue into 2012.
- Naoibh O'Connor, Vancouver Courier reporter & columnist (@Naoibh)
Story number one: Vancouver’s Teflon mayor, Gregor Robertson, managed to win reelection in a landslide despite his role in luring 150,000 people downtown for a riot.
Honourable mention: The remarkable popularity of Lower Mainland mayors, most of whom won landslide victories despite a slow economy. The UBCM noted that over the last seven general local government elections, the turnover percentage was 44 percent across all offices. This year, that fell to 35 percent.
- Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight editor (@CSmithStraight)
Mayors okay TransLink gas tax hike… Metro Vancouver mayors approved a two cent per litre increase in the TransLink gas tax next April to ensure the Evergreen Line to Coquitlam proceeds and for other transit upgrades. The provincial government also passed legislation enabling the increase.
The transit expansion plan still requires more money. Unless mayors can negotiate other new funding sources for TransLink, a property tax increase would also take effect. Potential new sources are expected to be controversial and could see a vehicle levy imposed in the region, or even some form of road pricing or regional tolling.
- Jeff Nagel, Surrey Leader reporter (@JeffNagel)
I would say the city story of the year had to be the riot. It raised questions about the wisdom of encouraging large gatherings of that type, the interaction between police and council and our city's ability to handle the "hard-to-handle situations."
- Adrienne Tanner, Vancouver Sun City Editor (@AdrienneTanner)
Continue reading Media Viewpoint: The top city story of 2011.
Tagged: canucks riot, casinos, gas tax, grow-ops, homelessless, metro vancouver, urbanism, vancouver media
Permalink | Filed under: CityCaucus Feature
CityCaucus Christmas Redux: Biking in the Snow
Dear Readers,
On the occasion of our first Christmas Eve as CityCaucus.com three years ago, Vancouver was covered by a blanket of snow – which we dubbed just a few days later as Snowmageddon. Vancouver's new mayor was off on his first vacation of his term – apparently to Cuba – seemingly out of reach as city services ground to a veritable halt. Thanks to the soulful feelings spurred on by a white Christmas, I wrote one of my favourite posts "Biking in the Snow," which I'm sharing below as a CityCaucus Redux. Merry Christmas from all of us!
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It's Christmas Eve and all is quiet here at the corporate campus of CityCaucus.com. Empty brandy bottles and flattened cartons of egg nog still litter the desks from Monday's staff party. Those who made it in today were told to go home at noon. Only myself, the security detail at Gates 3 & 7, and Gomez the sub-contracted cleaner who took a 2 1/2 hour bus ride in today from Guilford are left on campus.
Daniel, who typically works banker's hours, has long since headed home to shovel his walk. Daniel loves shoveling his walk.
As I sit here alone on the 37th floor of the CityCaucus Tower it's a good time to reflect upon our heady 2 weeks of publishing, and what lies ahead in 2009. And most of all it is a time to take stock, and give thanks.
Continue reading CityCaucus Christmas Redux: Biking in the Snow.
Tagged: biking in the snow, blogging, christmas 2008, holiday cheer, snowmageddon
Permalink | Filed under: CityCaucus Redux
