WE Vancouver covers Gregor Robertson at CM!
WE Vancouver has written up a lil’ something about Gregor Robertson, his creative solutions, and what he talked about at Creative Mornings. Check out the full article here.
Profile and Q&A: Mayor Gregor Robertson
In November 2011, Gregor Robertson was elected to a second term as Mayor of Vancouver. He was re-elected to continue building upon the accomplishments of his first three years in office—working to end street homelessness, addressing housing affordability, improving public transit, and making Vancouver the greenest city in the world.
Mayor Robertson is also a national advocate for urban issues as Chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Big City Mayors’ Caucus, focusing on public infrastructure, housing and transit.
Mayor Robertson spearheaded the creation of the city’s first comprehensive Economic Action Strategy, and is committed to growing a sustainable and thriving economy in Vancouver focused on high-growth sectors like digital media, clean technology and renewable energy.
Building on the successful legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympics, which has generated over $350 million in economic impact and created more than 3000 new jobs in the Metro Vancouver region, Mayor Robertson has established Vancouver internationally as the Green Capital—a City where going green is good for business. He has also overseen the creation and implementation of the award-winning Greenest City 2020 Action Plan that aims to make Vancouver an environmental leader in everything from energy efficiency and waste reduction to clean air and local food.
Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Vancouver continues to rank as one of the most liveable cities in the world, with one of the most competitive environments for attracting new jobs and investment. The City of Vancouver has also been named the Most Innovative Organization in the province by BC Business Magazine for its open data initiative.
He has made affordable housing a top priority, with an aggressive, ten-year plan to provide thousands of affordable housing units for Vancouverites of all ages, while ensuring that existing affordable housing is protected. As Mayor, he has overseen significant progress towards the goal of ending street homelessness by 2015, by opening new homeless shelters while leveraging significant investments in new social housing throughout the city.
Prior to entering politics, Gregor co-founded Happy Planet, a Vancouver-based socially responsible company that produces organic juices and promotes health and nutrition. He and his wife Amy have four children. The Mayor is an avid soccer and hockey fan, and can occasionally be seen around town playing his tuba or drums.
CMV: How do you define creativity and apply it in your career?
GR:Being open/receptive to a wide range of ideas and converting them into focused action.
CMV: Where do you find your best creative inspiration?
GR: When I’m immersed in abundant, rollicking life: intense community gatherings, Stanley Park, the North Shore Mountains, a packed dance floor at the Commodore, and sometimes an especially lively meeting
CMV: What’s the one creative advice or tip you wish you’d known as a young person?
GR:Aggressively seek out people and places where you believe history is being made, and help make it more positive and profound.
CMV: Who would you like to hear speak at CreativeMornings/Vancouver?
GR: Fantasy – Kurt Vonnegut, Emily Carr, Norman Bethune, Aung San Suu Kyi; Reality – Margaret Atwood, Shawn Atleo, Liz Evans of Portland Hotel Society
CMV: What would you most like to do for someone else if you had the money and time?
GR:A safe place to live for everyone in Vancouver, with the supports they need to survive and thrive.
CMV: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
GR:Gave up a blissful rural family life for a relentless political career. But I love it!
