Every year, Monocle – the magazine of international urbanism – puts out a quality-of-life issue (though in a Covid world, they skipped last year.)
It’s always interesting to see where Vancouver ends up. This year, on a list of 20, we’re 12th. In a not-particularly-insightful summary, apparently (as noted on the cover) the Mayor’s voluntary pay cut is a highlight (anyone remember that?).
Here’s the listing:
12. Vancouver: Always a natural-born winner.
One of Vancouver’s greatest assets – its natural setting on British Columbia’s breathtaking coast – has played a key role during a difficult year. The city’s response to the pandemic has
been nimble and its network of public spaces and proximity to the great outdoors have been invaluable resources.
Mayor Kennedy Stewart has been a frank voice during the pandemic: in April 2020 he took a 10 per cent pay cut to reflect the pandemic’s toll on the city’s economy. And in response to Vancouver’s anti-racism protests last summer, he spearheaded moves to outlaw police spotchecks. He’s also worked to tackle discrimination against the large Asian population, which has risen since the pandemic began.
Although Vancouver’s major sectors of tourism, manufacturing and shipping have been disrupted, financial packages for the hotel sector and independent businesses have been thoughtful and targeted. There have been bright spots in other parts of the economy too. The city’s television and film-making sectors have continued to attract major productions to the city, fuelled by lockdown-induced surges in streaming services.
Buildings by architects including Bjarke Ingels and Kengo Kuma (right) are under construction; work on a ca$2.8bn (€1.9bn) underground-rail extension has begun and a new e-bike cargo hub launched in May. Coupled with an ongoing public consultation on the city’s future, there is an opportunity to ensure that Vancouver’s recovery caters for everyone.
Metrics: Population: 600,000 in the city; 2,900,000 in the metropolitan area
Unemployment: 8%
Public parks: 240
Infrastructure projects: Senákw, a landmark residential and commercial development led by the Squamish First Nation, is scheduled to start later this year.
What needs fixing: The construction of good, affordable housing has slowed. This needs to be rectified.
