Thank you to everyone who came out to the September Tenant Open House. We were able to open the concourse of the former Emily Carr building, future home of the Arts & Innovation HUB, turn a bit of water and heat back on, and serve up some food and drinks.

In attendance was our local management team , including Lois McGrath, General Manager CMHC-Granville Island, tenants and guests.

Following their first official meeting, several members of the new Granville Island Council, including Heather Deal, Johanna Lauyanto,  Andeen Pitt, Dominic Caminiti, Dale McClanaghan and Gracen Chungath were available to join us. Lois introduced them to the assembled group and announced their elected Chair, Heather Deal. Council meets again on November 1^st.

Information boards were on display from each department, highlighting current status or updates on major projects or initiatives. Each department in the CMHC-Granville Island office was represented and staff were available to discuss current and future planning in their areas of expertise. We had some great questions!

For those who were unable to attend, those boards are below, along with images from the event.

Following a Public Notice of Opportunity, we are pleased to introduce you to the members of the seven person Granville Island’s first Council, who are composed of citizens from the local community who bring combined expertise in the areas of arts & culture, community and government relations, leadership, finance, and property management.

The Granville Island Council Nominating Committee, chaired by Jane Shackell, who represents the Granville Island Trust, with Gloria Loree and Sadhu Johnston both representing the Granville Island 2040 Implementation Committee, as well as Linda Morris, a local resident and Board Member with CMHC and Lois McGrath, interim General Manager of Granville Island were responsible for evaluating the candidates against the advertised criteria and making a recommendation to the Minister responsible for CMHC. Criteria can be viewed on www.granvilleisland.com/granville-island-council.

GRANVILLE ISLAND COUNCIL

• Andeen Yvonne Pitt, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Dale McClanaghan, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Domenic Caminiti, Ottawa Ontario (CMHC)
• Gracen Chungath, Vancouver, British Columbia (City of Vancouver)
• Heather Deal, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Johanna Lauyanto, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Paul Larocque, Vancouver, British Columbia

While the Granville Island Trust’s role was as an advisory body, the new Granville Island Council will have greater decision-making powers and influence over the strategic direction of Granville Island.

This new Council is key to Granville Island’s future, because it puts decision-making into the hands of local residents who understand Granville Island and its importance to the community. It is responsible for key decisions pertaining to Granville Island’s budgeting, planning, and long-term strategy. Members will not be involved in the day-to-day management of Granville Island. Their role is similar to a typical non-profit Board of Directors.

Council members appointed by Minister Duclos will serve a term of 4 years with appointees from CMHC and City of Vancouver serving a term of 3 years to ensure that the terms of incoming members overlap with existing members in order to provide continuity. The first meeting of the new council will be September 24^th with the first order of business to elect a chair, and to assess applicants and recommend the next General Manager for Granville Island.