Spirits were lifted, jobs were created, infrastructure was improved, but the most important Olympic legacy may be the demonstrated ability of multiple levels of government, the private sector and members of the community to achieve such a monumental undertaking together.

Two leaders in the DTES with very different roles agree this is a valuable lesson that we can learn from and build on. Rev. Ric Mathews of First United Church and Shirley Chan, CEO of Building Opportunities with Business.

As Reverend Ric Mathews observed, “The Olympics tell us what we already know – if something is a priority we can deliver it. The Games showed us a new kind of collaborative approach to overcoming major obstacles and delivering results.”

Reverend Mathews, a respected leader in the Downtown Eastside, believes that these Olympic Games showed just how we can work together effectively to meet challenges in our communities. “If we can focus three levels of government and find the political will to access $6.9 billion in resources, to bring together diverse stakeholders to the table and work together on a common goal like the Olympics, we can do it for other things too.” Rev. Mathews believes one of those things should be the Downtown Eastside, and Chan is one of the many others who agree:

“An Olympics scale collaboration is particularly apropos now, as the Vancouver Agreement comes to an end with numerous initiatives still underway. By pulling together three levels of government, the private sector and citizens who share the vision of a healthy Downtown Eastside we can continue to achieve meaningful and inclusive transformation here in the Downtown Eastside.”

The Vancouver Agreement, signed between the City, provincial and federal governments in 2000, expires this month (March 2010). The agreement supported local community initiatives to tackle economic, social, health and safety issues in Vancouver’s inner-city, with much focus on the DTES. Building Opportunities with Business was one of the key non-profits focusing on community economic development in the inner-city and Chan, like Mathews, knows firsthand that co-operation and collaboration are crucial to its continued rejuvenation.

The “VANOC Model” stayed true through numerous changes at all levels of government yet the political will to see this massive undertaking through never wavered. The DTES is arguably Vancouver’s most pressing issue, and while much has been achieved here we could achieve so much more with a similar unified and integrated Olympian effort, believe Mathews and Chan. This may be the greatest legacy left by the Games.

One thing I’ve previously mentioned in blog postings, that is a popular thing to do in the neighbourhood is go on guided walking tours of Vancouver’s historic inner-city. Monday evening I bumped into John Atkin who is both a resident and authority on local history. He is working with the folks at Bright Light and leading tours of the neighbourhood on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from their exhibit on 39 East Pender. The cost of these tours is ten dollars.

John isn’t the only one who regularly does walking tours of the neighbourhood. Chris Mathieson and the folks over at the Vancouver Police Museum are running their “Sins of the City” walking tour twice daily during the games.

You don’t need a guide to explore the streets of Vancouver, but you do get additional insights and historical perspective. I created a bit of a Do-It-Yourself Art Walk to some of the installations in the neighbourhood.

Kris Krug and others at True North Media House or W2 has been taking people around the neighbourhood, even the Lonely Planet was here and enjoyed their visit.

Here are some more opinions on things to see and do in the DTES from art installations to community gardens.

Besides protests? Well I’m glad you asked. Building Opportunities with Business, the local BIAs, and many businesses and organizations have been working together to promote tourism in Vancouver’s historic inner-city and combat some of the negative stereotypes and even the urban blight that threatened to engulf Vancouver’s urban heritage.

Last weekend was the Chinatown New Year’s Parade and the first Vancouver Artwalk, both were big successes. Chinatown led by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are inviting tourists daily learn more about Chinese culture.

Located at the Choi Hall at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Social Service Centre (28 West Pender Street) will be open to the public as an exhibition site of Vancouver Chinatown’s services and upcoming events. We envision that through this partnership, we will create a positive image of Chinatown in the minds of the Vancouver 2010 visitors. Between February 15 (Monday) to February 20, 2010 (Saturday), six days in total, table space has been courteously reserved, free of charge, for your organization to promote your programs and services. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will be staffing the site, 9am-5pm, during this period of time. Among the tables and booths, a variety of demonstrations are planned: performances by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. membership groups, Wii Olympic games and
fun facts of Chinatown, and more…

Vancouver’s DTES is home to more artists and galleries than anywhere else in Canada. From Jeffery Boone to W2’s Perel Gallery there is always exhibits of up-and-coming local artists and even the odd world renown figure such as Herzog.

Walking tours are very popular in the historic inner-city. A Wok Around Chinatown, Sins of the City, there is a variety to suit various interests. The Police Museum is running the Sins of the City walking tour twice daily during the Olympics at 11AM and 2PM. The museum itself is open everyday and located at 240 East Cordova.

Another option would be to take a guided tour by Pedicab, Dragon Rickshaw Adventures is operating daily during the Olympics.

Vancouver is home to some of the world’s best Chinese food, staff favourites in Chinatown include Bao Bei, Foo’s Ho Ho’s, and the Jade Dynasty. The rest of the inner-city contains some great eateries as well as night time destinations. The Irish Heather was recently featured on NBC and right next door the Blarney Stone is having live music every night and giving away official Team Canada hockey jerseys every time the Canadian Men’s team plays.

If Irish or Chinese food is not what your looking for their is Mexican, French, Japanese… just stroll up or down Water Street or check Gastown.org for more information.

As the torch made its way through Chinatown’s beautiful  and ornate Millennium Gate it was greeted with a caucaphonous din of cymbals, drums and cheering. Costume dragons danced and swayed, spooking some of the VPD horses  escorting the torch bearer.  I could tell the cops had already had a long day. The excitement in the air here right now is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. New Years, Grey Cup, Expo, even Canucks playoff runs come nowhere near the intensity.

The scale of these games, and the tension here around them, are something incredible to witness.

Before the torch made its way to Main and Hastings, a nexus or hub of Vancouver’s lowest income neighborhood, it was blocked by protesters.

I was waiting for the sonic crowd control device to pierce my brain but the protest remained civil.

Residents in single room occupancy hotels hung out the windows smoking indifferently while independent and accredited media jockeyed for the best positions in the crowd. Many were wondering if the torch would be swarmed entirely as it made its way through here, but with the police station nearby, and so many plainclothes cops on rooftops and what appeared to be private military contractors escorting the runner it was unlikely anything major would go down. Besides, the RCMP have those insane space-aged sonic crowd control cannons and and frankly I, and I’m sure everyone else here, don’t want our heads exploding like in Scanners.

Is that Blackwater? Kellog Brown and Root? Who is that running with the torch?

As I stood taking photos, chants of “Homes not Games!” filled the air outside Carnegie Centre. Red smocks, tents and placards protested the use of funds (billions and billions of funds) for such a huge event when so many need housing and support in this neighborhood. Though the turnout was large, and a little tense, the torch still made its way down Main without major incident. In fact, one of BOB’s SEP (Supported Employment Program) participants ,Robert, was even one of the torch bearers. Way to go Robert!

Robert and Lani on Main and Hastings

Chinatown will be having another big event this weekend on Sunday, when we all celebrate Chinese New Year. Come on down for firecrackers, more dancing dragons and the burning of effigies. I LOVE burning effigies. So satisfying.

Check out BOB’s Flickr account for more great photos of the Torch Relay and follow us on Twitter.

Ken Lyotier, founder of probably the most successful social enterprise in Vancouver if not a much wider geographic area, and a partner with BOB on numerous initiatives most prominently the SOLEfood Urban Farm, was personally selected by Mayor Gregor Robson to light the cauldron in Yaletown.  The Olympic Torch will visit several locations in Vancouver’s historic inner-city.  BOB staff will be cheering as it passes through Chinatown’s Millennium Gate and goes down Pender Street towards our offices on February 12th.

To learn more about the Olympic Torch route, visit the official website.