Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts has been shortlisted for the 2010 World Mayor Prize. This is an international designation that honours mayors with the vision, passion and skills required to make their cities incredible places to live in, work in and visit. Additionally, it aims to show what outstanding mayors can achieve and raise their profiles nationally and internationally.
Mayor Watts is one of only four North America mayors to make the cut. There are two finalists from Canada and two more from the United States; Mayor David Broconnier (Calgary), Mayor Cory Booker (Newark), and Mayor Mick Cornett (Oklahoma City). All those shortlisted will be asked to sign the code of ethics.
At this point in the process it is now up to the public to help select the finalists. Head to the World Mayor website to cast your vote for your favourite mayor.
Mayor Watts has has an impressive career in local politics. She was elected Mayor of Surrey in 2005, has served on the board of the GVRD, has done as term as Chair of the Mayor’s Council on Regional Transportation, has seen Surrey through growth and expansion through development of a ‘City Centre’, as well as being a venue and celebration site for the 2010 Olympics. Having been born and raised in Surrey, I have an interest in seeing my hometown thrive under great leadership.
Dianne Watts & Me, July 2010
The Prize is handed out by City Mayors about every two years, with the most recent recipient being Helen Zille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town (2008).
Langley will be hosting its own Canada Day celebrations June 30th and July 1st at McLeod Athletic Park.
Where
McLeod Athletic Park [Google Map]
When
June 30th and July 1st
Photo credit:
GusF on Flickr
Activities
June 30th
Trials Stars Bike Demos (6:00pm – 6:30pm & 7:30pm – 8:00pm)
LEGO Certified Professional builder, Robin Sather (3:00pm – 10:00pm)
Seniors welcome at the Harrison Landing Senior’s Chalet (3:00pm – dusk)
Petting zoo by Otter Lamb and Swine 4H Club (3:00pm – dusk)
Fireworks (10:30pm)
July 1st
Trials Stars Bike Demos (at 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm)
LEGO Certified Professional builder, Robin Sather (11:00am – 8:00pm)
Seniors welcome at the Harrison Landing Senior’s Chalet (11:00am – dusk)
Petting zoo by Otter Lamb and Swine 4H Club (3:00pm – dusk)
Fireworks (10:30pm) Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
This morning the PNE announced its unprecedented entertainment lineup for the fair’s 100th year. The acts are huge to celebrate this monumental milestone for the Pacific National Exhibition. Check out who’s on the bill so far:
Kevin Costner and Modern West
Terri Clark
Michael Bolton
Loverboy
Huey Lewis and the News
Wayne Newton
Joan Jett
Mariana’s Trench
Spirit of the West
John Hiatt and The Combo / Los Lobos
Jesse Cook
Little River Band
Cyndi Lauper
Steven Page
The Road Hammers
Trooper
All of these nightly concerts are entirely FREE with your fair admission. View a full schedule here.
There will be the “100 Years of Fun Parade” once daily including a cast of 50 performers and 12 giant balloons (think Macy’s Thanksgiving Day paradae). There’s also the Kaboom! fireworks show nightly, and performances from the Metro Vancouver Naval 2010 Centennial Tattoo, the U.S. Marine Corps Band, the Seaforth Highlanders and the Vancouver Police Pipe Band.
Everyone’s favourites will also be back again this year as well — the Superdogs, Logger Sports, and the legendary Dal Richards with his orchestra.
This landmark season of the PNE will run Saturday, August 21 to Sunday, September 6, 2010.
Every few years the BC Lions Society has been presenting a public art installation involving pieces decorated by local artists that would then be auctioned off. We had Bears in the City, Orcas in the City, Eagles in the City, and to coincide with the Royal BC Museum’s upcoming exhibit, we’ll have the Terracotta Warrior Public Art Project in 2011.
Unlike the bears, orcas and eagles, there will only be a limited number of terracotta pieces around the city. Artists will be given a 7-foot tall fiberglass replica of a terracotta warrior to use as their canvas. The pieces will then be placed around the Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria from November 2011 until April 2012 and they are currently looking for sponsors for the pieces to get the campaign underway.
If you, your organization or your company is interested in sponsoring one of the artists or pieces, you can contact the project now for more information.
When the campaign wraps up, patrons may choose to buy the sculpture they sponsored and take possession once the display period is over, or it may be sold at auction at a future date.
The Royal BC Museum is one of my favourite destinations and their the world-famous “Warrior Emperor and China’s Terracotta Army” exhibition will run from December 2011 until April 2012.
QMFM’s morning show is hosting their own version of The Bachelor as they try to match up co-host Mike Shaeffer with a local lady in Listener or Lover.
Brad Challoner (Producer), Mike Shaeffer (Host), Tara McGuire (Host)
“We’ve talked about this on and off for the last little while because I’m single and in Vancouver,” said Mike who moved up here from Phoenix in early 2009. “It’s hard enough to meet friends let alone find love, aside from the eHarmonys of the world – I’ve been there and done that.”
Women interested in dating Mike sent in applications including their bio, a photo, and a link to their Facebook profile if that was available. Relationship expert Teesha Morgan, knowing Mike’s relationship profile, then screened every applicant and recommended three who would be a good match for Mike that week.
Those three weekly finalists had an on-air “speed date” with Mike and then one person was selected to be his date for the week. So far, Mike’s been on five dates with five women over the last five weeks, with one left to go.
Co-host Tara McGuire has been helping with the screening process and will even get to personally select a “wild card” date for Mike. “I am really pleased with the quality of the applicants,” Tara told me the other morning. “I want to send him on a date with someone he wouldn’t really pick because they have an underlying quality that I think will make them really click with him.”
This Thursday the finale party will take place at Beyond Restaurant & Lounge where all of Mike’s dates will get to hang out with him at the same time. The following morning he’ll make his final decision known by selecting one Listener or Lover to be his date for a day trip to Whistler.
“I wasn’t taking it seriously but now that we’ve done it I’m already thinking about what life will be like after the trip,” Mike added. “What dates I’m going to take her on, what we’re going to do, etc.”
You can see what Mike’s been up to on his dates so far (including a Cinderella carriage ride around Stanley Park, trip to the Aquarium, and False Creek Ferry) by browsing the Mike & Tara Facebook page.
The party on Thursday is VIP/invite only however Beyond will still be open to the public at the time so those interested may be able to catch a glimpse of the action. Tune in to QMFM this Friday morning to hear the announcement about who Mike has chosen.
