Bob Mackin
Residents around B.C. Place Stadium and the so-called “last mile” near Science World are invited to send delegates to online meetings about city hall’s plans to shut down vehicle traffic during the FIFA World Cup 26.
But the memo about the Stadium-Area Residential Building Group is clear on the limitations.
“It is intended to provide information and support for building representatives, rather than to guide planning or operational decisions,” said the document, obtained by theBreaker.news.
Thousands of residents in Northeast False Creek will be affected by FIFA World Cup 26 road closures. (Mackin)
Themed online meetings are tentatively scheduled for: week of Feb. 11 (event overview); week of March 25 (transportation) and week of May 6 (event operations and safety).
“FWC26 Vancouver Host Committee will chair discussions, provide event-related updates, document meeting outcomes and coordinate follow-up actions and responses as required,” the memo said. “Stadium-Area Residential Building Group members will attend all sessions, relay questions from their communities, participate in discussions and share updates with their strata or building councils, residents and other relevant parties in a timely manner.”
FIFA requires street closures and local traffic only zones in Northeast False Creek before and during the tournament, which comes to Vancouver June 13-July 7.
PR firm told to boost the event
What does FIFA World Cup have in common with the delayed and over-budget Broadway Subway construction project — which has forced at least 80 shops to close?
The same strategic communications contractor: Kirk and Co. Consulting Ltd.
Vancouver city hall’s FIFA World Cup host committee office originally hired Kirk and Co., last June on an initial $22,780 no-bid contract. The contract allows for increases on an as-and-when-needed basis.
A copy of the contract with Kirk, obtained by theBreaker.news under freedom of information, said it was hired to provide plain language advance notice to residents about road closures “while maintaining a positive and celebratory tone that reflects the spirit of the tournament.”
Additionally, Kirk and Co. was hired to develop a map and comprehensive stakeholder list within 300-400 metres of B.C. Place and the “last mile” zone, which extends to eastern False Creek.
Those affected include residents, businesses, cultural venues, education facilities and houses of worship.
Five Kirk and Co. personnel are named on the documents, headed by chief strategy officer Mike McDonald, the first and last chief of staff to former BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark.
In 2012, court documents show that McDonald co-ordinated a group of BC Liberal members to flood a CKNW radio talkshow. McDonald provided them with topics and talking points.
Subscribe to theBreaker.news on Substack. Find out how: Click here.
