When I came to Vancouver in 1989, I could work odd jobs to pay rent and still have time to play in a band. We played shows in venues all over Vancouver –something that helped me save money to pay my way through university.
Today, those same opportunities aren’t available to most people. That needs to change. We need to build a Vancouver that supports arts, culture and small business. It’s not only good for our economy and community, but it helps us craft an identity for our city that’s vibrant and creative.
A big part of this challenge is to build housing that’s affordable for everyone. But we also need to support our arts and culture organizations, especially small- and medium-sized ones. We need a city people can easily travel through on public transit. And we need to support young entrepreneurs who build businesses that create local jobs and make our neighbourhoods worth living in.
I have a plan to bring back our vibrant arts scene and make sure small businesses can thrive. It’s one more way we can build a Vancouver that works for everyone.