Gregor Robertson In Deep Delirium Over Bloedel Conservatory: Parks Chair Aaron Jasper On a Budget (?)
On Saturday night, last, the Friends of the Bloedel Conservatory held a sold-out dinner which was attended by 400 people from all walks of life (even though they had demand for an extra 200 – 300 tickets).
Some interesting notes from the event and about this issue:
1) On the eve of the event, Mayor Gregor Robertson further embarrassed himself on this matter by issuing a statement saying that he was looking forward to long-term solutions. What an ignoramus. Where was this concern when his Vision infants on the Parks Board were unnecessarily gutting the Conservatory and Stanley Park petting zoo? And in a city where the Mayor demands we become the “Greenest City on Earth”. Green in the gills, maybe, as a result of all the noxious fumes coming from Vision Vancouver’s mindless decisions. But NPA Park Commissioner Ian Robertson certainly knows how to spank the Mayor.
In this press release the NPA Robertson makes the case clear, that the Mayor was simply looking to bait and switch on the issue:
“On the eve of a massive, sold out fundraising dinner to celebrate real solutions I’ve been working on with community groups and individual citizens alike, the Mayor and Vision Vancouver tried to change the channel by sending out a press release yesterday that smacks of the kind of cynical opportunism Vancouverites can’t stand. How can Gregor say with a straight face that he looks forward to finding solutions to save the conservatory? It was his party, Vision Vancouver, his representatives, Commissioners Barnes, Jasper, Hundal and Blythe that tried to kill this very important landmark and continue to maintain that position. Now the Mayor says, contradicting his own Vision Commissioners that he wants to find solutions. Gregor Robertson has no shame and Vision Vancouver are backtracking only because they are in re-election mode. I do not believe they care about anything except trying to deceive the people of Vancouver into giving them a second term” (NPA Commissioner Ian Robertson – January 2010)
2) It has always struck me that while the criticism by Vision (and their little lapdog blogosphere propagandist) has been to criticize the NPA for not including the Conservatory in their budget, they disregard an additional almost 40 years of neglect previous to that. Makes you wonder if all the messaging coming from Vision Vancouver is simply geared towards political advantage. No wonder they can’t get anything done properly.
3) The knee-jerk decision to kill the conservatory by the Mayor and his colleagues only serves to reinforce in the minds of any other generous donors to the city that benefactors of Vancouver need not bother: Any gift to the City of Vancouver, while under occupation by Vision Vancouver, will be subject to strict political expediency. In other words, Vision Vancouver doesn’t care about legacy building or encouraging the generosity of its citizens, unless there is some immediate benefit to Vision. Poor old Prentice Bloedel must be doing backflips in his crypt…
4) I LOVED what John Coupar, the head of the Friends of the Bloedel, had to say about Vision Vancouver Parks Commissioners during his remarks: He noted, and not without some piercing commentary, that the four Parks Board staff, now retired, that were responsible for the budilding of Queen Elizabeth Park and the Conservatory’s existence, had over 140 years of experience, while Vision Commissioners Hundal, Barnes, Blythe and Jasper (new Chair) had only FOUR. Beautiful messaging! Absolutely brilliant.
5) Speaking of the new Chair of the Parks Board…you have to wonder just where Aaron Jasper’s mind was when he arrived at the ticket desk on the night of the event. The cost was $125.00 per ticket or $200.00 per couple. Mr. Jasper was solo, without spouse, but still managed to have the temerity to tell them that he was paying $75.00 only. And they let him in!
So let’s get this on the record: The Vision Parks Chair Aaron Jasper, who spearheaded the attempting killing off of the Conservatory, has the temerity to attend a fundraiser organized to avoid said cultural murder, and chisel them by paying less than everyone else.
I tell you, my friends, this Vision Vancouver lot, with few exceptions (like good guy Mike Lombardi and super childcare advocate Sharon Gregson) are the most brazen, classless, vicious manipulators in the history of this city.
Shame doesn’t even begin to cover them…
As for the ‘Rumble In the Jungle’ event, MAJOR kudos to John Coupar, Bill McCreedy, my old pal Thomas Hobbs and other supporters and organizers for a job extremely well done. I wish you continued success.
Aaron Jasper demanding entrance for half price to a fund raiser trying to save a Vancouver landmark, has to be the most pathetic thing I have heard yet come from this party.
Considering one member has had to resign his position from the PNE board because “a cousin” who may or may not have been involved previously in some type of gang related activity, punched an employee,
Considering another has plead guilty to drinking and driving, and had to borrow money from an over budget city for rehab,
Considering another has insulted the Provincial Housing minister suggesting the police pick him up and deliver him to Jenny Craig,
Have I forgot anything? I feel like I could keep going here.
The only person he hasn’t beat for a new low is our jolly-green mayor who installed crack-addicts and prostitutes, urine and violence in previously good quiet family neighborhoods.
It is very difficult to accept the completely incompetent losers we have running our city.
What a complete and utter disgrace.
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A disgrace indeed. Aaron Jasper likes to put on this air of superiority and grace, but he’s just a political thug. Who would use their position to chisel a group trying to raise money because he and his colleagues forced them into that position to begin with? Vision are a rudderless ship of fools. Very low budget. On the other hand, Jasper is the same guy who routinely uses his city parking permit pass to park in metered parking for free. That’s where your (some of your) tax bucks are going.
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With all the places that they could cut the budget one is hard pressed to figure out just what this bunch are thinking. The conservatory has been well used, and yes need upkeep, but it is an icon for Vancouver. And just because it lost revenue during the RAV debacle is no reason to destroy it. What would replace it? A tacky hot dog stand, another one too many coffee bar or bare concrete? I have never been up there when there hasn’t been a school group or two booked for a tour. And don’t even get me started on the Stanley Park petting zoo. It can’t be for a restaurant because none of the new council has a connection that would find the folks to run it. Oh! Oh! maybe they want to shut down the one that is already there. More trees anyone? Sheesh!
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You nailed it my friend. They are the most pathetic group to ever occupy seats on any of school or parks board or council. Very sad.
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I really thought the current crop of politicians could do no more to deserve our disdain, but your Aaron Jasper story shows I was wrong, there is no shameful, shameless depth to which they will not sink. However, what else is to be expected from one of the gang of well heeled spongers whose free Olympic tickets would have covered the costs of the Conservatory and Children’s Farmyard.
Like Elizabeth Bennett with Mr Wickham I shall resolve “to draw no limits in future to the impudence of an impudent man.”
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Yes, I agree with you. Thank you so much for stopping by. Much appreciation.
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Priceless, just when you think you’ve heard it all.
Discount prices for a Fundraiser? I would think that someone making important decisions on my behalf, would at least understand the point of a fundraiser….TO RAISE MONEY!!
My biggest frustration is one of the Commissioners stated that the city was focused on Green Buildings and that is why they voted to close the Conservatory…. actually Bloedel is an example of the city’s first GREEN BUILDING…. I think that should be something an elected official should know about their file.
Why not celebrate that concept and actively market as such… or is the writing on the wall for us, and knowing that, Commissioner Jasper didn’t want to waste his money paying full price. Was he just going through the motions by attending the event . Hope not.
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Yes, I think he was going through the motions. He is simply s fraud as a politician. I also caught him parking his car in metered parking where his city decal provided him said parking for free. He wasn’t on city business, but did this for almost a year when he was AT WORK! He kept doing it even after I questioned him.
Where the fundraiser is concerned I think he really didn’t believe in being there. Frankly, I would have just simply gone off to bank machine and gotten the balance without saying a word to anybody. He clearly lost the message that the reason for the fundraiser is because of his and his party’s incompetence. The least he could have done was pay full price. Pathetic…
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Jasper: disgraceful indeed! Especially considering that all of the Directors of Friends of the Bloedel, their guests and most of their volunteers PAID FULL PRICE for their own tickets! To not only organize the smash-hit event, but to work and host it as well! To have a Commissioner pinching pennies for this great cause – when it was his and Vision’s short-sighted call in the first place is as discrediting as City Councilors insisting they deserve free tickets to the Olympics at $3700 a pop! And when Bloedel is saved, you watch who will be the first to stand up and take credit, vowing how hard they worked to save this piece of Vancouver’s heritage. Unbelievable!!
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Yes, unbelievable indeed. Jasper has comported himself most shamefully. As have Vision Vancouver through this entire affair.
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“this Vision Vancouver lot, with few exceptions (like good guy Mike Lombardi and super childcare advocate Sharon Gregson) are the most brazen, classless, vicious manipulators in the history of this city.”
What about Andrea Reimer? Didn’t you endorse her just 16 months ago?
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You raise a very good point. I learned my lesson, the hard way. you are right to upbraid me here. I erred. When I endorsed Andrea, I thought her high level of intelligence would preclude such idiocy as hardline green nothingness and insulting, petulant mockery of Rich Coleman, etc. She will never again get an endorsement from me, in fact, I will be doing a column just on her. Her performance has been ridiculous, as has been that of her colleagues.
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People would love to contribute to that article…….. I think everyone has a long list.
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Of course they do!
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Has anyone ever thought to ask why Vancouver is the only city to elect a parks board at all. Every other city or municipality seems to function quite well without more snouts at the trough. I no longer live in Vancouver, but still remember the angst of voting in a civic election when I resided there. The ballot for mayor was acceptable, then came the ballot for alderman(now politically correct councillor) which seemed to contain more names than some small town’s phone books, and then we also had to choose a group of gardeners from another lengthy list. It makes no sense.
As a Matter of fact, I see no reason why we elect school trustees. The provincial government calls the shots when it comes to funding and the curriculum, and as far as I can see all the trustees do is decide which schools to close. Maybe if we started to reduce these layers of useless bureaucracy, we would stem,or at least slow the increases we see each and every year on our property taxes.
As for the likes of Mr. Jasper, one can only become more cynical of our elected officials. I heard on the news today that he thinks that he and his spouse, as well as his compatriots in city council are entitled to tickets to the opening ceremonies for the olympics as well as other events as a given. This attitude of importance is unbelievable. What planet does he and his ilk come from?
I’ve never been a proponent of the violence that many other countries have utilized against their governing bodies, but I think that there soon may come a time where the status quo will rouse the citizenry to act in a manner not expected. Sooner or later the those that are paying the freight will begin to question exactly what they are paying for. The taxpayers will not be the governing bodies ATM carte blanche forever.
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Yes, you’re quite right on the issue of not being the politicians’ ATM. But I disagree on the electeds. I like the idea that we have elected bodies. It makes for accountability. If Aaron Japer’s idiocy was exposed and he was only appointed, then you’d see the first cry being about his appointment. In this case, MR. Jasper can always be punished by the electorate for being to utterly stupid and manipulative. I like the elected route better.
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