World

Op-Ed: Photo Essay — Vision team takes Vancouver again (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Published

November 20, 2011

In the city of Vancouver the voters elected 1 mayor, 10 councillors, 7 park commissioners and 9 school trustees.
Described as landslide victory by many, Gregor Robertson beat his opponent Suzanne Anton from Non-Partisan Alliance. Robertson won with 77,005 votes while Anton finished with 58,152 votes what gave the number of 35% eligible voters to cast their ballots.

Election campaign on the streets of Vancouver, Nov. 19, 2011.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

The COPE (Coalition of Progressive Electors), a parent party that gave rise to Vision several years ago lost all their seats at the City Council. Another surprise was the Green Party and their representative Adrianne Carr went to the Council along with NPA that won two other spots in 10 seat city council.

Gwen Giesbrecht, Jane Bouey, Tim Louis and Ellen Woodsworth at the COPE headquarters on Saturday night, Nov.19, 2011.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

“This is a great night for everyone who believes in a bright future for our city”, Robertson said in his first words as he thanked all his supporters during the after election party at Sheraton Hotel on Saturday night.
In his speech, the Mayor promised working on city’s ambitions to become the most green city by the year 2020 when sharing this experience with the rest of the world. He also addressed broad range of city’s problems that have to be continually worked on from the problem of affordable housing up to support for the arts.

Typical look of a polling station, this one sat up at the gym of Grandview Elementary School in Vancouver, the voting region of COPE member, Gwen Giesbrecht.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

The photo story was created while assisting the COPE candidates on the election day, both at their polling stations and at the headquarters in East Vancouver on Saturday, November 19, 2011.