Wednesday, August 26, 2009

VANOC will rule Britannia, despite opposition

VANOC is coming to Britannia Centre Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with its Game Plan 2009 community relations open house to discuss venue plans and neighbourhood impacts.

The Commercial Drive area was one of the only voting districts in the February 2003 civic plebiscite on the Olympic bid to vote no to the Games. The long-running debate over whether Britannia Ice Rink should host Olympic hockey practices included raucous public meetings at which opponents vastly outnumbered hockey fans. Opponents didn't want Olympic surveillance cameras, police or soldiers in their neighbourhood and were worried about cost overruns.

Last fall it was finally settled when the frightened Britannia volunteer board made an impromptu and controversial decision to hold a secret-ballot vote at a public meeting. The VANOC proposal won.

What VANOC may or may not reveal at the open house is the schedule for its use of the ice rink. A source said the key dates are as follows:

Exclusive use Jan. 27-March 3 for Britannia Centre and permit parking areas;
Overlay fitout is Jan. 27-Feb. 2 and includes installation of perimeter fencing, electrical, lighting and communications systems, tents, trailers and porta-potties.
A lockdown security sweep will happen either Feb. 2 or 3.
Olympic operations will run Feb. 6-Feb. 27.
Remediation and handback are March 5.

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