September 09, 2008
Mayor Sam Sullivan: Establish the Most Accessible & Inclusive City in the Country
The Paralipmics are underway - but I'm already looking forward to the 2010 Winter Games. They will be in Vancouver, BC where Sam Sullivan is mayor.
Mayor Sullivan is a recipient of the nation's highest honour, the Order of Canada, for his community service on behalf of marginalized people. He has won several other awards, including the Terry Fox Award for national excellence, and the Christopher Reeve Award for his outstanding contributions to the community of persons with spinal cord injury and other physical disabilities.He obtained a Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University and has also taught himself the basics of several languages including Cantonese, Italian and Punjabi.
Sullivan broke his neck while skiing at the age of 19 and is a quadriplegic. He is the founder of six non-profit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of North Americans with disabilities, including the Tetra Society which recruits technically-skilled volunteers to create assistive devices for people with disabilities (30 chapters throughout North America), and the Disabled Sailing Association which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to sail (20 chapters in North America). He is an avid sailor, and also enjoys hiking using an assistive device he co-invented called the TrailRider, a one-wheeled vehicle that enables people with disabilities to travel and participate in hiking/camping trips and is in use throughout North America.
From the web site of Mayor Sam Sullivan:
The following is a summary of accomplishments on this goal since the election:Posted by rollingrains at September 9, 2008 09:28 PM* approved funding to establish “311 Access Vancouver” service in time for 2010 to provide information and city services around the clock and in multiple languages
* secured 2008 Beijing Paralympic Torch relay
* established regular online interactive surveys to gauge public opinion on important civic issues - resulting in over 4000 survey responses submitted
* $1.7 million annual funding increase over 2005 civic budget for Vancouver arts, culture & heritage projects
* worked with provincial government to develop $1 million accessible tourism strategy
* more accessible buses and taxis
* established a Triple R (Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships) panel to modernize Vancouver's volunteer civic agencies
* re-established Citizens Days to provide regular direct access with Mayor Sullivan
* increased cooperation with federal & provincial governments and outreach to First Nation and Metis
* supported expansion of Multicultural Helping Village to enhance community services for new Canadians
* initiated community roundtables on multiculturalism, accessibility & immigration
* renewed three-year funding agreement with Vancouver Heritage Foundation
* introduced Citizenship Ceremonies at Vancouver City Hall
* introduced YouthPolitik to encourage youth participation in local government
* conducted hundreds of hours of community meetings and public consultations
* approved a plan for guided tours of City Hall with the goal to educate newcomers and familiarize citizens with Vancouver, and its array of public services
* endorsed the recommendations of the Mayor's Task Force on Immigration, including providing funding for a recommended Business Summit to be held in Spring 2008