VANOC Unveils 2010 Ticket Designs June 23, 2009
Last week the Vancouver Organizing Committee unveiled the designs for the 2010 Olympic Tickets. So far VANOC has only release images of tickets for four of the events: opening ceremonies, curling, cross-country-skiing, and of course—hockey (pictured at left).
The designs match the aesthetics and include the design elements that all of the superbly branded Vancouver 2010 promotional posters, banners, and clothing.
More that 1 million ticket in all will be printed. Each ticket will be printed with a holographic images, a watermark on the back, microprinting, and special ultraviolet light-sensitive fibres to reduce counterfeiting. The tickets are beign printed by the same specialty printer responsible for the 1996 and 2000 olympic games ticket.
To coincided with the release of the ticket designs VANOC has released more that 150,000 additional tickets for the winter Olympic events. The 21st Winter Olympics, will be held February 12-28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the resort town of Whistler nearby. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are being organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC).
Between ticket sales, tourist visits, and the construction efforts VANOC estimates this year alone the Games will inject more than a billion dollars into the economy, most of it here in Vancouver.
More on the ticket designs available at The Vancouver Sun
Posted in For Your Information, Graphic Design, Just Plain Cool, Vancouver News | No Comments »
We’ve been certified! June 9, 2009
Anyone who has heard experts discuss the current economic crisis, no matter what their political persuasion, will surely have come to the conclusion that the lack of oversight and regulation by a third party was largely to blame. While financial specifics such as leverage and illiquidity play their role in this complicated equation, the relative absence of a qualified organization of outsiders intelligent enough to understand the financial loopholes but ethical enough not to take advantage of them, is the more serious and overarching problem. If we can take away one lesson from this recession, let it be this- humans are fallible. We tend to be short-sighted and in this era of gleefully unchecked capitalism we tend to put profits before the well-being of communities. Thank goodness then, for the Forest Stewardship Council.
In the past decade we’ve seen environmental awareness take on more importance, both in the lives of individuals and in the boardroom. Caring about the earth and its future is no longer just for hippies. In fact it has become a powerful a marketing strategy, which is precisely why consumers should be wary when purchasing products or services claiming to be “environmentally friendly.” This is a vague term that may mean anything from not testing products on animals, to using a certain percentage of post-consumer waste, to simply incorporating the color green in the packaging implying a contrived affinity with the “green movement.”
The Forest Stewardship Council has been around for over 15 years focusing on one very important component to environmental protection- global deforestation. FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC provides a certification system with internationally recognized standards for communities interested in responsible forestry. FSC recognizes the fact that many consumers try to do the right thing by buying responsibly produced products but that the choices can sometimes be confusing. At least when it comes to timber and paper products business and individuals alike can make an informed decision.
That is why Colourtime has made the decision to become FSC certified, showing that we comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. The certification process is carried out by independent organizations who assess forest management and chain of custody operations against FSC standards. After a thorough review Colourtime is proud to announce that we have passed the audit and have been granted the ability to use the FSC seal certifying our commitment to maintaining an environmentally responsible business!
For more information about how Colourtime can help your next marketing campaign or financial report be a little “greener” please call us at 1.866.372.6567 to find out more about our FSC certified products.
For more information about the certification process, the strict environmental standards or where to locate manufacturers or distributors please visit www.fsc.org.
Posted in Environment, For Your Information, Innovation, Print Industry | No Comments »
Unconventional Vancouver February 4, 2009
Vancouver residents are already well aware that their city is source of pride. After all, Vancouver has been voted one of the top places to live numerous times, including a world wide survey taken in 2007 which ranked Vancouver 3rd out of 215 cities. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of visiting this verdant metropolitan capital, do yourself a favor and put in on your to-do list, if only for a weekend. While our neighbors to the south may suffer from delusions that all Canadians live in igloos or commute to work by dog sled, those who are in the know relish in the exquisite natural surroundings, rich cultural heritage, and delicious international cuisine.
Many of those who have gotten to know Vancouver have done so through conventions held at our beautiful Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre (VCEC). Located right on the water with a beautiful view of the harbor and conveniently situated in the heart of downtown, the VCEC offers visitors more than just a typical convention experience. In fact, about one-third of convention delegates enjoy themselves so much that they end up traveling to other parts of the province as part of their stay.
Opened on July 4, 1987, the existing Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre got its start as the Canada Pavilion during Expo 86. According to the VCEC website, “Within 10 years, the convention centre was at capacity with an obvious need for additional space, particularly as Vancouver became known as one of North America ’s leading meeting and convention destinations.” That’s why the PavCo. partnership has decided to build a new convention centre as an extension of the existing waterfront location. The 1.1 million sq. ft. project will triple the convention centre’s existing capacity and help generate an additional $107 million annually in delegate spending. On average, a delegate will spend about $350 per day during their visit to Vancouver, injecting national and international capital into our local economy. In 2010, the VCEC will also be home of the 2010 Olympic Games media and broadcast centres.
One of the most exciting and unique features of the convention centre aside from the spectacular floor-to-ceiling glass, is a six-acre living roof, one of the largest of its kind in the world. “The convention centre expansion not only breaks new ground in terms of design, it will also be a showcase for sustainability with such things as the living roof,” said Olga Ilich, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts and minister responsible for the expansion of the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre. “It is all the more gratifying when a BC firm demonstrates the ability to provide the expertise and creativity required for leading edge projects like this.” The sustainable design of the living roof includes drainage and water recovery systems that will collect rainwater to irrigate the nearly 400,000 native plants and wild grasses that will create a downtown “urban oasis.” With sustainability making the transformation from noble ideal to marketable reality, it is no wonder that businesses, governments and individual citizens are demanding more environmentally-geared projects- especially those financed with public funding.
The new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco opened in late September 2008 with a similarly green aspirations- a living roof covering almost 2 acres. It is precisely the addition of such a unique environmental feature that has begun to draw a different kind of crowd. The wait to get into the museum on their monthly “free day” in late December was over 2 hours long.
The Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre will be adding 335,000 square feet of function space to the existing 133,000 square feet, for a combined total of 468,000 square feet of meeting, exhibition, ballroom and theatre space. In addition to the employment opportunities created during construction, the project will generate more than 7,500 direct and indirect full-time jobs once it is opened in 2009. With additional public amenities including more accessible outdoor and plaza space, retail space and restaurants one can only assume that this long-awaited expansion will be a source of pride for Vancouverites as well as a source of joy and inspiration for those who have the privilege to visit.
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