Burnett to explore importance of the knowledge economy on the future health of BC

Acclaimed educator, presenter and cultural industries visionary Dr. Ron Burnett will be coming to the Comox Valley as part of the day long event “Workplaces of the Future – Creativity and Diversity Where We Work” to be held at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay on May the 12th.

Dr. Burnett is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art and Design and the author of over of 150 essays and articles in books and journals around the world. He was the editor-in-chief and founder of Ciné-Tracts Magazine, a film and cultural studies journal that was among the first to appear in Canada. Burnett is also a photographer, videomaker and filmmaker. He developed one of the first academic web sites in Canada in the early 1990′s, and continues to blog at http://www.ecuad.ca/~rburnett. Burnett was also one of the founders of the New Media Innovation Centre in Vancouver

His May 12th presentation will explore the importance of the knowledge economy on the future health of BC. “New developments in the ways in which we work, new patterns of involvement in the workplace, and changing expectations of employers and employees have all contributed to a major shift in traditional notions of labor and employment. These issues have been further accentuated by the transformative impact of digital technologies on every aspect of the working environment. The rapid growth and development of the cultural industries are an early sign of the impact and importance of the knowledge economy on the future health of BC. This presentation will focus on the creative sector and explore whether this sector is telling us something very important about the future of work in our society.”

Burnett was the Director of the Graduate Program in Communications at McGill University and recent honours include induction into the Royal Academy of the Arts, Canadian New Media Association Educator of the Year award and appointment as Chair of the Knowledge Network Board. Burnett has also been appointed Adjunct Professor at York University in Toronto, a Burda Scholar at Ben Gurion University in Israel, and a William Evans Fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand. .

Burnett has published three books including the recent, How Images Think, over 150 book chapters and journal articles. His second book, Cultures of Vision was recently published in China. Burnett has been a strong advocate for post-secondary education in Canada and was the founder and editor of one of Canada’s first Cultural Studies and Film journal. He has lectured around the world and is a sought after speaker.

“Workplaces of the Future – Creativity and Diversity Where We Work” is a thought provoking day-long professional development event for employers,  business owners and professionals designed to stimulate ideas, strategies and inspiration about diversity, creativity and change in the workplace.  Engaging speakers and panelists, exhibits and workshops will explore ways to achieve success through promoting, practicing and celebrating diversity and creativity at work.

This event is part of the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project sponsored by the Creative Employment Access Society. You can register today at the Comox Valley Art Gallery (338-6211) or through the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce (334-3234). Early bird registration runs till April 23rd. Full day registration is $55. Lunch only registration for the Dr. Burnett keynote (11:30-1:30) is only $35. There are limited seats available. (See poster below.)

The cost of building a showpiece permanent farm market in Courtenay could be as much as $6.5 million, city councillors heard this week.

But for that amount of money, the proposed complex – on the cleared Farquharson Farm site near 17th Street Bridge – would be much more than a new home for existing vendors.

Local farm producers currently operate a very popular market from simple tents and booths.For most of the year they set up their stalls at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds on Saturdays and Simms Park on Wednesdays, but in winter they operate Saturdays only out of the K’ómoks Band Hall on Dyke Road.

The new permanent building is being championed by the Comox Valley Economic Development Society as part of its wider program to promote local agriculture and local produce.

In addition to offering space for existing vendors at the proposed building, CVEDS suggests the complex might include agriculture-related educational facilities for North Island College; a permanent shellfish sales centre; a butcher’s shop preparing locally-grown meats; a produce distribution centre; a conservation interpretive centre; and offices, meeting rooms and exhibition space.

While there have been studies into the ideas and preliminary impressions of what the building might look like, it is still relatively early days for the project.

And no one is actually committed to making use of the facility, although there is said to be considerable interest if the costs are considered affordable.

But to get the project moving, the city council agreed this week that if it were to be built, they would be willing to take ownership and management responsibility for it.

That willingness to take control would, however, be subject to two big conditions:

First, all the construction costs for the 51,000 sq ft complex would have to be covered by others, or through grants and donations. The City is not offering to put up any construction cash itself.

And second, it would want financial contributions from all the local governments and electoral areas in the Comox Valley towards ongoing operating costs, collected through a regional district service charge on all property taxes.

Courtenay’s director of planning services, Peter Crawford, said it was envisaged the building would be developed in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, which owns the land.

The Economic Development Society sought the agreement of the City to run the building so they could take their quest for construction funds to the next stage.

Crawford added: “The further development of this concept facility and partnership could include First Nations involvement, a Ducks Unlimited interpretation centre, a greenways system around the entire Ducks Unlimited property with interpretive stations, inclusion of shellfish and wine industries, and the food industry.”

propund@comoxvalleyecho.co
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