As long as I’ve been involved with The Vancouver Board of Trade, I’ve known that whether I am attending an event, participating in a policy panel or serving on the executive committee, one thing is a given – I will always be in good company, surrounded by people who are engaged and passionate about making a difference in our community.
When I look at the history of The Board and all of the important developments that it has been involved with through the years, I am struck by one thing: We make things happen. Whether helping to rebuild the city of Vancouver following the devastating fire of 1886; lobbying the federal government to dredge the First Narrows for shipping during WWI; establishing a debt clock in the 1990s to focus attention on the crippling burden of our national debt, or establishing the Spirit of Vancouver® to reinvigorate our sense of community, The Board has a reputation for turning ideas into positive action.
Each chair brings their own set of passions to The Board and today, I would like to share with you two that have shaped my career and my life.
In 2004, the provincial government initiated a five-year program called Imagine BC to engage citizens in envisioning what our province should be like in 30 years. As someone with more than 40 years of experience in the field of medical innovation, I personally believe that technology and innovation are the way forward.
Why focus on technology? The answer is simple – because technological innovation transcends all boundaries. Not only does it create new industry sectors and jobs which boost economic output; it also provides traditional industries with advances enabling them to be more productive and competitive. Most importantly, technology improves every aspect of life by inventing new ways to address important social issues related to health care, education, sustainability and security.
Over the past several decades, B.C. has established five significant technology clusters with the potential to drive the economy. Those clusters are biotechnology, fuel cells, information and communications technology (ICT), new media and wireless. As a 2003 PricewaterhouseCoopers white paper on B.C.’s technology industry stated, “The building blocks are in place. British Columbia’s five technology clusters are positioned to provide the critical foundation for the future economic strength of our province. However, these economic clusters will not drive economic growth by themselves…although many of B.C.’s technology clusters have already demonstrated a potential for international leadership… each cluster also faces significant challenges and stiff global competition.”
It is now up to us as business and community leaders to address these challenges in order to keep our economy healthy and thriving. Challenges include attracting skilled workers, providing affordable housing, building transportation systems that work and making our communities safe. Throughout the coming year, The Board will be looking for your input and support as we look at new approaches in dealing with these important issues.
Speaking of input and support, another area that I am passionate about is corporate citizenship and philanthropy. While most business leaders agree that to be successful in the long term, organizations have to be involved and invested in the community—and not just through cheque-book philanthropy, but personally involved—there appears to be a gap between reality and rhetoric.
A 2007 survey by Boston College showed that while 60 per cent of U.S. executives said corporate citizenship should be part of their business strategy, just 39 per cent admitted it was part of their business planning process, and only 28 per cent had a formal, corporate citizenship policy.
I would hazard a guess that the same figures apply to Canadian business. Yet, business has a lot of skills and talent that it can bring to the table to help solve difficult community problems.
Determining how best to get involved is up to you. Every business has different strengths and capacities.
That’s what I call effective corporate citizenship…putting your resources to work for the things you are passionate about. As we’ve seen in the past, what The Board does has an incredibly positive impact on our community. This ethos of Engaged Community Leadership…connecting for good™ demonstrates exactly the kind of passionate commitment that can—and will—change the world.
What will the future hold for our city? It’s up to each one of us to decide. It is up to us to be innovative. It is up to us to build the kind of communities we want to live in. It is up to us to contribute in as many ways as we can. I want you to ask yourself this question: “What can I do to help make the future of Vancouver better and brighter, What can I contribute to my community?” Once you have some answers, then it’s time to take action.
I once received a letter from a student who quoted a Chinese proverb, which to me illustrates an approach to life that we should all aspire to:
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. But, if you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.”
I look forward to serving you as chairman.
Dr. Don Rix, CM, OBC
Chairman and Chief Elected Officer
The Vancouver Board of Trade 2008-2009
