(A very BIG thank you to the film crew at SFU Woodwards, and the SFU Vancity Office of Community Engagement for the quick turn-around on this.)

Enjoy!

Last Candidate Standing – Part 1

Last Candidate Standing – Part 2

The event started off with an introduction by Paola, chair of the Vancouver Public Space Network. The rest of the debate ran smoothly thanks to the humorous MC Mark Busse,  Industrial Brand partner & managing director. He also made sure there was absolutely no delay hitting the gong when the one-minute limit was up for each candidate.

MC Mark Busse

The debate went on through three rounds of questioning. Candidates stood under a bright spotlight and answered questions to showcase their diverse ideas for Vancouver’s future. These questions were posed by the Panel of Inquisition: Emily Jackson of Metro News, CTV News reporter Jon Woodward, and Jackie Wong, UBC/Megaphone Magazine. To make it even more engaging, a few audience members were able to ask questions as well. Candidates answered questions on a huge range of topics, including how Vancouver can shake its ‘no fun city’ title, our tech sector, bike lanes, and City Hall’s transparency to the public. To top it all off, five-minute breaks featured The New Shackletons playing music for everyone to enjoy.

Panel of Inquisition: From left to right – Jackie Wong, Jon Woodward, Emily Jackson

And because this isn’t your regular debate, the event was filled with creativity such as rapping, plush toy props, sound effects, distributing election pins to please the panel, humour, and Vancouver Cedar Party‘s audience-wide pizza delivery. The evening’s lively and friendly atmosphere featured passionate speeches, with enthusiastic clapping and cheering from both the audience and the candidates.

Panel of Inquisition, candidates and the very important gong

In the end, it was up to Pete Fry from Green Party of Vancouver and Andrea Reimer from Vision Vancouver to battle it out. With the audience clapping and whistling, and a .1 difference in the sound meter, the winner of this year’s Last Candidate Standing debate goes to…Andrea Reimer!

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to make this event happen and everyone who came out despite the rainy and chilly Vancouver weather. Make sure you vote on November 15th, and just like what one candidate said – even if you have to drive your reluctant friend to a voting location, make sure they vote!

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The 2014 Edition of Last Candidate Standing is produced by the Vancouver Public Space Network, with amazing support from SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, and the Urbanarium Society.

Make sure you check out VPSN’s Flickr for the event’s photos!