SPECIAL INITIATIVES + PROJECTS

As a strategic, creative and effective leader in both the public and private sectors, Brent has often been called upon to create, lead or actively participate in unusual processes, projects or initiatives. Brent believes in urban leaders playing the role of what author Charles Landry calls “the Civic Creative”, thus he enjoys non-traditional roles, and challenges that require innovative and out-of-the-box thinking.

No-where was such thinking more necessary, than in the strategy, planning, design and preparation leading up to (and the successful hosting of) the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. This included the design, negotiations, and implementation, as well as the design review process itself under crushing time-frames, for the Olympic Athletes Village (shown in the picture above).

Brent has initiated international ideas competitions and has been a juror in many such competitions and awards. He has reviewed and revitalized public engagement processes in both Vancouver and Calgary, to make them more “engaging”, effective and interesting (and as Brent puts it, more “human”). He has managed, created, and restructured complex public benefits and development costs processes to ensure that amenities and housing diversity can be provided as part of “density done well”. He has led and engaged in First Nations processes and negotiations, assisted in the negotiations of amalgamating municipalities, and has provided peer advice to dozens of global cities, both from Vancouver, and as a guest of these cities.