Gaetan in the media
https://massivecanada.ai/premier-david-eby-massive-canada-first-recipient-of-bc-manufacturing-jobs-fund/
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BC Premier David Eby. Massive Canada is pleased to announce that the Government of BC has committed $10 million towards its world-class, 91,000 sq ft. mass-timber and building prefabrication facility in Williams Lake. Massive Canada Building Systems uses automation and technology to create innovative products. The manufacturing facility uses sustainably harvested second growth wood to prefabricate buildings. Mass timber locks in carbon while displacing the carbon emissions of steel, concrete and traditional construction methods. Prefabricating building components are engineered for easy site assembly and reduced waste. Massive’s better way to build reduces construction time and increases the supply of housing while contributing to a sustainable economy. Massive Canada is proud to be the first project approved under the new BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund. We anticipate the facility will be in full production in 2024. Premier Eby in Williams Lake, Jun 17 2023:
https://massivecanada.sharepoint.com/:v:/s/External/EcYfJ_8You9Es8bmYAyeuHUBF6IL0dp7H1tguOLGloEPaQ?e=lGKZoy |
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LinkedIn Event. Future of Work is an annual event organized by Massive Canada's colleagues at Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical.
Massive Canada's CEO, Gaetan Royer, was a panelist on a forum to talk about industrialized construction. The event was facilitated by Amy Marks, Queen of Prefab. |
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As an Associate of Columbia Institute I presented this appeal to re-purpose bridges rather then demolishing them.
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TriCity News. A 100-year-old building in Port Moody could become a blueprint for post-pandemic office space. Gaetan Royer was in the early stages of renovating the second floor and attic of the historic Burrard Public House on St. Johns Street for use by his own CityState consulting business, as well as architectural and engineering partners, along with space for independent design professionals, when COVID-19 hit. Like most employers looking to safeguard the health and safety of their employees, he immediately sent his staff home to begin working remotely. And then he started thinking about his own half-million dollar renovation project.
But creative brainstorming with Royer’s partners, as well as some of the historic building’s legacy features like windows that still open, quickly presented solutions. For instance, the new communal washroom which was just in the process of being roughed in was, instead, divided into four individual water closets, each with its own basin for hand washing. Sinks and hand sanitizing stations were added at the front and rear entrance areas, and four separate HVAC systems were installed instead of just one to enhance the turnover of air in the 5,000-square-foot space.
It’s all about providing peace of mind for workers and clients, Royer said.
But creative brainstorming with Royer’s partners, as well as some of the historic building’s legacy features like windows that still open, quickly presented solutions. For instance, the new communal washroom which was just in the process of being roughed in was, instead, divided into four individual water closets, each with its own basin for hand washing. Sinks and hand sanitizing stations were added at the front and rear entrance areas, and four separate HVAC systems were installed instead of just one to enhance the turnover of air in the 5,000-square-foot space.
It’s all about providing peace of mind for workers and clients, Royer said.

CBC Interview. Year end review of the impacts of the pandemic on urban development and future adaptations of our public spaces.
CBC Francais. Two recent interviews on CBC french. The first one is for a Montreal special feature on pandemic's impact on our formerly busy downtown areas. The other one for the Vancouver morning show about a proposed congestion fee to be levied by the City of Vancouver to keep cars out of the City and reduce greenhouse gases.
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Metro News coverage of Back In House. Gaëtan Royer was one of the authors of a new report released by the Columbia Institute. As Port Moody's city manager until 2011, when he became Chief Planner for Metro Vancouver, he saw first-hand the effect of a decade-old decision to contract out Port Moody’s waste services to a private company.
“When you’re spending public money and collecting from taxpayers,” he told Metro, “municipalities have a responsibility to deliver for the least amount possible.” So he worked with Council and the Union to bring the work back in house. The full report can be found here. |

In-sourcing is trending across the country. I was interviewed about Back In House by various media outlets from Metro News in Vancouver to the Sheldon MacLeod show in Halifax.
I particularly enjoyed the Tyee's headline:
Like London and Paris, Sooke BC Is Voting Privatization Out of Style
Read the Tyee's article here.
I particularly enjoyed the Tyee's headline:
Like London and Paris, Sooke BC Is Voting Privatization Out of Style
Read the Tyee's article here.
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Pecha Kucha at Terry Fox Theatre. Gaetan made a presentation titled Hands That Shape the Community, an art project undertaken in collaboration with a group of Port Moody artists: Inlet Artists.
You can find Inlet Artists on Facebook here. At the end of what is otherwise a typical Pecha Kucha presentation, Gaetan was asked to add one more slide as a way to answer Mandara Lebovitz' question: "What does love mean to you?" |

CBC Radio Canada. Gaetan is a frequent commentator on urban affairs on CBC. On October 10, 2014, Gaetan Royer and Jordan Bober were panelists interviewed by Francis Plourde to discuss Vancouver's Greenest City by 2020 initiative. One of the key points I made: "Given the economic context in 2008 when construction starts dropped to a record low, it was very courageous for the City of Vancouver to launch its greenest city initiative. It proved to be extremely successful. The best elements of the plan were the protection of employment zones and the goal to create 10,000 green jobs."
Click here to listen to Gaetan's interview with Francis Plourde about the June 2016 federal infrastructure announcement in Vancouver
Click here to listen to Gaetan Royer and Jordan Bober, panelists on Radio Canada

Columbia Institute. Gaetan is the co-author of this important study documenting the downloading of responsibilities from federal and provincial governments onto municipalities. This report attracted significant media attention.
Click here to listen to Gaetan Royer's conversation on Radio Canada
Click here to listen to Charley Beresford's conversation on CBC
Click here to read the Vancouver Sun article.
Click here to read the Tyee Article
Click here to download the Who’s Picking Up the Tab – FULL REPORT
Click here to read Mayor Mussatto & Mayor Walton in the North Shore News
Click here to listen to Gaetan Royer's conversation on Radio Canada
Click here to listen to Charley Beresford's conversation on CBC
Click here to read the Vancouver Sun article.
Click here to read the Tyee Article
Click here to download the Who’s Picking Up the Tab – FULL REPORT
Click here to read Mayor Mussatto & Mayor Walton in the North Shore News

CBC Radio-Canada. Gaetan was invited to share his thoughts about the downloading of formerly federal and provincial responsibilities onto local governments. Click here to listen
NOTE: INTERVIEW IS IN FRENCH ONLY - CETTE ENTREVUE EST EN FRANCAIS SEULEMENT
Quip that got the loudest applause during Gaetan's presentation at UBCM:
Grant applications for a program that used to be provided by a provincial Ministry ask cities to explain how they plan to sustain the program in the long term, how they will continue providing the program after this one-time grant...
That got me thinking... Hey Minister of Downloading, can you explain to us how you planned to sustain this program in the long term? By letting cities pick up the tab?
NOTE: INTERVIEW IS IN FRENCH ONLY - CETTE ENTREVUE EST EN FRANCAIS SEULEMENT
Quip that got the loudest applause during Gaetan's presentation at UBCM:
Grant applications for a program that used to be provided by a provincial Ministry ask cities to explain how they plan to sustain the program in the long term, how they will continue providing the program after this one-time grant...
That got me thinking... Hey Minister of Downloading, can you explain to us how you planned to sustain this program in the long term? By letting cities pick up the tab?

Sep 2014. Gaetan presents to BC Mayors & Councillors
Gaetan will address Mayors and Councillors from across BC at the 2014 Union of BC Municipalities convention (UBCM).
"Pursuing the leading edge means embracing
innovation and establishing best practices."
Source: UBCM 2014 convention program
Gaetan will join Robert Duffy and Charley Beresford from the Centre for Civic Governance. Gaetan is co-author of a report that will be released at UBCM.
Gaetan is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences including the International Property Tax Institute, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, World Urban Forum and other respected organizations. Locally, Gaetan has been invited to speak at Capilano University, UBC and SFU as well as many municipal organizations. The topics Gaetan has been invited to speak about include municipal finance, planning, parks, asset management and human resources.
Gaetan will address Mayors and Councillors from across BC at the 2014 Union of BC Municipalities convention (UBCM).
"Pursuing the leading edge means embracing
innovation and establishing best practices."
Source: UBCM 2014 convention program
Gaetan will join Robert Duffy and Charley Beresford from the Centre for Civic Governance. Gaetan is co-author of a report that will be released at UBCM.
Gaetan is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences including the International Property Tax Institute, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, World Urban Forum and other respected organizations. Locally, Gaetan has been invited to speak at Capilano University, UBC and SFU as well as many municipal organizations. The topics Gaetan has been invited to speak about include municipal finance, planning, parks, asset management and human resources.

"If Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay really thinks that only 10 people opposed the official community plan (OCP) approved by Port Moody council, he was not paying attention." Bruce Brandhorst
Gaetan Royer is concerned that the OCP has been stripped of any measurable elements like density. The OCP does not specify the amount of green space required to serve the needs of new and existing residents. Gaetan Royer wants to protect the community's interest by inserting key numbers back in a better plan. Read Mr. Brandhorst' letter to the editor here.
Gaetan Royer is concerned that the OCP has been stripped of any measurable elements like density. The OCP does not specify the amount of green space required to serve the needs of new and existing residents. Gaetan Royer wants to protect the community's interest by inserting key numbers back in a better plan. Read Mr. Brandhorst' letter to the editor here.

Recreation & Parks BC Magazine. As keynote speaker, Gaetan was asked to energize BC communities into action. The goal of his speech at the 2014 BC Recreation & Parks Association forum was to encourage all BC communities to start planning NOW their legacy projects and 150th celebrations.
His presentation reminded the 200 parks professionals in attendance about the visionary investments made by communities prior to Canada's 100th in 1967 (e.g. Centennial School). In this well publicized article, Gaetan presents a range of ideas, big and small, to mark this important anniversary.
He urges all BC communities: "Don't wait until 2016 to realize that every community around yours has big plans in place." If Port Moody fails to plan its 2017 legacy project early enough, we may miss out when government grants are announced. How should Port Moody celebrate Canada 150? Read full article here.
His presentation reminded the 200 parks professionals in attendance about the visionary investments made by communities prior to Canada's 100th in 1967 (e.g. Centennial School). In this well publicized article, Gaetan presents a range of ideas, big and small, to mark this important anniversary.
He urges all BC communities: "Don't wait until 2016 to realize that every community around yours has big plans in place." If Port Moody fails to plan its 2017 legacy project early enough, we may miss out when government grants are announced. How should Port Moody celebrate Canada 150? Read full article here.

Globe and Mail. This is a feature about Gaetan's big idea of turning the old Port Mann Bridge into a Greenway. The idea took off and led to interviews by a dozen media outlets. The first article - which triggered pretty incredible public interest - is here.

Surrey Leader. Province was urged to keep the old Port Mann bridge as a park. "I think it's a fantastic idea," said Langley City Coun. Gayle Martin, the committee's vice-chair. "Think of the cost of having that bridge dismantled." A link to the article is here.

Pecha Kucha presentation at Evergreen Theatre, Coquitlam. Gaetan was invited to share his ideas about park space and how to define what is a park?
This presentation stretches the normal perception of what is park to its extreme limits from tiny to huge and everything in between. A fascinating overview of innovative parks in 6-1/2 minutes.
Does a park have the right to be represented at a public hearing about a pipeline?
This presentation stretches the normal perception of what is park to its extreme limits from tiny to huge and everything in between. A fascinating overview of innovative parks in 6-1/2 minutes.
Does a park have the right to be represented at a public hearing about a pipeline?

Lower Mainland Local Government Association
May 2014. Gaetan Royer joined Robert Duffy, Centre for Civic Governance, to share preliminary results from an important survey and research into the impact that Federal and Provincial downloading of responsibilities has had on BC Local Governments. The audience consisted of Mayors, Councillors and School District Trustees from across BC's Lower Mainland.
Gaetan is a strong advocate representing the interests of municipalities.
May 2014. Gaetan Royer joined Robert Duffy, Centre for Civic Governance, to share preliminary results from an important survey and research into the impact that Federal and Provincial downloading of responsibilities has had on BC Local Governments. The audience consisted of Mayors, Councillors and School District Trustees from across BC's Lower Mainland.
Gaetan is a strong advocate representing the interests of municipalities.

Collaborative Governance
As a speaker at the 2012 World Urban Forum in Naples, Italy, Gaetan Royer made a presentation on Collaborative Governance to a large international audience.
This was a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from Russia, Brazil, France and from around the world.
As a speaker at the 2012 World Urban Forum in Naples, Italy, Gaetan Royer made a presentation on Collaborative Governance to a large international audience.
This was a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from Russia, Brazil, France and from around the world.

Building Sustainable Communities. Kelowna, 2012.
Gaetan Royer was invited to make a presentation on green buildings and sustainable development at a Western Canada conference held in Kelowna, BC.
The Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) is a registered charity with a passion for building sustainable communities through conversations that inspire positive change.
Gaetan Royer was invited to make a presentation on green buildings and sustainable development at a Western Canada conference held in Kelowna, BC.
The Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) is a registered charity with a passion for building sustainable communities through conversations that inspire positive change.

Times Colonist. This is a Times Colonist (Victoria's daily Newspaper) guest column about amalgamation of municipalities in BC's Capital Regional District, an initiative led by a Victoria-based business group.
"For taxpayers in big merged cities, the new normal is big bureaucracy and ill-informed call-centre attendants."
A bigger municipality isn’t better, just bigger. Read the full article here.
"For taxpayers in big merged cities, the new normal is big bureaucracy and ill-informed call-centre attendants."
A bigger municipality isn’t better, just bigger. Read the full article here.

MMCDA. BC 2010 presentation to Civil Engineers and Facilities Managers organized by MMCD (Master Municipal Construction Documents Association). The full presentation can be viewed here.
The MMCDA originated with the BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, the Consulting Engineers of B.C., and the Municipal Engineers Division of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C.
The MMCDA originated with the BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, the Consulting Engineers of B.C., and the Municipal Engineers Division of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C.

Artist Blog. This is write-up by artist Gillian MacMillan about a reception for Port Moody artists held in Gaetan's home in 2013. Called Artists Meeting Artists, the primary goal of this event was to connect, energize and grow Port Moody's vibrant art community. See Gillian's blog here.

Strelka Institute. In 2013, while in Moscow on other business, the Strelka Institute asked Vancouver Councillor Heather Deal and Gaetan to make a presentation about urban planning. About 200 students, faculty, urban planners and Moscow officials were in attendance. The link to the presentation is here. Gaetan's half of the presentation starts at the 26 minute mark.

CBC Canada 150. Do we hear enough about Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017? Certainly compared with 1967 when Canada's Centennial was celebrated with Expo 67 in Montreal and events across the country, not enough is being done to mark 2017. Trying to set the stage for visionary ideas, CBC invited 10 Canadians to express their ideas. It was a privilege for Gaetan to be part of CBC's 2017 STARTS NOW Conference. Conference bio is here and speech is here.

Global News Hour. Gaetan designed and built a sustainable home in Port Moody with the help of his wife Zoe Royer as the interior designer. Global News featured their sustainable home in a 3 minute video on the 6 o'clock news. This was part of an effort to promote the Buildex. The anchor man's opening line: "It's one of a kind. A home designed with the single goal of making it as sustainable as possible." Watch the news segment here.

Vancouver Sun. Claudia Kwan, freelance reporter publishing as Polymediaathlete wrote an article about Gaetan's sustainable home. She says: "I’m drawing particular inspiration from Gaetan Royer... who built an amazing house in Port Moody that’s challenging a lot of our ideas about what sustainability means." Pretty cool stuff. Read more here...
Claudia' impressive three-page spread in the Vancouver Sun, covered the entire front page of the At Home section and included 9 large photographs.
Claudia' impressive three-page spread in the Vancouver Sun, covered the entire front page of the At Home section and included 9 large photographs.

Vancouver Sun. Based on a careful review of regional parks, demographic growth and changing housing types (most of the growth is expected to condos with limited access to nature), Gaetan arrived at the inconvenient conclusion that Metro Vancouver's regional parks, already crowed in 2012, would be under significant stress. This was part of a report recommending doubling the funding to improve parks and provide open space for the region's growing population.“There’s a significant disconnect in the funding available and what our plans currently say we need in terms of land and trails and replacement buildings,” said Metro parks manager Gaetan Royer.
The full article is here.
The full article is here.

Price Tags. In an article titled Acknowledging the Elephant: Gateway’s impact on transit and regional planning, Professor Gordon Price, Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University, says: "Finally … someone – in this case, Metro Planning manager Gaetan Royer – connects the dots, as quoted in the indispensible Novae Res Urbis today.
He is referring to a presentation at a Forum on Metro Vancouver regional issues. Read more here.
He is referring to a presentation at a Forum on Metro Vancouver regional issues. Read more here.

Western Investor. In 2011, significant attention was brought to the need to intensify the use of industrial land and stop building sprawling single-story buildings. "There's a finite amount of industrial land that's left," warned Gaetan Royer, manager of metropolitan planning, environment and parks for Metro Vancouver in 2012. "If we continue to build single-storey tilt-up concrete warehouses we're going to run out [of land] somewhere between 2020 and 2024."
Some industrial agents voiced concerns that the shortage is even more acute than Gaetan's report indicated. The author of this Western Investor calls this shortage a myth. Read his opinion here.
Continued pressure to remove land from the Agricultural Land Reserve and pave it over for industrial use proves that Gaetan's research was not too far off.
Many urban planners and municipal thinkers agree that buildings like the one pictured above should have second, third and fourth floors accommodating light industrial and office use. This would help save the limited supply of industrial land. One New York City industrial complex has sports fields and community centre built on its multi-acre roof.
Some industrial agents voiced concerns that the shortage is even more acute than Gaetan's report indicated. The author of this Western Investor calls this shortage a myth. Read his opinion here.
Continued pressure to remove land from the Agricultural Land Reserve and pave it over for industrial use proves that Gaetan's research was not too far off.
Many urban planners and municipal thinkers agree that buildings like the one pictured above should have second, third and fourth floors accommodating light industrial and office use. This would help save the limited supply of industrial land. One New York City industrial complex has sports fields and community centre built on its multi-acre roof.

Travel Smart. Gaetan wrote a guest article for this online magazine to debunk common electric car myths. This was in January 2012, shortly after the launch of the Chevy Volt in BC. "Although first adopters of a new technology face some risks, I feel great that I have already achieved a steep reduction of my carbon footprint." Gaetan Royer
The full article is here.
The full article is here.

Tri-City News. This article is the announcement of Gaetan's departure from the City of Port Moody to join Metro Vancouver. He continues to enjoy a great relationship with the good folks at the Tri-City News who are now helping us raise funds for the reconstruction of the Mossom Creek Hatchery. See the article here.

Business in Vancouver. Following Gaetan's presentation to the Planning Institute of BC (PIBC), Business in Vancouver shared with their readers some of the options that Metro Vancouver planners had developed for the densification of industrial land use. Read the full article here.
Collaborating with industry
Gaetan was invited to make a presentation at the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Conference to share our success at creating the first City-CPR Community Advisory Panel in Western Canada. The text below is from a joint media release by FCM and the Railway Association of Canada. EDMONTON, May 31, 2004 - The site, www.proximityissues.ca, was launched at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' annual conference. Mayor Joe Trasolini of Port Moody, City Manager Gaetan Royer, and Canadian Pacific Railway community relations manager Rick Poznikoff traced their efforts at dispute resolution through a case study. "There was a lack of communication, as much as there was good intentions, between the railway and the community at large. Port Moody is a city that relies heavily on community participation, tasks forces, and general public participation in civic government. The implementation of a Community Advisory Panel by both the railway and the city is what finally sweetened sour relations." A copy of the powerpoint is here... |
Exchange Magazine, Local Government Management Association (LGMA). This article is from an interview with Gaetan Royer about how a CAO can best manage a well-informed election. See the article here (scroll to page 13 of the document).