Vancouver: Still hatin' peace

There could be more trouble looming for cash-strapped organizers of the World Peace Forum.

Some Vancouver city councillors are unimpressed with the funding process behind the June event, and could decide tomorrow to withhold a $50,000 grant that organizers have been counting on.

“There is a very serious problem,” NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton said in an interview.

Organizers were expected to come up with $200,000 in cash in order for council to kick in another $50,000.

Instead, only $82,000 has so far been raised, plus another $45,000 in promised support and $140,000 in 'in kind' support - such as services donated in lieu of cash.

“'In kind' is a number that can be very flexible,” Anton said. “They have definitely not come up with what I know was in people's minds.”

City policy does not normally count 'in kind' donations as cash equivalent, which NPA Coun. Peter Ladner and Mayor Sam Sullivan noted yesterday. Both have been critical of the way the forum has been organized.

But World Peace Forum executive director Jef Keighley said the fundraising plan had always meant to include 'in kind' contributiuons, such as an estimated $30,000 worth of office space the B.C. Teachers' Federation has provided in its Vancouver offices.

"We're certainly behind in terms of overall funding," Keighley said yesterday. "But there never was a plan that the funding would be made [entirely] in cash."

But even if council nixes the $50,000 grant tomorrow, or a future one that is contingent on another $500,000 being raised, Keighley says the forum will fit the size of its budget - whatever that may be.

"We have the capacity to downsize," Keighley said. "We have no intention of running a deficit. The suit will be cut to match the cloth available."

But a city staff report on the event organizers' progress isn't so sure.

"A significant amount of cash fundraising must still be achieved to meet the Society's budget projections of $1,133,000," reads the report, which Keighley disputes. "... Staff is concerned that the Forum's program agenda has not been confirmed, the Society has limited cash on hand and little attention has been given to security issues and emergency preparedness or their costs."

In fact, with less than four months to go, organizers have raised less than half of the $1,133,000 they have budgeted. Keighley says he expects another $250,000 to be raised, with the remainder coming from participant registration fees during the event itself.

Last month, city council axed its commitment to a smaller event related to the peace forum, citing cost concerns and a lack of preparedness.

Organizers accused the NPA-dominated council of playing politics, since it was the previous left-leaning council that originally backed the forum.

Related post: This just in: Vancouver hates peace

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