International Union Chooses VCEC for 2011 Convention

Vancouver, BC (May 15, 2007) – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), based in Washington, D.C., is bringing their 38th convention to the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (VCEC) in September 2011. This is the IBEW’s first convention in Vancouver, and its first in Canada since 1986.

“Our policy is to hold our convention in different parts of the continent to show support for our members in all regions, and after 25 years it was time for the IBEW to go north again,” said Edwin D. Hill, IBEW International President.

International Secretary-Treasurer of the IBEW, Jon F. Walters, added: “We’re very excited about coming to Vancouver in 2011, and holding our convention in a new building with such incredible features including the inspiring views of the mountains and ocean.”

“The IBEW convention is significant for the VCEC and Vancouver, particularly because our expansion made it possible for us to compete,” said Barbara Maple, VCEC President. “This convention requires 160,000 square feet of exhibition space – nearly twice as big as the space we currently offer in our existing facility. IBEW also needs 22 break-out meeting rooms, which is more than we could accommodate in our space today.”

The event – running from September 7-25 including setup – will bring delegates, spouses, guests and staff together for an exposition, gala event and welcome reception. In total, about 7,500 total attendees are expected. With 17,000 room nights, the convention represents 29,500 non-resident delegate days and a projected economic impact to the province of $42.3 million CDN.

“Bringing this kind of business into British Columbia clearly demonstrates that the province’s investment in convention centre expansion is extremely important,” said the Honourable Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. “Before expansion, the VCEC had to turn away business opportunities like IBEW due to lack of space, and expansion changes that.”
Founded in 1891, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents 725,000 members – including 60,000 in Canada – who work in a wide variety of fields such as utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government. In addition to its 1986 convention in Toronto, the IBEW has held conventions in Canada in 1923 and 1962, both in Montreal.

About the VCEC
Since opening in 1987, the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre has been British Columbia’s flagship convention facility. In fiscal year 2007, the VCEC hosted 350 events and 745,000 delegate days, and generated more than $240 million in economic impact for the province of B.C. When its major expansion completes, the VCEC will offer a combined total of nearly 500,000 square feet of function space and will serve as the international media and broadcast centre for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010.

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