CREDIT: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province Premier Gordon Campbell shows off a model of the new convention centre.

After more than a decade of planning, construction officially began yesterday on Vancouver‘s new convention centre on the downtown waterfront in Coal Harbour.

Premier Gordon Campbell, joined by representatives from all levels of government, operated a backhoe for the ceremonial sod-turning — actually an asphalt-lifting — at the site, the former float-plane terminal parking lot west of Canada Place.

The $565-million project is scheduled for completion in 2008.

“Clearly, this [expansion] will have a major impact on tourism in B.C.,” Campbell said. “Even though we’re starting the project today, we’re already out selling the facilities for events in 2008 and beyond.”

He said B.C.’s tourism industry began lobbying for expanded convention facilities in 1993. The existing centre turns away 50 events a year — and $150 million in economic benefits — because of the lack of convention space.

The expansion will be linked by covered walkway to the existing Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre and will add 35,470 square metres of event space to the current 12,400.

It will allow for 20 additional major events a year, and will double the number of delegates that can be accommodated to 5,000.

The new building and plaza, which will be built on a 3.25-hectare site and cover about four city blocks, feature an environmentally friendly 2.4-hectare “living roof” of plants native to the West Coast.

The existing convention centre, which opened in 1987, will also be refurbished.

The federal and provincial governments, along with $90 million from Tourism Vancouver and the private sector, will pay for the project.

“This is going to be something everyone is proud of,” Campbell said.

The project is expected to provide 6,702 person-years of employment during construction and more than 7,500 full-time jobs once the centre is in use.

In 2010, the site will be the media and broadcast centre for the Winter Olympics, which are expected to bring 10,000 journalists to the city.

Federal Industry Minister David Emerson called the project, and the funding partnership, a “strategic intervention in the economy” that will increase tourism and enhance trade opportunities in Asia.

“This project has been a long time coming, and it’s been a long, winding road,” Emerson said yesterday. “Finally getting this project under way is extremely gratifying.”

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TIMELINE

– July, 1987: The current convention centre opens at Canada Place.

– 1994: Las Vegas casino developer Steve Wynn and his Mirage Resorts group proposes with local developer, VLC Properties, to build Seaport Centre on the east side of Canada Place. The project is to include a casino, convention facility and 1,000-room hotel, but fierce opposition, especially from anti-gambling groups, kills the plan.

– 1996: Tourism industry announces it is willing to financially support a convention-centre expansion.

– 1997-99: Renewed efforts to build a convention centre, named Portside, east Canada Place after Marathon Developments withdraws its proposal for Discovery Place on the west side.

– 1999: Then-premier Dan Miller cancels Portside, saying the government won’t consider expanding the city’s convention facilities unless the private sector comes forward.

– 2002: B.C.’s new Liberal government secures a site for the expansion on the west side of Canada Place through an agreement with Marathon Developments and tries in vain to find a private investment partner.

– 2003: B.C. successfully negotiates with the federal government to finance the expansion. Ottawa commits $225.5 million, matching the province’s contribution. Tourism Vancouver agrees to contribute $90 million to the project.

– November 2004: Site to be cleared.

– February 2005: Pile driving on land and in water around project to prepare for construction.

– 2008: Expansion scheduled for completion.

© The Vancouver Province 2004