You are invited to participate in an online mapping project called Vancouver [de]Tour Guide 2010. It is primarily a multi-layered Google map that highlights a variety of locations, histories, and representations of the city, which complicate the sanitized ‘best place on earth’ version the 2010 Olympics organizers are promoting worldwide.
This project is a local and collective response initiated by a loose consortium of concerned residents, activists, artists, geographers, and others coming together to present more expansive and generative representations of our home city. Given controls on freedom of expression and movement, among other liberties, during this time, we feel it is necessary to record, collect, and transmit information such as Olympic impacts and other unofficial stories to visitors.
Since Google maps will be the information source of choice to visitors, we are using it as a tool to critically contextualize the city during this high-profile period and our goal is to make our map the top search result for people seeking information about Vancouver. In order to do this, we need a lot of participation and networking and are appealing to you for help and support in this mission. Locals and others who have knowledge of the city can help us add to the map, either online or in person at a series of mapping parties. Other concerned people--both here in Vancouver and around the world--can help by creating links to the map and spreading the word.
Many thanks and we look forward to mapping with you!
Vancouver (de)Tour Guide 2010 Mapping at VIVO: Monday to Friday Feb 15-19 + 22-26 4-7pm (following Afternoon School)
