by Linda Solomon
After an arduous race that pitted him against a parks board veteran, and a longtime, progressive city council member, Fairview MLA Gregor Robertson became Vision Vancouver's mayoral nominee. Drawing record numbers of voters to the polls, the race between the three contenders transformed a new municipal political party into Canada's largest.

Here is the official tally:
Gregor Robertson: 3495
Raymond Louie: 2244
Allan De Genova 981.

A stunned but dignified Councilman Louie took the stage to congratulate Robertson and unite the party. "We have a better vision for what Vancouver can do and we are going to show that this November." De Genova was nowhere to be found during the announcement of the vote count.

Flanked by his wife, Amy, and his four children, Robertson challenged NPA nominee Peter Ladner to engage in "a real discussion about the issues facing Vancouver" during the coming months. Vowing to "go where the diverse mosaic of Vancouver gathers," Robertson listed homelessness, empowering neighbourhoods and making Vancouver "the greenest city in the world" as his priorities.

To cheers and chants of "Gregor, Gregor, Gregor," Robertson urged the crowd to get rested and to get ready for a challenging race against the NPA.

"Tomorrow," he said, "the real work begins."

(photo above of Robertson and family by Brian Powell)