Most Vancouverites would agree that we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Various international organizations have confirmed something that we have known for a long time, that Vancouver is one of the best places to live in the world: outstanding recreational opportunities, high standard of living, relatively low crime rate (particularly violent crime), moderate climate. But there's something missing. Montreal, Madrid, London, New York, Sydney and dozens of other cities around the world all have something Vancouver doesn't. The French call it joie de vivre - the joy of life.

It is not for a lack of demand that Vancouver is without joie de vivre. Nobody wants to live in a beautiful but bland city. And it's not for lack of imagination or talent - everyone knows that you can't swing a cat anywhere on the west coast of North America without hitting someone who has a crazy, brilliant, fun idea rolling around in their head. Vancouver has an abundance of creative geniuses be they impresarios, entertainers or just plain old dreamers.

Events like the Polar Bear Swim and the Illuminaries Festival are proof that you can not stop creative individuals from being creative anymore than you can stop eight year old children from daydreaming or asking questions. So, if Vancouver has the desire and the talent necessary to be a culturally diverse, dynamic, dare we say magical place, how did it become rightfully known as No Fun City?

The finger of blame cannot, and should not, be pointed at any one individual or group. The truth of the matter is that the mindset responsible for things like cancelling of the Sea Festival and First Night and telling people to stay home on New Year's Eve has become institutionalized. But, rather than attempting to apportion blame, we would be better off trying to find solutions.

Solutions come from ideas and ideas come from people. Vancouver desperately needs leaders who can understand, on a systemic level, where the problems lie, and eliminate them.

The new city council elected in November 2005 will be responsible for deciding whether Vancouver continues to move towards becoming a truly "world class city" by embracing its dormant creative soul and nurturing it, or it allows small bands of NIMBY's to continue to suffocate the spirit that was so evident during Expo '86 - and even this year's Grey Cup. Should the NIMBYs continue to hold sway at City Hall, our close-to-great city will become a sleepy suburban village by-the-sea for the next several decades.

If you think that last statement hyperbolic, you are mistaken. Much has been made of the "brain drain" that threatens Canada's future, but few observers have come to understand that Vancouver is, slowly but surely, losing its creative individuals and its creative edge.

While Vancouver has plenty of creative individuals, many of them are becoming frustrated. The roadblocks that are thrown up in front of anyone who dares to try to spark the creative fire in Vancouver have been responsible for the defection of all manner of artists and impresarios to Eastern Canada. It is not immediately obvious because Vancouverites, for the most part, have never heard of them. And they will not hear of them until those individuals become national figures living in Toronto - or L.A. or New York -- for that matter.

We need to understand that there is more to life than slaving away for the sake of paying an $850,000 mortgage on a 1200 square ft condo. Happiness does not emanate from a 50-inch TV screen. And, even if the Canucks do, one day, win the Cup, the hysterical rush of excitement and sense of community that will come along with the run through the playoffs will fade as quickly as it manifests.

We don't expect any of our Councilors to turn into modern-day versions of PT Barnum or Walt Disney. Our new City Councilors are, so far, demonstrating that they understand that we need them to listen to, encourage and help those among us who have a vision for a better, more vibrant city.

We don't expect, or even want, local taxpayers to be burdened with rate increases to cover the costs of this mighty important crusade. We would, however, all do well to understand that tourism is a huge industry and the more fun a place is, the more tourists it will attract.

Our new Council must, above all, understand that Vancouverites are screaming for a change to the Victorian attitudes that had been turning us into Singapore East and holding us back from being the best city in the world. Saving of the fireworks festival and the Indy were a good start but things never should have come to that in the first place. There is still much to do and FUNcouver is on the job.