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CTV News
01-08-2025
- CTV News
Vancouver tweaks Kits Pool rules amid reservation debate
After a motion to scrap the hotly debated online booking system at Kitsilano Pool was shot down before discussion, the Vancouver Park Board is making tweaks for drop-in users at the city's outdoor pools for the remainder of the summer. Starting Aug. 5, drop in prices will be 50 per cent off during the final 45 minutes of swim sessions at Kitsilano Pool, Second Beach Pool, New Brighton Pool, and Maple Grove Pool. The move aims to 'provide better value for drop-in users who may arrive later in a session or have less flexibility in their schedules,' the park board said in a news release announcing the changes. At Kitsilano Pool specifically, staff are slashing the half-hour break between sessions in the afternoon, switching the schedule from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. sessions to one 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. session. 'This adjustment offers flexibility for drop-in users to arrive at varying times while still enjoying a sufficient length swim session,' the park board wrote. The reservation system that has been in place since the pandemic but has increasingly drawn criticism this summer, particularly from Mayor Ken Sim's ABC Party, will remain in place – which means 80 per cent of spots are reserved for those who buy tickets online and 20 per cent for drop ins, but staff can adjust the ratio based on attendance. 'The park board's reservation system allows users, especially those traveling from farther away, to plan their visits with confidence,' it argued in the news release. 'With the exception of a few peak days, most drop-in swimmers were accommodated at all outdoor pool facilities. Timed swim sessions have also helped ensure safe, efficient access to pools across the city while reducing wait times.' ABC has repeatedly called for the park board to do away with the reservation system, arguing people should be able to access the city's pools spontaneously without having to fight for limited tickets. Park Board chair Laura Christensen's refusal to entertain a motion on ending advance booking drew particular ire from Sim, who released a statement saying the issues with attractions like the Kits Pool and the Stanley Park train lie with the Park Board itself which 'continues to operate with limited accountability and with little regard for what residents are actually asking for.' 'We are paying the price with long wait times and limited to no access to Kits Pool because Premier David Eby is either unwilling or unable to follow through on his repeated commitment to transition the Park Board into City operations,' Sim wrote. The statement prompted Park Board commissioner Tom Digby to declare the mayor 'officially unhinged' on social media. In response to the operational tweaks coming to the pools next week, ABC issued a statement claiming the park board was 'surrendering to public outcry' and that it's a 'small step in the right direction' but again called for the board to scrap online reservations altogether. 'We hear from families, seniors and everyday pool users who feel shut out by a system that was meant to be temporary. Clinging to a broken model only frustrates the people we're here to serve. It's time to listen and we appreciate staff working in that direction,' said commissioner Marie-Claire Howard, in ABC's release. Most of Vancouver's outdoor pools are open between Victoria Day and Labour Day, while the Kitsilano Pool will close in mid-September. The park board next meets on Sept. 15.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vancouver's top civil servant departs by 'mutual agreement,' surprising many at city hall
Vancouver city staff were caught off-guard this week by the sudden departure of the municipality's top civil servant, city manager Paul Mochrie. The reasons behind Mochrie's exit, after 14 years at city hall and four as city manager, were not immediately clear, but former colleagues described him as highly capable, well-liked by staff, and a consummate public servant. The news was unveiled with a public statement late Tuesday afternoon from Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, who said he and Mochrie had 'mutually agreed that it was the right time for a leadership change.' The announcement set off chatter among surprised current and former city staff, as well as outside observers. After the news broke, city councillors from outside the mayor's ABC party made public statements of support for Mochrie in interviews and on social media. ABC councillors were comparatively quiet, and some of them did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment. Green Coun. Pete Fry said he was surprised by the news Tuesday and had no information beyond what was in the press release. Fry said he does not know whether Sim already has a replacement city manager in mind, and he does not expect to have visibility or input into the selection process. But Fry's 'worst fear,' he said, is that the mayor will replace Mochrie with 'some kind of Elon Musk, DOGE-type character who wants to run the city like a business,' referring to the billionaire who advised U.S. president Donald Trump and helped implement huge cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Independent Coun. Rebecca Bligh said she had no insight into Mochrie's departure, but said that considering ABC's recent direction for city staff to cut significant spending from the budget in the coming months, and with the city hosting part of the FIFA World Cup tournament in 2026, it is a challenging time for a change in leadership. 'This isn't going to be a light workload for the coming year,' Bligh said. 'We don't have a city manager now, and we have a lot on our plate.' Bligh described Mochrie as 'incredibly hard-working' and 'a consummate public servant.' 'I really don't know about what was discussed or decided on between the city manager and the mayor,' Bligh said. Soon after Sim's surprise public announcement Tuesday, Mochrie sent his own email to all city employees. 'Good afternoon all,' Mochrie's email opened. 'As you will have seen from the announcement earlier this afternoon, the time has come for me to move on from the City of Vancouver.' Mochrie's email praised city staff for their 'dedication, talent and professionalism,' and said he was 'profoundly grateful for the support that I have received from so many of you during my time here. Most sincerely, I could not have wished for a better group of colleagues.' Mochrie's email did not include any reference to what he might do next. He closed with: 'As you continue your work in support of council and this remarkable city that is my home, please know I am rooting for you.' Approached Wednesday at city hall, Sim said it was too early to say whether he had a potential replacement or list of candidates in mind. Sim declined to say what he is looking for in the city's next chief civil servant, but said he has a 'scorecard' of roles, responsibilities and qualities, 'and the best person who can achieve that standard, that'd be the person that we would hire.' 'We're looking for the best person who can take this city, and take it to the next level,' Sim said. Sim said while outsiders might speculate, he emphasized this was a 'mutual agreement,' and he wanted to 'celebrate the fact that Paul is a great person, who served our city well for 14 years and I wish him the best in the future.' In September 2021, Mochrie's immediate predecessor, Sadhu Johnston, announced his own plan to resign from the job early the following year, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. By contrast, Mochrie's departure was first announced publicly by Sim, on Mochrie's final official day with the city. From the outside, it seems like Sim 'certainly participated in this decision with Paul Mochrie, if not initiated it,' said former Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs. 'And my hunch is that he initiated it.' 'I think the bottom line is the mayor has decided to change the city manager, so what's his plan?' said Meggs, who worked closely with Mochrie for several years. 'If you're going to terminate a city manager, you presumably have an alternative in mind. My expectation is that Mayor Sim does have somebody else in mind, we just don't know who that is yet.' Tuesday marked Mochrie's final official day with the city, a city spokesperson said, but 'as part of the terms of his departure, it was agreed Paul would provide a reasonable level of support to (former deputy city manager and now acting city manager) Karen Levitt on an as-needed basis.' Mochrie declined an interview Wednesday, but said in an emailed statement: 'It has been a privilege to spend the past 14 years at the City of Vancouver, although I am excited to move on. There is an extremely capable leadership team in place and the organization is very well positioned to support council in delivering results for residents and businesses.' Mochrie is the most recent senior executive to have departed the City of Vancouver during the first three years of ABC Vancouver's first term in office. Vancouver's chief planner, chief financial officer, chief librarian and park board general manager have all left for other jobs since the 2022 election. Mochrie was Vancouver's highest paid employee other than the police chief last year, earning $387,110 in 2024, according to city records. The city did not answer questions about the circumstances of Mochrie's departure including whether he will receive severance pay, calling it a 'confidential human resources matter.' Former mayor Gregor Robertson replaced longtime city manager Judy Rogers in 2008 with Penny Ballem, and then replaced Ballem in 2015 with Johnston. Ballem and Rogers were paid severance of $556,000 and $572,000, respectively. Mochrie was confirmed as city manager in April 2021, eight months after Johnston's departure was announced and following an international candidate search and recruitment process by an executive search firm. There is no set timeline for Mochrie's replacement, the city spokesperson said, but the mayor, city manager's office, and chief human resources officer 'will be advancing a process over the coming weeks to bring on board a permanent city manager.' with files from David Carrigg dfumano@ Related City of Vancouver manager Paul Mochrie resigns Dan Fumano: 'Boring is good' as Vancouver's new top boss aims for quiet efficiency
The Province
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Province
Vancouver mayor cites five possible sites for relocating Granville Strip supportive housing — but won't say where
Pete Fry, one of four council members not associated with Mayor Ken Sim's ABC Party, said he is shocked the mayor's office is not prepared to reveal the locations. The former Howard Johnson hotel at 1176 Granville Street is now an SRO with a nightclub on the ground floor. It has been the scene of numerous fires. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has identified five sites that could be used to relocate three Granville Street supportive-housing facilities that have had ongoing and numerous complaints from business owners. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors But on Thursday the city did not disclose the locations of the sites, whether they are vacant land or are already developed. The city says the proposed new facilities would be smaller in scale, each holding 55 to 65 units. Sim has sent his list of sites to the provincial government. Pete Fry, one of four council members not associated with Sim's ABC Party, said he is shocked the mayor's office made the announcement but is not prepared to reveal the locations. Business owner Allan Goodall, from left, with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung on Granville street June 12, 2025. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG He also questioned who will pay for the required SRO conversion fee of $300,000 per unit for both the Granville Villa and St. Helen's Hotel. The two facilities combine for 170 units, which would total $510 million. 'I think these preliminary addresses that the mayor's office is referring to don't meet some of the expectations that we had discussed earlier in the Granville planning process,' said Fry. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Fry said many SRO residents wanted to stay in the area, but didn't want to be housed in the Downtown Eastside. 'And so I do worry that this press release may not accurately reflect those concerns that we heard from current residents in SROs in the Granville area.' In a statement Thursday, the mayor said that between January 2020 and May 2025, the Luugat, operated by Atira Women's Resource Society, and St. Helen's Hotel, operated by Coast Mental Health, have had 74 fires and 2,203 calls to Vancouver Fire Rescue Service. The two facilities, plus the Granville Villa operated by Community Builders, were also responsible for 1,364 police calls in 2024 alone, according to the city. 'Putting those with complex mental health challenges and substance use issues in an entertainment district was never a good idea,' said Sim. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In a statement Thursday, the mayor said that between January 2020 and May 2025, the Luugat, operated by Atira Women's Resource Society, and St. Helen's Hotel, operated by Coast Mental Health, have had 74 fires and 2,203 calls to Vancouver Fire Rescue Service. Pictured here, the former Howard Johnson hotel at 1176 Granville Street has been the scene of numerous fires. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Atira had no comment on Luugat and Coast Mental Health and Community Builders did not respond to a request for comment before deadline. The provincial Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs said in a statement it's supportive of Vancouver's efforts to revitalize Granville Street, but it wants the mayor and council to find 'suitable sites' and pre-zone them so they can be ready immediately. The city's announcement comes two days after Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon announced a working group to tackle increased violence and drug use following concerns raised by service providers. In May a number of the province's largest providers, including Portland Hotel Society, Pacifica Housing and Our Place Society, urged the province to take action to combat an increase in the number of weapons at the facilities. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. B.C.'s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, where several SROs have had dozens of calls to Vancouver Fire Rescue. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Carolina Ibarra, CEO of Pacifica Housing, said she is hopeful that some meaningful changes can be implemented. She said it's extremely difficult to remove tenants even if they are violent — the effect of which also has a chilling effect on residents who otherwise would have to come forward to report abuse. 'We are more frequently seeing weapons in different sites, particularly those that don't have controlled access and aren't necessarily as robustly staffed. We are seeing individuals who are preying on our supportive housing residents,' said Ibarra, who added she understands the concerns of advocates regarding the possibility of increased evictions. She said supportive housing providers could previously transfer residents to other facilities or have them spend time at a respite facility, but under the Residential Tenancy Act, evictions are their only option. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kahlon said Thursday he understands the split over the best way to move forward. He also said he shares the worry that removing supportive housing facilities from the protections of the Residential Tenancy Act would lead to vulnerable residents being forced out without cause. 'What we have said to the sector is that if you would like us to move away from the RTA, what levels of protection can be put in place to make sure that the people living there have some protection?' he said. Robert Patterson, a lawyer with the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, said he's concerned that no tenant groups have been invited to participate in the working group. He also says that there is nothing in the Residential Tenancy Act that prevents housing providers from evicting tenants — and making the process easier will only serve to further reduce stability and comfort for vulnerable residents. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Supportive housing is seen as this way to provide people with stability in their housing where they have been previously housing instable and the Act protects that by making sure that there's rules that everyone has to follow,' said Patterson. 'In the case of a tenant engaging in some behaviour that merits a very, very quick eviction, there is an emergency eviction process under the Residential Tenancy Act that is now moving very quickly because of the increased capacity at the RTB.' alazenby@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps BC Lions News Opinion
Global News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
A Better Calgary Party to endorse some Communities First candidates to avoid vote split
One of Calgary's three political parties won't be running a full slate of candidates in the upcoming election, in an effort to avoid splitting conservative voters. The A Better Calgary Party (ABC Party) held a one-time 'bypass vote' amongst its members to determine whether to run a candidate in certain wards. 'We felt that for the sake of Calgarians, we need to stop splitting the vote,' ABC Party executive director Roy Beyer told Global News. ABC Party members voted to refrain from running a candidate in five wards across the city: Ward 1, Ward 4, Ward 7, Ward 10 and Ward 13. The incumbents in those wards include Sonya Sharp, Sean Chu, Terry Wong, Andre Chabot and Dan McLean. However, Sharp has announced her intention to run for mayor and it remains unclear if Chu will seek another term, after telling reporters this term would be his last back in 2021. Story continues below advertisement Beyer said Sharp's endorsement is based on her work as a councillor and not for her candidacy for mayor. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The ABC Party's endorsements of incumbents include candidates of Communities First, the other centre-right party formed by Sharp, Wong, Chabot and McLean. 'You just need eight council members,' Beyer said. 'If we can get there between us and others, we will have a true conservative coalition or centre-right coalition and that's the goal here.' Communities First declined to comment when asked by Global News on Monday. Lori Williams, an associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said it's too early to tell whether the endorsements could stand to benefit the Communities First party. 'It could help them,' Williams said. 'But the affiliation with or the endorsement of a further right political party could potentially hurt them amongst those who are not interested in ideology or parties, or are much more moderate in their conservatism.' The Calgary Party, the third party on this year's municipal ballot, said it plans to run a full slate of candidates in the election. Its mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen said he feels it's important for a party to run candidates in each of the city's 14 wards. Story continues below advertisement 'I think Calgarians deserve the right to vote for policies of the party, so if you don't run in certain wards, you're depriving Calgarians the right to vote on your policies,' he said. 'I think if Communities First or A Better Calgary has good policies, they should run in every ward and let Calgarians decide.' According to the ABC Party, all other incumbents including Mayor Jyoti Gondek received a no vote from the members, and the party will move forward with nominating and supporting challengers including in the mayoral race. 'People like Wong got a vote, or Sharp, their voting records don't necessarily scream conservative,' Beyer said. 'But our people said, 'No, overall we still see them as good candidates,' and we want to see that we avoid vote splitting.' Gondek has announced she is running for re-election as an independent, while former councillors Jeromy Farkas and Jeff Davison are also vying to become Calgary's next mayor without party affiliation. The ABC Party said it will announce its nominated candidates in Wards 2, 9, 12 and 14 'in the coming days.' The nomination deadline for candidates is on Sept. 22, and Calgarians head to the polls on Oct. 20.
Vancouver Sun
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Despite voters' rebuke of Vancouver's ABC party, new towers will still grow higher and more dense
Article content The dominant centre-right ABC Party was hammered in last month's Vancouver byelection, with its two candidates coming in a dismal sixth and seventh. Article content Article content Despite voters electing two progressive candidates April 5, the direction of council is not about to change regarding the pace and scale of mega-highrise projects in Vancouver, the most dense city in Canada. Article content The two newcomers, COPE's Sean Orr and OneCity's Lucy Maloney, voted along with ABC and the rest of council on April 22 to approve the Jericho Lands official community plan, which gives the go-ahead to arguably the biggest housing development in the city's history. Article content Article content 'It's going to be beautiful and add so much to the area. It's going to be such an amazing contribution,' said Maloney, speaking of the 65 residential buildings, mostly in the 25- to 60-storey range, proposed by MST Development Corp. for the half-empty former military base in Point Grey. Article content A watchdog group, the Jericho Coalition, has proposed an alternative vision for the Jericho Lands: of mostly six-storey apartment blocks. But when CBC radio host Stephen Quinn asked Maloney if she would have been open to supporting a 'happy medium' of density for the Jericho Lands, she said it's too late. Article content 'Other areas have been bearing the burden of accepting all the population growth. I guess it could have been lower levels of density if we'd been building low-rise apartment buildings in every neighbourhood of the city for decades. But we haven't,' said Maloney, a self-described 'environmental lawyer' who works with the mining company BHP Billiton. Article content Article content Newly elected Coun. Orr, who describes himself as a Communist and dishwasher, also voted for the Jericho Lands official plan. His emphasis has been on affordability and protecting renters, including those being displaced by the 500-block Broadway highrise plan. Article content Despite the historic significance of the Jericho Lands project, three members of ABC were absent for the vote: Mayor Ken Sim and councillors Brian Montague and Peter Meiszner, as well as Rebecca Bligh, who was recently dismissed from ABC. Article content Article content Erick Villagomez, who teaches at UBC's school of community and regional planning, predicts little resistance from the two new councillors, or from Bligh and the Green member of council, to the 'monotonous' direction dictated by the ABC majority, particularly in regard to high density. Article content In Villagomez's analysis, the two new council members are 65 per cent aligned on the major issues with ABC, which has been pro-tower and often criticized for ignoring citizen input and reducing demands on developers to provide community benefits.
