Latest news with #VancouverParkBoard
Global News
21-07-2025
- General
- Global News
Park commissioner wants vote on ending Kits Pool reservation system
A Vancouver Park Board commissioner is calling for the online reservation system for the Kitsilano Pool to be scrapped. The city implemented the online reservation system during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some critics argue that it is inefficient and deters people who aren't web-savvy from using the facility. The current system holds about 20 per cent of its capacity for drop-in visitors. ABC Vancouver Park Commissioner Marie-Claire Howard is seeking to present an emergency motion at Monday night's board meeting that would return the pool to drop-in access only, starting Aug. 1. Howard said the park board has received 'hundreds of emails' complaining about the system. 3:25 Public invited to weigh in on the future of Kits Pool 'People are asking that not only the reservation system be scrapped at Kits Pool, but at all the outdoor pools in Vancouver. So, yeah, overall, it's very clear. No one likes it,' she told Global News. Story continues below advertisement 'It creates these gaps between sessions. So you lose two hours a day, every day at every pool. That's a total of 10 hours a day, which is the equivalent of having another pool in service.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Howard said freeing up additional pool capacity is particularly important right now, given many of the city's beaches are currently under a no-swimming advisory due to elevated E. coli levels. Independent Park Board Chair Laura Christensen said the reservation system has both advantages and disadvantages, but that overall it works. She acknowledged some pool time is lost during the reservation changeover time, but that under the drop-in only model some people camp out at the pool all day while others are left waiting in line for an unknown period of time until a space opens up. 'We're getting more people through the pool because we have designated slots so that there's more turnover in the pool so more people are able to access it,' she said. '(The system) shows when we have space available for drop-ins, and that's they're not being used. I think that says that the capacity is available. Really, I think it's an education thing to let people know that drop-ins are available and that they can come out.' Christensen added that Howard's motion may not actually be debated on Monday night, as it was not submitted in time to get on the agenda, and may not qualify for a last-minute addition as urgent business.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vancouver Park Board staff seeks approval to advance Stanley Park tree removal
Vancouver Park Board staff are seeking commissioners' approval to proceed with the next phase of a tree removal project in Stanley Park due to an extensive looper moth infestation. Work has been underway to cut down thousands of trees in Vancouver's biggest park since the summer of 2023, due to what the park board said were fire and public safety risks posed by dead and dying trees that were affected by a yearslong Western hemlock looper moth infestation. The infestation led to around a third of all the trees in Stanley Park being affected, staff said at the time, and its latest report shows just over 11,000 trees have been cut down to deal with the infestation, which was first reported in 2020. While the tree removal plan has faced sharp criticism — and some residents filed a lawsuit that ultimately failed to stop it — staff say they have a plan that will see the least number of trees removed in the final phase of the mitigation work."This aims to balance key public safety risks resulting from the hemlock looper outbreak while leaving a moderate extent of internal forest areas to undergo natural forest stand regeneration," the staff motion says of its preferred approach. "These areas may require ongoing monitoring for changes over time, including but not limited to future treatment of hazardous trees and/or replanting." Staff said that the final phase of tree removal work would focus on around 42 per cent of the park's area, totalling around 111 hectares primarily within the park's interior. Those areas include trees around the Lees Trail, Lovers Walk, Tatlow Walk and trails surrounding Beaver Lake. "From a public safety perspective, these trails are considered the primary target to mitigate risk from declining trees for this final phase," the staff report reads. Park board commissioners will debate the report and the final phase of the tree mitigation work at a meeting Monday evening. Work along seawall complete The motion says that higher-traffic areas — like the seawall and Stanley Park Drive — have already seen mitigation work conducted since 2023 in a phased approach. For the last phase of work, staff said that it prefers an option that would see a 40-metre buffer zone around trails, where problem trees would be removed and mitigation work conducted. According to park board staff, that would have the lowest costs compared to two other options available, which would have increased the size of the buffer zone and could have increased the amount of trees being cut down. Just under $18 million has been spent on the tree removal and looper moth mitigation work since 2023. Staff did not provide an exact budget figure for the last phase of work, though they estimated the contract figure would exceed $3 million in value. If commissioners approve of the staff plan, planning for tree removal and mitigation work would begin later this year and conclude in the first quarter of 2027.
CTV News
20-07-2025
- CTV News
What's that orange stuff? Algae bloom flourishes at Stanley Park's Lost Lagoon
If you've been to Stanley Park this summer, you may be wondering what the strange-looking orange stuff is on the edges of Lost Lagoon. It's a type of algae that began blooming in early May and continues to flourish, with the organic material stretching metres from the shore into the man-made lake in some areas. 'We're not testing it, doubt that it's toxic algae, but they do happen in various lakes,' said Chad Townsend, the Vancouver Park Board's environmental planner, adding they want parkgoers and their dogs to stay out of the water. Lost Lagoon algae He said they're monitoring the algae but that they can't do much except let it run its natural life cycle: bloom, diminish, then sink to the bottom of the lagoon. 'Due to the decisions of the past, we have a major project with Lost Lagoon. It's human nature, I think, to look for easy solutions and think, 'This one change would, clean up Lost Lagoon.' But it is a major project,' said Townsend. The lagoon used to be a tidal ecosystem connected to Coal Harbour, but a century ago it was closed off for pleasure boating when the causeway was built and the water has no natural circulation. The pond is iconic in the park, but the water has been brackish for years and park board staff expect to present various options for the lagoon's future in the fall. Townsend says the board will work with the port authority and First Nations to determine what the future of the lagoon will look like. In pre-colonial times it was a shellfish harvesting site and has cultural significance for local Indigenous communities. Last Lagoon algae
CTV News
12-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Longtime restaurant's lease at Vancouver's VanDusen Gardens in limbo
A longtime Vancouver restaurant could be losing its lease, after more than two decades in the same location. For 25 years, the Chatten family has operated Shaughnessy Restaurant in VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Carlle Chatten, the restaurant's wedding director, said they have proudly hosted all manner of 'life's milestones' over that time. 'That's something we're very passionate about here,' Chatten said. 'It didn't happen overnight.' The restaurant now does about 250 events per year, she said, ranging from corporate functions to birthdays. Procurement process That long tradition may be coming to an end. The restaurant's lease is up in January, and Chatten said trying to renew it with the Vancouver Park Board hasn't been an easy process. She said in the past, the board would offer five-year lease options – but this changed in July, 2022, when the board introduced a procurement process. As per the policy, upon the expiry of long-term contracts, if there are other qualified proponents that can deliver similar services, 'there is a requirement to go to market to ensure the highest and best use, as well as the top financial return via a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI).' 'Very unnerving' Chatten called the process frustrating, adding there's been a lack of transparency. 'You know, we have over 35 employees that work for us,' she said. 'So to not know what's happening so close to the expiration of our lease is very unnerving.' At Wednesday's Vancouver City Council meeting, the issue was to be discussed, but it was dropped from the agenda – though not before Chatten learned the outcome, through a Daily Hive article, that Truffles Fine Foods had been awarded the contract. 'It was definitely shattering and a shock,' she said. 'Like, what is going on here? You know, the fact that (with) 25 years of our history, we couldn't even find out in a dignified matter, to even alert our staff about what was happening, was really difficult.' New operator recommended In a joint statement to CTV News, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board said board staff have completed their evaluation and made a recommendation for the new operator of the VanDusen Botanical Restaurant, following 'a competitive procurement process.' The board will review the recommendation before council considers it at an upcoming meeting, prior to the contract being awarded, they added. 'In alignment with the Vancouver Park Board Procurement Policy and our commitment to open, transparent and competitive procurement, this lease opportunity was publicly offered through a Request for Proposals to all eligible restaurateurs and hospitality companies,' the statement said. When asked how many restaurants applied for the RFP at this location, the city and board said they received two responses, one from Shaughnessy Restaurant and the other from Truffles Fine Foods Ltd. CTV News also asked for clarification as to why the report was withdrawn from the July 9 council meeting. The city and park board said it was due to a request for additional information, and will be rescheduled for a future meeting. In the meantime, a petition has been launched in support of Shaughnessy Restaurant. As of Friday, it's garnered over 1,500 signatures. Despite that, Chatten has had to consider what may happen if the family's lease isn't renewed. 'That's a really difficult thing to think about, that we can no longer provide that place, for all of our customers and community,' she said.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Stanley park Christmas train cancelled after 26 years, burn fund faces $500K crisis
The BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund faces a significant challenge as the Stanley Park Christmas Train will remain out of service in 2025 due to costly repairs, impacting their annual Bright Nights fundraiser. This event, a crucial source of funding for burn survivor support, will be absent for the first time in 26 years. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads For the first time in 26 years, the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund will not be operating its annual fundraising event alongside the Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Vancouver Park Board announced Tuesday(July 8) that the Stanley Park train will remain out of service for the rest of 2025 due to extensive and costly mechanical repairs. The decision leaves the Burn Fund, which has relied on the event for a significant portion of its annual fundraising, without one of its most visible and successful Bright Nights fundraiser has long supported burn survivors across British Columbia, helping fund medical equipment, housing, and children's burn camps.'This is the first year that it won't operate with the train in Stanley Park,' said Jeff Sauvé, Executive Director of the Burn Fund. 'But now it's about pivoting and finding a solution.'The holiday train ride , part of the Bright Nights in Stanley Park attraction, has traditionally featured festive lights, family-friendly displays, and thousands of volunteer hours from local firefighters. Each year, about 800 firefighters spend nearly a month setting up the lights and decorations around the miniature train its height, the fundraiser brought in close to $500,000, with the Burn Fund receiving both donations and a portion of the ticket sales. Last year, however, the event only generated around $200,000, after the train service was halted mid-season due to an engineer falling ill from exhaust confirmed the Burn Fund had concerns earlier this year that the train might not operate, but the official news came Tuesday along with the public announcement. 'At this point, there hasn't been any discussion of what the future of the train will look like,' he the Burn Fund says the loss of the train is a significant hit, Sauvé remains optimistic. 'We are sure one of our partners will step up,' he said. The organization is now exploring alternative fundraising options to support its work in the absence of the train.
