Senakw Welcome Centre – Electric Ferry Revenue Share
Motion 2 · Park Board Meeting, April 27, 2026
Vote
Opposed 1
Public comments
Read all 1 statements
Transcript
11 segments
Do any commissioners have clarification questions? Thank you very much. So that does bring us to the end of our speakers for this item. Would somebody like to move the recommendation? And if you could just indicate which option you'd like. Commissioner Digby, you did Q in first.
Thank you. Yes, I would like to move this motion that we first debate item C sub 2, a reduced rate.
Okay, thank you. Okay, so Commissioner is just clarifying. So we've got C, the option two there. So the point one and point three would be sort of removed from this. And we'll be just discussing C sub item two in this one. So we'd only have the two, not the one or the three. Just to clarify. So we will have rounds of comments. Seconder is Commissioner Jensen. Thank you. So we'll now discuss this recommendation.
No, we're doing comments before I call a vote. So if anyone would like to make comments.
Commissioner Verity.
So this welcome centre is temporary in nature and it is for commercial use. So I think finding something in the middle I'm agreeable with, especially because we want to keep in line with reconciliation. And so I think option two is a great option and I will be supporting this motion.
Commissioner Digby.
Thank you, Commissioner Verdi. Yes, the possibilities for partnership in Vanier Park are limitless. They can go on many different directions with the three nations that are most interested in the property in that land. I think this is a way of starting that partnership discussion about how the whole of Vanier Park is going to be activated. You know, how are we going to bring back the cultural recognition that was taken away and erased from this land? And for the first time in over 100 years now, we have the opportunity to start... engaging those partnership discussions with the Vanier Park portion of this. So I think this is a good place to start, and I would encourage the GM to not just be limited to the one site of this property, but to consider other areas where we might collaborate with the Squamish partnership on Vanier Park. Thank you.
Any comments from other commissioners? Commissioner Jensen.
Thank you. Again, I'm going to just talk a little less about the welcoming centre as a great action for reconcili-action, but think about just creating a space that... welcomes Vancouverites and others to a space that gives them opportunity for housing in Vancouver. This is a great partnership that I believe has like 6,000 spaces for rental, which our city drastically needs. So this welcome centre is going to be a welcoming space for individuals that are looking for spaces to live in Vancouver. And so this... Educational opportunity for them is is important. So I'll be supporting it on that regard as well.
Thank you Okay, seeing no further comments from commissioners I will call a vote by a show of hands all in favor I See Commissioner Verity Commissioner best advance key Commissioner Christensen Commissioner Digby and Commissioner Jensen all opposed Abstentions Commissioner Howard. Commissioner Howard, we marked absent for this vote.
That passes. Thank you, everyone.
Do we need a minute to move next item, or are we... Commissioner Herr, do you want to just try to turn your camera on before we continue?
Okay, IT might try to give you a call to get you up and running. Before that, we will move on to our next report, which is titled 2026 City of Vancouver Public Fireworks Celebration Special Events. This will also be introduced by Director Brody of Business Services.
Statement Watch
My name's John Irwin, and I represent myself, and my position is full support. I think I've watched for many years, you know, the decisions around the Sanhok lands, read history by Stanger Ross. about the area, how it was legally dedicated reserve land, and the city and the province and the federal government basically moved people on. And so it was almost like a double land take. well, it was a double land take, and just rode by there on the way here, right? And it's right at the street end of my view on Pine Street, and every time I see it, I feel like we're witnessing reconciliation instead of reconciliation, that, you know, this place has been built, almost finished, and I think a welcome centre would be really good. Also, the development itself has met some guidelines that we tried for in Southeast Falls Creek. Very limited parking, close to transit, transit improvements, wastewater heat, which we did get in Southeast Falls Creek. which is a way to move forward to a much more sustainable city, getting onto our heat systems that are actually dissipating heat. Yeah, and so for me, I want to speak in strong support of the Welcome Centre. I know it's temporary, but it will help people get introduced to the development, get introduced to that part of the community, and I think it'll be a really good addition. for the time it's there. And then once the actual community centre is built, that will be a wonderful place to visit. And to the people of
Thank you very much.