Park Board Meeting

June 1, 2026 · 07:30 pm

Chaired by Tom Digby From transcript

Official agenda Watch online Transcript

Summary

Burrard View Hospice lease renewal: Vancouver Coastal Health will take over the Burrard View Park Fieldhouse under a new 20-year lease (10-year initial term, two 5-year renewals), paying $53,640/year and investing $600,000 upfront plus $55,000/year in maintenance. The hospice had been vacant since March 2025 after the previous operator, the Bloom Group, surrendered its lease early.
Designated smoking area pilot: A pilot program allowing fenced, staffed smoking zones at three adult-only (19+) summer events, the Great Outdoor Comedy Festival (Brockton Point) and the Rosé Disco and Country Club festivals (Jericho Beach), was approved 4–3. Supporters cited fire safety and practical harm reduction; opponents cited secondhand smoke risks and the risk of normalizing smoking in parks. A Vancouver Coastal Health medical officer spoke in opposition. Staff will report back by March 31, 2027.
Indigenous community-led cultural events funding: $50,000 approved from the Corporate Sponsorship Fund to continue supporting Indigenous-led ceremonies and events in parks through 2026, bridging to a planned 2027 operating budget allocation. The fund supported 18 events between 2022 and 2025, ranging from small Elder gatherings to large nation celebrations.
Prohibition of motorized personal watercraft (Burrard Inlet): A motion to adopt a formal policy position prohibiting or significantly restricting jet skis and Sea-Doos in Burrard Inlet, and to advocate to federal and regional authorities, was defeated 1–6. Commissioners cited lack of documented local whale-strike evidence, absence of alignment with neighbouring municipalities, and preference for the later beach safety motion as reasons for opposition.
Think Accessible Play, Queen Elizabeth Park: Directed staff to develop a sensory-inclusive, all-abilities playground at Queen Elizabeth Park, including a communication board pilot combining picture-assisted communication, ASL, and Braille. Preliminary design funding (~$2 million) is already in the capital plan via the Cambie Corridor community amenity contributions. An amendment removed a specific vendor reference and shifted the staff report deadline to Q1 2027.
Think Free Swim: Directed staff to report back on options for providing free swimming lessons to children aged 3–12 (first three skill levels), including full costs, capacity impacts, and effects on other aquatic programs. An amendment removed a motion to revert pool booking to pre-COVID walk-in access (ruled out of order as it would reconsider a previous board decision). Debate centred on whether city funding was committed (commissioners noted the Council motion itself only directed a report back in early 2027, with no funds yet allocated) and whether the waitlist of over 8,000 children would worsen without added pool capacity.
Beach safety and marine protection: Directed the chair to advocate to federal and regional authorities (Transport Canada, DFO, Vancouver Port Authority) for clearer whale proximity rules, standardized exclusion zones around swim areas, coordinated derelict vessel management, and whale-awareness signage, with the Park Board offering its beach and park spaces as sites for that signage. Passed 4–3. The chair (Commissioner Digby) voted against, calling the motion unfocused; Commissioner Virdi opposed on grounds that federal investment already underway makes the advocacy redundant.

Minutes approved

Adopt Board Committee Minutes May 25
Adopt Regular Board Minutes May 25

Motions

Burrard View Hospice Lease Renewal

Burrard View Park

Carried Details

Moved by Scott Jensen, Tom Digby Vote 7 – 0 Watch

Vancouver Coastal Health to lease the Burrard View Park Fieldhouse for hospice care under a 20-year agreement (10-year initial term plus two 5-year renewals), effective September 1, 2026.
Previous operator, the Bloom Group, surrendered a 35-year lease early in March 2025; Vancouver Coastal Health has been operating month-to-month since April 2026.
Tenant commits to a $600,000 capital investment in year one and a minimum $55,000/year in ongoing maintenance; Park Board receives $53,640/year in rent (non-profit rate of $10/sq ft).
Commissioners noted strong neighbourhood support for the hospice use, which has been on the site since 1997, and welcomed the restoration of a valued community health facility.

Burrard View Park field house — existing building exterior with landscaping. · +2 more

Designated Smoking Area Pilot Program

Carried Details

Moved by Angela Kate Haer, Jas Virdi Vote 4 – 3 Watch Public 1 oppose 1 neutral 1 applicant

Pilot program to allow designated, fenced, and staffed smoking areas (tobacco and vaping only, not cannabis) at three adult-only (19+) events: the Great Outdoor Comedy Festival (Brockton Point, Stanley Park) and the Rosé Disco and Country Club festivals (Jericho Beach Park).
Staff argued that illicit smoking already occurs at these events at rates up to 37% of attendees, that designated areas reduce dispersed smoking and fire risk during dry season, and that similar programs exist in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Mississauga, Toronto, and Halifax.
Designated areas would be fenced (6 ft), scrimmaged, staffed, equipped with fire extinguishers and butt receptacles, with no food or beverage permitted inside; siting to be confirmed with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.
A Vancouver Coastal Health medical health officer spoke in opposition, stating there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure, that designated areas risk renormalizing smoking, and that BC's 10% smoking rate reflects the success of existing smoke-free policies.
A former Park Board chair (Aaron Jasper, who helped introduce the 2010 no-smoking bylaw) urged caution and called for robust compliance metrics if the pilot proceeded.
Supporters (Commissioners Bastyovanszky, Haer, Virdi, Christensen) argued the status quo of dispersed illegal smoking is worse for public health and fire safety; opponents (Commissioners Jensen, Digby, Howard) argued it undermines a 40-year public health achievement and would not reliably move smokers to designated areas.
Staff will report back on pilot outcomes no later than March 31, 2027.

Title slide for the Summer 2026 designated smoking areas pilot program proposal, showing a live outdoor music event crowd. · +2 more

Indigenous Community-led Cultural Events Funding

Carried Details

Moved by Scott Jensen, Jas Virdi Vote 7 – 0 Watch

$50,000 approved from the Corporate Sponsorship Fund to continue supporting Indigenous community-led cultural events and ceremonies in parks through 2026, bridging to a planned 2027 operating budget request.
Between 2022 and 2025, $150,000 in prior Corporate Sponsorship Fund support enabled 18 events led by Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh Nations and urban Indigenous organizations, ranging from 40-person Elder gatherings to thousands-strong nation anniversary celebrations.
Funding covers permits, risk management, policing costs, traffic management, equipment, and in-kind staff time; all costs are borne within the fund, not the operating budget.
Staff noted the work builds trust relationships that carry reputational risk if discontinued, and aligns with Van Play reconciliation commitments.

National Indigenous People's Day celebration at Moberly Arts and Culture Centre, 2025 — a participant in traditional regalia drums during the event. · +2 more

Prohibition of Motorized Personal Watercraft

Burrard Inlet

Defeated Details

Moved by Tom Digby, Scott Jensen Vote 1 – 6 Watch

Proposed formal Park Board policy position to prohibit or significantly restrict motorized personal watercraft (jet skis, Sea-Doos) in Burrard Inlet, directing staff to report on park board-jurisdiction restrictions on launching and staging, and directing the chair to advocate to federal and regional authorities.
Motivated by a May 4, 2026 whale strike incident in Burrard Inlet and increasing whale sightings in the harbour, as well as swimmer safety concerns at Spanish Banks and English Bay.
Mover cited examples of bans in Sydney Harbour, Victoria Harbour, and the San Juan Islands, and a public petition of over 9,000 signatures.
Opponents argued the board lacks jurisdiction over the inlet, that no documented pattern of local whale strikes was presented, that neighbouring municipalities were not consulted, and that the later beach safety motion addressed concerns more practically and within jurisdiction.
One commissioner noted the whale involved in the May 4 incident was still behaving unusually and could die in the harbour, raising additional concern about optics during the upcoming FIFA World Cup period.

Think Accessible Play Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park

Carried Details

Moved by Jas Virdi, Angela Kate Haer Vote 7 – 0 Watch

Direction to develop a sensory-inclusive, all-abilities playground at Queen Elizabeth Park, incorporating a communication board pilot combining picture-assisted communication, ASL, Braille, and other modalities.
Queen Elizabeth Park currently has no playground; preliminary design funding of approximately $2 million is already allocated in the capital plan via Cambie Corridor community amenity contributions.
The project would be Vancouver's second destination inclusive-sensory park under Van Play's target of five such locations city-wide.
Communication boards have been implemented in schools, hospitals, and parks in other municipalities (e.g., Langley); commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the pilot as a potential model for future parks.
Staff to report back with a full plan in Q1 2027.

Think Free Swim Aquatic Safety Policy

Carried Details

Moved by Jas Virdi, Scott Jensen Vote 5 – 1 +1 abstained Watch

Direction to staff to report back on options for providing free swimming lessons to children aged 3 to 12 (first three skill levels), including full program costs, capacity constraints, potential service-level trade-offs, and any effects on other aquatic uses.
Framed as a tribute to Joe Fortes, Vancouver's first official lifeguard, and motivated by drowning prevention as a core public safety issue.
Surrey recently passed an identical free swim lesson program (same age group and levels) without a prior report-back stage; commissioners debated whether Vancouver's dual Park Board and City Council governance structure creates additional barriers.
Debate centred on whether the existing waitlist (over 8,000 children) would grow worse without new pool capacity, whether outdoor pools could meaningfully add lesson space, and whether city funding was genuinely secured or still contingent on a 2027 council report.
Commissioners Haer and Howard opposed the amended version on grounds it delays a child safety commitment; Commissioners Bastyovanszky and Jensen supported the amendment, arguing an unfunded and capacity-constrained promise would not deliver lessons to any child.

Beach Safety and Marine Protection

Carried Details

Moved by Brennan Bastyovanszky, Scott Jensen Vote 4 – 3 Watch

Direction to the board chair to advocate to Transport Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Vancouver Port Authority for a coordinated marine safety framework covering: standardized exclusion zones for personal watercraft around swim areas and beaches; simplified, consistent whale proximity rules with improved public signage; and coordinated derelict vessel response.
Park Board expressed willingness to host safety signage and whale-awareness information at park facilities, boat launches, and beach access points.
Brought in response to a series of incidents including swimmer near-misses at Sunset Beach, derelict boats washing ashore, and the May 4, 2026 whale strike involving a personal watercraft.
Mover drew on professional experience operating jet skis for surf lifesaving patrols in Sydney, noting that Sydney's 2001 personal watercraft restrictions were effective because they were paired with swim zone infrastructure, coordinated signage, and inter-agency communication, not the ban alone.
Commissioner Virdi opposed, noting a recently announced $258 million federal investment in BC coastal protection already addresses several measures in the motion.
Chair (Commissioner Digby) opposed, characterizing the motion as too broad and unfocused to produce concrete outcomes, and expressing preference for a staff report on specific park board actions.
Commissioner Christensen supported it as a collaborative, non-prescriptive signal of willingness to work with other agencies, particularly on signage using anticipated federal funding.

Agenda documents (22)

Documents

Vote matrix

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Tom Digby	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N
Brennan Bastyovanszky	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y
Laura Christensen	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y		Y
Angela Kate Haer	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y	A	Y	Y
Marie-Claire Howard	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	N	N	N
Scott Jensen	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y
Jas Virdi	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N