Long-delayed Olympic Village elementary school is officially happening

Good morning,

A big thanks to Nate for jumping in on Friday to write the newsletter! Always love having someone else jump in when they can to contribute.

But now you’re stuck with me again!

Unless you’re living under a rock, you know today is the big eclipse. Sadly, Vancouver will only see a partial eclipse, which if the clouds break, will be seen between 10:45 am and 12:15 pm. Unfortunately it’s likely going to be a regular Vancouver day, meaning a whole lot of clouds. If the clouds do clear off, be sure to wear the correct eye gear, or you can make your own projector to watch it safely.

Today we’ve got a story on the new school coming to Olympic Village as well as some updates on the CRAB Park encampment. Oh and a big list of things to do in the city this week.

Let’s get to it!

– Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

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WEATHER

Monday: 8 🌡️ 7 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 12 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 12 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️

EDUCATION

Long-delayed Olympic Village elementary school is officially happening

If you promise something, and it never happens, and you never hear about it again, did it really happen? It certainly felt that way when it came to the long-anticipated and long-promised school for Olympic Village. But as of last week, it’s no longer a case of Schrodinger’s school.

What happened: After promising four years ago to quickly build a new school for Olympic Village, a neighbourhood that was promised an elementary school almost 17 years ago, the province has announced $150 million to finally build it, according to CBC. It’s part of a province wide school capital project worth $3.8 billion over the next three years. 

• The school will have a capacity for 630 students, according to Global and is set to open in 2029.

Background: The land has been sitting vacant since 2007, when the development plan for Olympic Village was set. Parents have been pressuring the government for many years to get it built, as the catchment for local children places them at Simon Fraser Elementary, a 25-minute walk away.

• There was anger during the provincial budget when it included no new money for the school, but many speculated it would be part of a later announcement as the election inched closer. And so it has!

Zoom out: Vancouver saw a decline of 1,790 children aged 14 and younger between 2001 and 2021. Areas with a high number of single-family homes have seen a loss of children, while areas with increasing density, like Olympic Village, have seen more children, according to the Tyee. 

In other news: Henry Hudson Elementary School, that’s currently under construction for seismic upgrades, will get capacity for an additional 145 students. It will also have added a childcare facility for 67 children for before and after school programs, according to Urbanized. The total additional cost to upgrade everything is $15 million, and is designed to help accommodate the expected increase in students from the Senakw rental development project nearby. 

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

⛽ $2.30: The expected price of gas by mid-month. Yikes! [CityNews]

🏢 24: The number of business sign awnings that will be changed and improved in Chinatown. The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is working with the community and business owners to replace old signs dotting buildings. [Urbanized]

6,600: The number of new jobs created in BC, the only province besides Ontario to create net new jobs last month. The unemployment rate for BC is 5.5 percent compared to 6.1 percent nationally. [Business in Vancouver]

💉 177: The number of people who died in BC from the toxic drug supply in February. This is down 11 percent from February last year. [Business in Vancouver]

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HOUSING

Why the future of the CRAB Park encampment is uncertain

What happened: The city is starting to allow CRAB Park residents back after a multiple-week-long cleanup effort. However, the restrictions on the space and what people can and can’t do is raising questions about the longevity of the park as a place for people to camp.

Background: CRAB Park is Vancouver’s only legally allowed encampment after a court case deemed it was permitted to remain open if there was no shelter capacity or place for them to live.

• The city said the cleanup removed 90,000 kilograms of debris, along with other hazardous materials and rat burrows. 

Changes: The new rules brought in by the city include 27 designated shelter spaces with 10x10 feet spots for sheltering. Any additional belongings would be stored at the Aboriginal Front Door Society on Main Street, according to CTV. The city is providing tents, cots, sleeping bags, and a communal area for cooking. But so far, only a few people have moved back in. 

Debate: The city claims that community groups like Stop the Sweeps have advised residents not to return to the park. But the organization says that’s not the case, and they do not tell residents what to do, according to Global. 

• Over time, the city says they will be reducing the designated camping area as people leave and find shelter, to eventually return the park to the community.

The city has warned that if the area deteriorates or there are public safety or health concerns, they may end the ability to shelter 24 hours a day, requiring those staying there to leave during the daytime, according to CityNews. 

What’s next: The city says unsanctioned tents that have not moved back into the designated area will be removed this week. Given the pushback faced from the previous crackdown on encampments on Hastings, this issue will likely garner attention depending on how the city chooses to remove the non-compliant campers. 

Amendments coming: The Vancouver park board will be reviewing a 14-page report outlining multiple amendments to the current bylaws. These include removing shelters if they aren’t occupied every night and allowing inspections of shelters with 24-hours notice, amongst other conditions. Advocates say the changes are “restrictive” and “draconian” and will deter people from staying at the park, and did not consult anyone living there, according to CTV.

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

1. Director, career services at Immigrant Services Society of BC

2. Senior market researcher at ICBC

3. Director, strategy at Bosa Properties

4. Director, partnerships and marketing at Canucks Sports and Entertainment

5. Director, respect, diversity, and inclusion at BCIT

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted.

THE AGENDA

👮 An arrest has been made in connection to the death of a 47-year-old woman on Wednesday, with police deeming her death a homicide and targeted killing. No charges have been announced. [CTV]

🗳️ Coun. Christine Boyle’s victory as the NDP candidate for Vancouver-Little Mountain for the upcoming provincial election means that if she does win the seat, she will step down from council and a by-election would need to be called to fill her seat. [CBC]

🌊 The $3.1-billion cost overruns for the North Shore wastewater treatment facility will likely be partially borne by residents outside the North Shore, since the provincial and federal governments have not committed to additional funding. That could amount to around $70-$140 per year for 15 years for those outside the North Shore, while those living in the North Shore could be on the hook for $725 per year for the next 30 years. [Business in Vancouver]

❌ People are getting increasingly frustrated by the city closing off part of the Seawall under Cambie Bridge. The city was not able to provide a timeline for when it would finish a 10-metre permanent pathway. [CityNews]

🚶 There could be a new path at Wreck Beach, but sadly none of us would be able use it. Metro Vancouver is considering adding an emergency path down to the beach given how popular it’s become and the fact it’s hard for emergency personnel to access due to the long flight of stairs down. [Vancouver Sun]

👮 While the BC gang Brothers Keepers were back in the news for their links to the recent Downtown Vancouver shooting, one of their members was sentenced to 11 years in jail for running a drug trafficking operation. [Vancouver Sun]

🏒 Tough night for the Canucks. The team lost 6-3 against the Kings, after going down 2-0 early in the game. The team sits at 102 points, with a record of 47-22-8 for first place in the Pacific Division. The Oilers are three points back of them. [The Province]

⚽ The Whitecaps ran away with the game on Saturday against Toronto FC, beating the team 4-0. They currently sit at first in the Western Conference with four wins and one loss. [ESPN]

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FOOD REVIEWS

Here are four stories you might’ve missed from Vancity Lookout Eats, our free food newsletter.

🇵🇭 Have you ever had taho? This place basically only serves it. And it’s damn good. (Insiders only)

🥐 We’ve got our first first official Vancouver Croissant Rating. Up first is Batard. See how they ranked. (Insiders only)

🍕 Gastronomy Gastown is doing something really special with pizza.

🍸 If you’re looking for a nice cocktail before hitting the town, 515 Bar is worth a visit.

Want to subscribe to our free food newsletter with actual food reviews and not just clickbait stories? Subscribe instantly by clicking this link.

EVENTS

Dumpling Fest Vancouver | Various locations | April 10, 6 pm | Come try various dumplings on a guided tour | Tickets $54

Art Vancouver Contemporary Art Fair 2024 | Vancouver Convention Centre East | April 11-14 | Come check out the exhibition of art and purchase some for yourself | Tickets $30

Kare-San-Sui (Dry Rock Gardens) Workshop | VanDusen Botanical Garden | April 14, 2:30 | Learn about the craft of dry rock gardening, how to do sand pattern and more | Tickets $54

The Art of Street Photography Walk | 725 West Georgia St. | April 13, 1 pm | Capture the raw beauty of the street with this one hour class | Tickets $10

Vaisakhi 2024 Parade | Ross Sikh Temple | April 13, 11 am | Some celebrate Vaisakhi and watch the parade, performers, music and food | Free

BC Distilled Festival | Italian Cultural Centre | April 13, 6 pm | Come by and try some of the many distillers showcasing their best drinks | Tickets $75

Colombian Coffee Tasting Workshop | 2208 West 4th Avenue | April 14, 9:30 am | A fun an educational coffee tasting of Columbian coffee | Tickets $31

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Now that’s a shot of the cherry blossoms!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The city is hosting a workshop on how to support pollinators, taking place next Saturday at 2 pm at Pine Street Pollinator Park.

• Elevate your wine game with Third Place Wine, a tailored newsletter for wine enthusiasts. Discover your new favorite wine today – sign up for free! [Sponsored]

• Looking for a cheap meal? The Greek and Chambar are offering discount menu items, with both places celebrating big birthday milestones. [Daily Hive] 

• Sadly only 27.8 percent of the sun will be covered during the partial eclipse on Monday. Reminder, don’t look directly at it without protective gear! [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Here’s a quick video on how Vancouver’s 45,000 catch basins work to absorb rainwater.

QUIZ TIME