Park board fee increases

Good morning,

Vancouver council’s plan to keep the property tax increase at zero per cent may sound good for many homeowners. However, when it comes to municipal budgets, this means that there are trade-offs if no new revenue can be raised.

Today’s main story gets into what some of those tradeoffs may look like, specifically for the park board. Freelance reporter Julie Chadwick has the latest on what you might be paying more for at Vancouver parks and services. 

Nate also has a quick story on this weekend’s sports extravaganza. Honestly, it feels like the city is on the precipice of becoming an even bigger sports mecca. But I’ll leave Nate to tell you all about it.

Let’s dive in.

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder and managing editor

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CITY HALL

Park board fees set to increase due to zero per cent property tax increase

Written by Julie Chadwick. Read the story online here.

Controversy over Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s zero per cent property tax increase goal for 2026 is set to continue tonight as the city’s park board meets to approve its budget.

At issue are fee changes and new charges for Vancouver residents, as laid out in a Nov. 13 park board report that points to a requirement to find “revenue opportunities and cost savings of $11 million” in order to support the mayor’s plan.

If approved, the price of park board programs and services will go up by an average of five per cent in 2026. 

These increases will affect fees for skate rentals, swimming lessons, admission to parks like Bloedel Conservatory and VanDusen Botanical Garden and golf courses at McCleery, Fraserview and Langara, among other things.

Recommended parking fees are to increase by an average of two per cent across the system, and new paid parking pilots will be rolled out at select community centres, the Langara Golf Course and VanDusen’s special events.

These fee increases arrive amidst an atmosphere of conflict between the park board and the city.

In 2023, Sim announced an intention to dissolve the independently elected park board, and in early October the province announced that would only be possible with voter approval through an assent vote. On October 27, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle walked that back, stating on social media that the province wouldn’t be moving forward with the bill’s second reading.

But the tension continued over Sim’s “zero means zero” plan, which meant city departments had to source $120 million in cuts — with $15 million originally allocated to the park board. That number has now been reduced to $11 million, but the board also needs to make up an additional $8.9 million in revenue. 

Park board chair Laura Christensen critiqued these targets in an October briefing and at a Nov. 12 special council meeting on the budget, where more than 600 people signed up to speak. 

The “crux of the issue,” Christensen told Vancity Lookout, is that the zero per cent increase effectively means the city doesn’t want to put taxpayer money into parks and recreation. But what does that mean for residents? 

“We increase our revenues or we cut our spending. And by cutting spending, that's cutting services, essentially,” she says. “So we're at this balancing of — do we try to increase revenues and make more money, which is challenging. Or do we have to cut services and try to find and reduce spending, which has all sorts of problems with it.”

When asked about the park board reduction targets, Sim’s press secretary Taylor Verrall called the $11 million amount stated by the park board “very strange,” and added that there’s been a lot of “misinformation” floating around.

“Their budget’s not getting cut,” he said. “As things stand, if [the budget] gets approved, they’re set to get an increase, so I don’t know where that’s coming from.”

In a later email, he clarified that in the mayor’s proposed budget, which is “explicitly clear in its direction to protect core, frontline service levels in parks and recreation,” the park board would be receiving a $1.2 million funding increase.

Calling it an increase is disingenuous, counters Christensen, who says this number comes from a small increase to the park board expenditures, while their fixed costs have risen significantly.

 “They keep pointing to this and saying, ‘Look, we're giving the park board more money,’” she says. “What that doesn't say is that our fixed costs have gone up like six per cent, as they have all across the city, because we have to pay more for labour. We have to pay more for materials. There's inflation. Our fixed costs have gone up. We have more capital that we need to maintain. We've got the Oak Ridge Community Centre coming online, the Sunset Senior Centre. So we are maintaining significantly more assets that cost more money to maintain, and we've increased our revenues a huge amount.”

Park board commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky says the board was told to grapple with a $15 million target (now $11 million) at an in-camera meeting, and the only reason it got out was because their independence from city council allowed them to raise the alarm.

“One of the unique features of having an elected park board is that we're the only department in the city that could raise the red flag that the cuts were going to impact services,” he says.

“They're not investing in parks at all, they're cutting 11 million and then forcing the people that use parks and rec the most to pay for that. All they've done is created an invisible tax that the users have to pay.”

For now, the park board has no recommendation to increase the amenity improvement fee, which started last year as a two-year pilot project. That’s an extra amount added on to services and admission prices like at Burrard Marina and the Stanley Park train to cover the upkeep and maintenance of aging facilities and attractions.

“The amenity improvement fee is there to ensure that when you're going golfing, as an example, a small portion of the green fee that you pay will get dedicated to maintaining and upgrading the green going forward,” says Bastyovanszky. “That's what the city hasn't done historically on any of our assets. That's why they're all crumbling.”

Bastyovanszky and the park board have been vocal in their criticism that it cannot keep the surplus funds it generates, which are instead absorbed into the city’s general revenue, “further constraining the Park Board’s ability to manage its own fiscal pressures.”

Fifteen years ago, the city took over the responsibility of maintaining park board assets “and then decided not to maintain them,” Bastyovanszky alleges. 

In September, Vancouver’s auditor general released a report which found that as of 2002, 72 per cent of the city’s recreation facilities were in “poor or very poor condition” and that the 46 facilities included in the audit had an infrastructure deficit of $33 million per year. (The Lookout covered underfunded recreation facilities in a previous story).

“This isn't what the public wants,” says Christensen, referencing what some speakers at the Nov. 12 and 13 meetings expressed about the zero increase plan. “The public is okay to pay more in taxes if it means that the services are going to be maintained.”

In the city’s 2026 budget engagement survey, 50 per cent of respondents said they supported an increase in residential and commercial property taxes to balance the budget, and 55 per cent of residents said they would be willing to pay increased user fees to maintain services.

Tonight’s meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom at 2099 Beach Avenue in Stanley Park.

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THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

$73,772

That’s the development charges and fees on a typical high-density building being built in Vancouver, according to a new report commissioned by commercial real estate and development association NAIOP. Government charges and fees, which pay for things like water and liquid waste infrastructure, have risen by 290 per cent since 2010 and now account for 20 per cent of construction costs per unit, and end up getting passed on to buyers and renters. Read more. [Vancouver is Awesome]

THE AGENDA

🚜 Drivers in downtown Vancouver faced delays on Saturday thanks to a slow-roll protest convoy that travelled from Langley to Kitsilano. An organization called Farmer’s [sic] Protest Canada - which appears to have no affiliation with established agriculture or farming groups - appears to have organized the event, as part of a series of convoys across Canada held in response to the CFIA’s culling of a B.C. ostrich flock found to have bird flu. Read more. [City News]

👮 A Vancouver associate of Canadian Olympic skier turned drug kingpin Ryan Wedding was arrested this weekend, according to the FBI. Rasheed Pascua Hossain was taken into custody by the RCMP and faces charges in the U.S. related to his alleged involvement in Wedding’s money laundering and drug trafficking operations. Read more. [CBC]

🚓 FINTRAC, the federal office responsible for detecting, preventing, and deterring money laundering and the financing of terrorism, has laid an administrative penalty of nearly $150,000 on Vancouver real estate brokerage LeHomes Realty Premier for their non-compliance with several federal regulations dealing with suspicious financial transactions. Read more. [Daily Hive]

💄 The City of Vancouver is ending its current service agreement with the Kingsway Community Station and moving to grant-based funding, which the operators of the drop-in space for street-based sex workers says will impact its ability to provide a safe space at night for workers to access washrooms, peer support, and outreach services. Read more. [The Tyee]

🏨 Mayor Ken Sim and Councillor Lenny Zhou are calling for accelerated approval of the development of two hotel towers and a Filipino Cultural Centre in Mount Pleasant. The cultural centre, which got a shout-out in the recent federal budget, is still waiting on specific funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments, but will be operated by the recently formed non-profit Filipino Legacy Society, while the two hotel towers will see the addition of 500 guest rooms to the neighbourhood. Read more. [Daily Hive]

🍕 The City of Vancouver is preparing to redesign its restaurant and street patio regulations next year to be more accessible and commercially viable, and to eliminate permit fees. Read more. [Daily Hive]

👳 Several Metro Vancouver gurdwaras and the World Sikh Organization are criticizing a UBC exhibit on the caste system as a “racist and discriminatory attack against Sikhs”. The exhibit, which portrays the experiences of members of the lowest “untouchables” caste, discusses discrimination at Vancouver gurdwaras, despite Sikhism’s fundamental opposition to the caste system and its belief in the equality of all people. Read more. [Vancouver Sun]

💰 For the second month in a row, Abbotsford holds its position as the most affordable community in Metro Vancouver to rent an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment at $1,528. If you don’t need to commute to Vancouver for work, that’s a definite bargain. But if you do, you can look forward to spending 4 hours a day on transit, or 3 hours in your car. Read more. [Richmond News]

🏠 Speaking of rental prices, this month’s liv.rent report found a year-over-year decline in the cost of unfurnished one-bedroom rents in every Vancouver neighbourhood other than Shaughnessy. The average cost was $2,353 per month. Read more. [Daily Hive]

🏅 For coverage of the PWHL Vancouver Goldeneyes’ historic 4-3 win over the Seattle Torrent and the Whitecaps' 2-2 defeat of Los Angeles FC on penalties, head down to our story below. [Vancity Lookout]

SPORTS

A Vancouver sports weekend like none other

Written by Nate Lewis

It was a dream weekend for Vancouver sports fans with two record-breaking sold-out games ending in thrilling victories for the home side. 

Nearly 15,000 fans flocked to East Van for the first-ever game of our new PWHL team, the Vancouver Goldeneyes. It was the first professional hockey game at Pacific Coliseum in 30 years, and the vibes were immaculate. 

The stadium was loud and packed to the very last row, the largest attendance for a home game in PWHL history. Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair was on hand for the ceremonial puck drop. Councillors Mike Klassen, Sarah Kirby-Yung, and Lucy Maloney even popped in to declare November 21st ‘Goldeneyes Day’.

The game delivered too, with Vancouver tying it up late in the third period before sending the crowd into celebration with an overtime winner. The Goldeneyes will play 11 more times at the PNE this year, and it’s becoming a hot ticket. 

It wasn’t even the biggest sports event of the weekend. The main course was a stunning contest at BC Place, where a record 53,957 fans filled the stands to cheer on the Whitecaps in a do-or-die elimination playoff match with a trip to the MLS semifinal on the line. 

In what will go down as one of the most dramatic, exciting, and improbable games in Whitecaps and maybe even MLS history, the ‘Caps beat LA in penalty kicks. After leading for most of the game, LA scored a magnificent equalizing goal at the end of regulation to send the game to extra time.  

Down to ten and then nine players, the Whitecaps defended heroically and got extremely lucky for 30 minutes. By the time they made it to penalties, they felt destined to win, and they eventually did, sending themselves to the next round and tens of thousands of ecstatic fans into the wet Vancouver night. 

In a town where it’s often felt like the Canucks are the only team that matters, it’s incredible to see the massive support for two up-and-coming Vancouver teams. And on this weekend at least, the players paid the fans back with a pair of unforgettable performances. 

EVENT GUIDE

Digital Media Youth Expo & Career Fair 2025 | Dec. 6th, 10 am-2 pm | Learn about educational and employment opportunities available in the Digital Media Industry. Meet representatives from Lower Mainland post-secondary schools | Free [Sponsored]

Books, Booze & Chill – The Book Club for Introverts | The Liberty Distillery, 1494 Old Bridge St. | Nov. 25, 7–9 pm | Quiet book-club social where guests read together, sip cocktails and swap favourites | Tickets $17.31

Woo Hoo! Classic Simpsons Trivia | The Anza Club, 3 West 8th Ave. | Nov. 25, 7–10 pm | Simpsons trivia night covering seasons 1–9 with prizes, retro episode screening and team play | $6.66

UBC Opera: The Magic Flute | UBC Old Auditorium, 6348 Memorial Rd. | Nov. 27, 7:30 pm; Nov. 29, 7:30 pm; Nov. 30, 2 pm | Fully staged Mozart opera with Vancouver Opera Orchestra and emerging vocal performers | Tickets $15+

Emily Carr University’s Legendary Student Art Sale | Emily Carr University, 520 E 1st Ave. | Nov. 27–29, various times | Annual sale showcasing original art, ceramics, prints and design from emerging artists | Free

12th Vancouver Turkish Film Festival Pass | Vancity Theatre & venues, Vancouver | Nov. 28–30, various times | Festival pass for three days of Turkish feature films, shorts and documentaries | Tickets $49

Department of Silly Entertainment Sketch Show! | 524 Main St. | Nov. 29, 7:30–9:30 pm | Absurdist sketch comedy blending radio-style theatre with modern sketches and chaotic humour | Tickets $15

Heritage Hall Christmas Market | Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St. | Nov. 29, 11 am–4 pm | Local vendor market with handmade gifts, door prizes and festive community shopping | Free

Got Craft Holiday Market | Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr. | Nov. 29–30, 10 am–5 pm | Large craft fair featuring 100 makers, workshops, swag bags and family activities | Tickets $5–$8

Vancouver Game Expo | Roundhouse Community Centre, Yaletown | Nov. 29, 12–7 pm | Interactive exhibition showcasing indie video games, vendors, demos and an evening afterparty | Tickets $6–$32

Vancouver Creative Experience at VanDusen Botanical Garden | VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St. | Nov. 30, 2–5 pm | Exclusive creative-access afternoon with photo ops, gear testing and Festival of Lights backdrop | Tickets $10

Toque Craft Fair | Western Front, 303 E 8th Ave. | Dec. 5, 5–9 pm; Dec. 6–7, 11 am–5 pm | Curated craft fair with textiles, ceramics, jewelry and homewares by BC artisans | Donation

Riot Vancouver Sketch Comedy Holiday Spectacular | Dec. 7, 8-10 pm | A monthly live sketch show exploring local issues and events | Tickets $12

Winter Market at Vanier Park | Vanier Park, Vancouver | Dec. 7, 12 pm | Outdoor seaside market with artisans, cultural venues, entertainment and cozy holiday treats | Donation

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