Trouble growing by the day for Ken Sim’s park board changes

Good morning,

I mentioned in the Insider newsletter this weekend that the end of the park board appeared to be mostly on track.

Well, I may have spoken too soon. I break down what’s happening and why everything may have become a little more complicated than the mayor had hoped.

We’ve also got news on the dates for Vancouver’s World Cup games. People in Toronto may be a little jealous…

Let’s get to it!

— Geoff Shapre, Vancity Lookout edit

PS — An ad went out last week and a few people mentioned the product didn’t ship to Canada. Our apologies for that, we’ll do a better job of reviewing them next time!

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WEATHER

Monday: 6 🌡️ 1 | ☁️ 

Tuesday: 6 🌡️ 1 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 3 🌡️ 2 | 🌧️ 

CITY HALL

Trouble growing by the day for Ken Sim’s park board changes

What happened: Changes to the park board by the mayor are running up against opposition from two of the three local Indigenous groups, with both groups saying they want a role in reviewing any changes with the park system, according to the Globe and Mail. Both the Squamish and the Tsleil-Waututh nations refused to sign a letter of unconditional support. 

Background: Mayor Ken Sim has argued that the park board is broken and requires change by bringing its role under council. Changing the park board requires an amendment to the Vancouver Charter, governed by the province, who have told the city they need to consult with the First Nations in the area.

• The Musqueam Indian Band was the only group to sign a letter endorsing the change. The city says they are engaging all groups during the process. 

What it means: Experts say it could mean that the First Nations have a greater role over Vancouver’s parks, including the ability to join in decisions around permits, or as the article notes, potentially co-managing parks. 

• Oops?: In what has to be one of the bigger head scratchers of the process, the ABC majority voted down an amendment to the motion back in December from Coun. Christine Boyle to consult with all three First Nations. 

Looking ahead: Khelsilem, the Squamish council chairperson, noted in the Globe and Mail that the discussions are in the preliminary stage. No doubt the mayor wishes the changes would wrap up sooner and the issue not linger around forever!

As part of the transition, the city has named an independent group that will report to council about the transition process. The names includes former parks board commissioner for Vision Vancouver Catherine Evans, former deputy park board GM and interim park board GM Shauna Wilson, and three others, according to the release. 

Other problems: Today the park board will meet and a motion they will discuss is to seek legal advice about going to court to oppose the elimination of the board, according to CTV. The board retains all its current power, including the ability to use its budget.

• The board is made up of three former ABC members and Green Party member Tom Digby, who now hold a majority on council. The money, $20,000 in the motion, would look at the potential of such legal action and “which avenues to pursue towards the preservation of the elected park board, based on the advice of counsel.”

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏘️ 1,000: The number of new rental homes that are being proposed at 1780 East Broadway, next to Commercial-Broadway Station. In a good sign, 35 percent of these will be sized for families, with at least two bedrooms. [Urbanized]

📈 7.3%: Do you think this is the percent that home prices fell or increased over the last year? Of course, the answer is increased, because prices in Vancouver are out of control… [Business in Vancouver]

👮 27: The number of break-ins and thefts that one man has been charged with. This includes breaking and entering, possessing stolen property, and possessing for the purpose of trafficking. They took place between September 2022 and February 2023. [Global]

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SPORTS

Vive la Vancouver soccer

Soccer fans rejoice, especially those in Vancouver! 

What happened: The number of games that Vancouver and other cities will host for the 2026 World Cup has been announced, with Vancouver set to host seven and Toronto six, for a total of 13 games in Canada, according to CBC. The U.S. will host 78 and Mexico will also host 13 games.

• Vancouver is hosting one more than Toronto. Does this mean Vancouver is better than Toronto? I’ll leave that up to you readers to decide…

Breaking it down: According to the FIFA website, Vancouver will host five group matches, one round of 32 and one round of 16 matches. The dates are as follows:

• Group stage: June 13, 18, 21 and 24

• Round of 32: July 2

• Round of 16: July 7

Background: There will be 12 groups of four teams competing in the first round. The top two from each group, along with eight teams that placed third head into the round of 32, according to CityNews. The cup final will take place in New Jersey.

Home team: Canada is set to play in two games in Vancouver, June 18 and June 24, and one in Toronto on June 12. 

• Who will be playing is not yet clear as there are still qualifying matches taking place right now and in the future for each region.

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

1. Associate director, alumni data and strategic initiatives at UBC

2. Senior communications manager at PavCo

3. General manager, North America at Scout Talent

4. Account executive, nonprofit vertical at Tipalti

5. Senior communications director at The First Nations Health Authority

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

THE AGENDA

👮 Two women, one who was a Crown prosecutor outside the BC Provincial Court, were assaulted on Friday morning. Both appear to be connected, with police saying they believe the same male suspect was involved. Police say they were both random attacks. Charges have been laid against the man, who was apparently released two days before the attack on bail for weapons charges. [Global]

⛺️ An encampment was taken down at Eburne Park in Marpole on Friday. The city said they were taking down the encampment because of safety risks after a fire broke out. Seven people were camping there, with some having been there for seven months, with one resident saying it was the safest place they had lived since moving to Vancouver. [CBC]

💰️ This isn’t the first, and it won’t be the last story about someone leaving Vancouver because it’s too expensive. Even though they make a couple hundred thousand dollars a year, they’re moving to Chilliwack because the cost of living means it isn’t viable to stay. [CityNews]

📉 Two local teachers unions are raising concerns about the staffing issues in the city, saying teachers who leave are not being replaced, with 400 times where a teacher’s slot was filled since the beginning of the school year. VSB says they've hired 329 teachers since March 2023. [Global News]

❌ Vancouver has lost an appeal of a bylaw to limit SRO rent increases, with the court saying the Vancouver Charter does not allow for it, meaning the city does not have jurisdiction. SRO operators successfully argued it was the province who has the power to do that. [CityNews]

👮‍♀️ In a surprise move — and without any explanation why — Faye Wightman has resigned from the Vancouver Police Board. She previously ran the Vancouver Foundation. Back in June Rachel Roy, another police board member, resigned because of the return of the school liaison officer program. [CBC]

🪧 A parent has set up a petition to install a controlled pedestrian traffic light at West 15th and Wallace, near Lord Byng Secondary School, after their daughter was struck by a driver of a vehicle, resulting in life-changing injuries. [Vancouver Sun]

🙃 Sometimes Vancouver can be a little… weird. I am, of course, referring to the lines outside of the opening of the new Loblaws Flagship City Market in the Amazon Post building. [Urbanized]

EVENTS GUIDE

Rio Theatre | All week long | They’re showing some classics this week and upcoming weekend, including Casablanca, The Princess Bride, Judas and the Black Messiah and more | Tickets $12.42

VIFF | All week long | Not to be outdone, VIFF is showing Dead Poets Society, Sorry to Bother You, Anatomy of a Fall, Maestro and many others | Tickets $15

Chinese Lunar New Year events | Various spots around town | A full week of events, including Chinatown Spring Festival on Saturday, Taste of Chinatown starting Friday and the Lunar New Year Celebration at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden on Sunday | Tickets at various prices

BC Fly Guys & Pacific Angler - Six Must Have Sleeper Fly Patterns | 78 East Broadway | This Saturday, 6:30 pm | Discover the jobs of fly fishing with this informative session, so you can fish even better | Tickets $57

Traditional Turkish ceramic painting workshop | Granville Island, inside the Kids Market | This Feb 11, 4:30 pm | Discover the history behind the painting and learn hands-on techniques | Tickets $71

HISTORY

I did not know that the late and great Carl Weathers played for the BC Lions in 1971…

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Love wine? Then join a free newsletter exploring the world of wine. Join today. [Sponsored]

• The city is getting a new pickleball court at CF Pacific Centre Mall this summer. 

• Meet the artist who has sculpted some extremely life-like orca snow and sand sculptures. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• The Seawall is back open after part of it was briefly shut down for repairs. [Twitter]

• Reddit users shared their most annoying Vancouver commercials and it’s no surprise that Spence Diamonds was the most mentioned. [Reddit]

• The city is hosting a number of emergency preparedness workshops to be ready in case of situations like an earthquake or heatwave. [City of Vancouver]

• If you missed out on Dine Out Vancouver, some places are extending their discounts until mid-February. [Straight] 

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

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