City of Vancouver: Public invited to reimagine future of West End Community Hub
Press Release
Indigenous-centred launch event kicks off September 21
Attend the virtual launch of WE Connect, an engagement process that will help guide future redevelopment of the West End Community Hub. The site includes:
- The West End Community Centre
- King George Secondary School
- Joe Fortes Library
- Other important facilities
Online event
Reconciliation is at the heart of this process, and we invite the community to hear stories that have defined this land for millennia at our online launch event.
WE Connect: Coast Salish Chronicles of the West End
Tuesday, September 21, 7pm to 9pm
At the event, we will listen and learn from local Indigenous artists and Knowledge Holders including:
- Chrystal Sparrow: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist and carver
- Aaron Nelson-Moody: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Knowledge Holder and carver
- Gabriel George: səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Knowledge Holder
Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the stories’ key ideas and help us create a vision for the renewed West End Community Hub. They can also share their own experiences of the neighbourhood, people, and land, through the online West End Experiences survey, or in person by attending more than 10 themed community workshops in September and October.
The process
The City, Vancouver School Board, Vancouver Public Library, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, and the West End Community Centre Association are seeking input from the public to reimagine a space where everyone can come together to connect, relax, learn, and play.
We will work closely with key community groups to understand the diverse community perspectives of the West End neighborhood. Community input will be considered at every step of the project process and will help us make better decisions that reflect the needs and desires of the community.
Early in 2022, we will launch surveys and workshops asking the community how they use the current site and what features they would like to see. Based on input received, we will explore draft options for the renewed community hub spaces. In summer 2022, we will present a draft plan of the preferred option to the community for feedback.
The result will be a renewal plan that details a shared vision for the future of the buildings, programming, and outdoor spaces at the site. We will hold a public information session and plan to submit the Renewal Plan to City Council in fall 2022.
Background
We are working to renew and expand the buildings and outdoor spaces at this site.
- The West End Community Centre will be replaced with a recreation facility designed for a growing neighbourhood, including the replacement of the ice rink.
- King George Secondary School will be redeveloped to provide more spaces for students and to meet seismic upgrade requirements.
- Joe Fortes Library will be expanded to meet the growing need for library services.
- Other potential uses that are needed to support the West End and will be considered for addition or expansion in the renewal plan include relocation of Firehall No. 6, seniors’ spaces, arts and culture facilities, childcare, and outdoor amenities.
This work will build on our West End Community Plan PDF file (13.3 MB). Since the plan was adopted in 2013, the West End has seen significant progress on the delivery of a number of community amenities that were identified in the plan’s Public Benefits Strategy (PBS).
In addition to the community hub redevelopment, there are currently a number of other West End Plan projects underway. Learn more about public benefits completed, under construction, and upcoming projects
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