CLOSED: engagement on the West End Community Hub Renewal Plan has concluded. Thank you to the community members who participated and provided input. You can learn more about the plan and past engagement on this project page. For future updates, visit https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/west-end-community-hub-renewal-plan.aspx

• WECH Renewal Plan

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  At the end of February 2024, the Renewal Plan was endorsed by City of Vancouver Council, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and Vancouver Public Library Board. The West End Community Centre Association endorsed the plan in November 2023.

  Links to the plan

  • The community summary of the renewal plan (PDF, 5 MB) includes information about all three phases of engagement.
  • The full renewal plan (PDF, 23 MB) includes more detail for each phase of work as well as information about the sequence of development for both the preferred renewal plan and the alternate plans.
  • The full renewal plan appendices (PDF, 23 MB) include more details about the three phases of engagement.
  • The Council report (PDF, 57 MB) includes the full renewal plan and appendices as well as a summary for City of Vancouver Council.

  Summary of the renewal plan

  Public input in the renewal plan

  Community members have been involved throughout the project.

  • In spring 2021, the community was engaged in co-creating the vision and principles for the project.
  • In winter 2022, the community was involved in identifying the kinds of spaces and activities they’d like to see in the future West End Community Hub.
  • In spring 2023, the community was invited to share feedback on the location of buildings, spaces and activities on the site.

  We thank everyone for their participation and input.

  Engagement activities

  Over 7,000 touchpoints have been recorded in the overall engagement process. Engagement activities and events throughout all phases included:

  • Coast Salish Chronicles of the West End (project launch event)
  • Visioning workshops
  • Open house events at key milestones
  • Public surveys and pop-up events
  • Focus groups (recreation and ice arena users, arts and culture groups, library users and community organizations serving diverse populations)
  • Spaces and activities workshops
  • Workshops with secondary school students
  • Workshops with elementary and secondary school parents and parent advisory councils (PACs)
  • Individual interviews with caregivers, newcomers, Indigenous residents and attendees at Gathering Place Community Centre and the warming centre at West End Community Centre

  Outreach

  Outreach included:

  • Postcards mailed to West End residents
  • Posters and leaflets in public spaces    
  • Digital ads in The West End Journal and West End Seniors Network
  • Social media posts and advertising
  • Outreach by partners and key community organizations

  Preferred renewal plan: community uses on Denman, education uses on Barclay

  In summer 2023, partners reviewed the public engagement findings alongside three site scenarios. Keeping community priorities and feedback top of mind, project partners determined which of the three site layout scenarios they could support moving forward as the recommended renewal plan for the West End Community Hub.

  Scenario C from spring 2023 engagement was selected as the preferred direction for the West End Community Hub Renewal Plan due to it being broadly supported by community feedback, complementing other city development initiatives, such as the West End Community Plan, and closely meeting each partner’s objectives and requirements. In this preferred plan, the community centre, library and community plaza are located on Denman Street. The secondary school is located on Barclay Street on the eastern portion of the site. The firehall would be integrated into the community centre building with access to Barclay Street.

  Alternate plans

  The redevelopment and construction of the renewal plan will take place as funding is secured. Given the different funding sources for project partners, the renewal plan also identifies two alternate scenarios to ensure the plan is a flexible framework that responds to timing and availability of redevelopment funds.

  Scenarios A and B from spring 2023 engagement are retained as potential alternate site scenarios that could meet each partner’s objectives and requirements for the sites. While technically feasible, Scenario B is the least supported option by both public and project partners.

  What will get built first?

  Many community members have asked us what will get built first. This depends on the timing and availability of redevelopment funds from different funding sources.

  Preferred renewal plan order

  The sequence of steps that would occur for the preferred renewal plan:

  

  1. The preferred renewal plan proposes building the new secondary school first on the eastern part of the site while the existing school remains in service. This will require the removal of the school playing field, sport courts and school surface parking lot to enable construction of the new school in that location. School sport field and outdoor educations spaces are not available during completion of this step.
  2. After the new secondary school is complete and operational, the existing school can be removed. The existing community center remains in operational. School sport field and outdoor educations spaces are not available during completion of this step.
  3. The existing community centre building would be removed. School sport field and outdoor educations spaces are not available during completion of this step.
  4. The new community centre, library, childcare, firehall, ice arena and underground parkade would be built along Denman street. School sport field and outdoor educations spaces are not available during completion of this step.
  5. The playing field, sport courts, outdoor education spaces and other exterior landscaped areas would be completed.

  More information about phasing for alternate plans can be found on pages 173 to 175 of the renewal plan (PDF, 23 MB).

  What’s next?

  The Renewal Plan and the West End Community Plan

  The West End Community Hub Renewal Plan achieves one of the key 10-year policies set out in the 2013 West End Community Plan to work with on-site partners to develop a renewal and expansion strategy for this site and to explore opportunities to co-locate other community facilities. The community plan also included the goal to renew recreation facilities (including the West End Community Centre and West End Ice Rink) within 30 years, designing those facilities to meet anticipated population growth.

  The WECH Renewal Plan is important for project partners to continue to deliver needed amenities and services to a growing community. Project partners will use the WECH Renewal Plan as the basis for renewing and collaboratively transforming the site over the next 15-20 years as funding is secured.

  Renewal funding

  Work to secure funding for this renewal continues, and construction will not start until funding is secured. Construction will need to be implemented through multiple phases and capital plans, based on funding and renewal priorities.

  The Vancouver School District’s Long Range Facilities Plan describes the need for King George Secondary School to be renewed and expanded to address growing student numbers. King George Secondary School is included the district’s annual capital plan to request funding for a future expansion. The proposed expansion is pending approval and funding from the provincial Ministry of Education and Childcare.

• Site scenarios engagement report

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  During spring 2023, community members provided input on how they would like to see the future West End Community Hub (WECH) buildings and spaces take shape. Community members shared their views on the strengths and challenges of three potential site scenarios. All three scenarios included the same spaces, activities and outdoor spaces, and each responded to valuable community feedback, planning research and project partner priorities. The primary difference among the scenarios was the location of spaces and activities on the site.

  Feedback gathered during this phase builds on the input of hundreds of West Enders and the larger community, who helped create the WECH Vision and Principles in spring 2021 and who, in winter 2022, identified the kinds of spaces and activities they’d like to see in the future West End Community Hub.

  Read our engagement report to learn about community members' feedback on the strengths, challenges and opportunities of each site scenario.

  Overview of each scenario and the public’s selection of strengths

  The full update post includes diagrams of each scenario.

  Scenario A

  

  Site layout of Scenario A:

  1. Community centre at the corner of Denman and Haro
  2. Childcare on the upper floor of the community centre with south-facing outdoor play areas
  3. Social space – a lobby with a Denman Street entrance that includes a shared front desk for community centre and library spaces
  4. Community plaza on Denman Street
  5. Library at the corner of Denman and Haro
  6. Regulation-size ice rink below ground
  7. Secondary school on Barclay Street with an additional building on Denman Street
  8. Secondary school outdoor education space
  9. Firehall #6 integrated into the community centre on Haro Street

  
  

  When asked about the strengths of Scenario A, about half of all survey respondents selected the following options:

  • Denman Street location of an expanded community plaza
  • Denman location of the library
  • Denman location of the community centre
  • Denman connection to the community centre lobby or social space

  
  

  Scenario B

  

  Site layout of Scenario B:

  1. Community centre on Barclay Street
  2. Childcare on the upper floor of the community centre with east- and west-facing outdoor play areas
  3. Social space – a lobby with a Haro Street entrance that includes a shared front desk for community centre and library spaces
  4. Community plaza along the Haro Street Greenway
  5. Library on Haro Street
  6. Regulation-size ice rink below ground
  7. Secondary school on Denman Street
  8. Secondary school outdoor education space
  9. Firehall #6 integrated into the community centre with access to Barclay Street

  
  

  Scenario B had lower overall levels of public support in comparison to the other scenarios. When asked about the strengths of Scenario B, survey respondents identified moderate support and approximately one quarter of survey respondents identified:

  • Haro Street Greenway location of a community plaza
  • Barclay Street connection to Firehall #6
  • Movement of foot traffic around buildings

  
  

  Scenario C

  

  Site layout of Scenario C:

  1. Community centre on Denman Street
  2. Childcare on the upper floor of the community centre with east- and west-facing outdoor play areas
  3. Social space – a lobby with a Denman Street entrance that includes a shared front desk for community centre and library spaces
  4. Community plaza on Denman Street
  5. Library on Denman Street
  6. Regulation-size ice rink below ground
  7. Secondary school on Barclay Street
  8. Secondary school outdoor education space
  9. Firehall #6 integrated into the community centre with access to Barclay Street

  
  

  Scenario C had higher overall levels of public support in comparison to the other scenarios. When asked about the strengths of Scenario C, approximately two-thirds of survey respondents identified:

  • Denman location of the community centre
  • Denman location of the library
  • Denman location of the community plaza
  • Denman location of the community centre lobby or social space
  • The secondary school’s location on the east side of the site

  
  

  About a third of respondents supported the remaining elements of this scenario.

• Complete a survey for a chance to win a prize!

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  We are asking community to share feedback on three scenarios for how the buildings and spaces could take shape to create the future West Eng Community Hub. Complete a survey for a chance to win a $50 VISA gift card!

  Survey contest rules

  The West End Community Hub: Renewal Plan Contest will run from Thursday May 18, 2023. Completed survey responses must be submitted and received by 11:59 pm on Monday June 19, 2023.

  To be entered into the contest, participants must enter their email information through the survey to indicate their desire to enter.

  5 prizes of a $50 VISA gift card will be awarded by Friday, June 23, 2023. Prizes will be emailed to the winners.

  Be sure you have parent/guardian consent to enter if you’re under 18 years of age.

  Prizes must be accepted as awarded, cannot be transferred, and cannot be redeemed for cash. Only one prize per person. Restrictions may apply.

  Staff members of the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver School District and the West End Community Centre Association are not eligible to participate in the contest.

• Spaces and activities for the West End Community Hub Renewal Plan

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  Thank you to everyone who shared your voice and let us know which activities and spaces you would like to see at the future West End Community Hub. For more information on the potential spaces and activities to be included, see the Phase 2 Engagement Report Activities and Spaces.

  Community engagement for the spaces and activities phase was available from February 2 – March 8, 2022.

  Based on this valuable feedback, project partners are now working to develop scenarios for how the community hub spaces could take shape. We invite you to get involved in spring 2023 to share feedback on scenarios for the future community hub. Stay tuned for opportunities to attend in-person events and provide feedback online.

• Vision and principles for the West End Community Hub Renewal Plan

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  We are excited to share the Vision and Principles for the renewed West End Community Hub.

  Vision

  The West End Community Hub celebrates Vancouver’s connection to xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) cultures, and supports play, learning, creativity and wellness for all people.

  For more information on the process and to read all the principles, see the Phase 1 Report: Vision & Principles for the future West End Community Hub.

  This report is the result of a collaborative and Indigenous-centred process with the West End community. Throughout the fall, participants attended visioning workshops, heard Coast Salish Knowledges and perspectives, visited self-guided engagement stations and completed the West End Experiences survey. Almost 1,000 responses were shared from diverse groups within our communities including the LGBTQIA2S+, newcomers, seniors, and families with children.

  The Framework, Vision and Principles marks the final steps of the visioning work created with the community during the W.E. Connect engagement process. The framework reflects our commitment to reconciliation, declares the purpose and aspirations of the future West End Community Hub and will help define space use needs for the site.

  We presented this framework at an online public information session on December 8. You can watch the event here:

  
  

  As we wrap up this engagement phase, we want to take a moment to thank you all for participating in W.E. Connect over the past few months. We invite you to continue to get involved in early 2022 for the next phase of engagement, Space Needs Identification. Stay tuned for opportunities to attend in-person events and complete an online survey to further explore how you currently use the site and how you want to use it in the future. This input, along with other research being conducted, will lead to options of design concepts for the site.

  We look forward to seeing you in 2022 and continuing to reimagine the West End Community Hub together.

  Kind regards,
  The West End Community Hub project team

• Meet the Coast Salish and community artists of W.E. Connect

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  W.E. Connect is rooted in local Indigenous knowledge and West End experiences.

  Learn about the Indigenous history of the West End through stories and original artwork shared by artists from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and be inspired by community artists’ perspectives and rich experiences of the West End. Learn more about the West End through Indigenous history, original art work and stories.

  
  

  Meet the artists:

  	Chrystal Sparrow: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist and carver Chrystal Sparrow is a xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist and female carver. She was traditionally mentored by her late father Irving Sparrow, a master carver. Chrystal is both a traditional and contemporary Coast Salish artist who designs feminine art to express her culture and family teachings. She has public art at the YVR International Airport, Vancouver School Board, Starbucks Canada, BC Children's Hospital, and many other locations. Chrystal believes her work is a living art language that expresses her culture, teachings, and perspectives. Instagram: @chrystalsparrow Facebook: /salishcarver
  	Cory Douglas: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) WE resident, architect and artist Cory Douglas was born and raised in Coast Salish Territory ‘Vancouver’ and brings over 25 years of local experience in art and architectural design. He is a Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation member with Xaayda (Haida) and Ts'msyen (Tsimshian) ancestry. Cory began his business as a graphic artist and continues to redefine himself as he merges his academic architectural vocation with his innate creativity. Cory is connected to the Skwxwú7mesh Nation through his parents and has been studying traditional Xaayda form and Formline and Coast Salish design. Cory’s intention is to communicate the cultural history of Canada, alongside the development and design of strategies through decolonization. Listen to Cory's interview on CBC's On The Coast with Gloria Macarenko discussing how Indigenous input is helping shape the future of the West End Community Hub. Instagram: @modernformline Facebook: /cory.douglas.7
  	Angela George: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Coast Salish weaver and artist Coast Salish weaver Angela George carries two ancestral names - sits'sáts'tenat and qʷənat. Originally from Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Sts’ailes, she lives and works in the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)Nation with her husband Gabriel George, children, and grandchildren. Traditionally groomed, Angela carries the gift of weaving with integrity and a responsibility to create awareness, stewardship, and harmony. Angela holds an MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership at SFU, where she researched səlilwətaɬ laws of the land and sacred waters of the Burrard Inlet, then designed it into a 10’ Weaving Governance panel to demonstrate that Coast Salish weavings are Holders of Knowledge and living, guiding documents. Instagram: @anggeorge_weaver Facebook: /ang.george
  	Afuwa: Vancouver artist Afuwa was born in Guyana, on Karinya, Lokono, and Akawaio lands, and makes art on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories (Vancouver), on the site known as Luk'Luk'i. Locally and internationally exhibited, her work encompasses language, the body, and diasporic memory, and has appeared in publications such as Room Magazine, PUBLIC, Asparagus, GUTS, The Capilano Review, The Feminist Wire, Briarpatch, West Coast Line, subTerrain, and in Performing Utopias in the Contemporary Americas (2017). Her multisensory painting/ installation Still Salt, Dark Stories is currently in the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Vancouver Special exhibit, which runs until 02 January 2022. Website: afuwa.wordpress.com Instagram: @afuwapaints Photo by Arlene Bowman
  	Ken Boesem: West End artist and writer BC artist/writer Ken Boesem’s family first arrived in Vancouver in 1885, and he has been a settler here, making his home in various “nests” in the West End, since 1999. Between = 2005-2012, Boesem produced “The Village”, a newspaper comic strip that featured a diverse and inclusive cast of West Enders living in shared community in the West End’s queer Davie Street enclave. Boesem had the privilege of working in various capacities from 2004-2017 at the West End’s legendary community bookstore, Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium, helping to facilitate West End community building directly at street level. Twitter: @kbcanuck Instagram: @kenboesem

  
  

• Visit us at a pop-up!

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  We will be 'popping-up' throughout the West End to talk to you about your vision for the future West End Community Hub. Visit us during any of the following dates* to learn more about the project process, provide your hopes for the future Hub, and ask project staff any questions:

  1. West End Farmers Market
     Saturday, October 9: 9am - 2pm

  2. Jim Deva Plaza
     Tuesday October 12: 4 - 7pm

  1. King George Secondary/Joe Fortes Library/West End Community Centre outdoor plaza
     Friday, October 15: 4 - 7pm

  2. Morton Park (A-maze-ing Laughter Sculptures)
     Sunday, October 17: 10am - 3pm.

  3. Jim Deva Plaza
     Wednesday, October 20: 4pm - 7pm

  4. Morton Park (A-maze-ing Laughter Sculptures)
     Saturday, October 23: noon - 5pm

  5. King George Secondary/Joe Fortes Library/West End Community Centre outdoor plaza
     Wednesday, October 27: 4 - 7 pm

  1. Morton Park (A-maze-ing Laughter Sculptures)
     Saturday, October 30: noon - 5pm

  2. Jim Deva Plaza
     Sunday, October 31: noon - 5pm

  * Pop-up dates may change due to weather - all changes will be updated here.

• Coast Salish chronicles of the West End

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  The planning process and future West End Community Hub is rooted in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) ways of knowing and storytelling.

  The W.E. Connect: Coast Salish Chronicles of the West End event held on September 21 was an opportunity to deepen connections to this community, this place, this land. During the event we heard stories and learned from local Knowledge Holders and participants had the opportunity to draw from this greater understanding and identify key ideas that can help create a vision for the renewed West End Community Hub. Watch a recording of the event here:

  Or learn from each local Knowledge Holder in their own individual videos:

  Chrystal Sparrow: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist and carver

  Aaron Nelson-Moody: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Knowledge Holder and carver

  Gabriel George: səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Knowledge Holder

• Join an inspiring evening of local Indigenous stories about the West End

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  Register for W.E. Connect: Coast Salish Chronicles of the West End on Tuesday, September 21, 7-9 pm, online.

  You’ll hear stories and learn from local Knowledge Holders:

  • Chrystal Sparrow: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), artist, carver

  • Aaron Nelson-Moody: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Knowledge Holder and carver

  • Gabriel George: səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Knowledge Holder

  This event will deepen your connections to this community, this place, this land. Drawing from this greater understanding, participants will identify key ideas that can help create a vision for the renewed West End Community Hub.

  Register here for this event!

• Reconciliation

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  The planning process and future West End Community Hub will be rooted in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) ways of knowing, working together, and storytelling.

  
  

  Through events and information, all are invited to learn more about this place from local First Nations Knowledge Holders. We’ll hear stories of each Nation’s connection to and stewardship of the area. Then, we’ll build on this knowledge by sharing West End community and visitor experiences and hopes for the site. The result will be a vision for the Community Hub.

  
  

  The West End Community Hub will be planned in a way that respects the presence and knowledge of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and through this will foster more inclusive spaces for all.

  
  

  Through a co-design process, in collaboration with community members from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations will contribute:

  
  

  • Vision for the future building

  • Cultural contributions to the overall design

  • Integration of traditional knowledge

  • Historical recognition of the importance of the pre-colonial West End

  
  

  The City of Vancouver, Vancouver School Board, and Vancouver Public Library are committed to strengthening relationships with the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh):

  
  

  • City of Vancouver: City of Reconciliation (2014)

  • Vancouver School Board: Indigenous Education

  • Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation: Approach to Reconciliation

  • Vancouver Public Library: Truth and Reconciliation