The Vancouver Aquatic Centre demolition has been paused until at least November 3 following an interim injunction granted by the BC Court of Appeal to a group advocating for the preservation of a 50-meter pool in the facility’s rebuild.
This ruling mandates that all current interior demolition work by the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation must cease in preparation for the exterior demolition.
The Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre (POVAC) society, led by director and park board candidate Jon Girard, argued that postponing the demolition until after the election of a new Park Board on October 17 would allow the Vancouver electorate to have a say.
The injunction expires on November 3, one day after the new Park Board’s initial meeting, which could potentially reverse the previous Board’s approval of the 25-meter pool design.
Last year, the project to renovate the 52-year-old Vancouver Aquatic Centre sparked controversy when the initially promised 50-meter replacement pool was reduced by half.
The backlash from the public has turned the pool into a crucial point in the election platforms of the major municipal parties, with four out of five pledging to rebuild the Aquatic Centre with a 50-meter pool, including incumbent Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC party.
Madame Justice Gail Dickson, in her decision, acknowledged the potential irreparable harm to the appellants if the demolition were to proceed, despite arguments from City of Vancouver lawyers about increased costs from delaying the process.
POVAC and Girard are appealing a previous court decision that deemed it “reasonable” for the Park Board and City of Vancouver to deliver a smaller pool at the Aquatic Centre after voters had been led to believe that the approved funding in a 2022 plebiscite was for a 50-meter pool. The appeal hearing is pending scheduling.