The Vancouver Aquatic Centre’s demolition has been paused until at least November 3 following an interim injunction granted by the B.C. Court of Appeal to a group advocating for the preservation of the 50-meter pool in the facility’s reconstruction.
This ruling mandates the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to cease all ongoing interior work aimed at preparing the building for exterior demolition.
The Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre (POVAC) society, led by director and park board candidate Jon Girard, contended that delaying the demolition until after the new Park Board, elected in the October 17 municipal elections, would better represent the will of Vancouver voters.
The injunction is set to expire on November 3, the day following the new Park Board’s inaugural meeting, offering the opportunity for the new board to potentially overturn the previous decision to approve the 25-meter pool design.
Last year, the project to reconstruct the 52-year-old Vancouver Aquatic Centre sparked controversy when the initially promised 50-meter replacement pool was reduced by half in size.
The issue has become a focal point in the election campaigns of the major municipal parties, with four out of five pledging to restore the Aquatic Centre’s 50-meter pool, including incumbent mayor Ken Sim’s ABC party, which initially approved the smaller pool.
Madame Justice Gail Dickson, in her ruling, acknowledged the irreparable harm the appellants would face if the demolition proceeded, despite arguments from City of Vancouver lawyers about potential increased costs from delaying the process.
POVAC and Girard have appealed a previous court decision that deemed it “reasonable” for the Park Board and the City of Vancouver to proceed with the smaller pool, despite voters believing funding approved in a 2022 plebiscite was intended for a 50-meter pool.
The appeal hearing is pending scheduling.
