[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":289},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-\u002Fnews\u002Faquatic-centre-court-ruling-september-26":3,"news-list":154},{"id":4,"title":5,"aiMetadata":6,"author":22,"body":23,"candidates":87,"category":90,"date":91,"description":92,"extension":93,"faq":94,"image":119,"imageAlt":120,"imageCheckedAt":121,"imageCredit":122,"linkedin":123,"linkedinPostUrl":130,"meta":131,"metaDescription":130,"navigation":132,"path":133,"primarySourceUrl":134,"publishedAt":121,"seo":135,"seoTitle":130,"sourceId":136,"sourceIsPaywalled":137,"sources":138,"stem":147,"storyType":148,"tags":149,"topicKey":152,"updated":130,"__hash__":153},"news\u002Fnews\u002Faquatic-centre-court-ruling-september-26.md","Court upholds city plan to replace Vancouver Aquatic Centre pool with 25-metre design",{"summary":7,"keyTopics":8,"semanticKeywords":14},"B.C. Supreme Court dismissed the Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre Society's legal challenge to the city's plan to replace the facility's 50-metre pool with a 25-metre pool. Two society directors, Jon Girard and Mayeli Alvarez, are running for Park Board under TEAM for a Livable Vancouver.",[9,10,11,12,13],"Vancouver Aquatic Centre","Park Board election","TEAM for a Livable Vancouver","court ruling","pool replacement",[15,16,17,18,19,20,21],"Vancouver Aquatic Centre redevelopment","50-metre pool","25-metre pool","Park Board 2026","Jon Girard","Mayeli Alvarez","TEAM Vancouver","voche.me editors",{"type":24,"value":25,"toc":80},"minimark",[26,30,33,38,41,44,48,51,54,58,61,64],[27,28,29],"p",{},"A B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed the legal challenge to the City of Vancouver's plan to replace the Vancouver Aquatic Centre's 50-metre lap pool with a 25-metre pool, Daily Hive Vancouver reported on September 26, 2026. Two of the three directors of the society that brought the challenge are running for Park Board in the October 17 election.",[27,31,32],{},"Justice Christopher Giaschi ruled it was reasonable for the Park Board and the City to conclude that building a new facility with a 25-metre pool came within the borrowing that 68.4 percent of voters approved in the 2022 civic election plebiscite. \"Nothing in the evidence supports the assertion that the City or the Park Board deliberately misled voters,\" the judge wrote.",[34,35,37],"h2",{"id":36},"what-the-society-argued","What the society argued",[27,39,40],{},"The Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre Society challenged the city's use of $103 million in voter-approved borrowing for a replacement project that would not include a 50-metre pool. The society argued the plebiscite materials had described plans to renew the facility in a way that implied the longer pool would be kept.",[27,42,43],{},"The judge found the approval process fair. The court also ruled the city was not required to release confidential financial records for the public hearing to proceed lawfully.",[34,45,47],{"id":46},"the-candidates-connection","The candidates' connection",[27,49,50],{},"Jon Girard and Mayeli Alvarez, both Park Board candidates under TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, are directors of the society. Daily Hive Vancouver reported they are two of the three directors of the group. Both candidates' involvement in the legal challenge is part of the public court record.",[27,52,53],{},"The society announced after the ruling that it plans to appeal. In a statement reported by Daily Hive Vancouver, the group described the demolition timing as \"vindictive, and profoundly anti-democratic.\"",[34,55,57],{"id":56},"what-happens-next","What happens next",[27,59,60],{},"The city has scheduled demolition to begin October 1, 2026, twelve days before the election. It approved a $3.5 million demolition contract with Heatherbrae Builders in July 2025. The facility has been closed since late June 2026 after concrete fell from the ceiling in November 2025 and a partial exterior wall had collapsed in March 2022.",[27,62,63],{},"The total project budget stands at $175 million, up from an initial estimate of $140 million after City Council approved an additional $35 million in June 2025.",[27,65,66,67,71,72,75,76,79],{},"Voters who want to learn more about ",[68,69,19],"a",{"href":70},"\u002Fcandidates\u002Fjon-girard"," and ",[68,73,20],{"href":74},"\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmayeli-alvarez"," can read their profiles at voche.me, and can find voting location information at ",[68,77,78],{"href":78},"\u002Fwhere-to-vote",".",{"title":81,"searchDepth":82,"depth":82,"links":83},"",2,[84,85,86],{"id":36,"depth":82,"text":37},{"id":46,"depth":82,"text":47},{"id":56,"depth":82,"text":57},[88,89],"jon-girard","mayeli-alvarez","Election news","2026-09-26","A B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed the legal challenge to Vancouver's plan to demolish and rebuild the aquatic centre with a smaller pool, and two of the society's directors are running for Park Board.","md",[95,98,101,104,107,110,113,116],{"question":96,"answer":97},"What did the court decide about the Vancouver Aquatic Centre?","Justice Christopher Giaschi of the Supreme Court of British Columbia dismissed the legal challenge brought by the Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre Society. The judge ruled it was reasonable for the Park Board and the City to conclude that building a new facility with a 25-metre pool came within the borrowing approved by voters in 2022. The court found no evidence the city deliberately misled voters about the pool size when it put the question to a plebiscite.",{"question":99,"answer":100},"What did voters approve in the 2022 plebiscite?","In the 2022 civic election, 68.4 percent of voters approved $162 million in borrowing for community facilities. Of that amount, $103 million was allocated to the aquatic centre replacement project. The plebiscite materials described plans to renew the facility, but the society argued the language implied a 50-metre pool would be kept. The judge disagreed, finding the language was broad enough to cover a 25-metre design.",{"question":102,"answer":103},"What is the society planning to do after losing the case?","According to Daily Hive Vancouver, the Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre Society announced plans to appeal the ruling. The group described the demolition timing as 'vindictive, and profoundly anti-democratic,' noting that the city has scheduled demolition to begin October 1, 2026, while the election campaign is still running. The society has raised over $110,000 through crowdfunding since it launched.",{"question":105,"answer":106},"Which 2026 Park Board candidates are connected to the society?","Jon Girard and Mayeli Alvarez, both running for Park Board under TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, are directors of the Protecting Our Vancouver Aquatic Centre Society. Daily Hive Vancouver reported they are two of the three directors of the society. Their involvement in the legal challenge is part of the public record of the case, as confirmed by the voche.me candidate profiles for both.",{"question":108,"answer":109},"When does demolition of the aquatic centre begin?","The City of Vancouver has scheduled demolition to begin October 1, 2026, twelve days before the municipal election on October 17. The city approved a $3.5 million demolition contract with Heatherbrae Builders in July 2025. The original facility opened in 1974 at Sunset Beach Park and has been closed since late June 2026 following structural problems, including a concrete ceiling fall in November 2025.",{"question":111,"answer":112},"How much will the new aquatic centre cost?","The total project budget is $175 million. That figure increased from an initial estimate of $140 million after City Council approved an additional $35 million in June 2025. The city also expects $37 million in development contributions. The voter-approved borrowing covers $103 million of the total.",{"question":114,"answer":115},"What structural problems led to the aquatic centre closing?","Daily Hive Vancouver reported that a partial exterior wall collapse occurred in March 2022, and concrete fell from the ceiling in November 2025. The facility permanently closed in late June 2026 as a result of these structural problems. The building opened in 1974.",{"question":117,"answer":118},"How can I find out more about Jon Girard and Mayeli Alvarez?","Both candidates are running for Park Board under TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. You can read their full profiles at \u002Fcandidates\u002Fjon-girard and \u002Fcandidates\u002Fmayeli-alvarez. The Park Board race is one of four races in the October 17, 2026 Vancouver municipal election. You can find information about where and how to vote at \u002Fwhere-to-vote.","https:\u002F\u002Fimages-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fvancouver-aquatic-centre-2025-design-new-f.jpg","Architectural rendering of the proposed new Vancouver Aquatic Centre design","2026-09-25T20:43:00-07:00","Daily Hive Vancouver",{"short":124,"long":125,"hashtags":126},"A B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed the challenge to Vancouver's plan to replace the aquatic centre's 50-metre pool. Two of the society's directors are on the Park Board ballot.","The Supreme Court of British Columbia dismissed the legal challenge to Vancouver's plan to demolish and rebuild the aquatic centre with a 25-metre pool instead of the original 50-metre one. Two directors of the society that brought the challenge, Jon Girard and Mayeli Alvarez, are running for Park Board under TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Demolition is scheduled to start October 1.",[127,128,129],"VancouverElection2026","ParkBoard","VancouverAquaticCentre",null,{"sourceName":122},true,"\u002Fnews\u002Faquatic-centre-court-ruling-september-26","https:\u002F\u002Fdailyhive.com\u002Fvancouver\u002Fvancouver-aquatic-centre-redevelopment-petition-court-decision",{"title":5,"description":92},"daily-hive:https:\u002F\u002Fdailyhive.com\u002Fvancouver\u002Fvancouver-aquatic-centre-redevelopment-petition-court-decision",false,[139,141,144],{"label":140,"url":134},"Daily Hive Vancouver: Court ruling on aquatic centre redevelopment",{"label":142,"url":143},"voche.me candidate profile: Jon Girard","https:\u002F\u002Fvoche.me\u002Fcandidates\u002Fjon-girard",{"label":145,"url":146},"voche.me candidate profile: Mayeli Alvarez","https:\u002F\u002Fvoche.me\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmayeli-alvarez","news\u002Faquatic-centre-court-ruling-september-26","reported",[150,11,9,151],"Park Board","housing and infrastructure","vancouver-aquatic-centre\u002Flawsuit","bxlJl--cdFThHow2JeiOxB6R2_nRCYyPKenOlo382dY",[155,157,168,177,187,195,204,213,223,233,241,249,257,265,273,281],{"path":133,"title":5,"description":92,"date":91,"publishedAt":121,"author":22,"category":90,"tags":156,"image":119,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},[150,11,9,151],{"path":158,"title":159,"description":160,"date":161,"publishedAt":162,"author":22,"category":90,"tags":163,"image":167,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fken-sim-family-threats-video-september-25","Ken Sim posts video about threatening messages to his family","Mayor Ken Sim, running for re-election on October 17, released a video saying his wife received a threatening Instagram message, and citing a 2024 bomb threat and Halloween graffiti at their home, The Canadian Press reported through CTV News.","2026-09-25","2026-09-25T15:15:00-07:00",[164,165,166],"Mayor 2026","ABC Vancouver","Harassment","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctvnews.ca\u002Fresizer\u002Fv2\u002FIHYV4DCQFRR3PC4YJ52NQ45O3Q.jpg?auth=0d6aba714dbe18de75f8ac929ce909c0bacb43f09bebf575b4e87252c68e3e90&width=1600",{"path":169,"title":170,"description":171,"date":161,"publishedAt":172,"author":22,"category":90,"tags":173,"image":176,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fqueer-town-hall-mount-pleasant-september-25","Six Vancouver 2026 candidates take questions at Mount Pleasant queer town hall","Six candidates in the October 17 Vancouver election took questions on housing, AI, the arts and safety at a queer town hall at The Birdhouse in Mount Pleasant, The Tyee reported.","2026-09-25T15:05:00-07:00",[164,174,18,175],"City Council 2026","Forum","https:\u002F\u002Fthetyee.ca\u002FNews\u002F2026\u002F09\u002F24\u002FTakeBackYourCityPanel.jpg",{"path":178,"title":179,"description":180,"date":161,"publishedAt":181,"author":22,"category":90,"tags":182,"image":186,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fvancouver-candidates-online-harassment-september-25","Three Vancouver candidates describe online harassment targeting their race, religion and gender","Kareem Allam, Andy Lin and Iona Bonamis (陶思穎) spoke to The Tyee about hateful comments they have received on social media during the 2026 Vancouver municipal election campaign.","2026-09-25T17:44:00-07:00",[164,174,183,184,185,166],"Vancouver Liberals","Bright Future Vancouver","OneCity","https:\u002F\u002Fthetyee.ca\u002FNews\u002F2026\u002F09\u002F23\u002FCandidateHarassmentCollage.jpg",{"path":188,"title":189,"description":190,"date":161,"publishedAt":191,"author":22,"category":90,"tags":192,"image":194,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fvancouver-liberals-economic-agenda-september-25","Vancouver Liberals release five-point economic agenda for the city","Kareem Allam's Vancouver Liberals released a five-point 'Vancouver Economic Agenda' proposing UBC SkyTrain, demolition of the Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts, absorbing UBC and the University Endowment Lands, adopting the B.C. Building Code, and merging 12 permit departments, Daily Hive reported.","2026-09-25T15:25:00-07:00",[164,183,193],"Platform","https:\u002F\u002Fimages-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F06\u002Fkareem-allam-f.jpg",{"path":196,"title":197,"description":198,"date":161,"publishedAt":181,"author":22,"category":90,"tags":199,"image":203,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fvancouver-parties-platform-comparison-september-25","Five Vancouver parties' campaign platforms compared on housing, safety and the economy","Daily Hive examined the published platforms of ABC Vancouver, Vote Vancouver, Vancouver Liberals, Green Party of Vancouver and TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, covering housing, public safety and economic promises.",[164,165,200,183,201,11,202,193],"Vote Vancouver","Green Party of Vancouver","Housing","https:\u002F\u002Fimages-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fabc-vancouver.jpg?format=auto",{"path":205,"title":206,"description":207,"date":208,"publishedAt":209,"author":22,"category":210,"tags":211,"image":212,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fpete-fry-hedy-fry-related","Is Pete Fry related to Hedy Fry? He is her eldest son","Pete Fry, the Green Party candidate for mayor of Vancouver, is the eldest son of Hedy Fry, the Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre. What each one does, why they sit in different parties, and what the family link does and does not mean for the October 17 ballot.","2026-09-24","2026-09-24T07:00:00-07:00","Election analysis",[164,201],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fpete-fry-hedy-fry-related.webp",{"path":214,"title":215,"description":216,"date":217,"publishedAt":218,"author":22,"category":210,"tags":219,"image":222,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fvote-splitting-2026-vancouver-mayor","Why 8 mayoral candidates could split Vancouver's progressive vote","How an April agreement among three parties, two September withdrawals and a mid-September poll changed the shape of Vancouver's mayoral race, and what it means for how you mark a ballot with 8 names on it.","2026-09-23","2026-09-23T07:00:00-07:00",[164,201,220,221],"OneCity Vancouver","COPE","\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fvote-splitting-2026-vancouver-mayor.webp",{"path":224,"title":225,"description":226,"date":227,"publishedAt":228,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":230,"image":232,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fscott-gilbert-mayoral-candidate-profile","Scott Gilbert: the Downtown Eastside campaigner running to “end the nonsense”","A sourced profile of the independent mayoral candidate: what he says about his engineering studies and research work, his decade in the Downtown Eastside, his bus, his proposals, and what has not been checked.","2026-09-18","2026-09-18T07:00:00-07:00","Candidate profiles",[164,231],"Independent candidates","\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fscott-gilbert-profile-2026.webp",{"path":234,"title":235,"description":236,"date":237,"publishedAt":238,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":239,"image":240,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fkareem-allam-mayoral-candidate-profile","Kareem Allam: the strategist who elected Ken Sim and now runs against him","A sourced profile of the Vancouver Liberals’ founder: his Richmond upbringing, 40 campaigns, three months as the mayor’s chief of staff, the defamation suit Sim filed against him, his lobbying work, and his 2026 promises.","2026-09-17","2026-09-17T07:00:00-07:00",[164,183],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fkareem-allam-profile-2026.webp",{"path":242,"title":243,"description":244,"date":245,"publishedAt":246,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":247,"image":248,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Famauri-caliman-mayoral-candidate-profile","Amauri Caliman: the independent who wants City Hall to publish its own scorecard","A sourced profile of the independent mayoral candidate: what reporting says about him, what he has submitted himself, his housing and accountability proposals, and how much remains unverified.","2026-09-16","2026-09-16T07:00:00-07:00",[164,231],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Famauri-caliman-profile-2026.webp",{"path":250,"title":251,"description":252,"date":253,"publishedAt":254,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":255,"image":256,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fken-sim-mayoral-candidate-profile","Ken Sim: the record of a first term, promise by promise and finding by finding","A sourced profile of the incumbent: his Vancouver childhood and business career, the 2018 loss and 2022 win, what happened to the 2022 promises, two integrity investigations, two defamation lawsuits, and ABC’s 2026 platform.","2026-09-15","2026-09-15T07:00:00-07:00",[164,165],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fken-sim-profile-2026.webp",{"path":258,"title":259,"description":260,"date":261,"publishedAt":262,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":263,"image":264,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fmuhammad-ahmad-mayoral-candidate-profile","Muhammad Ahmad: a first-time candidate with a new party and a rent-to-own plan","A sourced profile of Bright Future Vancouver’s mayoral candidate: his Lahore upbringing, his campaign-stated career, the party registered in January 2026, the Blueprint platform, and the questions a community group has raised.","2026-09-14","2026-09-14T07:00:00-07:00",[164,184],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fmuhammad-ahmad-profile-2026.webp",{"path":266,"title":267,"description":268,"date":269,"publishedAt":270,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":271,"image":272,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Frebecca-bligh-mayoral-candidate-profile","Rebecca Bligh: two parties, one expulsion, and a run for mayor","A sourced profile of Vote Vancouver’s founder: her New Zealand childhood, her consulting career, why she left the NPA, why ABC removed her, her national role at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and her 2026 promises.","2026-09-13","2026-09-13T07:00:00-07:00",[164,200],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Frebecca-bligh-profile-2026.webp",{"path":274,"title":275,"description":276,"date":277,"publishedAt":278,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":279,"image":280,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fpete-fry-mayoral-candidate-profile","Pete Fry: from Strathcona print shop to the progressive candidate for mayor","A sourced profile of the Green Party’s mayoral candidate: his family and design career, three losing campaigns before two wins, eight years in opposition, the criticism of his record, and what he promises.","2026-09-12","2026-09-12T07:00:00-07:00",[164,201],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fpete-fry-profile-2026.webp",{"path":282,"title":283,"description":284,"date":285,"publishedAt":286,"author":22,"category":229,"tags":287,"image":288,"updated":130,"linkedinPostUrl":130},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcolleen-hardwick-mayoral-candidate-profile","Colleen Hardwick: the councillor who said no, and what she promises now","A sourced profile of TEAM’s mayoral candidate: her family’s civic history, her film and technology careers, four years on Council, 250 abstentions, two election defeats, and her 2026 platform.","2026-09-11","2026-09-11T07:00:00-07:00",[164,11],"\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fcolleen-hardwick-profile-2026.webp",1790394400866]