First Nations land claims block 50-metre pool at Vancouver Aquatic Centre, Park Board chair says
The province will not allow the Vancouver Aquatic Centre footprint to expand because First Nations land claims on the foreshore land have not been settled, Park Board chair Tom Digby said October 14.
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A BC Court of Appeal injunction paused demolition work at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre on October 13, holding things until at least November 3. But a deeper obstacle to rebuilding a 50-metre pool may be harder to clear than a court date.
Park Board chair Tom Digby told Global News BC on October 14 that the province has refused to let the aquatic centre expand its footprint. The province owns the foreshore land beside the site, Digby said, and refuses to allow expansion because land claims from the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation have not been settled on that property.
A 50-metre competition pool requires a larger building than a 25-metre one. Modern safety and competition rules need more deck space, equipment, and spectator areas, and the current site cannot fit those requirements without building onto the adjacent foreshore property.
Three Nations, one unresolved question
The Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation hold unsettled land claims on the foreshore beside the aquatic centre. The three Nations work together on land matters through the MST Development Corporation.
Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow told Global News the province had proposed a $1 lease of the land to the City of Vancouver without sitting down with the Nations first. "If they lease it for a dollar, what's our accommodation, 3 cents?" Sparrow said. "I keep stressing that the Crown has a duty to consult and accommodate us."
No meeting between the province and MST Development Corporation has taken place, Global News reported.
Sparrow said the Nations are willing to talk. "We are always open to conversations; it's Crown land and whatever the government decides they want to do about it, they have to come and talk to us."
Where this leaves candidates
The 50-metre pool has been a promise from several candidates in the Park Board race this election. Ken Sim, seeking re-election as mayor, has also promised to deliver a 50-metre pool. The provincial land restriction means any such commitment depends on a deal that has not been started.
The court injunction runs until November 3, one day after the first scheduled Park Board meeting for the newly elected commissioners. Demolition work is paused until then. Whatever the new Park Board decides about the aquatic centre, the foreshore land question remains with the province and the MST Nations.
Voters choosing Park Board commissioners on October 17 can compare where the candidates stand on this question. You can read Tom Digby's profile at voche.me and compare all Park Board candidates.
Questions this story answers
Why can't Vancouver build a 50-metre pool at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre?
Park Board chair Tom Digby told Global News on October 14 that a 50-metre pool requires expanding the building's footprint to meet modern safety and competition rules. The province owns the foreshore land next to the site and has refused to allow any expansion because land claims from the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation have not been settled on that property. No expansion can happen without a provincial agreement, and no such agreement is in place.
What did Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow say about the Vancouver Aquatic Centre land?
Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band told Global News on October 14 that the province had proposed a $1 lease of the land to the City of Vancouver without consulting the Nation first. He said the Crown has a duty to consult and accommodate the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations before making decisions about that land. He said the Nations are open to conversations but have not yet been invited to one. No meeting between the province and MST Development Corporation has taken place.
Who owns the land next to the Vancouver Aquatic Centre?
The province of British Columbia owns the foreshore land beside the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. The Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation have unsettled land claims on that foreshore property, which is why the province has declined to allow any expansion of the facility's footprint. The three Nations work together through the MST Development Corporation on land matters in Vancouver.
What is the court injunction about the Vancouver Aquatic Centre?
A BC Court of Appeal injunction, granted on October 13, paused demolition work at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre until at least November 3, 2026. November 3 is one day after the first scheduled meeting of the newly elected Park Board. The injunction gives the incoming Park Board an opportunity to review the demolition plan before work resumes.
Who is Tom Digby and what is his role?
Tom Digby is the current chair of the Vancouver Park Board and a candidate in the October 17 Park Board election. He gave the statement about provincial land restrictions to Global News on October 14. The Park Board oversees the city's parks and recreation facilities, including the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. You can read his full candidate profile at voche.me.
Why does a 50-metre pool need a bigger building than a 25-metre pool?
Modern safety and competition rules require more deck space, equipment rooms, and spectator areas around a 50-metre pool than around a 25-metre pool. The Vancouver Aquatic Centre's current site does not have enough room to fit a 50-metre pool within its existing footprint while meeting those standards. The facility would need to expand onto the adjacent foreshore land, which the province owns and which is subject to unsettled First Nations land claims.
What is the MST Development Corporation?
The MST Development Corporation is a partnership of the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation that manages land and development interests for the three Nations in the Vancouver area. Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam spoke to Global News about the aquatic centre land on October 14 on behalf of the MST Nations.
What can voters do with this information before October 17?
Voters choosing Park Board commissioners on October 17 can compare where the candidates stand on the aquatic centre and the 50-metre pool question. The 50-metre pool rebuild has been a central issue in the Park Board race. You can read the profile of Park Board candidate Tom Digby at voche.me/candidates/tom-digby and compare all Park Board candidates on the races page.
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