Vancouver Park Board candidates set out plans for aging pools and community centres
Seven seats are on the ballot October 17. Parties differ on how much to spend and how fast to build, with a $438-million borrowing question also on the ballot.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on thetyee.ca.
Vancouver's Park Board election on October 17 centres on years of deferred spending. The Tyee reported on October 8, 2026 that 72% of the city's 27 community centres are rated at the two lowest grades on the city's condition scale, and the average facility is 46 years old.
Former park board chair Aaron Jasper told The Tyee: "the chronic, historic challenges when it comes to the park board being able to deliver on its mandate has been a lack of funding."
The ballot includes more than just the seven commissioner seats. Voters will also face two borrowing questions: one asking whether the city can take on $438 million in debt for community-serving facilities, and another for $60 million for parks infrastructure. A third question asks whether the city should create bylaws banning open-air hard drug use in public spaces.
The pool question
The Vancouver Aquatic Centre was permanently closed in summer 2025 after a ceiling section fell. City council approved $103 million in 2022 for a replacement. Every major party running for Park Board has promised a 50-metre pool as part of that replacement.
ABC Vancouver, whose incumbents include Jas Virdi, commits $400 million over four years for five community centre redevelopments: Kensington, Kerrisdale, Hastings, Roundhouse, and Dunbar. The party also promises new pools at Sunset and Marpole centres, free swimming lessons for children ages 3 to 12, doubled dog parks, and free parking at community centres and select beaches.
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver commits $738 million and promises a 50-metre pool and a Sunset pool, and says it would end the practice of deferring maintenance on existing facilities.
The Vancouver Liberals commit $1.35 billion for renewed and new community centres, pools, and rinks across the city.
Green Party and COPE
Tom Digby of the Green Party of Vancouver, a current commissioner, is seeking re-election. The Green Party says the 50-metre pool should go at Hastings or Kensington community centre, following the priorities in the city's 2022 Community Centre Strategy. The party also promises subsidized swimming lessons and renewal of multiple existing pools.
COPE's platform commits to following the 2022 Community Centre Strategy and to providing enough funding for all pools, including hiring enough lifeguards.
Encampments and parks access
Parties differ on how to handle encampments in parks. The Vancouver Liberals say they would require housing or service offers before any removal. COPE commits to following the National Protocol for Homeless Encampments before removals. ABC's platform focuses on what it calls needle-free parks and enforcement.
Voting on October 17
Voters choosing Park Board commissioners on October 17 are also deciding two borrowing questions that could fund the first wave of community centre renewals. You can read about every Park Board candidate and find your voting place at /where-to-vote.
Questions this story answers
When is the Vancouver Park Board election?
Voters choose seven park board commissioners on October 17, 2026. Advance voting is available on October 7, 10, and 13. The ballot also includes plebiscite questions on borrowing $438 million for community-serving facilities and $60 million for parks infrastructure. You can find voting locations and hours at /where-to-vote.
How many seats are up in the Park Board election?
Seven seats on the Vancouver Park Board are elected on October 17, 2026. All seven seats are voted on at once, by all Vancouver voters, with no ward boundaries dividing the city. Multiple parties are running full slates of seven candidates, while several candidates are running as independents under the Vancouver Independent Parks Party or as unaffiliated independents.
What is the $438-million question on the ballot?
Voters will see a borrowing question asking whether the city can take on $438 million in debt to build and renew community-serving facilities, such as community centres. A separate question asks about $60 million for parks infrastructure. These are plebiscite questions, which means the city council uses the result to guide its decision, but the vote is not legally binding.
Why is the aquatic centre a central issue in the Park Board race?
The Vancouver Aquatic Centre was permanently closed in summer 2025 after a section of ceiling fell. City council approved $103 million in 2022 to replace it. Every major party running for Park Board has promised a 50-metre pool as part of the replacement, though parties differ on where to build it and how to pay.
How bad is the condition of Vancouver's community centres?
According to The Tyee's October 8, 2026 report, 72% of Vancouver's 27 community centres are rated at the two lowest condition grades on the city's scale. The average facility is 46 years old, and more than half were built before 1990. Former park board chair Aaron Jasper told The Tyee: 'the chronic, historic challenges when it comes to the park board being able to deliver on its mandate has been a lack of funding.'
What does ABC Vancouver promise for parks and pools?
ABC Vancouver's platform commits $400 million over four years to redevelop five community centres: Kensington, Kerrisdale, Hastings, Roundhouse, and Dunbar. The party also promises a 50-metre pool at the new aquatic centre, free swimming lessons for children ages 3 to 12, new pools at Sunset and Marpole centres, doubled dog parks, and free parking at community centres and select beaches.
What does TEAM for a Livable Vancouver promise for parks?
TEAM's platform commits $738 million for parks infrastructure and promises a 50-metre pool. The party also pledges to end the practice of deferring maintenance on existing facilities, and to build a pool at Sunset. TEAM says it would cancel the reservation system currently used for pool access.
What do the Vancouver Liberals promise for parks?
The Vancouver Liberals have committed $1.35 billion for renewed and new community centres, pools, and rinks. Their platform includes a 50-metre pool and lifeguards at all public beaches. The party also commits to housing or service offers before any removal of encampments in parks.
What does the Green Party of Vancouver promise for parks?
The Green Party supports following the 2022 Community Centre Strategy priorities, which name Hastings, Kensington, and Renfrew for renewal. The party wants the 50-metre pool built at Hastings or Kensington community centre, and promises subsidized swimming lessons and renewal of multiple existing pools.
What does COPE promise for parks?
COPE's platform commits to following the 2022 Community Centre Strategy and providing adequate funding for all pools, including hiring enough lifeguards. COPE also commits to following the National Protocol for Homeless Encampments before any removal of people from parks.
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