Vancouver Greens on seismic upgrades, school heat and smoke, and AI chatbots
The Green Party of Vancouver would keep seismic safety at the top of school building priorities, citing 43 of 106 VSB buildings still at high risk, prepare every school for extreme heat and wildfire smoke, and request a pause on AI chatbots in schools for a full review.
SCHOOL BOARD · PAGES 61 TO 63
Safe, Healthy and Climate Resilient Schools: what the Platform 2026 says
The Green Party of Vancouver's plan for school buildings puts earthquake safety first. The party says 43 of the Vancouver School Board's 106 buildings are still at high seismic risk and puts the cost at an estimated $1.63 billion. It would keep seismic work at the top of the board's capital priorities, the list of large building projects, and ask the Province to approve and fund the projects still waiting. The Greens also name two crowded schools to put first in capital planning: King George Secondary, which the party says is at 166% of capacity, and Carr Elementary, which it says is over capacity and uses portables.
The second section prepares schools for a hotter climate. The Greens would plan for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding and power outages, seek provincial money for heat pumps and better ventilation during renewals, and send limited retrofit money first to the schools most at risk from heat. They would map which key schools have shade and use that list to decide where to plant trees. With the Park Board, they would try Miyawaki pilots, a way of planting forest that the platform says speeds up forest growth.
The third section covers student safety. The party would request a pause on AI chatbots in schools while students, parents and educators are consulted and policies are reviewed, including ethics and effects on thinking. It would review the Supporting and Connecting Youth (SACY) prevention program and evaluate any police or school liaison partnership using evidence and community input. The board ranks its own building needs and sets school policy, and the platform itself says seismic projects need provincial approval and funding.
THE PARTY'S NUMBERS
Figures in this chapter
VSB buildings the party says remain seismically high-risk
The party's figure, page 61Total VSB buildings the party counts in its seismic figure
The party's figure, page 61Estimated cost the party gives for the seismically high-risk VSB buildings
The party's figure, page 61Capacity the party says King George Secondary is at
The party's figure, page 6121 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Keep seismic safety at the top of capital priorities
The Greens would keep seismic safety at the top of Vancouver's school capital priorities, the list of large building projects. The party says 43 of 106 VSB buildings remain seismically high-risk, at an estimated $1.63 billion.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board sets its own list of building priorities.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Seek provincial approval and funding for seismic projects
The party would ask the Province to approve and fund outstanding seismic projects.
- Who has the power
- Province The platform says these projects need provincial approval and funding, so the board can only ask.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Deliver accessibility improvements with renewals
The Greens would make sure accessibility improvements are delivered alongside major school renewals.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board plans its own renewal projects.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Prioritize preventive maintenance
The party would give priority to maintenance that stops small building problems from becoming costly failures.
- Who has the power
- School Board The Board of Education approves the district budget, so it can do this itself.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Report on the condition of school buildings
The Greens would improve long-term public reporting on the condition of school buildings.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board sets its own meeting rules, consultation and reporting, so it can do this itself.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Plan for growth, starting with King George and Carr
The party would match capital planning to expected neighbourhood growth and enrolment changes. It would put King George Secondary, which it says is at 166% capacity, and Carr Elementary, which it says is over capacity and using portables, first.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board sets its own capital plan, while the platform looks to the Province for the money.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Match neighbourhood growth with school space
The Greens would work with the City and the Province so that new neighbourhood growth comes with enough school space.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The City approves new housing and the platform looks to the Province for school building money, so the board can only work with both.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 61
Prepare schools for heat, smoke, floods and outages
The party would prepare schools for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, power outages and other risks.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Reduce energy use and emissions
The Greens would reduce energy use and emissions from VSB buildings where technically and financially feasible.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board runs its own buildings, within the money it has.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Add natural areas and shade to school grounds
The party would add natural areas, water retention, shade and biodiversity to school-ground planning.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board plans its own school grounds.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Consider climate risk in capital decisions
The Greens would weigh climate risk in long-term capital and maintenance decisions.
- Who has the power
- School Board The Board of Education approves the district budget, so it can do this itself.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Seek provincial funding for heat pumps and ventilation
The party would pursue dedicated provincial capital funding for climate adaptation and energy-efficiency upgrades, including heat pumps and ventilation during building renewals.
- Who has the power
- Province The platform asks the Province for this money, so the board can only request it.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Retrofit the most vulnerable schools first
The Greens would give limited retrofit money first to the most vulnerable schools, including those most at risk from extreme heat that need cooling and better air quality.
- Who has the power
- School Board The Board of Education approves the district budget, so it can do this itself.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Shade inventory, tree planting and Miyawaki pilots
The party would create a shade inventory for key schools and use it to decide where to plant trees first. It would develop Miyawaki pilots with the Park Board, which the platform says would speed up forest growth.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board controls its school grounds, and the Miyawaki pilots need the Park Board as a partner.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Ensure emergency planning with partners
The Greens would make sure enough emergency planning is in place by the City of Vancouver, health authorities, nearby community facilities and other partners.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The City and health authorities make their own emergency plans, so the board can only work with them.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 62
Request a pause on AI chatbots
The party would request a pause on the use of AI chatbots in schools so students, parents and educators can be properly consulted. It would carry out a full review of policy and procedures, including ethics and effects on thinking and learning (the PDF says 'cognitive impacts').
- Who has the power
- School Board The board sets policy for its own schools, including which tools they use.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 63
Strengthen prevention and early intervention
The Greens would strengthen evidence-based prevention and early-help programs so that students feel safe asking for help before problems grow.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 63
Support programs on substance use
The party would support and evaluate programs that address substance use and other risks young people face.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 63
Strengthen the SACY program
The Greens would review ways to strengthen the Supporting and Connecting Youth (SACY) program and similar prevention work.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 63
Safety procedures that respect diverse communities
The party would maintain clear safety approaches and emergency procedures and make sure they respect the needs and experiences of students from diverse communities.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board runs Vancouver public schools and sets its own policies, so it can act on this alone.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 63
Evaluate school liaison and police partnerships
The Greens would evaluate the role and structure of any school liaison or police partnership based on student safety, evidence, community input and the Board's educational mandate.
- Who has the power
- School Board The board sets policy for its own schools, including outside partnerships.
- Source
- Platform 2026, page 63
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about safe, healthy and climate resilient schools
How many Vancouver school buildings are at high seismic risk, according to the Green Party of Vancouver?
The Green Party of Vancouver says 43 of 106 VSB buildings remain at high seismic risk and puts the estimated cost at $1.63 billion. The party would keep seismic safety at the top of capital priorities and ask the Province to approve and fund outstanding projects (platform, page 61).
Does the Green Party of Vancouver want to stop AI chatbots in schools?
The Green Party of Vancouver would request a pause on AI chatbots in schools. The Greens say the pause would allow consultation with students, parents and educators and a full review of policy and procedures, including ethics and effects on learning (platform, page 63).
What would the Vancouver Greens do about overcrowding at King George Secondary?
The Greens would put King George Secondary first in capital planning, saying it is at 166% capacity, along with Carr Elementary, which the party says is over capacity and using portables. They would work with the City and Province so new neighbourhood growth comes with enough school space (platform, page 61).
How would the Green Party of Vancouver protect students from extreme heat and wildfire smoke?
The Green Party of Vancouver would prepare every school for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding and power outages, seek provincial money for heat pumps and ventilation during renewals, and give limited retrofit money first to the schools most at risk from heat (platform, page 62).
Where do the Vancouver Greens stand on police liaison officers in schools?
The Greens would evaluate the role and structure of any school liaison or police partnership based on student safety, evidence, community input and the Board's educational mandate. The platform commits to that evaluation and names those four tests (platform, page 63).
Who pays for seismic upgrades to Vancouver schools under the Green plan?
The Green Party of Vancouver says outstanding seismic projects need provincial approval and funding, and it would ask the Province for both. The board's part is to keep seismic safety at the top of its capital priorities (platform, page 61).
What are the Greens' Miyawaki forest pilots for Vancouver schools?
The Green Party of Vancouver would develop Miyawaki pilots with the Park Board, which the platform says would speed up forest growth. The party would also create a shade inventory for key schools and use it to decide where to plant trees (platform, page 62).
ON THE BALLOT
The Green Party of Vancouver candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- Platform 2026, Green Party of Vancouver (72-page PDF, last updated September 29, 2026) SAYS SO ITSELFGreen Party of Vancouver · pages 61 to 63 · published · checked