Between The Bridges – February 6

February 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month, and some students at False Creek Elementary will be celebrating with an interactive presentation by Black History Matters. 

Led by experienced Black artist educators, the presentation includes music, images, and stories aimed at teaching students about the different contributions of Black Canadians and of Black Excellence throughout history.

On Thursday, February 12,  City Council will consider a proposed increase in the size of the Olympic Village Elementary School, projected to begin construction in 2027 and open its doors to students in 2029.

That Council discussion will be one in a long series of efforts to build a school in Olympic Village. (One such attempt was made by Brenda Bailey, now BC’s Minister of Finance, who first ran for public office in 2020 with the specific goal of securing a new school in the area). 

Subsequently, some Olympic Village residents campaigned unsuccessfully against the planned location for the school on the western edge of that community, and a school on that site became part of the official community plan in 2010.

That would have settled the issue, but School Board planners are now proposing an increase in size—from three to four storeys —and the addition of a rooftop playground to preserve some field space at ground level for community use. That proposal makes a public hearing necessary.

If Council approves, student capacity will increase to accommodate students from nearby neighbourhoods, including False Creek South, where our own elementary school is often over capacity.

ED NOTE: A letter in support of the school from Graham McGarva, FRAIC, False Creek South resident and lead consultant on the Southeast False Creek Plan, is reprinted here in the following article. Others can send letters online to: https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-council-public-hearing.aspx (choose CD-1 (454) Text Amendment: 215 West 1st Avenue)

It is gratifying that the Olympic Village school is finally progressing, and at a scale that is fully merited in terms of both building function and urban design. The proposed added capacity that is being added in the increased height of the building, is a solid value add for the Public.

My opinion comes from direct experience as the Lead Consultant responsible for the Southeast False Creek Master Plan, adopted in 2005, which included both this elementary school and the community centre. 

Having previously been the lead Consultant for the International Village CD-1 Zoning, and co-Consultant for the Roundhouse neighbourhood zoning, both of which included school and community facilities, I have become painfully aware of the arcane and protracted process to secure school funding and thereby delivery of such an essential element for community building that a school is.

Elsie Roy Elementary has been fuller than bursting since its opening with 350 students, and Crosstown Elementary was built for over 450 students. With over 600 students, this new school is merely reaching the capacity that False Creek’s other schools should, with hindsight, have had from the outset.

The siting approved 20 years ago is straightforward and smart. The added height is modest, and with the amenity of the surrounding area, this facility will complement the existing dwellings that surround it, especially with the future expansion of Hinge Park to the west. While there may be petty-minded self-interest in opposition, there is no credible argument against the public benefit of this rezoning.

False Creek South is fortunate to sit alongside a dynamic and ecologically significant marine environment, and our community has long taken an interest in the health of these waters. 

Since September, the Neighbourhood Association’s Sustainability and Resilience Committee has been working with a group of UBC Environmental Science students completing their capstone course (ENVR 400). These students are investigating the feasibility of establishing a vertical oyster garden as a nature-based approach to improving water quality in False Creek. 

Oysters are highly effective filter feeders: by pumping large volumes of water across their gills, they remove suspended particles, algae, and plankton and can play an important role in mitigating nutrient enrichment and reducing concentrations of microbial contaminants, including E. coli.

Fieldwork is centred at the Spruce Harbour Marina, where the team is monitoring such key parameters as temperature, pH, and salinity while conducting surveys of local marine organisms. Their first round of sampling, completed in January, provided early observations of a diverse assemblage of species, including blue mussels, barnacles, and algae.

Last Sunday, I met the students on-site to observe their water testing procedures, hear more about their initial findings, and witness the rigour and enthusiasm they bring to this community-based research. I would also like to express sincere appreciation to Spruce Harbour Marina Co-op members Greg Sivucha and Margo Elfert, who have been instrumental in supporting this work. 

Further sampling in early February will deepen our understanding of how tidal mixing influences water quality within the creek. If results are promising, we hope this work eventually evolves into a community-supported oyster garden installation in False Creek South as early as this summer –  a tangible, living example of ecological stewardship right at our shoreline.

If you are interested in learning more, getting involved, or joining an upcoming meeting with the students, please contact me at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.

Yael Stav is chair of the FCS Neighbourhood Association’s Sustainability and Resilience Committee

As outlined in the RePlan Update (above), 2026 is a critical year for the neighbourhood. Let’s tackle it together by getting to know one another a little more and by creating new or deeper connections. Share what YOU love most about False Creek South—in 100 words, plus a photo—for publication in Between The Bridges. 

Perhaps it’s your favourite spot, what brought you here, what you enjoy about living here, are you new-ish or have you been here a while, or anything else you’d like to share. 

I’ll go first. 

My name is Robyn Chan. This neighbourhood is not only where I live; I also work here as RePlan’s project manager. I moved in eight years ago from the West End and currently reside at Alder Bay Co-op with my young family. My favourite spot in False Creek South is the little shared courtyard called Starboard Square, in between stratas, a co-op, and non-market rental, where my kids learned to scoot and ride their bikes.

Your turn: tell us about your connection to this neighbourhood. Email me at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required* with your story and photo!

On April 12, Nathan’s Book Club will celebrate two years since we first gathered to read Happy Cities by Charles Montgomery. We have now, as a group, read books about the history of Vancouver’s real estate development, feminist planning, messy cities, indigenous planning, and more. Our goal is to explore a wide breadth of ideas about cities, to question why certain planning decisions have been made, and to enjoy good conversations over delicious baked goods.

Our next book, Living Disability: Building Accessible Futures for Everybody, edited by Emily Macrae, features essays that demonstrate how disabled people are already creating more inclusive spaces in cities.

Nathan’s Book Club is a city planning book club and lending library for False Creek South residents. We meet every 2-3 months to discuss what good city planning and urban design mean to us, and how these ideas can shape and inform dialogue about the future of our community. 

If you’d like to join or read any of the books in our library, email Sarah at *email is hidden, JavaScript is required*.

SHE’S BAA-AACK!

To all those who agree that January was at least three months long because Convivial Café was closed The Whole Month and proprietor Beth Dempster was nowhere to be seen and you all lost hope and pulled your blankets over your heads, you can come out now.