Late last week the Society filed an application in the British Columbia Court of Appeal for an urgent interim injunction pausing demolition work at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre until November 3, 2026. That is the date the newly elected Park Board first sits.
What we are asking for
Not a ruling on the merits. Not a new pool. A short postponement.
Vancouver elects a new Park Board on October 17. It meets for the first time on November 3. Whatever that board decides to do with this facility — renovate it, reopen it, or carry on as planned — it can only make that decision about a building that is still standing.
We are asking the Court for five weeks so that the people of Vancouver, through the board they elect, get the last word.
As a reminder, we (Jon Girard & Mayeli Alvarez) are running in this election. Through our actions the past year we have shown our commitment to the aquatics community. If you are unsure of who to vote for, we recommend the following as excellent choices:
- Jon Girard
- Mayeli Alvarez
- Wah Gee
- Allan Fawley
- Alex Tkach
- Michael Robert Caditz
- Brynja Marshall
- Cam Rothery
- Niknaz Alemi
You can elect up to 7 individuals for Park Board, and any combination of the above would be fine choices, supported by their actions in the community, not merely words.
The work started October 1st
The City has told the Vancouver Sun what begins this month:
On-site mobilization is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026. Initial activities between October 1 and October 31, 2026, will focus on interior demolition and related site preparation, with subsequent phases of demolition to follow.
Read that carefully. Interior demolition. Not paperwork. Not fencing.
Pictured: Interior photos we received from an anonymous supporter of the facility at the end of last week which has been closed since June 28th, 2026.
Every fixture removed and every system stripped out is something that must be rebuilt before the doors could open again. Each day of that work makes every option that depends on the building — renovating it, or reopening it in the meantime — slower and more expensive. The longer it runs, the less there is left for the next board to decide.
Through counsel, the Society has asked the City to take reasonable steps to preserve the Aquatic Centre's integrity until the Court has determined our application. We could not secure a hearing date before October 9.
On costs
Because the petition was dismissed, the City is entitled to seek its legal costs against the Society. It intends to.
We will say plainly what we think of that. In the Society's view, pursuing a volunteer non-profit for asking a court to review a decision about a public pool is entirely consistent with how this file has been handled from the start: by a City that treats the taxpayers who built this facility, and the voters who authorized its renewal, as an obstacle rather than its owners.
We are not going to stop because of it. But we cannot carry it alone.
→ Fund the appeal
100% goes to legal costs.
- Halt the demolition until the new Park Board can decide.
- Open the record on the 25-metre decision.
- Respect the vote — the 2022 plebiscite authorized borrowing for a 50-metre pool renewal.
Last Updated: October 5th, 2026
With thanks,
Jon Girard
Managing Director, PROTECTING OUR VANCOUVER AQUATIC CENTRE SOCIETY
PROTECTING OUR VANCOUVER AQUATIC CENTRE SOCIETY (S0083228) is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to democratic accountability and voter rights. The appeal (Court of Appeal File No. CA51872) arises from the judicial review (Case No. S-263492) brought pursuant to the Judicial Review Procedure Act.
