Overview

• Park Board Chair Laura Christensen ruled Commissioner Marie-Claire Howard’s emergency motion non-urgent and postponed debate until September 15, after the pool season ends.
• Mayor Ken Sim accused the board of “deliberate inaction” and pledged to explore all options to restore easy drop-in access before next summer.
• The COVID-era reservation system reserves roughly 20% of pool capacity for spontaneous visitors, allocating timed slots intended to boost daily turnover.
• Critics say the online-only booking deters non-tech-savvy users and creates gaps between sessions that cost up to two hours of pool time each day.
• The dispute has intensified calls for greater accountability and public engagement in how Vancouver’s park amenities are managed.