Granville Island 2040 Plan Will Set Out Future for Vancouver's Iconic Neighbourhood

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 6, 2016) - A "Granville Island 2040" plan to articulate the future of Granville Island for the next 25 years will be developed over the next few months by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) with guidance from Vancouver community leaders. The Plan will set out development plans for the Emily Carr University buildings, potential revitalization of the popular Public Market, and the advancement of the arts and cultural industry on the island. Dr Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, announced the process for Granville Island 2040 today on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for CMHC.

Dr. Michael Stevenson, President Emeritus and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University, will lead the project on behalf of CMHC. A member advisory board including representatives from Granville Island and the Granville Island Trust will be formed to help guide the process and decisions of this plan. The plan will also examine the best governance structure for the continued long-term success of Granville Island.

"The future of Granville Island is extremely important to Vancouver, to British Columbia and to Canada. The Government of Canada is pleased to have local leadership from Dr. Stevenson on this project. The Granville Island 2040 Plan will ensure the continued success and sustainability of the Island as a year-round cultural, recreational, and educational centre," said Minister Duclos.

It has been forty years since Granville Island was redeveloped from a derelict brownfield to a popular urban park and cultural hub for Vancouver. CMHC is the federal crown corporation responsible for managing Granville Island.

"Granville Island is the jewel in Vancouver's Crown and it is recognized internationally as a model for creating vibrant spaces in cities," said Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre. "The people of Vancouver want to see a transformative vision for Granville Island. "The future viability of Granville Island must be maintained for it to continue as our local hub for art, culture, foods and artisans."

"Granville Island is an iconic location, one that serves as a hub for Vancouver's creative economy. The City is pleased to be supporting the work that the Federal Government is doing to create a renewed vision for Granville Island, one that protects what makes it special while reinvigorating it for the future," said Mayor Gregor Robertson

"Granville Island enjoys a world-renowned reputation as the epitome of successful mixed use development. Its future success is of great significance to the citizens of Vancouver as well as to our many visitors," noted Dr. Stevenson.

There will be community consultation from the beginning of the Plan's development through to its final draft. Requests for Proposals to prepare a Land Use Vision & Strategy, and a long-term renewed Vision for Arts & Culture, both of which will include public consultation, will be issued on May 9th.

It is anticipated that the Plan will be completed by the end of 2016.

Granville Island is Vancouver's premier artistic and cultural hub, located in an urban, waterfront location and steeped in a rich industrial and maritime heritage. A unique public space that attracts millions of visitors each year from Vancouver and around the world, the charm of Granville Island lies in its unexpected mix of uses, including its famous Public Market. The Island is home to 280 businesses employing about 3,000 people.

Prior to his decade of service as President of Simon Fraser University, Dr. Stevenson served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and as Vice-President Academic and Provost at York University. He has served as Chair of the University Presidents' Council of British Columbia, the Standing Committee on Educational Issues and Funding of the Association of Colleges and Universities of Canada, the British Columbia Council for International Education, and the Council of Western Canadian University Presidents. Additionally, he has served on the Boards of the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS), GenomeBC, the Vancouver Board of Trade, the BC Business Council, EBound Canada and Academics Without Borders. Active in the arts and cultural communities, he has also been a member of the Boards of the Vancouver Opera, the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, the PuSh International Festival for the Performing Arts and the Advisory Council of the Vancouver Indian Summer Festival.