Jericho Lands Policy Statement Articulates the Indigenous-Led Vision for Vancouver̓s Point Grey

The final draft Policy Statement will be presented to the Vancouver City Council in early 2024 to enable development to move forward over the next 10-20 years

I am excited about the vision for the future of Vancouver, which is centred around the Indigenous-led development of the lands known as the Jericho Lands. Located in Vancouver’s West Point Grey neighbourhood, this transformative project aims to address pressing housing needs while incorporating sustainable and community-centric elements.

I feel inspired to delve into high-level details and understand the potential impact of this initiative.

Housing for All

The heart of this visionary project lies in its commitment to providing housing solutions for Vancouverites. With an ambitious plan, the development aims to deliver:

• 2,600 units of social housing

• 1,300 below-market rental units

• 9,100 leasehold strata apartments

This totals 13,000 new units of housing that will serve families who want to stay in Vancouver or move to our city in the coming decades.

Beyond Housing – Building a Sustainable Community

This Indigenous-led development is not just about erecting buildings; it's a holistic approach to community building. Key features include:

• Embracing a car-lite and rapid transit-oriented design

• Introducing new amenities such as parks, libraries, community centers, and childcare spaces

• Enhancing and restoring ecological connections within the community

Transit-Oriented Development Expansion

The vision extends beyond the immediate development area. There's potential for the surrounding Jericho Lands to be included in the Transit-Oriented Development, aligning with the province's guidelines for Paris-like 8-storey developments around future Jericho & Alma Skytrain stations.

Economic Empowerment for Indigenous Nations

One of the most significant aspects of this project is its potential economic impact. Over a 10-20-year buildout timeline, the development could generate over $1 billion. This substantial revenue would empower the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations to invest in crucial community needs, including housing, schools, healthcare, elder care, education, and more.

Conclusion:

The draft Policy Statement, slated for consideration by the Vancouver City Council in early 2024, is crucial in turning this vision into reality. As supporters of this exciting opportunity, individuals are encouraged to read about the proposal and consider supporting the Policy Statement when presented to the Vancouver City Council. The Indigenous-led development addresses housing challenges and sets a precedent for sustainable, community-driven urban planning that can inspire positive change beyond Vancouver.

I hold my hands up to all the staff, advisors, community members, and partners who contributed to the creation of this Policy Statement. Your heartful and dedicated passion for this project has shown through the wonderfully and thoughtfully designed document.

Read more about the Jericho Lands Policy Statement available here.

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Here is the Forward written by the elected leaders of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh that expresses our collective feelings and vision for one part of our beautiful territory:

Jericho Lands Policy Statement

Forward

Jericho Beach has been intertwined with the lives of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples for thousands of generations. Its name, ʔəy̓alməxʷ (in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language spoken by the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh peoples) or Iy̓álmexw (in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language spoken by the Squamish people), translates to "a good land".

Our people remember this name and its connections to this stunning location and abundant resources, including fresh spring water, majestic red cedars for constructing homes, and wild game and seafood to sustain families. For generations, we held significant cultural, social, and economic events at ʔəy̓alməxʷ / Iy̓álmexw to mark important life events such as births, weddings, funerals, or the designation of new leadership roles.

In 2018, a partnership of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh governments and Canada Lands Company requested that the City of Vancouver prepare a Policy Statement for the redevelopment ofʔəỳalməxʷ/Iỳálmexw/the Jericho Lands, the most significant opportunity for city-building in Vancouver's history.

Canada Lands Company has been an ideal partner in particular because of its values around supporting federal efforts for Indigenous reconciliation, prioritizing affordable housing opportunities, and its commitment to sustainable development. This project is a transformative approach to Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments working together to address common challenges, such as a lack of housing and affordability.

Our vision for ʔəy ̓ alməxʷ/Iy ̓ álmexw/Jericho Lands shared in this Policy Statement encompasses a thoughtful blend of objectives: enhancing First Nations reconciliation, protecting the environment, providing housing for people with different income levels, offering parks and open spaces, and celebrating Indigenous heritage. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to generate wealth that can be safeguarded for future generations and invested into our communities to improve the quality of life for First Nations people.

We are committed to creating homes that are accessible to the broader community while reflecting our traditions and demonstrating respect for nature, which is part of everything we do. We will seize this opportunity to revitalize the spirit of the longhouse, welcoming people of all backgrounds to our ancestral lands.

Importantly, our site concept reflects what we have heard through a four-year engagement process with our community members, Elders and youth to determine what is important to them in the development of their lands. We have heard clearly that nature, water, sustainability and highlighting our Indigenous cultures and worldviews must be at the core of this new neighbourhood. Our Nations are united in our approach to securing economic benefits for our people through training, development, employment and contracting opportunities as well as in raising our hands in welcome to everyone who comes to visit or pass through ʔəy ̓ alməxʷ/Iy ̓ álmexw/the Jericho Lands.

Our site concept incorporates a mix of built-form elements, with a range of buildings that include both low-rise structures and high-rise towers. These tall buildings will not only serve as landmarks, but also reflect the cultural distinctiveness of the area, accentuating the site's natural ridgeline. The development will be designed as a vehicle-light community, prioritizing public transit, walking, and cycling, demonstrating a firm commitment to climate action and reducing carbon emissions.

The site concept also includes creating new public amenities to benefit the community. These amenities include a community centre, childcare facilities, a school, cultural spaces, public parks, open spaces, and plazas.

This holistic approach ensures that the ʔəỳalməxʷ/Iỳálmexw/Jericho Lands development goes beyond housing, offering a vibrant and inclusive environment for residents and the public to thrive.

Through these lands, we will provide thousands of new homes, ranging from affordable housing to strata leasehold apartments, catering to various household needs. We are committed to providing below-market affordable housing, some of which could be used by Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh families—bringing our people home. We also welcome current and future residents of the region who need and want access to affordable rental and home ownership opportunities.

We look forward to this opportunity to highlight Vancouver as a city of reconciliation, sustainability, and inclusivity, and help the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh communities reclaim our heritage, revitalize our lands, and shape a future that reflects our values and aspirations.

- Chief Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Indian band

- Chairperson Khelsilem, Squamish Nation

- Chief Jen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation