<div><strong>The Betrayal</strong> • In 2022, <strong>68% of Vancouver voters approved $103 million</strong> to renew the Vancouver Aquatic Centre's <strong>50-meter pool</strong>. The plebiscite was <strong>legally binding</strong> under section 245 of the Vancouver Charter. Instead, City and Park Board officials secretly developed a $170 million plan for a 25-meter pool with a lazy river - transforming a competitive fitness training facility into a waterpark while ignoring the democratic mandate and simultaneously weaponizing the plebiscite timeline.
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<div><strong>Who We Are</strong> • We are the three directors of <strong>PROTECTING OUR VANCOUVER AQUATIC CENTRE SOCIETY</strong> (S0083228): Jon Girard, Mayeli Alvarez and Jillian Maguire. We are a <strong>registered non-profit organization</strong> dedicated to defending voters' rights and democratic accountability regarding the Vancouver Aquatic Centre's <strong>voter-approved 50-meter pool facility</strong>.
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<div>Jon Girard, a 10-year VAC user with no swim club affiliations, founded our organization after discovering that the city was not honouring what voters actually approved. Over the past months, we have researched the legal framework, compiled evidence, and built a comprehensive case to restore the facility voters supported.
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<div>You can read our comprehensive guide at 50m.ca/plebiscite-timeline-study or by clicking <a href="https://50m.ca/plebiscite-timeline-study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> .
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<div><strong>The Legal Strategy</strong> • After researching Vancouver's top municipal law firms, we've selected <strong>Bojm, Funt &amp; Gibbons</strong>, a highly regarded litigation boutique specializing in commercial litigation and judicial review. This is the same firm representing the Stanley Park Preservation Society in their ongoing case against the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and City of Vancouver—a case that shares several similarities with ours.
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<div>We've presented our evidence to them and received both an encouraging initial assessment and a proposed litigation strategy for judicial review in BC Supreme Court. We are initially seeking <strong>$15,000</strong> to cover the retainer fee which will formalize our engagement and officially begin the case development process.
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<div><strong>The Financial Reality</strong>
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<li><strong>Initial retainer:</strong> $15,000 (immediate goal to begin legal proceedings)
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<li><strong>Full case estimate:</strong> $45,000-$55,000 (preliminary range based on initial consultation; subject to change) **
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<li><strong>Timeline:</strong> Up to several months to develop a petition to the court
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<div><strong>** Our fundraising goal will be updated as we move through each phase of the legal process and receive refined cost estimates from our legal team</strong>
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<div><strong>Why This Matters</strong> • This isn't just about a pool - it's about whether taxpayers can trust their votes to mean something. Section 245 of the Vancouver Charter makes borrowing plebiscites legally binding. If officials can ignore a clear democratic mandate and spend 65% more money for 50% less facility, what's next? Over 15,000 people have signed petitions demanding the promised 50m pool, yet city council approved the downsized plan anyway.
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<div><strong>Your Impact</strong> • Every dollar brings us closer to restoring democratic accountability and getting the 50-meter facility <strong>you voted for</strong>. We’ll provide regular updates here and <a href="https://50m.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on our website</a> (50m.ca).
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<div><strong>Vancouver voted for a 50m pool. Let's make sure Vancouver gets one.</strong>
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