VANCOUVER, B.C. — Green Party Councillor Pete Fry has introduced a motion calling on Vancouver City Council to protect the much-loved forest trail network in Champlain Heights, ensuring it remains a natural and community asset for generations to come.

Built in the late 1970s as a masterplanned, city-owned community, Champlain Heights is home to one of Vancouver’s most unique urban forests - a network of trails and greenways that weave through low-rise, mixed-tenure housing and provide critical ecological and social benefits.

“Champlain Heights is a living example of city planning that balances homes, nature, and community,” said Councillor Fry. “These forest trails are the green arteries of the neighbourhood - they clean the air, cool the streets, and connect residents to nature right outside their doors. Protecting them now ensures that as the neighbourhood evolves, its forest heart remains intact.”

The Champlain Heights trail network includes over a dozen named forested paths - from Birch and Fir to Red Alder and Black Cottonwood - maintained by the City’s Green Streets Program and the Vancouver Park Board. Stewardship by the local non-profit Free the Fern Stewardship Society has seen more than 1,500 volunteers remove over 230 cubic metres of invasive species, plant 3,500 native plants, and host over 100 community events.

Councillor Fry’s motion asks staff to explore formal park designation under the Vancouver Charter, or other mechanisms that would secure long-term protection for the trail network. The motion also calls for City engagement with Free the Fern and other community partners to continue resident-led stewardship efforts, and for formal recognition of Free the Fern’s contributions.

“This motion aligns with the Vancouver Plan’s commitment to livable, resilient neighbourhoods,” added Fry. “As we consider new housing opportunities, we must also preserve the ecological corridors and community spaces that make those homes worth living in.”

If adopted, City staff will report back with options for protecting the Champlain Heights forest trail system, balancing future redevelopment needs with environmental preservation and community well-being.

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