Updated: Sept 2010

2009

June 5
The naval mast at Lowden's Lookout at Prospect Point was dedicated in a special ceremony led by Prince Edward. The event was part of the beginning of the Canadian Navy's 100th anniversary celebrations.

March 23
The Stanley Park Forest Management Plan was presented in a staff report to the Park Board. The document  [9.7 Mb] was created under the Park Restoration Plan's 'supporting legacies'. UBC Faculty of Forestry served as consultant to the management plan team. The plan, which focuses on Stanley Park as an ecosystem, is intended to guide the current and future activities that are consistent with the overall vision for the forest. Major elements of the report are related to public safety, forest protection, ecosystem enhancement and management strategies.

January 19
The Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society continues to work towards a program the Hollow Tree's stabilization. In a report to the Board, staff recommended the acceptance of a design  [1.3Mb] by Cascade Engineering Group. It was approved by the Park Board to realign and permanently stabilize the Hollow Tree in Stanley Park. The Board encouraged the Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society to complete their fundraising for the project.

2008

December 23
All areas of the park are now open!

The new section of Park Drive which is part of the Prospect Point Realignment Project is now open.

Drivers are urged to use caution as road work continues in July and August 2008 and to park in the new parking lot adjacent to the realigned section of road. Roadway parking is also available. Watch for signs. New stalls along the new section of Park Drive are designated only for "hop on/hop off" buses such as the Stanley Park Free Shuttle. Tour buses will continue to use the same section of roadway east of the washrooms for parking.

The old section of Park Drive near the viewpoint is currently being removed. During this phase of the project, pedestrians will still be able to access the terraced viewpoint via a walkway that runs in front of the Prospect Point Café and Gift Shop. The full service restaurant, concessions and gift shop are also open for business.

December 18
Seawall structural improvements have now been completed. The granite Seawall face has been reconstructed, the pathway surface has been repaved and new drainage added and curbing replaced, where needed. Several days of work on the escarpment were also carried out over the last month to address the problem of mudslides onto the Seawall.

The Prospect Point Realignment is completed, except for the Signal Station platform at the viewpoint which will be completed by Spring 2009.

A special ceremony to unveil a monument in recognition of the Stanley Park Restoration donors was held on December 15. The event marks the second anniversary of the devastating windstorm that struck the park in 2006 and provided an opportunity to thank the community for its support for the successful completion of the Restoration Project.

Prospect Point, the site of the monument, took the brunt of the devastating windstorm. Comprised of eight monolithic basalt rocks quarried near Squamish, the monument evokes the geological make-up of the Point itself. The same basalt rock has also been incorporated into the massive planters within the redeveloped, surrounding landscape.

Hollow Tree Update: At the end of October the Park Board received an information report on the Hollow Tree and encouraged the Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society to continue fundraising, to prepare the required structural engineering report (with seal of certification) on the entire project including methodology for straightening the Hollow Tree, and plans and specifications for the structure required to maintain the tree in a safe, vertical position with discrete internal supports. In December the Conservation Committee submitted a final report which will be reviewed by staff and presented to the Board for consideration in the new year.

September 25
A series of colourful, illustrated Legacy Interpretive Panels have been installed around the park, featuring some of the important stories of the park's history, ecology and geology. A self-guided brochure is available at the Information Booth in the park and a printable version can be downloaded here.

The development of a long-term Forest Management Plan for the park is underway and will be presented to the Board in late November. Revenues from the sale of logs that were removed from the park will be applied to the enhanced forest management program for the park.

Options for saving the Hollow Tree are still being considered by a special subcommittee of the Vancouver Heritage Committee. They want to find the means to retain the Hollow Tree upright, with its appearance substantially unchanged, as a lasting heritage landmark in Vancouver. Currently, they are reviewing the option of straightening the tree to a more vertical position, building a metal cage inside and bolting it to the tree to hold it together.

All the trails throughout the park have been repaired and resurfaced where required. The new fencing on Siwash Trail is complete and the old gun turret look-out has reopened. New picnic benches have been added at the south outlook.

Tree replanting has been completed - approximately 16,000 new trees were planted. These were predominantly cedar and fir (14,000) with maple, alder, dogwood and pine making up the remainder. New trees were started from select seed stock chosen specifically for the park. The first hand brushing of new plantings was completed on September 1. A recent survey indicates a 90% survival of new plantings. Several major volunteer initiatives by SPES were carried out over summer to remove invasive plant species. Fall initiatives are required to curtail new blackberry growth.

The Seawall project is on schedule and expected to be over by the end of November. The regrouting, recapping, void-filling and new masonry work to repair storm damage is well underway. Some scaling on escarpment runoff areas will occur in October. The Seawall should remain open except for short closures to move heavy machinery.

Road and parking lot relocation work at Prospect Point is now complete. Landscape work is about one-third complete and masonry work is underway. New fencing for the area is also underway.

Two Year Anniversary of the Storm: Plans to mark the second anniversary of the storm are underway. A special event is scheduled for December 15.

July 18
The Park Board approved the Seawall construction contract award on July 7 at its regular meeting. The $1,063,005 contract was awarded to Matcon Excavation and Shoring. The construction will begin next week for a duration of 16 weeks with one lane open at all times except for short closures to allow movement of large equipment. The public should watch for signs at each end of the Seawall gates warning of slow traffic and possible congestion during the construction.

The new road and 2/3 of the parking lot are now open at Prospect Point. Some finishing road work will be done over the next few weeks. Landscaping work will begin soon on the site of the former road.

The Park Board has asked the special commission established to explore preservation of the Hollow Tree to provide information so that an engineering firm can be retained to conduct a feasibility study and implement its recommendations. The commission has 90 days to come up with a design and additional 60 days to secure funding.

The Interpretive Signage Program that will provide information about the history, geology and ecology around the park is underway. The panels will be completed and installed by mid-September at various locations around the park.

Invasive plant removal continues as part of the restoration project. Knotweed is being removed and sent out for incineration.

March 20
The Park Board has reached a milestone in the Restoration Plan. The forestry portion of the Plan is virtually complete. Removal of fallen logs is finished except for a small area near the Causeway. The windfirming operation is also now complete except for a few hangers along Siwash Trail. The log sort site will be emptied and closed at the end of March. There is no wood left for commercial sale. The remaining "log shorts" will be collected and sold to local artists in the Service Yard parking lot. Tree replanting is 60% complete and will be finished by the end of March. Understory planting is beng carried out in the escarpment area.

Staff have safety concerns about leaving the Hollow Tree in its current condition. Its stability has been compromised by the windstorms of the past couple of years. Engineering consultants David Nairne and Associates advised that external bracing is the only feasible option, but it will conflict with the natural aesthetics of the tree. The recommendation is to preserve the tree if possible by cutting it in half and laying it down on the ground nearby, providing an opportunity for visitors to still enjoy this park icon. The root base will be left and filled with soil, and a new cedar will be planted. Another idea being considered is to provide an interpretive opportunity by erecting a couple of signs with collages of historical photographs.

Major work on all trails is underway. Siwash Trail will open as soon as the fencing is complete and the user safety is ensured (expected in 2-3 weeks). Culverts are replaced, serious slumps are repaired and crushed rock and fine crushed rock are being laid on trail surfaces. The work on Cathedral Trail will start as soon as Siwash Trail is opened.

The Prospect Point Road Realignment will begin soon. The donor recognition monument will be located near the Point and will include the installation of 3 basalt columns between 5-8 feet among several other natural rocks with donor names on bronze plaques.

Staff are in the process of hiring a consultant to determine the extent of repairs required for the Seawall surface and understructure. No decisions can be made at this time regarding details of planned Seawall closures. However, Seawall closures may have to extend into the month of September depending on the variable conditions of the operation. Most detour signs from last summer have been left with the expectation that repair work will require closures of the Seawall this summer.

The first stage of the Legacy Program will involve the installation of interpretive signage around the park that will inform the public about the ecology of the park as well as the First Nations and European settlement history in the park. These will be completed in time for an exhibition celebrating the 120th anniversary of Stanley Park that is opening in mid-September, 2008 at the Vancouver Museum. The exhibition is being co-sponsored by the Park Board and the Museum.

February 26
The forest recovery operation is nearing completion. What remains are the trail repair and low level brush removal. A couple of truck loads of logs still remain to be taken out of the park (12,000 cubic meters of wood have been removed in total). UBC Faculty of Forestry has agreed to work with the Park Board on the long-term forest management plan. Trail repair will finish by the end of April. Fencing along the new Siwash Trail will be complete by middle of April. The boardwalks for Cathedral Trail will be designed to allow universal access. Nine new culverts were installed along the trails, resurfacing of most damaged trails is in progress, installation of fencing at the gun emplacement will begin next week, and the lower sections of the escarpment will be planted with vegetation.

Tree replanting is scheduled between March 1 and April 7. Donor replanting events will be scheduled for weekends. Brinkman and Associates will start replanting in other areas on March 12 according to the prescriptions.

January 18
An important milestone was reached this week with the completion of log recovery on the west side of the park. The log loaders were moved today to the east side of the park to begin clean up work in the Pipeline Road area and the blowdown area behind the Service Yard. Tree planting is slated for late February and March. The bids for the contracts for the Prospect Point Road Realignment project should be ready by the end of February, with the expectation that construction could begin by the end of March. There was a very minor mud slide on the sandstone cliffs above the Seawall near Prospect Point earlier this week. This did not require a closure of the Seawall. The scalers were brought back to remove loosened materials on the cliffs and 25 metres of concrete barriers will be installed soon at the foot of the cliff to deflect any further falling debris away the surface of the Seawall. Staff are also preparing a request for proposal for the remainder of the remedial work on the Seawall. Staff reviewed the possibility of opening the trail and determined that it is not feasible to open it up prior to building a boardwalk because of the extensive clean up work that is required. The opening will be delayed to Spring.

Programs, sites, target audiences and program delivery methods for the Legacies and Interpretation portion of the Restoration Plan should be finalized soon. A timeline for their implementation will be completed by the end of January. Staff received a final report on the archeology of the park from the contractor. This report represents the most comprehensive information about the archaeology of the park to-date.

January 11
- Blowdown areas
Clean up work is continuing in the blowdown area north of Third Beach and near the Aquarium. Drainage work is also continuing near Siwash Rock. Staff are preparing the terms of reference for the remaining restoration work on the Seawall, with the goal of developing work scheduling options that will minimize Seawall closures as much as possible. Upgrades continue on Siwash Trail. It is expected that the trail can be reopened in May, after safety fencing has been installed.

- Hollow Tree
Short-term solutions for protecting the landmark are still in process. Welding staff are preparing a bracing mechanism that will help stabilize the tree while more long-term solutions can be explored.

2007

December 15
Saturday, December 15 was the one year anniversary of the massive windstorm that devastated the park. The day was marked by a tree planting ceremony to recognize major donors to the restoration: the Federal Government, Provincial Government and City of Vancouver who each gifted $2 million, and civic leader Jim Pattison who contributed $1 million towards recovery. At the event near Prospect Point, one of the hardest hit areas, the dignitaries acknowledged the significant progress made to date to clean up and restore the beloved park, and thanked the more than 6,000 other donors who came together to pledge a total of $9.5 million in just a few months following the storm.

December 6
The Seawall was closed this week for several days because of a mudslide caused by snow and heavy rains. Some remedial work on the cliffs was carried out before the Seawall reopened on Thursday, December 6. The Hollow Tree has become a concern over the last few weeks. It is gradually losing its upright stature and is now leaning toward the parking lot. Staff noticed after last year's storm that the Hollow Tree had moved slightly. A further shifting off of its axis has been noted. Staff have since retained the services of an engineering firm to assess the possibility of stabilizing the tree. This week forestry staff cabled the Hollow Tree to a nearby healthy hemlock to alleviate some of the stress on it. Further short-term securing methods are being considered while the engineer provides long-term options to preserve this important Vancouver landmark. The Hollow Tree parking lot is currently closed as a safety precaution.

Crews are finishing up work in the area between Third Beach and Lost Lagoon and will be moving next week to the Pipeline Road blowdown area. They will be leaving the blowdown area west of the Stanley Park Works Yard until January to avoid interference with the Bright Nights event. All processing of woody debris west of Park Drive has been completed. The large tub grinder, Hogzilla, will be brought back next year, once the Pipeline Road blowdown area is cleared and the woody debris is consolidated with debris that has been stockpiled from the Causeway area clean up.

Test holes were dug in the project area to assess bearing conditions for the new road surface and to check for archaeological remains in the area. No archaeological materials were found.

December 1
A progress report  [2Mb] was sent to all donors who contributed to the restoration of Stanley Park. The purpose of the report was to be accountable to donors and to provide a detailed summary of the work done so far to protect and restore the park. The document also formed part of a more detailed report required by the three levels of governments who helped to fund the project.

November 30
To mark the one year anniversary of the storm, the Park Board invited major donors to participate in a number of guided tours that showcased the progress made over the past year towards restoring the park. The guided tours focused on the cleanup work in the major blowdown area near Prospect Point and the initiatives undertaken to protect wildlife habitat and the ecology of the forest.

November 22
The December 2006 windstorm blew down a large swath of trees near the Prospect Point Café which created new opportunities for improvements to the area. One of these is the relocation of Park Drive and parking lot away from the Prospect Point lookout, one of the busiest, most popular areas of the park. The new clearing is wide enough to relocate the road and parking. Plans for the realignment of Park Drive at Prospect Point are now underway. The Park Board contracted a landscape firm to develop three options for the redesign of the site. Staff have put out a call for public feedback on the three design options.

The public is asked to visit the Restoration Feedback Page of the web site to learn more about the project and review the three design options to share their comments.

November 19
The first phase of reforestation in Stanley Park began today with the planting of 3,000 young trees in the Prospect Point blowdown area. The trees are part of a "partnered" donation by two local companies, PRT Inc. and Brinkman and Associates. The seedlings were grown since last winter by PRT, Canada's largest forest nursery company, and were planted by Brinkman and Associates, a company that is a leader in resource management and ecosystem restoration. The trees are part of a total donation of 16,000 trees by PRT and Brinkman for the restoration of the park. The remainder of the trees will be planted early next year.

November 16
After being closed for 11 months, the section of Seawall between Third Beach and Lions Gate Bridge was reopened to the public by the Park Board on Friday, November 16. This is a temporary opening. Remedial work on the understructure, curbing and surface of the Seawall will be finished in the spring, when low daytime tides will allow for better work access to the Seawall.

November 9
The date for the temporary reopening of the Seawall between Third Beach and Prospect Point has been set for Friday, November 16 at 11 am. This week the initial sweeping and flushing by City Engineering was done and the initial preparation of surfaces for asphalt work was completed. Final asphalt work should be done by next Wednesday. City Engineering will be back next Thursday and Friday for final sweeping and flushing. Next Tuesday the fern planting on the escarpment at Prospect Point will be completed. Work on Siwash Trail continues with the addition of new culverts and drainage systems. Crews have finished the cleanup in the blowdown area near the Totem Poles at Brockton Point and are now working in the blowdown area near the Aquarium. Processing of fine woody debris by the tub grinder stationed at Prospect Point picnic grounds is about half complete. The debris removed from the Seawall cleanup currently occupies about one-third of the Third Beach Parking Lot, as it awaits removal.

Staff held a meeting with the Restoration's Stakeholders' group on Friday with the Landscape Architects and the Engineers who are developing design proposals for the area. Four design options were reviewed. Staff, Engineers and Landscape Architects will review the 4 designs next Tuesday with the Restoration Steering Committee. The design proposals and a questionnaire will be placed on the Restoration pages of the web site next week for public input.

November 1
Cliff scaling work is wrapping up this week. The contractor is also completing debris cleanup following the scaling, including cleaning out catch basins and draninage courses. Asphalt work will begin next week, weather permitting. Most of the 500 ferns have been planted on the cliffs above the Seawall to stabilize the soil and reduce runoff. Removal of fallen trees and fine woody debris continues in the Brockton Point area, east of the Aquarium and north of Lost Lagoon. Tub grinding of fine woody debris will continue through least next week.

October 26
The work required to reopen the Seawall is nearing completion. Rock bolting and hand scaling work on the cliffs at Prospect Point are on schedule. Next week, if weather permits, asphalt patching on the Seawall surface will be done, followed by installation of temporary curbing and barriers, where needed. The forestry work at Prospect Point, which included brushing and log removal, has been completed and the area is now ready for planting of 3,000 trees early next month. The tub grinder, which required repairs, will be back in operation next week to process the 3-storey-high pile of woody debris that was removed from these blowdown areas. The Hollow Tree, which suffered some damage from last winter's windstorm, is reported to be in need of remedial work to protect it from further degradation. Staff are exploring long-term options to protect this important park attraction.

As part of the Restoration Plan's principle of "creating supporting legacies," a sub-committee of the Staff Restoration Team has been struck to enhance and augment historical, cultural and forest education and interpretation in the park and a second sub-committee has been struck to meet weekly to identify and map utility lines and other infrastructure in the park.

October 19
About 80% of hand scaling work on the sandstone sections above the Seawall has been completed and work on the basalt zone of the Prospect Point cliffs will be commencing shortly. Rock bolting in two areas of the escarpment will also begin soon. Removal of debris brought down onto the Seawall from hand scaling work is also underway. Subject to the completion of the rock bolting work and favourable weather conditions, work on the temporary asphalt patching, curbing and barriers on the Seawall will follow, which should allow for the reopening of the Seawall to the public during the first week of November. (In the Spring, further long-term improvements to the Seawall are planned.)

Following the Board's approval of a report, presented at the October 15th Board Meeting for a plan to honour the contribution of donors to the Stanley Park Restoration project, staff will now begin developing, over the next two months, a stewardship report for all of the 6,450 donors, a restoration site tour for the $10,000+ donors, and a tree planting ceremony for the $1 million+ donors. This week Stanley Park Supervisor, Eric Meagher, who was the invited guest speaker at the AGM of the Stanley Park Ecology Society, presented an overview and update of the park's Restoration Plan.

October 12
Today marks the 45th anniversary of Typhoon Frieda, which swept through the park on October 12, 1962 with winds of 129 miles per hour knocking down over 3,000 trees.

One of Stanley Park's most famous landmarks, the "National Geographic" tree located on Third Beach Trail near the Hollow Tree, fell down last weekend.

The tree is estimated to be between 800 and 1,000 years old. It was 14 meters (45 feet) in circumference and, at the time it fell, 40 meters (130 feet) in height. Over the years it had been struck by lightning and ravaged by many storms. In the mid 1990s an enormous limb of the tree came down. Although the tree had been in decline for many years, apparently it had not sustained any noticeable damage in the big windstorm that hit the park last December.

The Western Red Cedar gained widespread recognition when it was featured in the October 1978 edition of the National Geographic magazine.

This week, progress towards reopening the section of Seawall damaged by last December's storm is being made with the initiation of several contracts. hand scaling contract work on the escarpment above the Seawall began Thursday, October 11th and is expected to be completed in about three weeks. Asphalt contract work for surface repairs to the Seawall is slated to begin on October 22nd. Ground cover planting on the escarpment above the Seawall begins next week. Work on the new Siwash Trail has slowed due to heavy rains and reduced accessibility.

October 5
The contract for hand scaling the slopes above the seawall has been let and work is expected to start Thursday. The contract for planting approximately 500 ferns has been let; leaf mulch will be spread at 5 or 6 sites along with the ferns to help stabilize the soil. Cutting and decking of trees from the Lost Lagoon area continues; some have been moved already to the log sort site on Glen Drive. The permanent realignment of Siwash Trail is complete - the trail is being pulled back from the escarpment to reduce concentration of runoff water. Ballasting (covering with coarse rocks) is presently being carried out on the trail to provide a better base for continuing repair work; the final trail will be built next Spring.

September 28
This week marks the 119th anniversary of the opening of Stanley Park. On September 27, 1888, Mayor David Oppenheimer offically opened the park, declaring it a place where Vancouver's inhabitants could "spend some time amid the beauties of nature away from the busy haunts of men". A monument to Oppenheimer, Mayor of the city from 1888 to 1891, stands at the Beach Avenue entrance to the park on English Bay, just outside the Park Board offices.

September 21
The damaged area of the Seawall is now clear of all trees. The contract for the hand scaling project will be awarded next week. Planting of the ferns recently removed from other areas of the park will begin in about two weeks on the slopes. Foresters are now active in the zone north of Lost Lagoon, bucking up fallen trees. At the end of next week, a large grinder will be brought in to grind up the 'mountains' of fine woody debris.

September 17
A progress report on the Stanley Park Restoration Project went to the Park Board for information. This is the first formal reporting against the restoration plan as approved in April. The report with appendices (see September 17, 2007 Board Agenda) summarizes the following activities over the last six months:

* public access
* environment for workers
* forest fire risks
* insect infestation risks
* environmentally sensitive areas, species at risk and archaecological resources
* presecriptions to guide work in blowdown areas
* log sorting and disposition
* tree planting
* Prospect Point slope stabilization
* Park Drive realignment
* project costs to end of August
* Geographic Information System (GIS)
* public information and engagement
* fundraising

The Board also approved the sale of low value Stanley Park timber, the provision of timber to Park Board projects, and the provision of timber to Olympic related facilities.

September 14
Stanley Park Ecology Society organized a volunteer "sword fern transplant" with about 30 participants. After being dug up from areas of the park where they are abundant, the hardy plants will be stored in pots, then replanted at a later date on the cliff edges. The dark green fronds of the ferns will serve to stabilize the soil by dispersing rainwater.

Crews have cleared approximately 50% of the closed section of the Seawall. Hand scaling will start soon - this difficult work will help to stabilize the slopes. The Prospect Point parking lot has been filled with small 'mountains' of debris from the area between Park Drive and the escarpment. Large amounts of debris from the Seawall (branches, logs and root balls) have been stacked up on the north end of Pipeline Road, in the temporarily closed section.

September 7
Forestry operations is now underway in the Lost Lagoon zone, with downed timber being bucked up (cut into smaller pieces). Late next week, removal of this wood from the park will begin in logging trucks. Biologists are working in the area prior to log removal, marking off 'machine free' zones to protect the Pacific Water Shrew, a small semi-aquatic animal. Falling of trees in the Prospect Point zone is virtually finished. The adjacent Siwash Trail realignment is about 1/3 complete.

August 31
Three members of the Steering Committee were reconvened to meet with the geotech consultant and provide advice on the report on Long-Term Slope Stabilizaton for the Stanley Park Seawall, prepared by Wyllie & Norrish Rock Engineers and EBA Engineering. The report includes an inventory and hazard assessment of the seawall pathway, adjacent slopes and features, and remediation measures.

On the Seawall, work continues to pull trees off the embankments and cut those that overhang the slopes. All trails (with the exception of Merilees, Siwash and Cathedral) are open to the public.

Two ospreys (large birds of prey recognizable by their white caps and unmarked white underparts) are using the eagle's nest at Prospect Point as a base for hunting. Felling is complete in the Prospect Point zone. About 90% of the log removal has occurred and fine woody debris is actively being removed in trucks from that area.

August 25
The media were being invited to tour the seawall, slope stabilization and Prospect Point work areas and get a restoration update.

August 24
About 40% of the timber recovery and removal of hazard trees has been completed. Forty loads of chips and 60 loads of debris have been removed from the park; 170 truck loads of logs carrying a total of 2,500 pieces have been taken out to the sort site on Glen Drive. Tree thinning continues to help reduce future blowdowns.

Work on test areas started a week ago on the slopes above the Seawall north of Siwash Rock; this work will inform an engineering report which will propose a long-term (20 year) solution. Slope damage has been assessed along four levels of danger/risk. Damaged trees are being cut down and removed; the overhanging slope is being pulled back and regraded with excavators. The latest estimate on completing repairs and reopening the Seawall to the public is late October (best case scenario) or by year end (worst case). Debris and hanging tree clean-up have begun at the Bridge end. The Seawall's masonry face will likely be fixed at a later date (requires low tides).

The relocation of Park Drive and parking lot away from Prospect Point has begun with the clearing of the major blowdown area in front of the restaurant. This part of the project will improve drainage (less hard surface), visitor safety (pedestrians will no longer have to cross the road to get to the Point) and aesthetics (removal of asphalt from an important visitor destination) - in keeping with one of the Restoration Plan's guiding principles: to minimize the impacts of roads and trails. When the new road and related parking are built, the existing portion of Park Drive and parking lot would be converted to planting and pathways.

Replanting of some of the 16,000 trees donated by industry will begin in November on the slopes; planting of the balance of the donated trees throughout the park will be carried out likely in February. Later in the year, a planting event to involve the public and donors will be organized.

August 2
Temporary closure (until mid-August) of a 1 km section of Rawlings Trail between the Hollow Tree and Prospect Point Picnic Ground to allow for active forestry operations including log trucks and tree felling work.

July 16
An important milestone - log removal from the park to a dry land log sorting station begins.

July 5
Finning (Canada) and Caterpillar donate use of log loaders to assist in Stanley Park recovery operations.

June 25
Board approves consultants for forest clean-up and regeneration prescriptions; for fire preparedness plan for the 2007 fire season; and for biological monitoring during recovery operations.

June 25
Board awards contract for recovery operations in forest. Activities to include modification and removal of danger trees, removal of an appropriate amount of fallen trees and removal of fine woody debris.

June 22
Trails reopened for public use: Ravine, North Creek, Wren, Tatlow and Lees. Brockton Point, Cathedral, Merilees and Siwash Trails, all in major blowdown areas, remain closed.

June 18
Merilees Trail temporarily reinforced with gravel to allow for upcoming heavy equipment carrying out recovery work.

May 31
Fine woody debris removal begins from along Park Drive from Prospect Point to Third Beach.

May 30
The Stanley Park Ecology Society, Community Arts Council of Vancouver and the Park Board announced the Stanley Park Environmental Art Project, a project that will see artists, ecologists and community members creating works from the very forest itself.

May 28
Building of temporary road begins to provide access to blowdown areas near Prospect Point.

May 14
Board approves hiring Vern Gait of Gait Enterprises Ltd. as on-site supervisor for the restoration project.

May 1
Byran Peterson Ltd. retained to begin carrying out windfirming work - the selective thinning and crown reduction work on trees on new forest edges vulnerable to future storms.

April 23
This week a biologist was retained to begin investigating the possibility of the presence of endangered or at risk species in the blowdown areas near Prospect Point and a forestry professional began monitoring for opportunistic, invasive insects that might pose a risk to the park's forest.

April 19
Two-way traffic on Seawall announced - in effect as of April 21st.

April 16
Restoration Plan approved at a special meeting of the Park Board.

April 12
Experts from UBC and SFU host public forum to explain the science behind the Restoration Plan. 115 people attend.

April 11
Provincial Government presents $2 Million cheque to Mayor Sullivan and Park Board Chair Ian Robertson for Stanley Park Restoration.

April 10
Park Board holds media conference to introduce the draft Restoration Plan for Stanley Park.

April 10
Draft Restoration Plan unveiled for public viewing.

March 30
Staff complete reopening of most Stanley Park trails.

February 16
Most forest trails east of the Causeway are reopened to the public.

February 9
One hundred year old Catalpa tree downed by the windstorm is moved to a grassy area near the Georgia Street park entrance as a symbol of the storm's devastation.

January 18
Federal Environment Minister John Baird, along with Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn, present a cheque for $2 million to Mayor Sam Sullivan and Park Board Chair Ian Robertson. It is reported that 5,000 donors have contributed more than $2.7 million so far to the park's restoration.

January 15
A staff report is presented to the Park Board regarding the Stanley Park Restoration Plan.

January 11
Road access restored to east side of park. West side of Park Drive remains closed. Trails and forested areas remain closed throughout the park.

January 9
Park closed due to sudden windstorm that sweeps through the park in the late afternoon. Police and staff erect barricades, closing the park at all entrances. A pedestrian is injured by a falling tree.

HSBC donates $300,000 to support Stanley Park Restoration.

January 8-12
Global TV hosts a Telethon to raise funds for Stanley Park Restoration. Local businessman Jimmy Pattison declares he will match all telethon donations up to $1 million. More than $2.5 million is raised.

Mayor Sam Sullivan and Park Board Chair Ian Robertson take Federal Environment Minister John Baird on a tour of the storm damage in the park.

January 5
Windstorm knocks down trees on west side of Park Drive, closing that section of the road until the following day.

January 4
Staff complete the reopening of the last few park roadways that had remained closed. These included North Lgoon Drive, the southbound entrance to the park from the Causeway and the Brockton Point cut-off.

2006

December 30
A news conference is held at the Park Board Offices to update the public on the progress to restore access to the park.

Staff complete the reopening of Park Drive west of Pipeline Road, restoring public and business access throughout most of the park.

Park Board Chair Ian Robertson reports that the "emergency response phase" is completed and the restoration establishment of the Stanley Park Restoration Team to develop principles and process for the restoration of the park.

December 22
Most facilities in the park are reopened, but the west side of the park remains closed.

Park Board Chair Ian Robertson takes Mayor Sam Sullivan on a tour of the storm affected areas. Park Board crews work to open the west side of Park Drive to vehicular access. Staff begin developing a logistics plan to clean-up the park. The public seeks opportunities to donate toward the clean-up and the Stanley Park Fund is set-up to receive donations.

December 18
Vehicular traffic is restored to the east side of the park. Some facilities reopen, including the Bright Nights event. The west side of park remains closed.

December 16
Staff remove downed trees from the Causeway that runs through the park, reinstating access by afternoon rush hour. The park remains closed.

December 15
In the early morning hours a storm carrying gale-force winds, some reaching as high as 154 km/hr hits Stanley Park, knocking down trees and power lines throughout the park and causing extensive damage to forested areas and sections of the Seawall. The park is closed to the public.

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