Corrections Canada and the City Agree
to Mediation on New Facility

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and the City of Vancouver have agreed to appoint a
mediator to convene a community discussion on a proposed community reintegration centre/seniors residence in the downtown peninsula. The community discussion will help determine the most appropriate location and support provisions for such a facility.

An independent community mediator will be retained to guide the process. This person will be approved by both parties, with input from stakeholder groups.

The community discussion will begin as soon as a mediator is appointed, and is scheduled to last about 60 days. The mediator will meet with representatives of the City, CSC, Vancouver Police and community stakeholders before submitting a report.

The CSC applied for a development permit earlier this year to construct an eight-storey building at 1304-36 Seymour Street. The facility would include a 30-bed community reintegration centre for released federal offenders being supervised in the community, and a 50-unit market rental seniors’ residence to be owned and operated by a non-profit society.

Several public information meetings were held in the community and resulted in extensive comment and concerns being expressed about the project.

The CSC was scheduled to appear before the Development Permit Board on June 12 but has asked that its application for a development permit be put on hold.

The mediation process is expected to establish criteria for the location of the development, and to identify and address specific community concerns and how these can best be resolved.

The focus for consideration regarding the location of the project will be generally within the downtown peninsula, excluding the Downtown Eastside. The proposed location on Seymour Street remains a possible site for the facility.

Following mediated community discussion, the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Police Department and the Correctional Service of Canada will determine appropriate steps to advance the planning, approval and establishment of this facility in the downtown peninsula within a reasonable time frame.

                                Wayne Oster, Area Director, Vancouver Area Parole
                                Correctional Service of Canada
                                (604) 666-2087

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