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  • January 2023 - Public Engagement Returns!

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    We want to hear from you about the future of the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area! There are lots of ways for you share your ideas, both in-person and online. See the activities below and find the ones that work for you:

    • Community Survey: Available through Shape Your City until February 28, 2023. (Paper copies of the survey will be available at all public events)
    • Open House: Join us for an open house session in collaboration with Still Moon Arts featuring 6 activity stations and a community vision quilt! Share your ideas about housing, transportation, the economy, arts and culture and tell us about the stories and places that are culturally important to you. Artists from Still Moon will be at each event to help you find your creative voice to talk about this diverse neighbourhood and staff will be there for one-on-one conversations and to answer any questions you have about the plan and the planning process. Join us at one of these sessions:
      • 5:30 – 8:30 pm Wednesday, February 1 at Renfrew Community Centre
      • 1:00 – 4:00 pm Saturday, February 4 at Vancouver Technical School
      • 5:30 – 8:30 pm Monday, February 6 at Thunderbird Community Centre
      • 6:00 – 8:00 pm Thursday, February 9 at Renfrew Public Library
    • Mobile Community Office: Come visit us at a community facility near you! We’ll be asking you to share more about the places and stories that are culturally important to you in the plan area and will have paper copies of the survey available and staff that can answer any of your questions. Look for the booth at community events and facilities through the month of February!

    We have a range of accessibility supports and translation / interpretation services available. If you require any of these supports please contact rupertrenfrewplan@vancouver.ca.


  • December 2022 – Phase 1 Public Engagement: What we heard

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    Still Creek and its salmon-bearing sections, the connections to rapid transit, and neighbourhood parks that feature great views of the mountains are some of the things residents feel make the planning area unique. This spring we asked residents to tell us about their neighbourhood, what makes it special and what needs to be improved. We heard about the need for new housing options, more small-scale, neighbourhood retail and new spaces for arts and culture. More than 600 residents and organizations participated in engagement activities this spring including:

    • Community Survey (~300 responses)
    • Neighbourhood Asset Mapping (where participants were given a map and asked to point out places important to them, or places they think need to be improved) (~100 participants)
    • Open Houses and Pop-Ups (170 participants)
    • Meetings and workshops with equity-denied populations (80 participants)
    • Stakeholder meetings and interviews (~50 participants)

    We also asked the community for input on ideas raised during the Vancouver Plan engagement, including housing, economy, and transportation and public space. Responses were generally supportive, and we’ll be looking at some elements the community felt were missing, like the location of new housing options, and how to balance housing needs with the need for employment space in the next phase of public engagement.

    For more details about our first phase of engagement in spring 2022 including detailed results of the survey, neighbourhood asset mapping and meetings and workshops see either the full public engagement report or the summary report.

    Thanks to all who provided their time, energy, input and ideas during our first round of engagement on the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan.

  • July 2022 - Vancouver Plan approved by City Council

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    On July 22, 2022, City Council approved the Vancouver Plan, which is a citywide land-use strategy that contains policies pertaining to transportation, community amenities, childcare, public spaces, food systems and more.

    The Vancouver Plan contains the first comprehensive ecological framework, making Vancouver more climate resilient by restoring ecosystems and protecting green space and tree canopies. It corresponds with Vancouver’s future transit network and works toward the City’s climate target of having 90% of people living within an easy walk or roll to their jobs and daily activities.

    The approved Vancouver Plan provides a way for the City to grow by allowing more housing options across all neighbourhoods, and builds towards complete neighbourhoods that will connect people to public spaces, shops, services, and transit.

    A video is available that provides an overview of the Plan. Full details on the Vancouver Plan can be found on the project webpage.

  • July 2022 - engagement review and technical studies

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    Thanks for your input on the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan. We appreciate the time you spent sharing your experience in the area.

    We received around 300 survey responses and 100 people provided comments through our online mapping tool. We also received many written comments during our open houses and other meetings. We are now reviewing the input you provided and will be sharing back a summary of what we heard by the end of summer.

    Over the summer and early fall we will also be working on a series of technical studies, including:

    • An archaeological assessment of the area to look at areas with archeological potential
    • An economic study to look at what types of new buildings (housing and businesses) would be possible to add to the area
    • An update to the Still Creek Rehabilitation and Enhancement Study and a study looking at how flood risk is changing as a result of climate change and development in the area
    • Studies and analysis related to where a new greenway could be located and where we have gaps in tree coverage
    • Looking at where local retail is provided, where there might be gaps, and where we might be able to add new retail


    We will use the results of these studies along with what we heard through engagement and the final Vancouver Plan to inform additional Early Directions (draft policies and recommendations for change in the area). We will be hosting additional public engagement in late 2022 on these additional draft policies and recommendations.

  • May 2022 - Get involved in the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan

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    The survey and mapping tool are now closed.

    We are just getting started and would like to learn more about you and your experiences in your neighbourhood. We have a few ways to get involved:

    • Use our online mapping tool to identify important places and areas that need improvement
    • Attend an online mapping workshop on May 19 or 28. Register here.
    • Fill out an online survey
    • Attend an in-person open house on:
      • Wednesday, May 18 at the Renfrew Community Centre from 4:30-7:30 pm
      • Tuesday, May 24 at the Thunderbird Community Centre from 5:00-8:00 pm

    The survey and online mapping tool were available until June 24.

    In late May and early June, we will be setting up additional meetings to provide focused opportunities for input from equity-denied communities. If you identify as a member of an equity-denied community or organization and wish to be involved in the area plan please contact us.

    Print copies of the mapping and survey questions are available on request. You can email us to request a printed copy.

  • Still Creek Update

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    Calling all nature lovers! Did you know that Still Creek is one of Vancouver’s few remaining open creeks? This creek does double duty in the watershed collecting rainfall from your neighborhood, managing flood risk, and providing habitat to birds, amphibians, fish, and other wildlife.

    Since 2002, The Still Creek Rehabilitation and Enhancement Study has been guiding projects within the Still Creek watershed. This 2002 study has become out-of-date and we are working on updating it. The new study will identify opportunities in the area using the best available science and management practices. Some study outcomes we are expecting include an updated creek daylighting plan and a list of projects in the Still Creek watershed that will help enhance and protect the creek.

    Once we have completed the study, we will provide an opportunity for community input. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, if you would like to get involved in a community group taking care of the Creek check out Still Moon Arts Society.


  • Neighbourhood Mapping Instructions

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    The following instructions are a guide to help you map the things you love or things you feel need improvement or are missing in your neighbourhood. Steps 1 through 5 help participants sign into Shape Your City, open and navigate the map. If you feel very familiar with the Shape Your City website and the mapping tool, you may wish to proceed to step 6 of the instructions to guide you through the addition of pins.

    We recommend that you use Google Chrome or Mozzilla Firefox to do the mapping. These browsers better support the mapping tool. We also recommend that you use a laptop or desktop for greater visibility and functionality if available.

    Steps to Successful Mapping:

    1. Sign in or Register to Shape Your City
      To participate in the Rupert Renfrew Neighbourhood Mapping activity you will need to Sign in to the Shape Your City website or Register if you have not done so already.

      Click on the Sign in / Register button on the upper right corner of the page next to the search bar. You can find detailed instructions on how to register.
    2. Accessing the Map


      Scroll down the Rupert Renfrew Station Area Plan Shape Your City website and click on the Map tab next to the Updates dialog box. Here you will find a description of the activity and a preview of the map.

      Click on the Go to Map button at the end of the description box to launch the map. The map will open in a new window on your screen.



    3. Navigating the Map

      The map will show the Rupert and Renfrew study area in blue as well as streets, parks, Still Creek and some additional destinations. If you are familiar with Google maps you may know how to navigate your way around already.

      To move around the map all you need to do is bring your cursor over the map image. Once the cursor icon shows a hand you may click down on your mouse. While maintaining the click down simply move your cursor left/right or up/down and the map will move along in the same direction.

      To zoom in and out of the map you have the following options:

      • At the bottom right corner of the screen you can click the + sign to zoom in and the – sign to zoom out; or
      • You can use the wheel on your mouse by rolling it forward to zoom in or backwards to zoom out.
      • If you are using a tablet or a smart phone, you can zoom in an out by pressing down on the screen with two fingers and moving them apart or together.


      • To find a location on the map you can click on the magnifying glass icon at the upper right corner of the map image. Once you click on the icon a search bar will open. You can find a location in two ways:

        • Type in an address; or
        • Type in the name of the location you which to find.

      • A list of locations will show on the screen based on your search. Click on the one you are looking for and the map will zoom in directly over it. Hint: ensure your selection is in Vancouver, some locations may have results in other cities.
    4. Accessing the Information Panel

      The information panel is located on the left side of the screen. This will show up when you open the map. It provides instructions for the activity as well as descriptions of the things you will be asked to map in the neighbourhood.

      • To access or hide the information panel simply click on the icon to the left of the screen.
      • To scroll and reveal more content in the information panel simply click on the up and down arrows or use the slide bar.
    5. Accessing the Pin Panel

      The pin panel is located on the left side of the screen below the information panel. This panel contains all of the pins you will be using to identify things in the neighbourhood.

      To access or hide the pin panel simply click on the + icon to the left of the screen.
      To scroll and reveal more pins simply click on the up and down arrows or use the slide bar.

    6. Adding Pins

      Each pin has been coloured and labeled differently to help you. If you are unclear on what things to identify for a particular pin remember that the information panel in the map also contains short descriptions or examples to guide you. Refer to step 4 of this instructions to access the information panel.


    		 Pin Descriptions
    Neighbourhood heart What do you feel is the ‘heart’ of your neighbourhood?
    Groceries Where do you typically get your groceries from?
    Restaurants, cafes, other food services Where are your favorite places to eat out, order take out, or get a drink?
    Other shops/stores What other stores and businesses do you visit on a regular basis?
    Parks, plazas, open spaces Are there outdoor spaces that you visit regularly?
    Arts and cultural spaces Are there significant arts and culture places that you visit regularly? These could be businesses, outdoor spaces, or other places
    Community services Are there important social or family services you depend on? such as childcare, community centres, wellnes centres, neighbourhood houses or other non-profit services?
    Walk / rolling / cycling Are there issues or opportunities you want us to know about while walking, rolling or cycling?
    Transit Are there issues or opportunities you want us to know about while accessing / taking transit?
    Driving / parking Are there issues or opportunities you want us to know about while driving or accessing parking?
    Unique / special What makes the neighbourhood special or unique?
    What's missing? Is there anything missing form the neighbourhood?
    Something you would love to have, but can’t access?


    For each pin you may identify places or experiences you enjoy in your neighbourhood, as well as things that are missing or could be improved. You can add as many pins as you want for each pin colour. For example, you may decide that your neighbourhood has two hearts and not just one!

    The Rupert and Renfrew study area (shown in blue) is the focus of the planning process. However, if you visit locations outside of the study area boundary more regularly feel free to identify them.

    To add a pin do the following:

    1. Zoom into the location you wish to identify on the map or find the location through the magnifying glass icon (Step 3).
    2. Access the pin panel and select the appropriate coloured pin.
    3. Click on the pin and while maintaining the click down drag and drop the pin over the location you wish to identify. Release the mouse.
    4. After the pin has been placed on the map a comment box will open to the left of the screen. Please type the name of the place or provide a description of the experience you have chosen for this pin. Tell us what you love about it or what is missing or needs improvement.
    5. To finalize your pin press submit. Only pins that have been submitted will be visible to us, so please ensure to do this step for each pin.



    7. Editing a Pin

    Once a pin has been submitted it can only be deleted from the map by a staff member. However, you can edit the location or the description of the pin if you realize you’ve made a mistake.

    1. Click on the pin you wish to edit and an information box will open with your user name and the description you provided for the pin.
    2. Click on the icon to the right of your user name and a menu will open.
    3. Select the Edit option from the menu and a message will come up asking you to edit the pin.
    4. You can relocate the pin and/or change the description.
    5. Press submit when finished to save your changes.


    8. Finalizing Your Map

    Good news, you are done! If you pressed submit after each time you placed a pin, they have alredy been saved.

    9. Have More Questions?

    If you have more questions please contact us at rupertrenfrewplan@vancouver.ca. We will be offering facilitated online mapping workshops as well as in person mapping opportunities through open houses. Please refer to the Shape Your City website for updates on those events.

  • How to Register to Shape Your City

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    To participate in our online events, you will need to register on Shape your City.

    Steps to Registering to Shape Your City:

    1. Filling in the Registration Form

      Click on the Register button on the upper right corner of the page next to the search bar to access the registration form.
      Registration requires you to create a username, email, and password, and to provide some basic information about yourself: your age and postal code.

      For your username, we recommend choosing an anonymous username as this is how others will see you when you post on the site. This is also how you will be addressed in any future communications from us.

      When you have filled in the form, please click the Register button at the bottom of the form to submit.


    2. Checking the Confirmation E-mail and Verification Code

      After you fill out the registration form and click Register, a confirmation email will be sent to you with a 4-digit verification code. The Shape Your City website will ask you to introduce the verification code.

      You should receive the confirmation email in a few minutes. If you cannot find the email, please check your spam/junk folder.

      To complete registration, you will need to open your email to get the verification code and input it in the Shape Your City registration page.

      When you are done registering, you can go back to the mapping instructions.

  • We will be at the Funraiser at Falaise on Friday, May 13

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    "Have fun with a purpose! Still Moon Arts Society is connecting art, community and environment in unique and novel ways. You can expect an eco-arts, country-chic and lantern-illuminated event with mountain views! Learn more about FunRaiser at Falaise and secure your spot on the event page visit https://stillmoonarts.ca/funraiser/"

    Still Moon Arts Society is hosting an event on Friday, May 13. The hosts are kindly allowing us to set up a small table and booth at their event to provide participants with an opportunity for input on the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan. We hope to see you there.


  • City Council approves interim policies to manage land speculation

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    City Council has approved policies that will help to limit speculation and redevelopment while the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan is underway.

    You can read more about the policies in the report to Council.