VANCOUVER Board of Parks and Recreation crews have closed access to all of Stanley Park due to high winds, as a precautionary measure.   

Recent wind events this fall have resulted in numerous tree failures and the winds on Saturday are expected to meet or exceed wind speeds that cause tree-related risks, the Park Board said. Many trees in Stanley Park are especially vulnerable to high winds due to the hemlock looper outbreak. 

Also, effective Saturday, the Park Board is suspending Stanley Park Train operations until further notice following a worker safety incident on Friday night.  
 
Staff are working to notify and refund all affected customers who had reservations this weekend and into early next week. “We are very sorry as we understand the inconvenience and disappointment this represents for everyone who were looking forward to enjoying this beloved holiday tradition with their friends and loved ones,” the Park Board said.  

The safety incident involved one of the Park Board’s train operators. The incident has been reported to the City’s Occupational Health and Safety team who will be following all required protocols to investigate. While this is underway, train operations need to be suspended to ensure the safety of the staff.  

During the period in which the train’s operations are suspended, the Park Board said it welcomes visitors to come and enjoy the seasonal displays on the train plaza.