IN a speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced his vision to invest $400M in new funding towards rebuilding and renovating five of Vancouver’s community centres in the City’s upcoming 2027-2030 Capital Plan.

“Community centres are the heart of our neighbourhoods,” said Sim. “For too long, capital plans under previous administrations failed to invest in their renewal. That changes now.”

The $400M commitment comes as a part of Deputy Mayor Sarah Kirby-Yung’s upcoming Council motion, Back to Community: Establishing Strategic Priorities and Consolidating Council Direction for the 2027–2030 Capital Plan, set to come before Council on April 22.

“Capital plans typically fund the rebuilding of one community centre every four years. Five newly rebuilt facilities would be the most ambitious investment in community centres in Vancouver’s history,” said Sim. “Our goal is that every capital plan over the next decade will focus on delivering quality facilities that Vancouverites expect and deserve.”

Sim also announced that if re-elected with a majority on Council, taxpayers would receive a second consecutive zero percent property tax increase in 2027, with tax rates returning to the rate of inflation in the years following.

“We will not use global economic challenges as an excuse to reach further into people’s pockets,” said Sim. “We need to stay focused on delivering the core services that Vancouverites expect from City Hall – investing in public safety, road maintenance, garbage pickup, and community centres.”