Latest news with #Tsleil-WaututhNation
Hamilton Spectator
10 hours ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Burnaby sign agreement to co-manage Barnet Marine Park
The səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) will now oversee management and stewardship of a Burnaby park as a step towards reconciliation. Tsleil-Waututh Nation and the City of Burnaby signed an agreement Wednesday to co-manage saltaɬ (Barnet Marine Park), formalizing a partnership between the two to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the area, but also the cultural significance of the park . 'I think it's huge in the way of putting our face back onto the land in a big gesture,' said Tsleil-Waututh elected councillor Charlene Aleck. The co-management agreement will create opportunities for Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Burnaby municipal staff to work together to develop recreational use of the park for the public and the nation. City of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said municipal staff will manage the park daily and make sure it's looked after and will work with the nation on making decisions around the park and how it will be used. Barnet Marine Park is a culturally, environmentally and historically significant area in Tsleil-Waututh traditional territory, the nation said . During the agreement signing ceremony, Aleck shared a few stories she heard on ties to the land. '[My mom] swam back and forth from what we know now as our reserve to saltaɬ over here, and her little cousin would paddle in the canoe behind her. Many stories like that where they'd stop and eat fish and I remember them saying it was so clear you could see almost to the bottom of the inlet,' Aleck said. 'Having that rich memory of who we are and what we've done here, and having it portrayed in this way, gives us such good feelings,' she added. On top of the agreement, the City of Burnaby relocated a pair of wolf eco-sculptures from the municipal hall to Barnet Marine Park facing the water. The eco sculptures were designed by Tsleil-Waututh Nation elders with flowers surrounding the two wolves. Tsleil-Waututh Nation youth and Burnaby city councillors joined Hurley in planting the flowers together earlier this year. 'They are meant to symbolize our shared commitment to work and grow together towards a future based on understanding, mutual respect and collaboration,' Hurley said. 'This is an important accomplishment, but it's just the beginning, and I look forward to continuing down the pathway, arm in arm together to reconciliation, as we know that's our goal, but it's going to take a lot of work to get there,' he added. Aleck said the co-management agreement is a positive step forward, bringing Tsleil-Waututh Nation's culture and history to the park, but also opening the door for future generations to see representation. The councillor hopes now with the co-management agreement with Burnaby, it will be a starting point for other municipalities to follow suit. 'I feel like it's a door that was never open for us in my childhood, but now for this generation and looking forward, it's kicked open more opportunity, more self-belonging and more acknowledgement,' Aleck said. Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Cision Canada
06-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Tsleil-Waututh Nation Announces Historic Memorandum of Understanding to Purchase Casino Business at Hastings Racecourse & Casino
səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION), BC, June 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) (" TWN") announced that it has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding for an agreement in principle to acquire the casino business and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino (" Hastings") in the City of Vancouver from Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (" Great Canadian Entertainment"). "We are thrilled to take another important step towards economic self-determination for our Nation in our traditional territory, and we are eager to work with the senior management team at Great Canadian Entertainment to finalize due diligence and execute a definitive agreement, as well as working with the City of Vancouver to ensure the best long-term use of this important asset within the City," stated Jen Thomas, Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. "We believe that this opportunity is historic for us in many ways, and we look forward to entering the gaming industry in due course," she concluded. "We are excited about working with TWN on their potential acquisition of the casino operations and related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino," stated Matt Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Canadian Entertainment. "Recognizing that Hastings is part of the TWN's traditional territory, we can think of no better entity to inherit this asset, and we look forward to supporting them in the transition after the anticipated close of the sale," he concluded. The agreement is subject to further due diligence, finalization of financial terms and the execution of a definitive purchase and sale agreement. Once a definitive agreement has been executed by the parties, it is anticipated that the transaction will be subject to customary closing conditions as well as customary approvals by gaming regulatory and other authorities, including certain approvals by the City of Vancouver given its ownership of the real property. It is expected that Great Canadian Entertainment will provide transition services to TWN for a period of time following the anticipated closing. KPMG Corporate Finance Inc. is acting as financial advisor and McCarthy Tétrault LLP is acting as legal counsel to TWN. McMillan LLP is acting as legal counsel to Great Canadian Entertainment. About səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) are known as People of the Inlet. səlilwətaɬ is a Coast Salish Nation whose territory centres around Burrard Inlet in the Greater Vancouver region. Tsleil-Waututh people carry a Sacred Trust, a responsibility, to care for and restore traditional territory to its former state. Today, Tsleil-Waututh is more than 600 people strong and growing. The community draws on knowledge from ancestors to remedy past wrongs, reclaim territory and traditions, and advance into a bright future. For more information on Tsleil-Waututh Nation, visit About Great Canadian Entertainment Founded in 1982, Great Canadian Entertainment is Canada's premier gaming and hospitality company with gaming, entertainment, hospitality and resort facilities in Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Committed to investing in and offering opportunity to those in the communities in which it operates, Great Canadian Entertainment supports hundreds of charitable and non-profit organizations across Canada under its PROUD program; "PROUD of our people, our business, our community". A significant portion of gross gaming revenue from Great Canadian Entertainment's gaming facilities is retained by Crown partners on behalf of their provincial governments for the purpose of supporting programs that benefit healthcare, education, and social services in Canada. To learn more, please visit or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Planning to dredge the Burrard Inlet to maximize oil shipments is underway
An ocean pollution researcher and at least one First Nation are raising concerns about the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's (VFPA) plan to dredge the Burrard Inlet. Dredging is when the bed of a body of water is dug out to make way for ships or for construction or cleaning purposes. Ocean researcher Juan José Alava told CBC's On The Coast that periodic dredging is common for navigation maintenance in the Inlet. However, he says he was surprised to hear that the port is planning to dredge for the purpose of maximizing oil tanker capacity. The VFPA plan is to maximize oil shipments from the port. Currently, Aframax tankers, a specific size of oil tanker, with a deadweight ranging from 80,000 to 120,000 metric tonnes, can carry loads up to 80 per cent, with the goal of increasing capacity to 100 per cent. However, doing so carries the risk of hitting the sea bottom. According to Alava, another risk is environmental harm. LISTEN | Burrard Inlet could be dredged to maximize oil shipments: Alava is the principal investigator for the Ocean Pollution Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, and says that this development is deeply concerning because of the potential effect on water quality, aquatic life, and First Nations culture in the area that is dependent on the Inlet and the Second Narrows channel. "At what environmental cost, for a single tanker, do you want to dredge the Burrard Inlet? What about the First Nation communities that are living there?" He says that as a scientist who studies marine toxicology, the risk of dredging to increase oil tanker capacity can have a drastic impact on the environment if there is an oil spill, citing lessons learned from the Exxon Valdez southern Alaska spill 36 years ago. Alava says that you can still find oil remnants in B.C. from that spill today, so environmental impact assessments and Indigenous consultation are necessary. Tsleil-Waututh Nation's Chief, Jen Thomas, said in a written statement on May 8, that no formal engagement has happened about dredging the Burrard Inlet that runs past the nation. Thomas says that the nation firmly opposed the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, adding that the Government of Canada built it despite the nation's informed decision not to consent to the project. "Tsleil-Waututh has a sacred, legal obligation to protect, defend and steward our Inlet. We hold inherent and Constitutionally-protected Indigenous title and rights to this area." Under UNDRIP, the B.C. government has a duty to obtain free, prior and informed consent from First Nations when pursuing projects in their territories. Thomas says that the nation will have more to say about the matter once it reviews the proposal and says that it looks forward to meeting with agencies in the future about any projects that may affect Tsleil-Waututh Nation rights and title. Despite concerns from environmentalists and First Nations, B.C. Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix is supportive of the project, pending it meeting environmental assessment and consultation requirements with First Nations. In a report from the Canadian Press released on May 11, Dix says that the province spoke with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation before expressing views about the project to the federal government. The plan, floated by Prime Minister Mark Carney in early May, comes at a time when Canada is looking to diversify energy exports away from the United States. Dix stressed that the dredging would be a federal project, not provincial and that the project "would allow for less traffic at the port and better utilization" because ships could fully load. The dredging project's preliminary stages of environmental assessment and First Nation consultation began on May 20.
Vancouver Sun
22-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
10 fun family friendly Metro Vancouver outings for adults and children
Summer officially arrives on June 21. Four days later, the school year ends. It's officially crunch time for planning summer activities for the family. Balancing work, weekends and wallet strain is a herculean challenge until the children head back to the classroom in the fall. Advance planning can relieve the stress of figuring out what to do when and where, making a family outing more of a pleasure than a pain. With that in mind, h ere are 10 fun family outings split between those with free and paid admission, all located in the Lower Mainland. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. If you've got some great ones to add, send us an email! When : Daily, dawn until dusk. Where : 3136 McBride Ave., Surrey Tickets and info : Free. Info at About : Frequently misidentified as Blackie's Spit, this stunning beach area includes easy-access nature trails, two fully fenced off-leash spaces for furry family members, and a host of other nearby locales from Crescent Beach to the Serpentine Wildlife Management Area and more. When : Dawn to dusk Where : South end, No. 4 Rd., Richmond Tickets and info : Free. Info at About : This tiny Fraser River community was founded by Finnish settlers who arrived in Richmond in the 1880s. Home to a small number of residents, there are buildings dating from the late 19th century to the 1950s in varying states of disrepair. The area offers a great short walk and a chance to learn fascinating history. When : Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. — noon; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays Where : 2649 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver Tickets and info : Free. Info at About : The North Shore's only bird sanctuary encompasses more than 100 acres of land within the traditional and unceded territory of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who managed the area for fish, shellfish, waterfowl and other resources for generations. The extensive trail network provides many opportunities for bird watching and enjoying natural beauty just across from the busy Port of Vancouver. When : Daily, 7 a.m. — 9 p.m. Where : 4000 Quarry Rd., Coquitlam Tickets and info : Free. Info at About : The many regional parks in the Lower Mainland all boast beautiful settings and sights. But this jewel in Coquitlam includes an extensive raised wooden walkway over the lakes and ponds which provides an excellent access for all-ages and abilities. There also lots of great information panels along the trails. When : Weather permitting, from dusk on Friday nights. The first three of the month are in-person, the final Friday is online only Where : SFU Trottier Observatory, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Tickets and info : Free. Info at About : Evening stargazing parties for the whole family. Dedicated volunteers set up telescopes and answer questions, as well as taking groups of five to 10 visitors at a time into the Trottier Observator y, where a giant telescope really lets you scan the sky. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way and more. When : Daily, 10 a.m. — 4 p.m., from April 1 to Sept. 30 Where : 9131 King St., Langley Tickets and info : or 604 888-2273 About : Nestled in a lush green field is 'a place where the past greets the present, through the rich and vibrant stories of the pioneer settlers of the Fraser Valley.' This museum celebrates the farmers and harvests from the area. The collection of vintage machinery, tools and more is very cool. When : Daily, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. Where : 12138 Fourth Ave., Richmond Tickets and info : at 604 664-9009 About : Located in the historic village of Steveston, the cannery was built in 1894 and was one of 15 that once operated on the village waterfront. Now a national historic site, come to learn about the history of Canada's West Coast fishing industry before digging into your fish and chips. When : Daily, 9 a.m. — 9:30 p.m. Where : 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver Tickets and info : and 604 980-9311 About : Forget the Grouse Grind and consider just how cool it is to ride up and down the mountain in the tram taking in the exceptional views of Vancouver and far beyond. Once at the top, enjoy live shows like the Birds In Motion raptor show, go up to the top of the green energy windmill, and more. Snow geese head in to feed in a field near the Reifel Bird Sanctuary at Ladner. MIKE DREW/CALGARY SUN/QMI AGENCY) When : Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. Where : 5191 Robertson Rd., Delta Tickets and info : at 604 946-6980 About : A go-to favourite for area twitchers (bird watchers), the sanctuary is also a fabulous place to go for a leisurely stroll along the unique wetlands and learn about ecosystems, specific plants and also probably have some wee chickadees eat out of your hands. Visitors must book their visits as there is a limited admissions policy due to the need to protect bird breeding zones. When : Mon. — Fri., 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. Where : 6339 Stores Rd., UBC Tickets and info : or 604 822-6992 About : Are you into dinosaur skeletons? One of the first things you see entering the UBC Pacific Museum of Earth is a 13 metre-long cast skeleton of an Elsamosaurus over your head. That's just the beginning of the interesting exhibits ranging from the Walk Through Time, tracing the planet's 4.5 billion year history, to a very rare OmniGlobe, which allows you to watch earth and planetary phenomena on a illuminated sphere, and much more. The nearby Beaty Biodiversity Museum includes a whale skeleton and bills itself as 'perhaps the most family-friendly of all UBC museums.' sderdeyn@
CBC
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Vancouver's West Point Grey set to be transformed by Jericho Lands development
The Jericho Lands development received backing from Vancouver City Council last week. The First-Nations-led project has a massive footprint in the West Point Grey area, adding about 13,000 housing units over the next 25 years. To speak more on the coming changes are three guests representing the three nations involved with the project: Chief Jen Thomas with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Chief Wayne Sparrow with the Musqueam Indian Band and Coun. and spokesperson Wilson Williams with the Squamish Nation.
