Champlain Heights

Has anyone ever wondered how a former landfill could become a vibrant community? Champlain Heights in Vancouver is a testament to this transformation. It stands as a family-friendly neighbourhood, built around green spaces and a mix of housing. Champlain Heights also boasts Everett Crowley Park, the fifth-largest park in Vancouver. This very park was once a city landfill. It’s now a beautiful green space. Champlain Heights was one of the last areas of Vancouver to be urbanized. Its development began in the early 1970s. Planners envisioned a showcase community with curved roads and cul-de-sacs. They aimed for a mix of housing types and income levels. The community prides itself on catering to a broad range of lifestyles. The original plan emphasized separating pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It also aimed to integrate the area’s natural amenities into the development. Champlain Heights is often associated with the neighbourhood of Killarney. It is officially a sub-neighbourhood within Killarney. It mainly consists of townhouse complexes and co-op housing units. Most of the Champlain Heights area is leasehold property. These are pre-paid 99-year leases from the City of Vancouver, expiring in the 2080s. Everett Crowley Park covers 40 hectares. This makes it an important part of Champlain Heights. It’s named after Everett Crowley, a former city planner and parks board commissioner. The park hosts the longest Earth Day Celebration in Vancouver. This celebration is part of a long-term reforestation project. Champlain Heights also boasts a school designed by Arthur Erickson, one of Canada’s foremost architects. Champlain Heights Community School serves kindergarten to grade seven. It offers a variety of extracurricular programs. These include a photography club, a knitting club, and sports teams. There is also an annex for kindergarten to grade three. The annex also houses community programs. It serves children from newborn to five years old and their caregivers. It even provides space to the nearby public recreation centre. Children typically transfer to the main school for grade four. Champlain Heights Community Centre offers a wide range of activities. These include a youth centre, preschool childcare, and fitness facilities. It has indoor cycling, a dance studio, squash and racquetball courts, and a fitness centre with a sauna. Outdoors, there’s a tennis court and a playground. The Centre is jointly operated by the Vancouver Park Board and the Champlain Heights Community Association. The Association is dedicated to providing leisure services to Champlain Heights residents. They are also stewards of Everett Crowley Park. So, from a former landfill to a thriving community, Champlain Heights embodies resilience and community spirit.