📢 1,000+ Signatures Strong! URGENT Update: FOI Records Expose Major Process Failures

Dear Supporters,

We have officially crossed 1,000 signatures! Thank you to every single person who has stood up for Kitsilano's canopy, ecological stewardship, and public accountability. Your support proves that this is bigger than just one tree—it is about demanding ethical, lawful due process for our shared urban climate infrastructure.

With a removal notice posted for Friday, September 11, 2026, (actual city road closure permit is for Sep 15, 2026 TO-2026-05802), we want to share critical revelations uncovered from official records obtained through our Freedom of Information request (FOI0011180) and outline our emergency action plan.
 
🔍 What the Official FOI Records & Technical Reports Reveal:

When we dug into the official documents and environmental filings, the City's justification completely fell apart:

1. The City Never Wrote an Official Arborist Report: The Park Board GM’s Office officially admitted in writing that "An arborist report has not been prepared by Urban Forestry staff for this case". The City approved destroying a healthy 110cm DBH heritage-scale tree based on zero written municipal arboricultural analysis.

2. Claims of "Expert Advice" Were Misleading: The contractor claimed a local tree company (Burley Boys) recommended removal, but Burley Boys confirmed in writing that they never provided an arborist report and only gave a work estimate.

3. BOTH Subsequent Written Arborist Reports Confirm the Tree Can Be Saved: The contractor’s own formal report (New Leaf Arbor Solutions, May 7, 2026) explicitly confirmed that tree retention is feasible if non-destructive excavation methods (like hydro-vac or pneumatic air spading) are mandated.

Our independent assessment (Davey Resource Group, May 4, 2026) rated whole-tree failure risk as LOW, noted root loss to date was "moderate to minimal," and officially recommended retaining the tree.

4. The Environmental Testing Isn't Even Finished: The environmental assessment (ALARA Health & Safety, April 30, 2026) confirms that soil testing is incomplete under BC regulations and the oil contamination has NOT been mapped horizontally or vertically. Authorizing tree destruction for an unmapped excavation footprint violates basic provincial site investigation standards.

5. Leaving Soil Safely in Place is 100% Legal: The BC Ministry of Environment explicitly accepts managing residual soil contamination safely in place (risk-based standards under an Approval in Principle). In fact, the Park Board admitted in writing that "if there is no further soil removal the tree can be retained".
 
🛑 What We Are Demanding
We are requesting an immediate administrative stay on the September 11 removal date under City of Vancouver Street Tree By-law No. 5985 (Section 10). Street trees may only be removed if they constitute a public hazard or for proper cause—neither of which applies here.

We are calling for a 4-step solution:
1. Halt removal until full horizontal and vertical contamination delineation is completed under BC CSR protocols.
2. Backfill the excavation and pivot to risk-based, in-situ management (Protocol 12) via an Approval in Principle.
3. Mandate non-destructive excavation (hydro-vac / air-spade) if any targeted soil work near the property boundary is proven necessary.
4. Order an interdepartmental review between Urban Forestry, Environmental Contamination staff, and Qualified Environmental Professionals.
 
🚨 3 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW Before Friday, September 11

1. Send an Emergency Email to Mayor, City Council & Park Board: Write to the Mayor, Councillors, and Park Board Commissioners calling for an immediate administrative stay on the September 11 removal. 

2. Share This Update on Social Media & with Local Outlets: Tag local media outlets and neighbourhood groups. Highlight that the contractor's own arborist report confirmed retention is feasible!

3. Stand with the Tree on Tuesday, September 15: Gather peacefully with neighbours at 1633 Stephens Street on Tuesday morning to demonstrate community support for urban canopy preservation and due process.
Thank you for your voice and dedication.

Together, we are showing that community assets cannot be sacrificed to bureaucratic process failures!