In an unprecedented move, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation has granted Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest beer producer, the lease on the old Fish House restaurant for the purpose of turning it into a 250 seat restaurant and brew pub with retail sale of beer. The venture will be operated by an AB subsidiary, under the presumptuous name of Stanley Park Brewing.

This was done without any public consultation, and without commissioning any studies on traffic, noise, or the environment, despite the fact that the blue herons, which are a protected species have their colony not 30 metres away from the Fish House, and there are 7 residential towers within close proximity.

So eager was the Park Board to make this undertaking a reality that they were willing to overlook the fact that the Park closes at 10pm and the consumption of alcohol in the Park is prohibited. The Stanley Park Brew Pub with its large patios will be open 7 nights a week until midnight, (after the first 6 months) and “growlers”- 64 oz. jugs of beer, will be available for sale at the Pub.

Since the Park Board has evidently abandoned its responsibility for the stewardship of Stanley Park, a broad group of West End residents has mobilized to ensure that the Park remains the serene green space it was intended to be for everyone to enjoy. The group is called the Stanley Park Advocates. (SPA)

Vancouver City Council has put the pending approval of Stanley Park Brewing’s liquor licensing on the agenda for its January 17th meeting. Please take action to protect YOUR Park by signing this petition. 

The Stanley Park Advocates plan to address the January 17th Council Meeting to deal with these concerns. Only with your support do we have a chance to keep our beloved Stanley Park the jewel that it is.