Keep school land for students, play, childcare, and future growth — not a 99-year lease.

Why this matters now

Since this petition launched in 2021, the Vancouver School Board (VSB) declared the south portion of Fleming’s site “surplus” and moved to lease the land long-term to a private developer. That area once included two full basketball courts that our students and neighbourhood families relied on; it is now fenced off.
The City is now considering rezoning 1401–1455 East 49th Ave to enable a six-storey rental building on that “surplus” strip. A Public Hearing is expected soon. This is a generational decision that would lock away essential school land for decades while Fleming and nearby schools already face capacity pressure.

What’s changed since 2021

• The “surplus” designation advanced despite strong community opposition and a parent petition that’s now at 820+ signatures.
• Fleming’s play space has shrunk; two full courts are gone, and there’s no adjacent park to absorb the loss.
• Our diverse, largely immigrant school community (400+ students) needs room to learn and play, space for portables if enrolment rises, and childcare that supports working families.
• The proposed lease value (publicly discussed as $8.5M over 99 years — ~$7,000/month) is minimal compared to the permanent loss of public flexibility and children’s play space.

Our ask to Vancouver City Council

Please pause/decline the rezoning until the following are addressed in a transparent, data-driven way:

• Independent enrolment & capacity verification for Fleming and nearby schools, using current housing approvals and real capture rates.
• Education-first land use: keep this public land available for future school expansion, childcare, green space, and play courts.

Minimum on-site amenities if anything proceeds:

• At least one full-size public basketball court on the Fleming side of the site;
• On-site childcare capacity that relieves pressure at the school;
• No net loss of supervised play area for students;
• Underground tenant/teacher parking so surface area can remain school play space/green space;
• Meaningful engagement with the Fleming school community and local Indigenous Nations consistent with stated reconciliation commitments.

Park option preserved:

If land cannot remain for educational use, prioritize Vancouver Park Board acquisition for a neighbourhood park, not private development.

What you can do (right now)

• Sign & share this petition to show broad public support.
• Tell City Council (and copy VSB Trustees) that school land must stay for kids and community.
• Prepare to speak at the City’s Public Hearing (date TBA soon). We’ll post the link and instructions to register as soon as it’s scheduled.

This is urgent. Once rezoned and built on, this land is functionally gone from educational use for a lifetime. Help us keep Fleming’s land working for students, families, and the neighbourhood—now and for generations to come.

— Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary PAC (on behalf of Fleming families and neighbours)