Protesters are gathering in Crab Park Saturday afternoon, calling on the Port of Vancouver to reconsider a project that they say could ruin the waterfront.
There are plans to expand the Centerm container terminal, which would block the park’s view of Burrard Inlet.
Activists say many Downtown Eastside residents have little access to green space and the park provides one of the few natural settings in the area.
“We fought the casino, the stadium and We’re not going to let the port take away our park,” said Wendy Pedersen, one of the protesters and a well-known community organizer in the Downtown Eastside.
Crab Park is also home to a monument in memory of Downtown Eastside missing and murdered women.
The protest, featured speeches from Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs grand chief Stewart Phillip, among others.
“The port has sweeping powers where they can do their own environmental assessment and approve their own projects. There needs to be accountability from the port,” said Kwan.
In a statement, the Port of Vancouver said “If a permit application is submitted…the port authority will conduct a rigorous project and environmental review of technical studies that assess such things as noise, view impacts, air quality and other impacts…including effects on water circulation near CRAB Park at Portside.”
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