Heather Lands

The property is 8.5 hectares/21 acres and located 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver on the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations’ traditional territory. The site was previously the RCMP “E” Division Headquarters. Canada Lands acquired the Heather Lands site in October 2014 as part of an historic joint venture with the MST and since then, the partners have worked side-by-side with the City of Vancouver and local communities to establish a new vision and concept plan for the site.

Following an extensive public engagement process, the policy statement for the site’s redevelopment was unanimously approved in 2018. In September 2020, the partners submitted a rezoning application to the City of Vancouver for a mixed-use residential community with local-serving retail and parks. The neighbourhood will include affordable housing, a daycare and a new MST Cultural Centre. Vancouver City Council approval-in-principle is anticipated in May 2022 and development is expected to begin by 2024.

Transforming the Heather Lands

The proposed new Heather Lands neighbourhood (χews̓ tə na̓ šxʷtə̕ na̓ χətəl ̕ / X a̱ ws̓ uÚxwumixw) reflects the partners’ shared aspiration to transform the Heather Lands into an inspiring, progressive and sustainable new neighbourhood that generates the best possible economic and social benefit for all. 

The land uses proposed include a neighbourhood park, open spaces, a mix of housing types, retail and office commercial opportunities, an MST Cultural Centre, a childcare centre and a new school on land leased to the Conseil Scolaire Francophone. 

The proposed new neighbourhood will provide approximately 2,600 new homes and aligns with the City of Vancouver’s housing targets for affordable housing. Through urban design, landscape, public art, architecture and the signature MST Cultural Centre, the Heather Lands will connect people to the traditions of the MST Nations.