About

The Pacific Spirit Park Society (PSPS) is dedicated to engaging community volunteers in environmental stewardship to protect the natural integrity of the park. Our vision is to preserve an urban forest and foreshore park, ensuring it remains protected and cared for in perpetuity for the benefit of all.

As a key member of the Metro Vancouver Regional Park Partnership program, PSPS serves as both public stewards and a community gateway, connecting various stakeholders within the park. We offer opportunities for park users to actively participate in restoration efforts, data collection, and environmental education through diverse nature interpretation programs tailored for both children and adults. Our programs are led by passionate volunteer leaders and PSPS staff, all committed to preserving the park’s natural beauty and ecological health.

Approximately 80-85% of our volunteers in stewardship and data collection initiatives are youth and young adults aged 14-25. Additionally, PSPS collaborates with new immigrant settlement agencies and other community groups to ensure our programs are inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Succinctly, we:

• Advise Metro Vancouver on the protection, planning and operation of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
• Promote the preservation and protection of the park through stewardship.
• Encourage recreational use that is in harmony with natural preservation.
• Partner with Metro Vancouver Parks local organizations, and schools.
• Support PSPS by raising funds for new and ongoing initiatives.
• Maintain an inclusive society with a representative and active board.

Our Story

In 1996, over 60 community members gathered at the Dunbar Community Centre to hear a proposal from Metro Vancouver Regional Parks regarding a new partnership and fundraising initiative. From the inception of the Regional Park system, community involvement was strongly encouraged, and by 1995, there were 260 groups actively engaged across the region, with over 35 identified within Pacific Spirit Park alone. The Metro Vancouver Parks Department sought to establish an inclusive society in each park, giving citizens a collective voice in park stewardship.

Across the Metro Vancouver system, there are numerous examples of successful community-driven projects, including hatcheries, restored heritage buildings, and a multi-million-dollar indoor camp for health-challenged youth—all funded by various community groups. The Parks Department hoped that by forming park societies, a “synergy” would emerge, enabling these groups to access funding to sustain public stewardship and participation in Regional Parks. In return for their fundraising efforts and contributions of “sweat equity,” these societies were given a voice in the park planning process and committed to being inclusive and representative of the broader community.

Over the course of 18 months, a dedicated group of 17 individuals met monthly to draft the bylaws and constitution of what would become the Pacific Spirit Park Society. Representing the diverse range of user groups active in the park at the time, these meetings often sparked spirited debates, with discussions continuing long into the night. Ultimately, consensus was reached, and in 1998, the Pacific Spirit Park Society was officially incorporated.

Our Structure

• Membership is free and open to all park users.
  
• A Board of Directors (7-15) is elected by the Membership at an Annual General Meeting.
  
• An Executive (President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer) is elected by the Board of Directors to steer the administration of the Society.