Vancouver city councillor frustrated after suicide barrier plan delayed, funding reduced

Content warning: The following story deals with the subject of suicide. If you or a loved one is at risk of self-harm, call the BC Crisis Centre at 988. Translation services are available.

A bid to install suicide prevention barriers on the Granville Street Bridge in Vancouver has been amended by councillors, much to the dismay of the politician who brought the proposal forward.

Coun. Christine Boyle says ABC councillors “weakend and delayed” the motion, only committing to “fund a minimum of one third” of total costs and pushing the plan until the 2027 – 2030 Capital Plan.

In addition to the safety aspect, Boyle says delaying the plan will only see the cost of the barriers rise.

“We don’t have a firm (financial) estimate as of right now — the last estimate that council got was when the construction was beginning on the Granville Bridge a few years ago, and the cost estimate for adding fencing was $11 million. The number I’ve heard more recently is closer to $20 million. One of my many concerns with council delaying this infrastructure is that the cost will continue to rise — we know construction costs are going up,” she explained.

“And, delays will cost more money down the road. It will also create more disruption if we’re not installing this infrastructure while we’re already doing construction on the bridge.”

In the meantime, she adds “many, many lives” will continue to be at risk.

Boyle’s motion came after the Crisis Centre of BC issued letters in support of the barrier additions.

Stacy Ashton, executive director of the Crisis Centre of BC, agrees that with the Granville Bridge currently under construction, it is the perfect time to implement suicide prevention barriers.

“We know that suicide barriers have a 93 per cent reduction in suicides,” Ashton explained.

Amendments say council ‘not taking this seriously’: Boyle

According to Boyle, the bridge has seen a number of suicide attempts and deaths since 2019. She explains the Burrard Street Bridge, where barriers were put up in 2017, has seen zero deaths since fencing was installed.

“I think it sends a message that we’re not taking this seriously, which is upsetting in the face of the heartbreaking number of stories that I have heard and that all of council has heard of impacts on Granville Island, impacts to community members from suicide attempts and fatalities off of the Granville Bridge. And it continues to put lives at risk for far too long,” she told CityNews.

Boyle says the reasons given for the amendments were “vague.” She claims councillors said there wasn’t “money yet in this capital plan” and were hoping “senior levels of government will committ to cost-sharing.”

Though she supports the idea of cost-sharing for this infrastructure, she points out the Granville Bridge is within the City of Vancouver’s responsibility — something other levels of government have noted after other requests.

Politics in the way

Boyle tells CityNews she feels this decision is just part of a “pattern of ABC councillors delaying and weakening motions” she brings forward.

“Even when they are practical, they are responding to public safety concerns, community concerns, they’re issues within our jurisdiction. Instead, we have repeatedly seen last-minute amendments that push needed improvements off to further study or delay implementation to down the road. I am just trying to do my job and they are making it very hard,” Boyle said.

“This council has repeatedly said that public safety is a priority for them and that is not reflected in response to this motion. It wasn’t reflected in their delays to my requests around speed enforcement and other pedestrian safety improvements. It seems to be a very narrow focus. This is a needed improvement that we know will save lives, that study after study shows will save lives, and we have been hearing heartbreaking stories.”

Boyle says the motion spurs from an issue that is personal to her and many others.

“Suicide has impacted so many of our lives, it’s impacted my own life in the loss of two friends who I dearly wish were still with us. We heard stories in council of impacts to others, impacts to the communities and businesses and visitors on Granville Island,” the councillor said.

“I wish we were doing something at the scale needed.”

Boyle previously said there have been over 20 jumping incidents and six fatalities from the Granville Street Bridge since 2016.

The Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides “immediate access to barrier-free, non-judgmental support via phone lines and online services.”

-With files from Lauren Stallone