səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and District receive funding for shoreline restoration at Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park

The səlilwətaɬ and the District of North Vancouver are pleased to announce a joint project to restore the shoreline at Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park with funding provided by the provincial government’s British Columbia Destination Development Fund. 

The funding of approximately $800,000 will go towards restoring the eroding shoreline at Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park. While the park is a popular destination for residents to gather, explore waterfront trails and enjoy its plentiful amenities, it is also a site of cultural and historical significance.

We are currently investigating nature-based strategies that would address erosion concerns while conserving the site’s history and improving the area’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. The preservation and protection of the shoreline’s ecosystem and environment are imperative to səlilwətaɬ and the District. 

“We are pleased to collaborate with the District of North Vancouver to undertake the important work of restoring the shoreline in Whey-ah-Wichen, our ancestral village site, where our peoples have lived, played, and accessed resources such as plants and animals since time out of mind. We’re losing the foreshore in front of our eyes due to erosion. This project will safeguard our rich cultural history while allowing current and future generations to continue to safely access the shoreline,” says Chief Jen Thomas, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). 

“We are honoured to be working in partnership with Tsleil-Watuth Nation on this key project in Whey-ah-Wichen/Cates Park. Protecting the natural beauty and cultural history are top of mind as we strengthen the area’s resilience to climate change and ensure future generations can enjoy this important park,” says Mayor Mike Little, District of North Vancouver.

This project will not only maintain the natural integrity of the area, but it will also improve access to the shoreline for members of the community. 

We acknowledge and thank the Province of British Columbia for financial support provided through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. We also thank Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism Association for their support of this project. Through the sustainable stewardship fostered between VNSTA, səlilwətaɬ and the District of North Vancouver, future generations will be able to experience the area and all of its natural beauty.