Vancouver council prioritizes Granville Bridge suicide barriers

WARNING: This story contains discussion of suicide.

City of Vancouver councillors say they will make good on installing fencing tall enough to prevent people from jumping from one of the city's main bridges, but challenges remain securing the millions of dollars to get them in place.

On Wednesday, councillors debated a motion from OneCity Vancouver Coun. Christine Boyle to expedite the barriers on the Granville Street Bridge as the city works to refurbish the busy connector.

"This is a project that needs to happen. It has been delayed for a number of years now. We should not delay it any longer. Any further delays will have an impact on human lives," she said.

"It's indefensible."

In 2023, the bridge had the second-highest number of calls linked to suicide or mental health compared to other Vancouver bridges, according to data from the Vancouver Police Department.

There were 38 emergency calls to the bridge last year, and 49 to Lions Gate Bridge, which also does not have suicide barriers installed.

Although there were 22 emergency calls related to suicide or mental health at the Burrard Bridge in 2023, there have been no suicide deaths from the bridge since 2017 when the barriers were installed there, according to Boyle's motion.

The federal agency that manages Granville Island, the Crisis Care Centre of B.C. and others, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, provided letters of support and testimony to council saying the barriers for the Granville Bridge were overdue.

Those like David McCann, a Vancouver resident and general manager of the Creekhouse on the island, gave emotional testimony of what they have witnessed over the years.

"It's devastating," he said. "A guy that jumped in front of the Creekhouse — I was there when he jumped. I was on the front porch. You can prevent that."

Advocates all spoke about the need to prevent the loss of life but also about protecting witnesses and first responders from having to try to save jumpers who end up injured or in the ocean.

"The level of trauma experienced by visitors and staff, witnessing or attending these unbelievable tragedies is severe and will be entirely avoidable when suicide prevention barriers have been installed," said Lisa Ono with the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation, which manages Granville Island.

Fickle finances

Boyle is an opposition councillor to the ABC slate's majority, but all present at Wednesday's council meeting agreed on the need to install the barriers. Where they disagreed was on how to find the roughly $11 million for them.

Boyle's motion sought to find funds in the current capital plan, but what passed instead commits to funding, at a minimum, a third of the cost of the barriers from the 2027-2030 capital plan, with the rest having to come from other levels of government unless a surprise surplus is found in the current plan.

The amended motion also calls for a resolution to be submitted to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, asking for support.

Stacy Ashton, the executive director of the Crisis Centre of B.C., said what council passed Wednesday was a "half-win" on the issue.

"We would have liked to have seen the city just fully getting it done … as soon as possible," she said. "It seems a little odd to say, 'We don't have enough money to do this.'"

On Tuesday, council approved an extra $300,000 in the current capital plan to produce a study by the end of 2025 that would lay out how to get the fencing in place and how to secure funding for it.

The price tag for upgrades to the Granville Bridge is estimated at $50 million.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.