In today's digest: former premier Mike Harcourt is personally involved in a “missing-middle” housing project for the middle class; Vancouver opens a unique mass-timber building with 81 units for Indigenous people; and a medical emergency caused delays on the Vancouver–Nanaimo ferry route.
Former British Columbia premier Mike Harcourt builds housing for the “disappearing middle class”
Former British Columbia premier Mike Harcourt, now 83, has again attracted public attention — this time not with political statements but with concrete action. He has become a shareholder and active participant in a small family development project building so-called “soft” or “gentle” infill housing. Paradoxically, the man whose name is associated with left-leaning views and a lifelong fight for social justice has taken on the role of developer, not just in words but in practice. As noted in The Globe and Mail, this is not Harcourt’s first experience — he and his wife Becky did small projects back in the 1970s when they bought an old house in the Fairview Slopes area and built duplexes there. Their son Justen, who works in real estate professionally and founded Harcourt Asset Management, has now joined the family business.
The new project is grounded in a philosophy Harcourt has promoted for decades: moving away from monolithic single-family zoning toward sensible, balanced neighborhood infill. This is not about high-rise towers — rather, it’s the “missing link” between a detached house and an apartment skyscraper. A concrete example is the Connaught Court project at 4987 Connaught Drive in the prestigious Shaughnessy neighbourhood. The Dutch Colonial-style building, formerly owned by the family of prominent businessman Con Jones, will be converted into six residential units: four spacious full-floor apartments and two three-level townhouses with private elevators. Unit sizes range from 2,113 to 2,364 square feet, all three-bedroom. The Harcourts plan to live in one of these units.
For Mike Harcourt the project has both ideological and personal significance. Since a serious spinal cord injury in 2002 he uses a walker, and housing accessibility has become critically important to him. That motivated the family to build homes where people can “age in place,” staying in their familiar neighbourhood without sacrificing quality of life. Son Justen said they read extensively about designing space for older people with limited mobility and concluded the best way to preserve health and wellbeing is to remain in one’s own home rather than move into institutional care. Connaught Court is being built to Passive House standards, ensuring high energy efficiency and comfort. Price per square foot is estimated at CAD 1,600–1,800, which Harcourt says is a fair price given the location and quality of finishes.
Four of the six units have been sold so far; construction is due to begin in spring and take about 18 months. Harcourt emphasizes the project is proof that the rezoning law he long advocated is finally working in practice. He calls it “rough justice,” but acknowledges it is a huge step forward compared with the total dominance of single-family zoning. In his view the main current challenge is architectural quality: many builders have not yet learned to make “soft” infill look aesthetic and organic, often producing boxy buildings that overpower the neighbourhood’s scale. Harcourt is firmly opposed to radical approaches: he criticizes “density fanatics” who want to squeeze 8–10‑storey buildings into older single-family areas. His ideal is neat, human-centred projects that do not tear apart the urban fabric but complement it, allowing different generations and social groups to live side by side. This project is not merely a business venture but a real attempt to realize the idea of a city with room for an elderly politician on a walker, a young family, and those who want to age in their neighbourhood without losing connections to their accustomed surroundings.
Vancouver opens housing complex named for Chief Leonard George: 81 homes for Indigenous people
Vancouver celebrated the grand opening of a nine-storey housing complex named after the late Chief Leonard George of the səlílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation. Located at 1766 Frances Street, the building provides 81 new affordable apartments for Indigenous residents, including elders, families and individuals. The project is the result of years of partnership between the Government of British Columbia, federal authorities, the City of Vancouver and the BC Indigenous Housing Society.
The project is especially significant because it was built on the site of a 27-unit building severely damaged by fire in 2017. The redevelopment created 54 more units than were lost, allowing not only the return of former residents but also housing for new families. As Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle noted, the building symbolizes what can be achieved through strong partnerships and represents a new beginning for returning residents and stability for newcomers.
The building’s architecture is steeped in Indigenous culture. The façade is inspired by traditional cedar bark basket weaving of the Coast Salish peoples — a symbol of interwoven generations. Cedar has long been a foundation of life for these nations: it was used for homes, art, medicine, clothing and, of course, baskets. The seventh floor houses shared facilities, including a large lounge with a patio, a community garden, and a childcare centre with before- and after-school programming focused on Indigenous cultural traditions.
The project’s environmental credentials deserve special attention. According to Passive House Canada, this is the first tall mass-timber mixed‑use building in Canada built to Passive House standards. That technology significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides long-term energy savings for residents. The BC Indigenous Housing Society is the key operator of the complex with support from the Aboriginal Housing Management Association.
The complex’s name, “Chief Leonard George,” was bestowed by the səlílwətaɬ Nation. Leonard George was known for his deep social responsibility and care for Vancouver’s homeless, particularly in the Downtown Eastside. His son, current Chief Justin George, emphasized that his father saw housing as more than a roof over someone’s head — it was a place of healing, strength and connection. He also noted that the building’s basket-like appearance and emphasis on intergenerational living fully reflect the chief’s ideals. The project is part of British Columbia’s large $19‑billion housing investment program: since 2017 the province has built or is building more than 95,000 homes, including over 12,800 in Vancouver. Federal MP Hedy Fry, recalling her friend Chief George, called the project an important step toward building a strong Canada, and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the new homes allow elders to age with dignity in their community.
Medical incident causes congestion on Vancouver–Nanaimo ferry route
On Wednesday, the ferry route between Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Nanaimo (Duke Point) experienced significant delays after a medical emergency. According to BC Ferries, a sailing scheduled to depart Tsawwassen at 12:45 was forced to turn back to port because a passenger required urgent medical attention. As reported by CHEK News, the departure was delayed by more than an hour, and knock-on disruptions will affect subsequent sailings.
Because of the incident the company warns passengers with bookings on upcoming sailings to expect delays. Affected sailings included the 15:15 departure from Duke Point, the 17:45 departure from Tsawwassen and the 20:15 departure from Duke Point. BC Ferries strongly advises travellers with reservations to arrive at the terminal strictly at the time stated on their confirmation to retain their place. This allows the company to organize vehicle loading properly, prioritizing those who arrive on time and avoiding confusion between booked passengers and walk-ups. Note that the day before, Tuesday, the same route already experienced issues — several sailings were delayed after smoke was spotted in the galley of the Coastal Inspiration vessel. Thus, passengers on this popular route faced disruptions two days in a row, first due to a technical problem and then because of an unforeseen medical emergency. For BC Ferries, as for any transport operator, passenger safety is the priority, and a vessel returning to port because of a medical incident is standard procedure, though it causes delays. Travellers planning a trip are advised to monitor the ferry operator’s official website for updates, as the situation can change throughout the day.
