Vancouver extends Granville Street pedestrian zone to Labour Day

Vancouver city council has voted to keep the Granville Street pedestrian zone in place until Labour Day, extending the carfree area that was introduced for the FIFA World Cup period. The extension will preserve temporary patios and public realm expansions in the fiveblock stretch between Georgia and Davie streets. City officials estimate the extra seven weeks will cost about $4.75 million, including engineering, sanitation, traffic management, washroom, policing and programming expenses. Mayor Ken Sim said the zone has brought more activity downtown and that local businesses have benefited from higher customer traffic. Some councillors supported the plan, while others questioned the short notice and the added public cost. The city also said staff will examine whether the pedestrian zone could return briefly in November 2026 for a possible Christmas market.