Photo: Mike Howell. A coalition of Granville Island leaders, mental health experts and others with interests regarding the waterfront community have sent a letter to Vancouver council regarding the need for suicide prevention fencing on the Granville Bridge. Warning: This story talks about suicide and may be distressing to some readers.
Available resources are available at the bottom of the article. A coalition of Granville Island leaders, mental health experts and others with interests regarding the waterfront community have called on Vancouver city council to fast-track the installation of suicide prevention fencing on the Granville Bridge. In a July 17 letter released Wednesday, the coalition said it supports a motion going before council July 24 from OneCity Coun.
Christine Boyle to add fencing to the span to prevent further suicides and attempts from the bridge. “In our view, suicide prevention fencing is not a luxury addition to the bridge; it is critical to maintaining safety on and around Granville Bridge,” said the letter, which noted there have been numerous fatal and non-fatal incidents over the past 15 years. BC Coroners Service data coupled with statistics provided by a Vancouver Coastal Health deputy medical health officer show there were more than 40 suicides or suspected suicides from the bridge between 2007 and 2023.
In addition, Vancouver Police Department statistics for calls to the bridge for suicidal persons show officers responded 173 times to the Gr.