Image: Exterior of leləm̓ Community Centre at 5490 Shortcut Road, within the University Endowment Lands, featuring a modern glass-and-wood design set within a forested landscape.
If you live at leləm̓ — or anywhere on Vancouver’s Westside — a new kind of neighbourhood amenity is almost ready. YMCA BC has been selected as the operator of what will now be known as the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre, which means the gym, fitness studio, meeting rooms, and community programming you’d expect from a Y are all arriving to UBC soon.
The leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre is a 15,000 sq ft, two-storey facility at 5490 Shortcut Road in the University Endowment Lands, right at the heart of leləm̓ village. Residents will enjoy access to basic services at no additional cost, while the wider community will have access through YMCA BC’s membership model. The Centre is scheduled to open later this year.
In this article
- A partnership grounded in shared values
- A community centre ideally located in UBC
- A 15,000 sq ft facility designed for everyone
- Musqueam art woven throughout the Centre
- Opening later in 2026
- Frequently asked questions
A partnership grounded in shared values
YMCA BC will operate the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre, a landmark collaboration between the Musqueam Indian Band, Musqueam Capital Corporation, the University Endowment Lands, and the Province of British Columbia. Selected through a competitive process, the organization will be responsible for the Centre’s long-term operation, programming, and maintenance.
“We’re excited to bring our health expertise, incredible service, and commitment to building vibrant, inclusive and healthy communities to the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre.”
— Heidi Worthington, YMCA BC President & CEO
A natural fit for leləm̓
This partnership is built on a foundation of shared values. YMCA BC’s model of health, well-being, belonging, and equitable access aligns perfectly with Musqueam’s vision for leləm̓ as a welcoming, walkable community anchored in culture and land.
Beyond shared values, YMCA BC brings the scale and experience to deliver on that promise. Currently serving 225,000 people across 58 communities, their operational track record with municipalities and First Nations ensures that leləm̓ succeeds not just on square footage, but on the strength of world-class programming.
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LinkedIn, Heidi Worthington, March 2026 |
A community centre ideally located in UBC
Located at 5490 Shortcut Road, the Centre is tucked into leləm̓ village at the edge of the University Endowment Lands. To the back, you are steps away from the Pacific Spirit Regional Park — more than 2,000 acres of coastal rainforest with over 70 km of trails. To the front, you’ll find the UBC campus just a block away.
In between, leləm̓ itself has a grocery store, a dental clinic, cafés, restaurants, a daycare, and eight acres of publicly accessible green space. The Community Centre is the social anchor of a neighbourhood built to be genuinely walkable — you can drop a kid at daycare, grab a coffee, book a meeting room, and catch a fitness class on the same morning without having to use your car.
Transit and access
- Short walk to bus stops on University Boulevard, with peak-hour service every 15 minutes or less.
- Connected walking and cycling paths that link leləm̓ village with Pacific Spirit Park’s trail network.
- Two EV charging stations on site, with sessions of up to two hours.
- Roughly 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver by car, without traffic.
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leləm̓ Community Centre 5490 Shortcut Road, Vancouver, BC Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tmYV165nwRoaZQkRA |
A 15,000 sq ft facility designed for everyone
The two-storey, 15,000 sq ft building was designed by Francl Architecture, developed by Musqueam Capital Corporation, and built to LEED Gold standards as a welcoming, barrier-free place that supports health, well-being, and community connection for people of all ages and abilities. Our commitment to sustainable, inclusive design has been recognized with the 2024 Land Awards in the Real Estate category by the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
Step inside and you land in a double-height entry atrium with a feature stair — the social heart of the building. A generous roof overhang at the main entrance shelters an outdoor gathering space for programs, events, or a shaded bench on a wet afternoon.
Building highlights
- Mass timber roof with narrow tapered glulam beams, giving the gymnasium a wide, column-free span.
- Hybrid structural system engineered by Fast + Epp, combining mass timber, steel, and concrete.
- Nail-laminated timber (NLT) ceiling panels made in part from reclaimed wood logs owned by the Musqueam Indian Band — a return of the material to place, now part of the building it helps hold up.
- A district energy system powered by wastewater, geothermal, and reclaimed refrigeration energy — a 2024 Clean50 Top Project recipient and tied for Top Project of the Year — delivering sustainable energy across all residential and commercial tenants at leləm̓ Village
Musqueam art woven throughout the Centre
Musqueam art is integrated throughout the façade and the interior, celebrating culture, land, and story. Two major artworks by Musqueam artists anchor the interior of the Centre. Both are more than finishes — they’re the building’s voice, made by the hands of people whose ancestors have lived on this land for thousands of years.
What Once Was Will Always Be — Robyn Sparrow
What Once Was Will Always Be is a reflection on culture and identity. In artist Robyn Sparrow’s own words, the piece carries a hope “for the people and visitors of this space to find comfort in viewing my art and hopefully see the reflection of us as a xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people in this piece.” It’s a reminder that the people using the Centre today are part of a continuum that stretches back long before leləm̓, and will continue long after.
Image: “What Once Was Will Always Be” by Musqueam artist Robyn Sparrow, installed inside the leləm̓ Community Centre, reflecting cultural continuity and identity.
Circular Traditional Musqueam Weaving Installation & Painted Traditional Design Elements — Debra Sparrow & Gabriel Hall
Look up and you’ll find Debra Sparrow and Gabriel Hall’s installation wrapping the ceiling and railings in a blend of traditional and modern design that stays true to the Salish weaving technique. The cohesive palette and repeating pattern pull the whole room together — a visual reminder that, as the artists describe it, creativity is what connects us to our immediate and larger family, specifically the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) community.
Image: Ceiling and railing installation by Musqueam artists Debra Sparrow and Gabriel Hall at the leləm̓ Community Centre, blending Salish weaving with contemporary design.
Opening later in 2026
The leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre opens later this year. When it does, it becomes the social anchor of a neighbourhood that was built to be walked — a space that reflects Musqueam’s vision for leləm̓ as “home,” and the YMCA’s mission of building inclusive, healthy communities.
If you’ve been looking for a place to live that puts a fitness centre, a gathering space, and 2,000 acres of forest inside a ten-minute walk, take a look at the current residences at leləm̓ — and follow our socials for opening and programming updates as they land.
Frequently asked questions
Who operates the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre and why were they chosen?
YMCA BC has been selected as the operator. YMCA BC serves more than 225,000 people across the province each year. The organization’s focus on health, well-being, belonging, and equitable access aligns with Musqueam’s vision for leləm̓ — a community designed around inclusivity, walkability, and connection to land.
Where is the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre located?
The leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre is at 5490 Shortcut Road in the University Endowment Lands, at the entrance to UBC. It sits at the heart of leləm̓ village, a master-planned community on Vancouver’s Westside near Point Grey, and is a short walk from bus stops on University Boulevard and the trails of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
Who designed and built the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre?
The 15,000 sq ft, two-storey building was designed by Francl Architecture with structural engineering by Fast + Epp. It was developed by Musqueam Capital Corporation and built to LEED Gold standards, with a hybrid structural system that uses mass timber for the roof, steel for columns and lateral loads, and concrete for the foundation and activity spaces.
Is the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre open to the public?
Yes. The Centre is designed as a public facility serving both leləm̓ residents and the wider Westside Vancouver community. Non-residents can access the Centre through YMCA BC’s membership and drop-in programs, with financial assistance available for members who qualify.
When does the leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre open?
The Centre is scheduled to open later this year. YMCA BC will confirm a specific opening date, along with membership rates and the program schedule, closer to the opening.
