A Community Hub Rooted on Musqueam Lands
Located at 5490 Shortcut Road, the leləm̓ Community Centre sits at the heart of the award-winning leləm̓ Village development on Musqueam lands, adjacent to the University of British Columbia and surrounded by one of the region’s most vibrant and walkable communities.
Its location reflects Musqueam Capital Corporation’s vision of creating a connected, sustainable, and community neighbourhood. Residents and visitors enjoy convenient access to shops, cafés, restaurants, childcare, health services, and over eight acres of publicly accessible green space, all within walking distance. The Centre also provides direct connections to the renowned Pacific Spirit Regional Park, offering access to more than 2,000 acres of forests and recreational trails. As the social and cultural heart of the village, the Community Centre was designed to bring people together while supporting a healthy, active, and connected lifestyle.
Selected through a competitive process, YMCA BC will manage the Centre’s long-term operations, programming, and maintenance.
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
- Now Open
- Frequently asked questions
A partnership grounded in shared values
The selection of YMCA BC as operator represents an important milestone in establishing a collaborative governance framework for the leləm̓ Community Centre. This partnership brings together the Musqueam Indian Band, Musqueam Capital Corporation (MCC), the University Endowment Lands administered by the Province of British Columbia, and YMCA BC, each contributing to a shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive, and community-focused gathering place.
Following a competitive selection process led by UEL , YMCA BC was chosen from a strong field of qualified candidates. Under a long-term operating agreement, YMCA BC will be responsible for the Centre’s programming, operations, and maintenance, working in partnership with MCC and the Musqueam Indian Band to ensure the facility serves the needs of residents, members, and visitors for generations to come
“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
YMCA BC also brings extensive experience in delivering community-focused programs across British Columbia. Serving more than 225,000 people in 58 communities, the organization has a proven track record of operating facilities in partnership with municipalities, Indigenous communities, and other public-sector organizations. This experience provides confidence that the Community Centre will deliver high-quality programs and services that align with the aspirations of the Musqueam community and support the long-term success of leləm̓ Village.
Through this partnership, the leləm̓ Community Centre will become more than a recreation facility. It will be a place for gathering, wellness, learning, and connection, reflecting the shared commitment of all partners to building a healthy and thriving community.
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Connected and Accessible
The Centre is easily accessible by a variety of transportation options, including:
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Frequent transit service along University Boulevard, with buses arriving every 15 minutes or less during peak periods.
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Extensive walking and cycling routes connecting leləm̓ Village, UBC, and Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
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On-site electric vehicle charging stations.
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Convenient access from downtown Vancouver and surrounding communities.
leləm̓ Community Centre
5490 Shortcut Road, Vancouver, BC
View on Google Maps
Designed for Generations
The 15,000-square-foot, two-storey facility was developed by Musqueam Capital Corporation and designed by Francl Architecture to serve the evolving needs of the Musqueam community for generations to come.
Built to LEED Gold standards and recognized with the 2024 Land Award for Excellence in Real Estate by the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the Centre reflects Musqueam’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and community well-being. Every aspect of the building was designed to support a diverse range of cultural, educational, recreational, health, and community programming in a welcoming and barrier-free environment.
Visitors are welcomed through a dramatic double-height atrium, highlighted by a feature staircase and gathering spaces that serve as the social heart of the building. A generous covered entrance extends activity outdoors, creating opportunities for community events, celebrations, and informal connections throughout the year.
Building Highlights
- A striking mass timber roof structure featuring tapered glulam beams that create a spacious, column-free gymnasium.
- 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
Together, these features reflect a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, design excellence, and long-term resilience.
Celebrating Musqueam Culture Through Design
From the earliest stages of planning, Musqueam artistic leadership was central to the design of the Community Centre. Art is not treated as an addition to the building but as an integral part of the visitor experience, expressing Musqueam identity, history, and values throughout the facility. Major commissioned works by Musqueam artists are woven into the architecture, creating spaces that honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future generations.
The result is more than a community building. It is a place of gathering, learning, wellness, and connection that reflects Musqueam’s enduring relationship to the land and its vision for future generations.
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.
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Image: “What Once Was Will Always Be” by Musqueam artist Robyn Sparrow, installed inside the leləm̓ Community Centre, reflecting cultural continuity and identity. |
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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.
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Image: Ceiling and railing installation by Musqueam artists Debra Sparrow and Gabriel Hall at the leləm̓ Community Centre, blending Salish weaving with contemporary design. |
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The leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre Is Now Open
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?
Selected through a competitive process, YMCA BC will manage the Centre’s long-term operations, programming, and maintenance.
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 leləm̓ YMCA Community Centre is now open and welcoming members and visitors.
