A new multi-sport facility in West Vancouver is just one kick away.
Construction will start next week for an inflatable sports bubble near West Vancouver Secondary, and the facility has a new name thanks to a $3-million donation from philanthropist Paul Myers.
District of West Vancouver council, West Vancouver School District and the West Vancouver Football Club came together for a ceremony Wednesday, celebrating the groundbreaking milestone by placing shovels in gravel.
“Supporting this project is about more than building a facility – it’s about investing in the health, happiness, and future of this community,” Myers said in a press release. “I’m proud to be part of something that will serve generations of athletes, students, and families in West Vancouver.”
The sports bubble will be named the Paul Myers Athletic Centre (PMAC). The Paul Myers Foundation made the generous donation in December 2024 after hearing about West Vancouver FC’s proposal in the spring of last year.
West Vancouver FC, a non-profit community organization, first put forward the proposal to the school district in April 2022. In November 2024, District of West Vancouver approved a permit for construction of a 2,600-square-foot inflatable sports bubble near West Vancouver Secondary.
During the council meeting, the football club expressed the need for an inflatable structure after seeing many children and adults getting wet and miserable playing in West Van's winter rain.
PMAC will be the first indoor soccer and multi-sport facility in West Vancouver, which will mark a transformative addition to the community’s athletic infrastructure, the press release said.
The West Vancouver School District and West Van FC have partnered to allow the sports bubble to be built on school district property. West Vancouver Secondary students will have access to the centre during school hours once it’s built.
“The new Paul Myers Athletic Centre is a game changer for local soccer development and WVS students,” said Nicole Brown, board chair of West Vancouver Schools. “During school hours, physical health education classes will have access to this state-of-the-art facility, enhancing their programming with a high-quality indoor training space.”
The West Vancouver Football Club is also setting up a project partnership with the BC Amateur Sport Fund, a philanthropic gift-giving program that was established by Sport BC for the development of amateur sport.
Rob Newman, Sport BC President and CEO, said the fundraising partnership between the sport fund, football club and the Paul Myers Family Foundation is a “powerful” example of what can be done in sport philanthropy work.
“Sport BC is proud of this partnership as an example of the potential of sport philanthropy to have a meaningful impact for community now and for generations,” Newman said.
West Van FC president Ruth Burr also shared appreciation of the donation, saying the facility represents a commitment to the health, development, and future of young and older athletes in the community.
The name Paul Myers also appears on a new tower at Lions Gate Hospital following a $25-million donation from the former plumber who experienced much success as a business owner.
The sports bubble is expected to be completed later this year.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
[email protected]
https://x.com/abbyyluciano
https://bsky.app/profile/abbyluciano.bsky.social
Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
