Reinventing Oakridge

Any mall that’s been going strong since the 1950s is definitely overdue for a facelift, but Oakridge Centre is going a lot further than that.

Work is underway on the shopping centre’s complete transformation into a community hub by 2026 (don’t panic: the mall is still very much open for business in the meantime). A new civic centre will feature Vancouver’s second-largest library, a community centre, a seniors’ centre and a day care. Goh Ballet is moving in, complete with an arts academy and a live-performance venue. A biodiverse nine-acre park will be abuzz with people walking, running and playing, enjoying picnics and outdoor concerts under the canopy of a thousand new trees. The 2,600 homes being built include 290 units of market-rental housing and another 290 below market value. And what about the shopping that Oakridge is best known for? Envision luxury brands galore, flagship stores and exclusive retailers from around the planet, all enticing shoppers to explore a million square feet of retail space. And the food! In addition to its expansive food-and-bev space, the transformed Oakridge will tempt foodies with farmers’ markets, cooking classes, a rooftop garden and al-fresco dining in the park.

The year 2026 can’t come soon enough! —Sheri Radford

Oakridge Centre, 650 W. 41st Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, 604-261-2511, oakridgecentre.com