Translink: Name it “Oak-Hero Station” instead of “Oak-VGH Station”

Over the years, our vibrant city has grown with the help of expanding rapid transit systems – there was the Skytrain during Expo86, the Canada Line during the 2010 Olympic Games and now, we have the Broadway Subway Project.

2020 has brought to the forefront the heroes among us. For several months, we made noise for them at 7pm. Now is the time to honour them forever: our healthcare workers. We see them walking among us in their smocks/uniforms. They fearlessly step up when we need to use the healthcare system. Their tireless and fearless work needs to be recognized. The time has come. When we move past this challenging time, we can never forget our healthcare heroes.

Updated September 2020 map of the six Broadway Subway stations (Government of BC):

This September, Translink released the station names for the Broadway Subway Project and while many can understand the use of street-based locations for the new station names, 102.7 THE PEAK on-air host Jason Manning feels we should request that Translink reconsider naming the new “Oak-VGH” Broadway Subway stop to “Oak-Hero Station”. (OR Healthcare Hero Station).

With such a large amount of health care providers and services, including VGH, all within walking distance of the station, it makes sense. Said Manning, “We all have felt this year, more than ever, it’s time to honour the healthcare heroes in our community”.

The name change would honour all the local front-line care workers who have worked tirelessly before, during, and after the pandemic. Think about that MRI or X-ray or ultrasound. “Hero Station” would act as a constant reminder for the sacrifices that healthcare, front-line and other essential workers make daily. As we continue to welcome people from around the world to Vancouver, it would be a wonderful highlight of the significant contribution made by our healthcare heroes.

Jason and 102.7 THE PEAK have started a petition to Translink and the City of Vancouver to urge them in considering the name-change.

That petition can be found at: www.change.org/HeroStation