Living Through Change: Reconciliation in Action in Vancouver
Photo of Musqueamview Street in Kitsilano, Vancouver BC - Formerly Trutch Street
For 22 years, I called Trutch Street home. Over those two decades, I’ve watched my Kitsilano neighbourhood shift in little ways—new coffee shops, more bike lanes—but this year, I’ve witnessed a change that feels bigger than any latte trend or street redesign.
On June 17, 2025, Trutch Street officially became šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street—a name gifted by the Musqueam Nation in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, meaning Musqueamview. The change came after years of calls to remove the name of Joseph Trutch, a colonial official who openly opposed Indigenous rights and reduced reserve lands by as much as 90%.
I can’t tell you how powerful it felt to walk down this street and see a name that honours the Indigenous people whose land I live on. This is more than just a sign swap—it’s a daily reminder that reconciliation isn’t only about speeches or symbolic gestures. It’s about visible, tangible action in the place we call home. And yes, it’s also about hearing my non-local friends try to pronounce šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm—which is a learning moment in itself.
If you want to hear it and try it yourself check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP2amrNSWFw&t=6
Sen̓áḵw — Landback You Can See From My Sidewalk
Make it stand out
I like this photo in black and white. It makes me think about the structures that were here and the people that lived in them before contact. This develpment isn’t THE solution, but it’s certainly a step… TV
From my street, I walk a few blocks to the water of English Bay and when I look to the right I see towards False Creek. I imagine what it must have been like over a century ago, before the Squamish people of Sen̓áḵw were forcibly removed. That land—originally 80 acres—was whittled down to almost nothing through colonial expropriation.
Fast forward to today, and a portion of that land, 11.7 acres, has been returned to the Squamish Nation. What’s happening there now is jaw-dropping: the Sen̓áḵw development will bring 6,000 rental units (1,200 of them designated affordable) in sleek, high-rise towers—up to 56 storeys.
Here’s what makes this project even more remarkable:
It’s entirely Squamish Nation-led.
It received a $1.4 billion loan from the federal government—the largest CMHC loan in history—to make it happen.
Because it’s on reserve land, it bypasses city zoning rules, letting the Nation set the pace and scale.
For me, it’s not just about the buildings—it’s the idea that land is being returned, communities are creating their own economic future, and we’re watching a tangible form of “economic reconciliation” rise, floor by floor.
What’s Next?
Projects like the Jericho Lands—a massive Indigenous-led development by the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations—are already on the horizon, promising thousands more homes and businesses with cultural roots.
Why This Matters to Me (and Maybe You)
I’m honoured to live in a city where reconciliation isn’t just talked about—it’s happening. Whether it’s a street name change that lifts up Indigenous language or a skyline reshaped by land returned to its original stewards, these are the actions that build a more truthful, inclusive Vancouver.
And the best part? We’re not just reading about it in history books decades later—we’re here, living it, right now…
