The Future of Chlorine Production at Chemtrade

This page documents everything we currently know about the Chemtrade lease extension to allow them to continue producing chlorine at 100 Amherst Avenue, just south of Blueridge. It is regularly updated with additional information as it becomes available.

February 12, 2025 Update:

Chemtrade is once again offering tours of their facility for those interested in learning more about what they do. Your editor took such a tour in 2024 and found it very informative. Tours are currently available on a first-come, first-served basis and generally happen between 9:30 and 11 am. If you are interested, contact Amy Jonsson at ajonsson@chemtradelogistics.com to schedule a tour.

December 11, 2024 Update:

Chemtrade’s fourth Community Update (see below) discussed their need to apply for rezoning to improve their safety systems and reduce risk from the activities on site. They expect to submit the application to the DNV in the spring of 2025. There will be public engagement opportunities that go with this application.

Overview:

Chemtrade makes chlorine at their Amherst Avenue site, largely for use in purifying drinking water. Their current lease allows chlorine production until July 2030, and they are looking for a “long-term” lease extension. 

Chlorine gas is a highly toxic chemical, and its production carries risk. That said, it is also highly useful, and all of Metro Vancouver’s drinking water is purified with chlorine made at this plant. Many other water utilities use chlorine from the same source.

The decision to extend the lease – or not – isn’t a simple one, as there is no clearly obvious answer. The documents referenced on this page may be helpful to those seeking information to help them come to an informed decision.

The government entities making the decision about renewing that lease are the Port of Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver. We’re told the DNV is reviewing the issue and looking for public input at this time.

If you’d like to make a comment to the District, you can send an email to the Mayor and Council, or you can attend a meeting and ask to speak on the topic for up to three minutes.

The Port of Vancouver has a Contact Us page on their website.

Articles from Local Media

Publications and References from Chemtrade

Additional Sources of Information

  • https://www.keepnorthvansafe.ca/ – A website created to oppose the Chemtrade lease extension.
    • When this website first appeared, it was unknown who created it. No attribution was given on the website.
    • A September 11, 2024, CBC article revealed that it was created by K2 Pure Solutions, a Chemtrade competitor.
    • K2 Pure Solutions also anonymously funded a number of ads on Instagram and Facebook. At least some of those ads presented an alarmist point of view about Chemtrade’s activities.
  • In February 2025, a postcard was mailed out with inflammatory text on this issue and contradictory information on it regarding a chemical plant fire in Georgia. (It listed two different numbers of evacuations ordered as a result of that fire. The larger of the two numbers was actually the number in the shelter-in-place area specified by emergency response at the time.) The card contained a QR code, which was deactivated sometime shortly after it was sent out. This time, K2 Pure Solutions included their company name on the card.