Get Involved
Chemtrade is one of Canada’s largest suppliers of chlorine.
Chemtrade’s ability to operate into the future ensures a local, continued source of liquid chlorine essential for our drinking water systems across Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada. This is an essential product we need yet there are fewer producers across North America than in years past and relying over the long term on imports from the United States comes with significant risk.
In April 2025, Chemtrade and the Port of Vancouver signed a letter of intent to extend Chemtrade’s lease to 2044. This is non-binding, however, marks an important first step in the process to secure chlorine production into the future.
The next steps are for Chemtrade to submit a formal rezoning application to the District of North Vancouver to amend the bylaw to allow continued production of liquid chlorine and following approval, to obtain a development permit to complete a series of risk reduction projects. We invite the community to connect with us in this process.
Rezoning Process
As part of our plans to secure long-term operations for our North Vancouver facility, we are proposing several capital improvement projects that will further improve safety and reduce potential risk. Our engagement efforts thus far through our open house, tours and meetings with members of the community demonstrate strong support for these improvements.
We are applying for rezoning as part of the process to complete our proposed safety improvements, which would dramatically reduce risk for the community – bringing our current risk curves to near or at our property line, while also improving overall facility safety.
Under our leasing agreements with the Port, we will not be able to produce liquid chlorine past June 2030. We were informed that in order to continue to produce liquid chlorine on District lands and to provide the building permits required for our safety improvements, we would need to go through the rezoning process to have the manufacturing of liquid chlorine listed as an exemption within the bylaw. If the District does not approve our rezoning application, we would be unable to move ahead with our planned safety improvements. This leaves the future of the facility uncertain beyond 2030.
To be clear, once we receive District approval, there will be no changes to how Chemtrade operates, no increase in production or increase in the delivery of raw materials or the shipment of completed products from the site. We are simply looking to ensure we are correctly zoned so we can continue production and move forward with planned safety and risk reduction projects.
We intend to submit the formal rezoning application in 2025 and are working closely with the District of North Vancouver to ensure we meet all of the requirements.
Risk Mitigation Process
Chemtrade has commissioned updated quantitative risk information for the North Vancouver facility using the latest technology and accepted parameters. BakerRisk, an independent third-party company, took into consideration site modernization projects completed since 2010, as well as operational changes since that time, which reduce the volume of liquid chlorine stored on site.
Through this process, it determined that specific capital projects can greatly reduce the risk for the community, bringing the risk curves to at or near the facility property line, allowing for unrestricted development in the nearby area. The identified risk mitigation projects include the elimination of bulk storage of liquid chlorine and moving all liquid chlorine rail car loading activities to a sealed building equipped with air scrubbers. This technology can quickly filter the air within the building, removing and capturing any potentially leaked chlorine, eliminating it from the atmosphere.
We have shared preliminary images of the risk curves with the community since 2024. Additional information on the risk curves and risk reduction process will be provided to the District and community as part of the rezoning application.
Current risk curves as developed in 2006
Risk curve modelling following execution of additional risk mitigation projects
Share your feedback & show your support
We recognize that our neighbours and stakeholders play an important role in the rezoning process and there will be formal engagement opportunities available. To keep our community informed and involved, we will continue to provide more information on how you can get involved, learn more and show your support. Everyone is able to submit feedback to the Mayor and Council before the formal application, and we encourage those in support to do so.
Attend an Open House
Chemtrade Open House | June 6th, 2024
On June 6, 2024, Chemtrade held two Open Houses in North Vancouver to share information, listen to the community, and answer questions.
Open House Poster Links
Chemtrade Open House | 2025
Chemtrade will host an open house for the community as part of the formal rezoning process.
More information will be available following the rezoning application.
Community Events
Chemtrade Facility Tours
Nearly 100 residents have toured Chemtrade’s North Vancouver facility! North Vancouver residents and interested groups are welcome to email ajonsson@chemtradelogistics.com for more information.
Community Events
Chemtrade is proud to support the Blueridge Good Neighbour Day on May 25 and the DNV Fire Barn Burner on June 14!
OTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE
Submit a Question
Please submit your questions directly to the Chemtrade team using the form below. You can also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Community Advisory Panel
Chemtrade engages with the community through a monthly Community Advisory Panel meeting. This panel is made up of members from the district and information on the Panel work can be found here.
Newsletter
If you are in the community and/or are interested in keeping up to date with Chemtrade, sign up for our newsletter to receive information directly to your inbox.