While summer is traditionally the time to get away from it all, Vancouver’s mayoral hopefuls and Council candidates can’t afford to sit around the pool this season. With only two months to go before the October 15 municipal election, most of them have made numerous public appearances over the last two months at festivals and community events all over town. The intensity will be turned up dramatically come September 1.

Next Tuesday, August 23, one of the parties taking a run for seats on City Council including the mayor’s chair and Park Board will introduce themselves to neighbours at St. James Community Hall, from 6 to 8 pm. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, led by current City Councillor Colleen Hardwick, will discuss the party’s priorities and policies for Vancouver. Everyone is welcome.

A City Councillor since 2018, Hardwick has fought hard for more community involvement and neighbourhood-based planning at City Hall. She has been an outspoken critic of both the Broadway and Vancouver Plans, which call for mass densification and towers of varying heights on every block of the city including side streets. Hardwick is the only mayoral candidate who says she will repeal the plans if elected.

If successful, Hardwick will also become Vancouver’s first female mayor.

If you have specific questions for the candidates, organizers ask that you submit them in advance and send them to: [email protected]. Insert “Townhall Meeting Question” in the subject line. If time permits, there may be an additional short Q&A.

St. James Community Hall is located on the corner of West 10^th Ave. and Trutch Street. There is no charge and there is no reserved seating. Feel free to invite your neighbours and friends.

Ten parties are running in this year’s election; the deadline for nominations is Sept. 9.

We suggest you read this story by CityHallWatch, which shows how the Mayor and individual Councillors voted on the Broadway and Vancouver Plans.

Who’s Running for Mayor and City Council?

Mayor Kennedy Stewart and all current Council members are seeking re-election. At the time of this email, the list includes:

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver (Mayor and six candidates). A new party headed by Colleen Hardwick. See above for more information on TEAM candidates and link to website.

ABC Vancouver (Mayor and seven candidates) consists of three current Councillors: Lisa Dominato, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Rebecca Bligh, and newcomers Mike Klassen, Brian Montague, Lenny Zhou, and Peter Meiszner. New party led by Ken Sim.

Vision Vancouver (three candidates) are on the ballot including Honieh Barzegari, Lesli Boldt, and Stuart MacKinnon.

Progress Vancouver (Mayor and two candidates) Mauro Francis and Morgane Oger join Mayoral candidate Mark Marissen.

Forward Together (Mayor plus three Council candidates) Kennedy Stewart fronts a new team including Hilary Brown, Dulcy Anderson, and Russil Wvong.

Green Party of Vancouver (five candidates). Current Councillors Adriane Carr, Michael Wiebe, and Peter Fry team up with Devyani Singh and Stephanie Smith.

Non-Partisan Association (five candidates) Current Councillor Melissa De Genova is joined on the ballot with Cinnamon Bhayani, Ken Charko, Elaine Allan, Arezo Zarrabian. Mayoral candidate John Coupar resigned on Aug 4.

OneCity (four candidates) Councillor Christine Boyle is seeking re-election and is joined by Matthew Norris, Iona Bonamis, and Ian Cromwell.

COPE (four candidates) is running a slate consisting of current Councillor Jean Swanson, and Tanya Webking, Breen Ouellette, and Nancy Trigueros.

Vote Socialist (a new party with one candidate). Sean Orr is running for Council.

Photo above courtesy of TEAM For a Livable Vancouver. TEAM candidates for Council, bottom row, right to left: mayoral candidate Colleen Hardwick,
Cleta Brown, Grace Quan, top row, right to left: Sean Nardi, Stephen Roberts, Bill Tieleman, and Param Nijjar.