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Vancouver City Council

Vancouver City Council is the governing body of Vancouver, British Columbia. The council consists of a mayor and ten councillors elected to serve a four-year term. Monthly, a deputy mayor is appointed from among the councillors. The current mayor is Ken Sim, who leads the party ABC Vancouver. City council meetings are held in Vancouver City Hall. The most recent election was on October 15, 2022.

Structure

Unlike many other cities of its size, all Vancouver city councillors are elected at-large, rather than being elected to represent municipal wards.[1] A proposal to move to a conventional ward system was rejected by voters in a 2004 referendum.[2] The mayor chairs council meetings and appoints members to regional boards, such as the Metro Vancouver board of directors.

The Vancouver Charter outlines the structure, powers and responsibility of the city council. Under the charter, the mayor and city council have the power to:[3]

  • Pass by-laws regulating such things as businesses, building, noise, and land use
  • Buy and sell property
  • Collect property taxes and other taxes
  • Approve major spending for all parts of the City government
  • Take on debt
  • Allocate funds for special activities, such as arts and community services
  • Set up departments and offices for City services
  • Hire staff for City departments and offices

Council also maintains a number of standing committees which meet to deliberate on specific topics and hear from speakers. Examples include the City Finance and Services Committee and the Policy and Strategic Priorities Committee. Each committee consists of the entire city council. City council also holds public hearings for spot rezonings.

Membership

Since 2025

See also: 2025 Vancouver City Council by-election

2022–2025

See also: 2022 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Ken Sim ABC Vancouver Mayor
Rebecca Bligh ABC Vancouver (2022–2025)[a] Councillor
Independent (since 2025)
Lisa Dominato ABC Vancouver Councillor
Sarah Kirby-Yung ABC Vancouver Councillor
Mike Klassen ABC Vancouver Councillor
Peter Meiszner ABC Vancouver Councillor
Brian Montague ABC Vancouver Councillor
Lenny Zhou ABC Vancouver Councillor
Adriane Carr (2022–2025)[5] Green Councillor
Pete Fry Green Councillor
Christine Boyle (2022–2024)[6] OneCity Councillor

2018–2022

See also: 2018 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Kennedy Stewart Independent (2018–2020) Mayor
Forward Together (2020–2022)
Rebecca Bligh NPA (2018–2019) Councillor
Independent (2019–2022)
ABC Vancouver (2022)
Melissa De Genova NPA Councillor
Lisa Dominato NPA (2018–2021) Councillor
Independent (2021–2022)
ABC Vancouver (2022)
Colleen Hardwick NPA (2018–2021) Councillor
Independent (2021–2022)
TEAM (2022)
Sarah Kirby-Yung NPA (2018–2021) Councillor
Independent (2021–2022)
ABC Vancouver (2022)
Adriane Carr Green Councillor
Pete Fry Green Councillor
Michael Wiebe Green Councillor
Jean Swanson COPE Councillor
Christine Boyle OneCity Councillor

2014–2018

See also: 2014 Vancouver municipal election and 2017 Vancouver municipal by-election
Name Party Position
Gregor Robertson Vision Vancouver Mayor
Raymond Louie Vision Vancouver Councillor
Heather Deal Vision Vancouver Councillor
Kerry Jang Vision Vancouver Councillor
Andrea Reimer Vision Vancouver Councillor
Tim Stevenson Vision Vancouver Councillor
Elizabeth Ball NPA Councillor
George Affleck NPA Councillor
Melissa De Genova NPA Councillor
Adriane Carr Green Councillor
Geoff Meggs (2014–2017) Vision Vancouver Councillor
Hector Bremner[b] (2017–2018) Yes Vancouver Councillor

2011–2014

See also: 2011 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Gregor Robertson Vision Vancouver Mayor
Raymond Louie Vision Vancouver Councillor
Heather Deal Vision Vancouver Councillor
Tony Tang Vision Vancouver Councillor
Kerry Jang Vision Vancouver Councillor
Andrea Reimer Vision Vancouver Councillor
Tim Stevenson Vision Vancouver Councillor
Geoff Meggs Vision Vancouver Councillor
Elizabeth Ball NPA Councillor
George Affleck NPA Councillor
Adriane Carr Green Councillor

2008–2011

See also: 2008 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Gregor Robertson Vision Vancouver Mayor
Raymond Louie Vision Vancouver Councillor
Heather Deal Vision Vancouver Councillor
George Chow Vision Vancouver Councillor
Kerry Jang Vision Vancouver Councillor
Andrea Reimer Vision Vancouver Councillor
Tim Stevenson Vision Vancouver Councillor
Geoff Meggs Vision Vancouver Councillor
David Cadman COPE Councillor
Ellen Woodsworth COPE Councillor
Suzanne Anton NPA Councillor

2005–2008

See also: 2005 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Sam Sullivan NPA Mayor
Suzanne Anton NPA Councillor
Peter Ladner NPA Councillor
Kim Capri NPA Councillor
Elizabeth Ball NPA Councillor
B.C. Lee NPA Councillor
Raymond Louie Vision Vancouver Councillor
Tim Stevenson Vision Vancouver Councillor
George Chow Vision Vancouver Councillor
Heather Deal Vision Vancouver Councillor
David Cadman COPE Councillor

2002–2005

See also: 2002 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Larry Campbell COPE (2002–2005)[c] Mayor
Vision Vancouver (2005)
Fred Bass COPE Councillor
David Cadman COPE Councillor
Jim Green COPE (2002–2005)[c] Councillor
Vision Vancouver (2005)
Peter Ladner NPA Councillor
Raymond Louie COPE (2002–2005)[c] Councillor
Vision Vancouver (2005)
Tim Louis COPE Councillor
Anne Roberts COPE Councillor
Tim Stevenson COPE (2002–2005)[c] Councillor
Vision Vancouver (2005)
Sam Sullivan NPA Councillor
Ellen Woodsworth COPE Councillor

1999–2002

See also: 1999 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Philip Owen NPA Mayor
Jennifer Clarke NPA Councillor
Lynne Kennedy NPA Councillor
Daniel Lee NPA Councillor
Gordon Price NPA Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Don Lee NPA Councillor
Sandy McCormick NPA Councillor
Sam Sullivan NPA Councillor
Fred Bass COPE Councillor
Tim Louis COPE Councillor

1996–1999

See also: 1996 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Philip Owen NPA Mayor
Jennifer Clarke NPA Councillor
Gordon Price NPA Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Lynne Kennedy NPA Councillor
Nancy Chiavario NPA Councillor
Sam Sullivan NPA Councillor
Daniel Lee NPA Councillor
Don Lee NPA Councillor
Alan Herbert NPA Councillor

1993–1996

See also: 1993 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Philip Owen NPA Mayor
Lynne Kennedy NPA Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Gordon Price NPA Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Maggie Ip NPA Councillor
Jennifer Clarke NPA Councillor
Sam Sullivan NPA Councillor
Nancy Chiavario NPA Councillor
Craig Hemer NPA Councillor
Jenny Kwan COPE Councillor

1990–1993

See also: 1990 Vancouver municipal election
Name Party Position
Gordon Campbell NPA Mayor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Tung Chan NPA Councillor
Libby Davies COPE Councillor
Bruce Eriksen COPE Councillor
Philip Owen NPA Councillor
Gordon Price NPA Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Patricia Wilson COPE Councillor
Bruce Yorke (until 1992) COPE Councillor
Lynne Kennedy (from 1992) NPA Councillor

1988–1990

Elected in the 1988 municipal election[9]

Name Party Position
Gordon Campbell NPA Mayor
Carole Taylor Independent Councillor
Jonathan Baker NPA Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Libby Davies COPE Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Philip Owen NPA Councillor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Gordon Price NPA Councillor
Bruce Eriksen COPE Councillor
Sandra Wilking NPA Councillor

1986–1988

Elected in the 1986 municipal election[10]

Name Party Position
Gordon Campbell NPA Mayor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Jonathan Baker NPA Councillor
Philip Owen NPA Councillor
Helen Boyce NPA Councillor
Carole Taylor Independent Councillor
Libby Davies COPE Councillor
Ralph Caravetta NPA Councillor
Gordon Price NPA Councillor
Bruce Eriksen COPE Councillor

1984–1986

Elected in the 1984 municipal election[11][12]

Name Party Position
Mike Harcourt Civic Independents Mayor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Bill Yee Civic Independents Councillor
May Brown TEAM Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Bruce Eriksen COPE Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Gordon Campbell NPA Councillor
Libby Davies COPE Councillor
Marguerite Ford TEAM Councillor
Bruce Yorke COPE Councillor

1982–1984

Elected in the 1982 municipal election[13]

Name Party Position
Mike Harcourt Independent (NDP) Mayor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
May Brown TEAM Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Bruce Eriksen COPE Councillor
Marguerite Ford TEAM Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Bill Yee Independent (NDP) Councillor
Bruce Yorke COPE Councillor
Libby Davies COPE Councillor
Warnett Kennedy NPA Councillor

1980–1982

Elected in the 1980 municipal election[14]

Name Party Position
Mike Harcourt Independent Mayor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
May Brown TEAM Councillor
Bruce Eriksen COPE Councillor
Marguerite Ford TEAM Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Helen Boyce NPA Councillor
Warnett Kennedy NPA Councillor
Bruce Yorke COPE Councillor
Don Bellamy NPA Councillor
Nathan Divinsky NPA Councillor

1978–1980

Elected in the 1978 municipal election[15]

Name Party Position
Jack Volrich Independent (NPA-backed) Mayor
Warnett Kennedy NPA Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Bernice Gerard NPA Councillor
Helen Boyce NPA Councillor
Doug Little NPA Councillor
Don Bellamy Independent (NPA-backed) Councillor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Mike Harcourt Independent Councillor
Darlene Marzari Independent Councillor
Marguerite Ford TEAM Councillor

1976–1978

Elected in the 1976 municipal election[16]

Name Party Position
Jack Volrich TEAM Mayor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
May Brown TEAM Councillor
Mike Harcourt Independent Councillor
Darlene Marzari Independent Councillor
Warnett Kennedy NPA Councillor
George Puil NPA Councillor
Marguerite Ford TEAM Councillor
Bernice Gerard NPA Councillor
Bill Gibson TEAM Councillor
Don Bellamy TEAM Councillor

1974–1976

Elected in the 1974 municipal election[17]

Name Party Position
Art Phillips TEAM Mayor
Mike Harcourt TEAM Councillor
Fritz Bowers TEAM Councillor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Jack Volrich TEAM Councillor
Warnett Kennedy NPA Councillor
Helen Boyce NPA Councillor
Hugh Bird NPA Councillor
Darlene Marzari TEAM Councillor
Ed Sweeney NPA Councillor
Art Cowie TEAM Councillor

1973–1974

Elected in the 1972 municipal election[18]

Name Party Position
Art Phillips TEAM Mayor
Walter Hardwick TEAM Councillor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Mike Harcourt TEAM Councillor
Bill Gibson TEAM Councillor
Geoffrey Massey TEAM Councillor
Jack Volrich TEAM Councillor
Fritz Bowers TEAM Councillor
Darlene Marzari TEAM Councillor
Marianne Linnell NPA Councillor
Setty Pendakur TEAM Councillor

1971–1972

Elected in the 1970 municipal election[19]

Name Party Position
Tom Campbell NPA Mayor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Marianne Linnell NPA Councillor
Brian Calder TEAM Councillor
Walter Hardwick TEAM Councillor
Art Phillips TEAM Councillor
Earle Adams NPA Councillor
Hugh Bird NPA Councillor
Ed Sweeney NPA Councillor
Ernie Broome NPA Councillor
Halford Wilson NPA Councillor

1969–1970

Elected in the 1968 municipal election[20]

Name Party Position
Tom Campbell NPA Mayor
Hugh Bird NPA Councillor
Marianne Linnell NPA Councillor
Ed Sweeney NPA Councillor
Harry Rankin COPE Councillor
Earle Adams NPA Councillor
Halford Wilson NPA Councillor
Ernie Broome NPA Councillor
Walter Hardwick TEAM Councillor
Brian Calder NPA Councillor
Everett Crowley NPA Councillor

1967–1968

Elected in the 1966 municipal election[21]

Name Party Position
Tom Campbell Independent Mayor
Hugh Bird NPA Councillor
Halford Wilson NPA-CAA Councillor
Harry Rankin Independent Labour Councillor
Earle Adams NPA Councillor
Marianne Linnell NPA Councillor
Ernie Broome NPA-CAA Councillor
Reg Atherton NPA-CAA Councillor
Peter Graham NPA Councillor
Ed Sweeney NPA Councillor
Tom Alsbury CAA Councillor

Notes

  1. ^ Bligh was ejected from ABC Vancouver on February 14, 2025.[4]
  2. ^ Bremner's seat originally belonged to Geoff Meggs, who had been elected as a Vision Vancouver candidate during the 2014 municipal election. His seat was vacated as a result of Premier John Horgan appointing Meggs as his chief of staff. Bremner was elected October 14, 2017, in a by-election.
  3. ^ a b c d Campbell, Green, Louie, and Stevenson formed an independent caucus within COPE in 2004 before forming Vision Vancouver in 2005.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Geller, Michael (November 5, 2018). "Wards or not, Vancouver's electoral system needs reforming". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Matas, Robert (October 18, 2004). "Vancouver rejects ward system". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "Vancouver City Council". Vancouver.ca. City of Vancouver. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Fumano, Dan (February 14, 2025). "Vancouver city councillor Rebecca Bligh is out of ABC". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  5. ^ Brockman, Charles; Meiklejohn, Michelle (January 15, 2025). "Vancouver's longest-serving city councillor announces resignation, citing frustrations with mayor's party". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  6. ^ "REPORT TO COUNCIL" (PDF). City of Vancouver. December 12, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  7. ^ Bula, Frances. "Mayor Campbell, councillors will form their own caucus," Vancouver Sun, 15 December 2004, pp. A1.
  8. ^ Smith, Charlie (March 9, 2018). "COPE Classic, COPE Lite, and the 2018 Vancouver civic election". Georgia Straight. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "Wilking the only new face". Vancouver Sun. November 21, 1988. p. 4. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "Vancouver". The Province. November 17, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  11. ^ "Harcourt zaps Zalm". The Province. November 18, 1984. p. 3. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  12. ^ "Vancouver". The Province. November 19, 1984. p. 12. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "City council leans to the left". Vancouver Sun. November 22, 1982. p. 2. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Vancouver projects under microscope". The Province. November 17, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "Volrich breezes to mayor's chair". Alberni Valley Times. November 16, 1978. p. 2. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "How City Voted". The Province. November 19, 1976. p. 39. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  17. ^ "Council vote results". Vancouver Sun. November 21, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  18. ^ "Final results". Vancouver Sun. December 14, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "Campbell, NPA keep control of city". Vancouver Sun. December 10, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  20. ^ "Here is Box Score of Civic Polling". Vancouver Sun. December 12, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  21. ^ "Election results, all polls complete". The Province. December 16, 1966. p. 10. Retrieved March 20, 2025.