Vancouver Civic Election 2026

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by idunno

The plebiscite is an interesting move. It could go horribly wrong if it's viewed solely as a political move and people don't get engaged with it, or it could be an effective distraction from the previous gaffs of Sim's term (which would greatly benefit ABC!)

Seems kind of weird to him to call a plebiscite when he's presided over a 6% increase in crime this year....

Violent crime continues to trend upward in Vancouver
Vancouver Police Department data for January to June shows six per cent increase in violent crime over the same period in 2025
Mike Howell
about 18 hours ago

Violent crime continued to increase in Vancouver in the first six months of 2026, with assaults and robberies driving the uptick, according to recent statistics the Vancouver Police Department posted to its website.

The VPD’s data for January through June showed a six per cent increase in overall violent crime compared with the same period in 2025. Assaults were up 7.1 per cent and robberies by 7.8 per cent.

The number of reported assaults increased from 2,011 in the six-month period in 2025 to 2,153 in 2026. Robberies saw a similar uptick, increasing from 232 to 250. Reported sexual offences increased 2.8 per cent, from 354 to 364....

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-pol...es-to-trend-upward-in-vancouver-12679760

[kikin]

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

They sped up business licensing, the last step in the process. IMO instead of reforming a broken system, they fixed the easiest to fix part. Business licenses check whether you are complying with zoning and other rules, and issue the permit if you are.

Because in the end our system is about exercising control and we enforce a lot of rules through zoning, and they didn't move on making changes that require zoning changes or variances or relaxations any easier, except for the Chinatown pilot project.

I still visit small businesses that are waiting for a long time to get the permission to put up their sign out front (which shouldn't have anything to do with zoning as previous businesses in the same location had signs). I wonder where the delay is in what seems should be a one day turnaround process to me.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by kikin

I still visit small businesses that are waiting for a long time to get the permission to put up their sign out front (which shouldn't have anything to do with zoning as previous businesses in the same location had signs). I wonder where the delay is in what seems should be a one day turnaround process to me.

Maybe your boy Ken Sim can get on this while he's still in office.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by kikin

I still visit small businesses that are waiting for a long time to get the permission to put up their sign out front (which shouldn't have anything to do with zoning as previous businesses in the same location had signs). I wonder where the delay is in what seems should be a one day turnaround process to me.

Zoning crazily has a lot to do with signage in Vancouver.

[Feathered Friend]

Ken Sim's ABC party names four new Vancouver City Council candidates
Kenneth Chan | Aug 26 2026, 5:37 pm

Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC Vancouver party has added four more candidates to its Vancouver City Council slate for the civic election on Oct. 17, 2026.

Arezo Zarrabian, Joyce Gillespie, Lorraine Lowe, and David Grewal bring backgrounds spanning public safety, business, civic institutions, and community organizations.

This brings the governing party’s slate for City Council to a total of nine candidates, not including the mayor. These four individuals join city councillor incumbents Lisa Dominato, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Mike Klassen, Peter Meiszner, and Lenny Zhou. Former Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer Brian Montague will not be seeking re-election.

Upon inquiry, ABC confirmed to Daily Hive Urbanized that she is not related to Ian Gillespie of Westbank

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/abc-vanc...election-zarrabian-gillespie-lowe-grewal

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by kikin

I still visit small businesses that are waiting for a long time to get the permission to put up their sign out front (which shouldn't have anything to do with zoning as previous businesses in the same location had signs). I wonder where the delay is in what seems should be a one day turnaround process to me.

Vancouver has famously been the no-fun land of signage for over 60 years to the point it's an embarrassment. This should not be a surprise that a sandwich sign at the curb is a problem.

[LeftCoaster]

Lorraine Lowe and David Grewal are top notch candidates. Good gets for ABC.

[csbvan]

Stephanie Allen has dropped out of the Mayor's race. I expect Azaroff or Fry next, considering the three candidates all privately met together the other day. Given the polling and name recognition, my bet is that Fry is probably going to be the progressive candidate.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Stephanie Allen has dropped out of the Mayor's race. I expect Azaroff or Fry next, considering the three candidates all privately met together the other day. Given the polling and name recognition, my bet is that Fry is probably going to be the progressive candidate.

In the Vancouver Sun article she was quoted saying, "[I am] strongly encouraging the other mayoral candidates in the race to also do the right thing, show integrity, and narrow the mayoral field to the progressive candidate best positioned to evict Ken Sim.” Which implies to me that it's not exactly a given either one is ready to budge at this moment.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Stephanie Allen has dropped out of the Mayor's race. I expect Azaroff or Fry next, considering the three candidates all privately met together the other day. Given the polling and name recognition, my bet is that Fry is probably going to be the progressive candidate.

As I see it, the problem is Fry has a cap and would still loose, but be more predictable with the level of support he would attract (Fry's vote share and the Green's vote share, has declined overtime). Azaroff has a higher hill to climb to win, but has a higher ceiling and better odds to win.

Quite hard! 2 weeks to go till formal nominations.

[chowhou]

Seems like COPE is trying to force the hand of the Greens and OneCity by running their own independent "primary".

https://www.evictkensim.ca/unity-ballot

From the wording of this site, it does not seem like COPE thinks Fry or Azaroff are currently giving up.

EDIT:

And Azaroff has now called on Fry to step down and endorse him!

https://x.com/JarrydJaeger/status/2095245799475277860

[Feathered Friend]

Jarryd Jäger @JarrydJaeger
In my initial post, I said Azaroff called on Fry to step down.

I've corrected it to note that he did not do so explicitly.

Azaroff argued there should be one progressive candidate and that it should be him — and that he will be speaking with Fry about it tomorrow.

Apologies.

2:39 PM · Sep 2, 2026

https://x.com/JarrydJaeger/status/2095265477060923635?s=20

The reporter made an error, Azaroff never called on Fry to step down.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://x.com/JarrydJaeger/status/2095265477060923635?s=20

The reporter made an error, Azaroff never called on Fry to step down.

I watched the press release, he didn't say that he wanted to Fry to step down, but he 100% called for Fry to step down.

Reporter: "Are you set on on that there should only be one candidate on the progressive side?"

Azaroff: "That remains the goal of all of us."

Reporter: "Do you think you should be be that candidate?"

Azaroff: "I do. And and Mike, I'll tell you why. Because like I said, this isn't built around one person. We have a real party apparatus that we can use to defeat Ken Sim. Like I don't see another party with the kind of infrastructure we've built around: money raised, doors knocked, volunteers gotten, the endorsement of the Vancouver District Labor Council; Everywhere I look, other than a single or a couple of polls taken in July, [I don't see?] where our party isn't demonstrating a real ability to be the ones to defeat Ken Sim. And I'll talk to Pete about that."

• Video Link

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://x.com/JarrydJaeger/status/2095265477060923635?s=20

The reporter made an error, Azaroff never called on Fry to step down.

Here's how the CBC reported the situation after Stephanie Allen's withdrawal

Following Allen’s announcement, Fry said he was "100 per cent in it to win it" and that he and Azaroff were scheduled to have a conversation soon.

"I think there's a strong recognition that things are definitely moving in my favour as far as public favourability and polling results, and just word on the street," Fry said.

"I have a lot of respect for William but we need to get on with business. We need to get on with taking out Ken Sim."

At his own press conference later in the day, Azaroff said he was disappointed in the comments.

"Pete and I are planning to go for a walk and chat tomorrow. There are conversations still to take place and for Pete to circumvent all that and make that statement, I find that disappointing."

He said there is still plenty of time for negotiations to happen ahead of the Sept. 11 deadline.

"We know what’s best for Vancouver is not to split the vote among progressives … I’m looking forward for our negotiations to continue and giving the process its due."

[GenWhy?]

Major party candidates for Mayor are now:

- Ken Sim (ABC)
- Rebecca Bligh (VOTE Vancouver)
- Pete Fry (Greens)
- Colleen Hardwick (TEAM)
- Kareem Allam (Vancouver Liberals)

[whatnext]

Thanks to Azaroff and Allen for wasting everyone's time.

[csbvan]

A lot of centre/centre-right, and a progressive. Next polls will be interesting.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Thanks to Azaroff and Allen for wasting everyone's time.

Why must you have the dumbest possible takes?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Why must you have the dumbest possible takes?

What on Earth would any rational person find of value in their aborted candidacies that just sapped resources and time from those trying to defeat Sim from the Left.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by whatnext

What on Earth would any rational person find of value in their aborted candidacies that just sapped resources and time from those trying to defeat Sim from the Left.

Originally Posted by whatnext

Thanks to Azaroff and Allen for wasting everyone's time.

Originally Posted by csbvan

A lot of centre/centre-right, and a progressive. Next polls will be interesting.

We will see if there is much benefit to be had. I don't think the unity thesis is as much of a slam dunk as the three parties think it is.