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Vancouver City Council candidates at a glance

Graphic by Zi-Ann Lum

Vancouver municipal election 2011: When you go to the polls on Saturday, you will see 40 candidates for the 10 City Council positions and you might wonder, who are all these people? Here’s a thumbnail sketch of the all candidates with links to their own statements of why they are running for City Council. Be sure to check out Sandy Garrosino, a serious candidate running as an independent. 

Vision Vancouver

Heather Deal: Incumbent. Friend to the arts: champions festive events, street food carts, live-work spaces.

Geoff Meggs: Incumbent. Champion of rapid transit, bike lanes and buses. City rep on Metro Vancouver Board. Both a team player and intrepid front man. Champion of study for more green space at Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts and False Creek Flats.

Kerry Jang: Incumbent. Professor of Psychiatry at UBC. Champion for vulnerable people: homeless shelters, mental illness and addiction services, sex-trade workers.

Raymond Louie: Incumbent. Very experienced. Business like approach to affordable housing, public safety and low municipal taxes.

Andrea Reimer: Incumbent. Twenty four seven advocate for food security, Greenest City, climate stability and childcare spaces. Her knowledgeable, articulate, warm speeches make some people hope she'll consider running for mayor someday.     

Tim Stevenson: Incumbent. Canada's first openly gay Minister. Renters rights, low income housing, requiring negligent landlords to maintain safety for residents.

Tony Tang: Engineer, worked in construction industry, chair of Vancouver Board of Variance, advocate for affordable housing, knows everything about by-laws, very enthusiastic candidate.

Coalition Of Progressive Electors COPE

Ellen Woodsworth: Incumbent. Champion of housing, climate change, gender issues, protecting civil liberties and affordability. Popular leader.  

RJ Aquino: Youngest candidate, strong roots in the Filipino community. Co-founded organization that teaches Filipino youth about their roots. Advocates affordable housing.

Tim Louis: Former councillor. Lawyer and advocate for vulnerable people and affordable housing. Vociferously opposed coalition of COPE and Vision in 2008.

Green   

Adrian Carr: Deputy Leader of Green Party of Canada. Opposes spot rezoning that overrides neighbourhood plans and crude oil tankers in the harbour.  

Non-Partisan Association

Bill Yuen: Engineer, former school board trustee, many years of public service in local government (VPL, VSB). Advocates control of property taxes, neighbourhood consultation, public safety and fiscal responsibility.

Sean Bickerton: Worked in music industry, champion for arts and music in Vancouver. Instrumental in opposition to casino expansion at BC Place. 

Jason Lamarche: Youngest NPA candidate. Works for TD Canada Trust. Former skateboarder who helped put together world’s first skateboard plaza located under the Georgia Street Viaduct. Advocate for community youth programs.

Francis Wong: Small business owner, VP of Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Association, active in Chinatown community.

Ken Charko: Businesses include Charko Investments (real estate holding company). Served on strata councils and volunteered for national organizations. Advocates low taxes and “being tough on crime.”

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