November 2025: Investing in Services, Strengthening Our City

November was one of the busiest months of the year at City Hall, and one of the most consequential. At the heart of it was Council’s approval of Vancouver’s 2026 Budget, built around a simple but important promise: Zero Means Zero.

At a time when many families are stretched, we delivered a 0% property tax increase, while protecting frontline services and continuing to invest in critical infrastructure. I was pleased to secure unanimous support for my amendment reallocating $800,000 to ensure that community centre recreation fees stay frozen for 2026. This will keep admission, passes, lessons, programs, and permits more affordable for residents.

This budget isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing better. With roughly $120 million in savings and efficiencies, we’re strengthening public safety, roads, arts and culture grants, and library hours, while moving ahead with major projects like seismic upgrades to the Cambie Bridge and construction of the new Marpole Community Centre. It’s a clear statement that Vancouver can be both financially disciplined and deeply committed to quality of life.

To support this shift, Council also launched the VanStat pilot program. VanStat is a performance and accountability framework that will use regular data-driven reviews to improve how the City delivers services. It’s about breaking down silos, boosting transparency, and making sure resources are aligned with the priorities that matter most to Vancouverites.

Safer Neighbourhoods and Stronger Supports

Public safety and community wellbeing were front and centre this month. I joined Mayor Ken Sim and colleagues at the opening of the new Downtown Community Policing Centre at The Post, which replaces the Granville location and works alongside the Gastown–Hastings Crossing CPC opened in July. These community-led hubs, powered by volunteers and VPD partners, are an important part of making residents and businesses feel safer.

We also saw the next generation of first responders step forward at the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Recruit Graduation for Class 25-03. Under Chief Karen Fry’s leadership, 12 new recruits joined the ranks in a moving ceremony that honoured the discipline, teamwork, and heart that define VFRS.

At the same time, we paused to remember those who have given everything for our city and country. I attended a memorial service for my friend Acting Captain Neil Austin, who passed in October after a courageous battle with occupational cancer — a solemn reminder of the risks firefighters face long after the sirens stop.

On Remembrance Day, I was honoured to represent the City at ceremonies at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and at the Chinatown Cenotaph, paying tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Earlier in the month, students, teachers, and parents adorned the front lawn of City Hall with poppies — a simple, powerful reminder that we will remember them.

I also brought greetings at a Canadian Mental Health Association board reception here in Vancouver, reinforcing that mental health is not peripheral — it’s central to how we learn, work, and live together. Organizations like CMHA and Whole Way House, who held their annual Remembrance Day fundraiser to support veterans and seniors in the Downtown Eastside, are vital partners in building a more compassionate city.

Housing, Childcare, and Health Care for a Growing City

Housing continues to be a major focus. At the Housing Central conference, I met with advocates and non-profit leaders from across B.C. working to expand social and affordable housing. These conversations help guide our work at City Hall and ensure we’re aligned with on-the-ground realities.

I joined Councillor Lenny Zhou for a tour of the new St. Paul’s Hospital site for a second time alongside Providence Health CEO Fiona Dalton. It will be a transformative health care project that will begin opening in phases in 2026. It was great to see it up close again and closer to completion.

Childcare expansion also took a big step forward with the grand opening of CEFA UBC, a beautiful 110-space early learning facility and CEFA’s 50th school nationwide. Standing with families, staff, and Musqueam partners, it was clear how much these spaces matter for working parents and healthy communities. My goal is to see many more high-quality public- and privately delivered childcare projects across Vancouver.

Council also took steps to move forward on establishing a Filipino Cultural Centre in Vancouver, a long-overdue commitment to a community that has given so much to our city. This is about creating a home for culture, heritage, and connection that will serve generations to come. A final decision on the motion tabled by Mayor Sim and Councillor Zhou comes on December 9th.

Supporting Small Business and a Stronger Local Economy

Small business is the backbone of our local economy, and this month we took concrete steps to help them succeed. Council backed my amendment to streamline our patio program, cutting red tape and creating a single, predictable pathway for restaurants and cafés to build seasonal patios, just in time for FIFA World Cup 2026 and beyond. My thanks to the Vancouver Business Growth Task Force for bringing recommendations that shaped this amendment.

I also walked Denman Street with Manny Verma of Modern Handi Indian Cuisine, speaking with him and other local proprietors about the pressures they face. I connected him with the City’s Business and Economy staff and contacted the local BIA. Our city must create the conditions for retail businesses to thrive, not just survive.

On Granville Street, I joined Mayor Sim and my ABC Vancouver colleagues at a press conference urging the Province to follow through on commitments around involuntary care and to accelerate the relocation of SRO residents from the Granville Entertainment District to more appropriate housing. Granville is at a tipping point, and we need solutions that support both vulnerable residents and the small businesses and workers who have carried the burden of persistent street disorder for too long.

Beyond our local main streets, I continued my work with Invest Vancouver, participating in a strategic planning session for the 2026 Annual Plan focused on economic growth, foreign direct investment, and job creation. I also helped welcome delegates to the Social Innovation Summit Learning Journey, sharing how Vancouver is working to be more inclusive, innovative, and resilient.

Events like the Smart Energy Vancouver gathering and the North House Anti-Gala, where founders and tech leaders explored the future of innovation. It underscored for me how important it is that entrepreneurs know City Hall is in their corner.

Railways, Sport, and Community Pride

November also brought moments of pride and celebration that speak to Vancouver’s identity and future. I was honoured to represent the City at the 70th anniversary of VIA Rail’s The Canadian at Pacific Central Station, where Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung and I presented a City proclamation recognizing this national icon. At the start of the month we marked 30 years of West Coast Express, Western Canada’s only commuter rail service. Both occasions remind us how vital reliable transportation is to connecting communities and supporting economic growth.

On the sports front, we celebrated Vancouver Rise FC’s Northern Super League Championship win, and I was proud to proclaim November 15th as Vancouver Rise FC Day. I also joined thousands of fans at the sold-out Pacific Coliseumfor the inaugural game of the Vancouver Goldeneyes PWHL team, who claimed a dramatic overtime victory and launched a new chapter of major league women’s sport in our city.

We closed the month with events that showcased our diversity and community spirit, from the Pacific Autism Family Network gala hosted by Lieutenant-Governor Wendy Cocchia, to the proclamation of Romania Day at City Hall, to festive gatherings like Amacon’s Tree Lighting ceremony and the Ukrainian Christmas Fair, where we stood in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

As we head into the final weeks of the year, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. A budget that holds the line for residents, concrete steps to support small businesses and public safety, and a continued focus on housing, childcare, and community wellbeing.

Thank you, as always, for your ideas, feedback, and support. I look forward to seeing you around the city as we close out 2025 and continue building a Vancouver that is more affordable, more caring, and more future-ready for everyone.