Vancouver used to feel like a place where life unfolded in colour — where neighbours ran into each other at the produce stand neatly stacked with affordable food, block parties filled our otherwise quiet streets, mom-and-pop shops were home to familiar faces who asked about your parents' health, and where you could enjoy a meal without holding your breath when you opened your wallet to pay.
neighbourhoods reflected the people who lived here: families, artists, small business owners, and health care workers. Vancouver was a town where people worked hard and measured their commute in stops. Vancouverites came from across the country and the world to put down roots and build a life to be proud of, without feeling like opportunity belonged to the wealthy few hidden behind thick hedges.
That Vancouver can be rebuilt, anew, and in our own images. But only if we fight for it.
For too many, Vancouver is not a city where folks live — it has become a place where they scrape to survive.
Families watch the bills pile up in their narrow entryways. Creatives contemplate moving to the suburbs. Renters are one paycheque away from devastating confrontation with their landlords. Local businesses agonize for months waiting for basic permits while big chains and box stores sail through the approval process and snap up prime real estate. Young people's only shot at owning a home is to nervously bide their time anticipating an inheritance — let alone those who know that no inheritance will ever come to save them. And when we ask for support, ABC's answer is to crack down, tighten rules, close beaches, defund services — anything but extending an open hand to those of us who make our city run.
But we can build a different Vancouver. Our city has always been a place where ordinary people did extraordinary things. When the Militant Mothers of Raymur blocked the tracks so their kids could walk to school safely, they forced the city to listen. When ABC attempted to weaken our climate commitments, Vancouverites rallied and won. When families in South Vancouver asked for a lifeline to save cultural institutions, OneCity delivered.
Every time those who profit off the status quo try to hold Vancouver back, we, the people, push through and forge a new reality.
We know what it takes to build a city that works for us. A city that reflects our creativity, our diversity, and our ambition.
That's the heart of OneCity's plan: a new blueprint for Vancouver. A municipal government that works to the bone to create the conditions for people to thrive. Leadership means giving people real freedom and real security, together to:
We do not need more government by the Arbutus Club class. We deserve leadership with bold ideas and a generosity of spirit — elected leaders who put our neighbours at the core of all decisions, instead of silencing them.
That's the story of OneCity. Founded in 2014 by teachers, artists, climate advocates, library workers, union leaders, community health professionals, small business owners, and still powered by people who love this city enough to fight for it tirelessly. We've grown from a kitchen-table dream into a broad political home for Vancouverites who believe our shared future is worth fighting for.
It's time to win the Vancouver we need: from every block, every background, and every community. Where every neighbourhood, from Marpole to Hastings-Sunrise to the West End, strengthens the whole, as one city.
Where we honor the leadership of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, who have always led with a view reaching seven generations back, seven generations forward.
Where we stop cordoning off parts of the city for the rich, and instead open new possibilities for all of us: an end to traffic deaths, housing you can afford, thriving arts, climate resilience, fair pay for a day's work, spaces where we come together without coughing up cash, community-driven celebrations unshackled by exorbitant permit fees, libraries that respect the very workers who open the world to us, lush parks, and businesses run by folks you know — not by some international holding company.
A city where we can truly live, not just hang on.
OneCity acknowledges that we live and do our political work in Vancouver on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. We recognize that the racist and violent practices of colonization have had devastating impacts on these communities and that their effects continue to this day. The ongoing resistance of and victories achieved by Indigenous communities offer us vital lessons about how to do our own political work that align with principles of social justice and reconciliation. We voice our solidarity with these resilient communities.
Our focus is on environmental and climate justice, a sustainable economy, social justice, affordability and equity. We believe our social and cultural lives should be integrated with our political lives.
We are committed to transparent and cooperative decision-making. We may disagree but we view disagreements as opportunities for strengthening our understanding of one another's perspectives and as moments to build our organization.
We practice respectful and positive engagement. We recognize that we are all learning and that we always have something to learn from one another.
We want to build diverse and equitable communities in Vancouver. We embrace each other's differences in experience and perspectives and see this as a strength in building an inclusive community.
We are a progressive voice for people and communities. We strive to create an environment that welcomes participation and engagement from as many people as possible.
We are working for an inclusive, vibrant and affordable city — a city for everyone, not just a few. We acknowledge the variety of obstacles facing members of our organization and residents of our city that are both institutional and systemic and we commit ourselves to working against these obstacles in all their forms.
We are a movement of social change. We undertake, together, to build a kinder, more just, more equitable city.
Co-chair and founding member of OneCity
Co-Chair and founding member of OneCity, is a senior qualitative researcher whose areas of study include harm reduction, safer supply, and HIV prevention and treatment. She has long been involved in politics, including as a member of the antiwar coalition Stopwar, and has served on the boards of her housing co-operative and the People’s Co-op Bookstore. She is currently on the OneCity Labour Caucus and Rapid Response Team. Cara lives with her partner and two kids in East Vancouver.
Co-chair
Liz Locke (she/they), is seeking re-election as Co-Chair of OneCity Vancouver (OC). In the past two years they oversaw the hiring and funding of OCs first executive director, the successful by-election of Lucy Maloney, and as Executive Chair of OC’s fundraising committee; exceeded every quarterly fundraising goal, including the highest grossing year-end fundraising drive in OC history.
A deeply engaged member of the OC Executive, Liz has worked closely with the Organizing Committee directors (OCOC), committees, and caucus. In this general election year, she aims to build continuity in campaign planning through continued strategy and document preparation. In 2026 and beyond they will focus on expansion of neighbourhood outreach strategies through direct organizing conversations and continued upgrades to OC database technology.
A long-time renter and resident of our Downtown Eastside, Liz confronts increasing divides in our city daily. She believes affordable, sustainable, and livable cities are not lofty goals but are important and complex issues we must address to find comprehensive solutions for all our neighbours.
Since OC’s inception in 2014, Liz has volunteered on nearly every campaign, walked hundreds of kilometres door knocking, delivered swag + volunteers across the city, and planned and carried out neighbourhood events like Culture Crawl walks, the OC 10 Anniversary Party as well as Labour & Friends BBQs. You have probably seen her hustling in the background of an OC event sporting a beret or introducing you to their dog Beatrice.
Membership Secretary
Will Shelling (he/him) is a mixed-race Black man who resides in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of what we now know as Vancouver. He’s deeply passionate about issues related to justice and accessibility, and ensuring Vancouver remains a place where everyone can support each other. Will has served as OneCity's Communications Committee Co-chair, and has worked as OneCity's membership secretary since October during the beginning of the mayoral nomination process.
Will has lived in Vancouver for over ten years, having completed both his undergrad and masters at UBC, specializing in public policy and global affairs. He works as an account director for government relations focused on Indigenous affairs, climate change and energy, and nonprofits. He has specialized in advocacy campaigns designed to move the dial on major social issues, such as reconciliation, queer and trans rights, and supporting resilient cities. When he’s not working, you can probably find him riding his bike around Metro Vancouver, supporting a local wine bar, or hanging out at home listening to records with his partner and their cat, Nora.
Treasurer
Neal Jennings (they/them) is a resident of the West End, and a Chartered Professional Accountant. They have their own tax practice, as well as working on the team developing the accounting profession’s certification exams. Neal is currently the treasurer at the Friends of the Vancouver City Archives, and a member of the finance committee at REACH Community Health Centre, where they are a past treasurer, and they have also served as treasurer at the BC Technology for Learning Society. Neal is a long-time advocate for active transportation, housing, and the environment, and believes in a city of abundance for all.
Outside of work and volunteering, Neal loves taking in live music at venues across the city, enjoying a delicious dessert at local cafés, going for walks in Vancouver’s parks and neighbourhoods, and travelling both nearby and far away.
Recording Secretary
Chloe is the President of CUPE 2950, a union representing over 1,500 clerical, library and theatre workers at the University of British Columbia. She serves as Vice President of the Vancouver District Labour Council (VDLC) and chairs CUPE BC's Environment and Climate Justice Committee. Chloe is passionate about building a political community of working people and families within the labour movement and beyond. Chloe has experienced the challenges faced by working class families struggling with affordability and access to public services in her city. She is a tireless champion of the rights of working people, negotiating fair wages and improved working conditions for her union members. She has led campaigns in her community encouraging neighbours and workers to become politically active and stand up for the issues they want to see governments take on. She works to build community that extends beyond the workplace, using power of solidarity and collective action to vote for positive change. She envisions a city where individuals from diverse backgrounds unite to create a more just and equitable society.
At-large member and founding member of OneCity
I am a founding member of OneCity and served as Co-Chair from 2014-2019, and was on the executive from 2023-2024. I've held many roles over the years, and I'm currently serving the party as Nominations Co-Chair. 2026 is an important year for OneCity - it's what we've been working towards from the start.
I'm so proud of the work we've done over the years, and am so excited that we're at a moment of growth. I'm committed to upholding both the party's progressive politics and the relational, feminist organizing that's been at the core of the party. Outside of OneCity I'm a proud BCTF member and mom to a 9 and 6 year old.
At-large member
Florence Baker (she/her) is a community organizer and facilitator. She's spent the last decade working alongside community leaders on affordable housing, climate justice and immigration reform. She is passionate about the potential of civic institutions to transform our public life and is a lifelong student of leadership development, institutional renewal and the power of people's personal story.
She has studied and trained in relational community organizing with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the largest community organizing network in North America including the Metro Vancouver Alliance, Greater Victoria Acting Together, Bay Area IAF and London Citizens.
At-large member and founding member of OneCity
I am a founding member of OneCity and have been on the Organizing Committee since 2014. I was the MLA for Vancouver-Kensington and the President of my union - the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation - and I’ve been active in the labour movement and Vancouver municipal politics for decades. The spectacular growth of OneCity and the many hundreds of principled, energetic young people who want to build a Vancouver for Everyone and who are now part of our team are an inspiration! Still, we need progressive voices who have experience with electoral politics in Vancouver and a long view of our role on the broad left. The OCOC can and should provide brave and pragmatic political leadership and I want to be one of those voices as we gear up for this critical election year.
At-large member
Natalie Cushing has spent more than 20 years working and volunteering with environmental and social justice organizations, with a focus on governance, operations, and values-aligned growth. She moves comfortably between systems and people: managing teams, mentoring talent, operationalizing rules, and translating abstract requirements into things that actually work. From the Downtown Eastside to Yellowknife to the backyards of Victoria, she has helped community organizations scale in ways that remain values-lead and grounded in their purpose.
A generalist by nature, Natalie’s education spans environmental sciences, financial management, and Canadian law. During her 12 years at MakeWay (formerly Tides Canada), she worked closely with Indigenous-led initiatives seeking to balance regulatory requirements with culturally relevant ways of working. In appreciation of this leadership, she strives to show up with authenticity, accountability, and respect in all her relationships.
Natalie has served on multiple boards of directors, including the Stanley Park Ecological Society and Hives for Humanity, and brings a strong understanding of fiduciary responsibility, policy oversight, and collaborative governance. She is particularly motivated by civic work that advances equity, climate resilience, and inclusive participation at the municipal level.
She lives in the West End with her senior rescue dog, Oliver, with whom she can often be found walking between the neighbourhood’s dog friendly parks, beaches, and patios. After receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, Natalie increasingly integrates creativity into her work, such as crafting workshops and creative writing, practices informed by her belief that systems built for humanity deliver more impact and more joy.
At-large member
Litia Fleming is a teacher who is currently working in governance at the BC Teachers’ Federation. As someone who grew up in Vancouver, and who is currently raising a child here, she is invested in building a city that considers young people as it grows. Litia has a strong background in education, community building, and union activism.
She is guided by the principles of transformative justice and collective care and is excited contribute to OneCity’s vision of a more equitable, affordable, and diverse Vancouver.
At-large member
Jason is a senior policy analyst, researcher and writer working in public health, primarily focused on climate change, housing and homelessness, and drug policy. He holds a PhD in political science from UBC and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in international studies from the University of Washington; in both roles he studied and wrote about Indigenous self-determination and the implementation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Jason served as OneCity’s Treasurer from 2021-2026, overseeing the organization’s finances, preparing and submitting reports to Elections BC, and coordinating the party's Financial Team. He has also been involved in the party's Succession Planning Working Group, served on OneCity's negotiating team in left unity talks, and played a lead role in the hiring of the party's Executive Director. In his spare time, he can be found hiking, cycling and kayaking; seeing live music; and attending demonstrations for climate justice, Indigenous rights, and Latin American solidarity. In his days of youthful rebellion Jason shared a jail cell with Martin Sheen; now he shares a West End rental unit with 10 plants and a rice cooker.
At-large member
Harmon Moon (he/him) is a former political organizer turned professional cook. He cut his teeth working with the federal and provincial Liberals in Alberta, first as a field organizer and then as a staffer in the Legislature. When COVID struck, however, he decided to try something different and moved to Vancouver to attend culinary school. Since then Harmon has been working in restaurants, where he has experienced first-hand how difficult this city is for people with lower wages and fewer resources. He is convinced that many of the solutions lie in our municipal government, which led him to become involved in the urbanism community as an advocate for higher density and better planning.
At-large member
Matthew Wigmore is a West End resident, born and raised in Northern BC, passionate about making a Vancouver that works for everyone. Previously, he worked for the provincial government, including as press secretary and communications manager for the Minister of Health and Provincial Health Officer during the COVID-19 and drug poisoning public health emergencies. He holds an MSc in social policy from the London School of Economics. While living in London, he canvassed for Labour during successive elections. Matthew co-founded One TWU, a nonprofit that advocates for and provides support services for LGBTQIA2S+ students and alumni of Trinity Western.
He has served on the boards of several nonprofits and has been featured in CTV, Global News, Maclean’s, Globe and Mail, and Vancouver Sun. He brings big musical theatre energy to everything he does -- whether it’s his day-to-day life or thinking through long-overdue housing, transit, affordability and governance policy changes so that Vancouver works for everyone.
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