Candidates for Nomination

Aaron Chapman (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Aaron Chapman is a Vancouver historian, and best-selling author of six books on the history of the city?focusing in particular on not only the city's arts & cultural and nightlife, but also of the history of the Vancouver Police Department. He is a two-time BC Book Prize winner, and a 2025 City of Vancouver Award winner for his book Vancouver After Dark. Chapman worked over the last 20 years in the live concert and event industry, producing concerts at the Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vogue Theatre, & Commodore Ballroom, and just about every concert stage in Vancouver, and was a touring musician through the early 1990s and 00's, recording and performing around the world. Chapman served on the board of the False Creek Residents Association for a number of years addressing neighbourhood issues, as well as the Friends of the Vancouver Archives which helped fund the City Archives collections, and speaks regularly at Vancouver history and heritage events. He has also previously served on the city's Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. As a prospective City Council candidate for One City Vancouver, he looks forward to addressing the needs of the Arts and Cultural community, as well as issues around city policing and public safety, housing and affordability, as well as wide array of other civic issues and interests big and small that will make a difference for those who live and work in our great city. Chapman is born and raised in Vancouver, a graduate of the University of British Columbia, and has lived in neighbourhoods all over Vancouver through the years, and currently resides in the east False Creek Chinatown area with his cat named Steve Martin.

Armor Valor (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Armor Valor is a member of the Hospital Employees Union, working as a cook at Children's and Women's Hospital. Valor was also the chef and owner of KaonTa Chicken, a local business he ran in the heart of South Vancouver, where he was born and raised. Valor attended culinary school at VCC, and upon graduating, became the head chef of Indochine Kitchen+Bar Fraser. Before the pandemic, Armor Valor operated as a caterer and private chef.

Using his business as a platform in community, Valor has sponsored and organized several major cultural events throughout the Lower Mainland, such as cultural fashion shows, festivals, local films, and local art galleries. Valor has worked for senior-level government representatives as a constituency advisor and consultant, using his business relations and personal friendships to foster community connections.

During culinary school, Valor was elected for two terms on the Board of Governors at Vancouver Community College, and currently serves on the Board of Governors of Langara College, having been re-elected now for five terms. During his time at VCC, he served on the Student Union of VCC as the elected director of the VCC downtown campus.

Armor Valor has been recognized for his efforts in anti-racism initiatives, being nominated in the Emerging Leader category of the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Awards of BC 2024, and also speaking on several panels on the topic of discrimination and combating hate.

Armor Valor is running to protect and support his fellow small business operators, to fight for his fellow workers and renters, and advocate for an equitable distribution of development, services, and community amenities.

Ashley Fehr (she/her)

Nomination sought: City Council

Ashley Fehr is a community organizer and leader who believes that human connection is the key to a thriving city. As a leader of two of Canada's largest queer sports leagues, Ashley has first-hand experience in building community spaces that are enriching and often life-saving. As a labour activist she has stood in solidarity with workers across Vancouver. She has a deep understanding of Vancouver's rich history: from the work of labour unions who literally built this city, and still maintain our parks, streets, and libraries, to the Militant Mothers of Raymur fighting for safety for their families, to the Lesbian Kiss-In at Joe's Cafe fighting for visibility and fair treatment, to the victories around opening supervised injection sites like Insite following a public health crisis. Vancouverites are trailblazers, and their stories deserve to be accounted for and woven into decision making at City Hall. A longtime activist in Vancouver, Ashley has knocked on thousands of doors all across Vancouver, from ?Red Square? to Killarney, from Fraserview to Kitsilano. The message received has never changed: people want to feel heard by their elected officials, safe in their communities, and connected to each other and this city. Reflecting on these messages, Ashley's goals are clear: protect and invest in our public workers by protecting jobs from AI dependence and investing in the support that Vancouver's community centres and libraries have asked for; develop housing policies that show real leadership on affordability and accessibility across the province, like reopening the renters advocacy office and approving zoning for 4-storey low-density building across the city; enrich the budget for parks and community spaces to ensure people across Vancouver have safe and well-maintained places to connect, see their neighbours and maybe even use a washroom when they need it. Ashley loves Vancouver, and she would be honoured to fight for you at City Hall.

Azeem Ali (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Azeem Ali holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and has spent many years in public and community service. A proud member of the South Vancouver community, he was the Director to the Hon. Harjit Sajjan, former Minister of National Defense and a leader within the BCMA organization.

Attending Tecumseh Elementary and David Thompson Secondary in East Van, Azeem is a Vancouver-born and raised, first generation Fijian-Canadian, who speaks fluent Hindi and Urdu.

A community builder and advocate being part of the team to get the Sunset Seniors Centre built, Azeem continues to work with non-profit organizations, community leaders and small businesses in advocating for affordability, a sustainable economy and a city that works for everyone.

Caitlin Stockwell (she/her)

Nomination sought: City Council

I am a Strathcona resident, long-time climate advocate, cyclist and Indigenous rights lawyer.

Like many Vancouverites, I wasn't born here, but I fell in love with our ocean and mountains, and the communities that bring life to this city. However, Vancouver is increasingly becoming an exclusive city only welcoming to some and we risk losing the people and spaces that make Vancouver a great place for everyone.

I want to run as a OneCity Council candidate to advance a liveable, vibrant and inclusive Vancouver ? one that supports affordable and non-market housing options, leads on climate action, builds meaningful relationships with Indigenous governments, and invests in community spaces and sustainable transit that keeps us connected.

This is a direction I know many Vancouverites share. I heard it when door knocking as a OneCity Park Board candidate in 2022, when speaking alongside over 600 residents opposing ABC's austerity budget, and through community work, including as a current Board Director of the Wilderness Committee and volunteer lawyer for tenants facing residential disputes. It's a vision reflective of community-based values that I have been committed to advancing through climate and environmental advocacy for nearly two decades (e.g. Sierra Club, YesBC and Uvic Environmental Law Centre).

As a lawyer representing Indigenous governments, I have experience lobbying governments for policy change, negotiating shared decision-making agreements, and developing governance frameworks grounded in trust and accountability. When conflicts arise, I build common ground without wavering on core values. I want to bring my professional and community organizing experience to Council to build a Vancouver for all of us.

I hope you will support me and other committed OneCity candidates to ensure the people, communities and public spaces we love and care for are reflected and protected in Vancouver's decision-making. Let's put people and housing first ? and bitcoin last.

Fabian Contreras (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

I'm committed to public service because I've lived the difference that government can make.

I grew up poor. I know what it's like when housing stability determines whether you can focus on school, when transit access shapes where you can work, and when community programs keep a family afloat. Safe housing, reliable transit, and accessible services are not nice-to-haves. They are the foundations to a decent life.

Now, I didn't just grow up relying on government, I built a career inside it. I hold a Master's degree in Public Administration and have spent more than 15 years working inside municipal and provincial governments, including with the City of Vancouver, City of Regina, City of Edmonton, and the Government of British Columbia.

I've been in the rooms where budgets are built, where land use decisions are debated, and where long-term plans are shaped. I know how City Hall works - where it slows down, where it gets stuck and how to move things forward. I know what it feels like to need government to show up, and how to make it show up for people.

Vancouver is my home. Like many in OneCity, I believe we need a city that puts affordable housing first, plans responsibly for the long term, and is there for the poor and working people. Our neighbourhoods should be inclusive and livable. Our leadership should be steady and serious. That is why I have shown as an active and dedicated member of our Party by volunteering my time on OneCity's Council caucus.

I'm seeking a nomination for City Council with OneCity to bring lived experience, professional depth and a grounded commitment to public service on a OneCity Council team.

Frances Bula (she/her)

Nomination sought: City Council

I've spent the last three decades of my 43-year journalism career writing about Vancouver city politics and urban issues.

During that time – first at the Vancouver Sun, then the Globe and Mail – I covered everything from homelessness issues to billion-dollar developments, along with drug policy, transportation, garbage and recycling, transportation, and much more.

I've reported a lot on the Downtown Eastside, a place that has special meaning for me. My father, from a Ukrainian farm family on the Prairies, lived and ultimately died at the West Hotel after a tragic lifetime of alcoholism.

My three rambunctious brothers and I were born in Regina and raised in North Vancouver by my mother, with help from my Quebec-born grandmother. A nun for 15 years before deciding to leave for the bigger world (she eventually became a French teacher in public schools, my mother was an adventurous soul who took chances throughout her life, inspiring me to do the same.

While getting my degree in French literature, I worked as a deckhand in the commercial fishing industry. I cycled through Europe at 18, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in the '70s, travelled to China to study education in 1990, volunteered for a reporting stint in Afghanistan in 2004.

In 1998/99, I spent a year studying housing and homelessness on a fellowship, resulting in a 15-part series in the Toronto Star. That sparked an enduring passion for that issue.

Mount Pleasant has been my 'hood for 25 years, where my husband and I had a laneway house built for his oldest daughter and her family. I have three other kids here, for whom housing is a major concern.

Throughout my journalism career, I've aimed to provide service to the public by exploring the issues that affect their lives. Now, I'm hoping to provide service in a different way.

Haakon Koyote (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Haakon Koyote is running for a council nomination with OneCity because he believes in a Vancouver where everyone can thrive. An air-ambulance pilot, Haakon serves as part of an emergency healthcare team that helps people in their most vulnerable moments. These frontline experiences have shaped his view of wellbeing and how a well-designed city, that works for everyone with connected and safe transportation systems, and equitable housing policies, directly affects people's quality of life. This is in part why Haakon also works with Vision Zero Vancouver as a road safety advocate. As a young person building his life in Vancouver, part of the ?generation squeeze,' Haakon brings a perspective often missing from city leadership?one grounded in lived experience: the daily grind of shift work, offset by the positivity of community service, and a deep belief that Vancouver is a city where everyone belongs. He is a brother to four younger siblings, and you can often find him on his bike (his main form of transport) or swimming with the English Bay Swim Club, which has supported LGBTQIA2S+ aquatics since 1982. Amongst Haakon's passions for life and a better Vancouver for the people around him, Haakon is running for nomination with OneCity, because he believes that secure, stable, and affordable housing is at the centre of a brighter future for Vancouver.

Iona Bonamis 陶思穎 (she/her)

Nomination sought: City Council

Hello! I am:

• A mom of two active kids and a sweet, adorable dog;
• An urban planner with nearly 20 years of experience improving community access, fairness, and quality of life;
• A lead planner at TransLink and previously served as a senior transportation planner at the City of Vancouver;
• A former Co-Chair of Women Transforming Cities;
• A former Board Director of the Trout Lake Community Centre Association;
• Founder and current co-chair of OneCity's Chinese Cultural Working Group; and
• A small business owner who empowers people to lead greener and healthier lives.

Three years ago, I ran for Vancouver City Council with OneCity to build a city for everyone. I was the second-highest voted OneCity candidate (after Christine Boyle) and narrowly missed being elected.

With Ken Sim and ABC our city has drifted further off course, making it less affordable, less inclusive, and less livable. As an urban planner, community builder, and a mom, I am deeply passionate about providing affordable housing, safe transportation, arts and culture, and well-kept parks and community centres. I believe we must also act on homelessness, climate change, and reconciliation.

That's why I'm running again to be a OneCity candidate for City Council. I will use my experience to listen to and unite people, make changes that will make a real impact on people's lives, and stand up for everyday people including workers, artists, and renters. Together, we can tackle these important issues and make Vancouver a more welcoming, connected, and sustainable city.

Jarrett Hagglund (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Jarrett Hagglund's career has been driven by a commitment to community. Raised in Kelowna, Jarrett Hagglund moved to Toronto to take up comedy before returning to British Columbia and settling in Metro Vancouver in 2008. What began as a creative urge to entertain and pull people together with laughter grew into a long-standing commitment to public service, community building, and progressive politics.

Jarrett soon became active in federal politics, volunteering for Burnaby NDP MP Bill Siksay, before serving as a constituency assistant for Fairview NDP MLA George Heyman. In that role, he worked directly with residents, listened to their concerns, and helped resolve complex issues. Jarrett was then recruited to join John Horgan's team. Working and travelling alongside Horgan, he got a province-wide perspective on how policy decisions translate into real-world impacts for communities.

In 2011, Jarrett and his husband, Zach, became members of Emma G. Housing Co-op in East Vancouver, a move that Jarrett describes as life-changing. Jarrett has worked extensively in the co-operative movement, serving on the board of the BC Co-op Association and serving as a leader in the co-op housing movement.

Today, Jarrett is Managing Director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, working closely with housing providers and advocates across the province. Jarrett remains active in Vancouver's arts and queer communities, serving as Vice-President of DMS, one of Vancouver's oldest queer charities. He is seeking a council nomination with OneCity to bring people together, strengthen housing and culture, and help build a more joyful, livable city.

Mike Tan 譚聖祐 (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Mike Tan 譚聖祐 is running for the City Council nomination with OneCity to create a Vancouver that works for families, seniors, and the middle class.

Mike was born and raised in Vancouver, and is a community leader with a proven track record of high-impact advocacy. For more than a decade, he has been fighting for seniors, the Chinatown neighbourhood, and the people of Vancouver.

Proven Track Record
During the pandemic, when the province initially said they would not come to Chinatown to give vaccinations to its vulnerable seniors, Mike led the charge to set up community clinics, which resulted in over 6,000 shots administered. In 2021, when 70 low-income seniors in Chinatown were given eviction notices, he tirelessly advocated for them, resulting in the province acquiring the property and saving those seniors from being forced into the streets.

Community Focused
From 2018 to 2022, he served as co-chair of the City of Vancouver's Chinatown Legacy Stewardship Group, tackling issues affecting Chinatown, including arts & culture, seniors and affordable housing, gentrification, street safety, and legacy businesses. He currently serves as a member of the City's North East False Creek and Andy Livingstone Park Redesign Working Groups, championing inclusive design policies that work for the community.

Mike is a volunteer instructor helping youth connect with the cultural traditions of Chinese lion dance and kung fu, both in Chinatown and as a free after-school program in East Vancouver.

Experience
Growing up in a family run corner grocery, Mike knows the important role small business plays in community. After graduating from UBC Sauder with a degree in Accounting, Mike built a successful career as a CFO helping businesses grow from startup to global enterprise, creating hundreds of jobs along the way. For his work as a top business leader, Mike was named to Business in Vancouver's Forty Under 40 list.

Key Priorities
Mike's top priorities are to create affordable housing for workers, families, and seniors, invest in community programming, and make our streets vibrant with more small businesses.

Peter Waldkirch (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

Peter Waldkirch is a lawyer and one of Vancouver's leading housing advocates. From a Master's degree in housing law to going viral by playing an accordion at City Hall, Peter's passion for tackling the housing crisis has built community around fighting for a more affordable, fair, and prosperous city.

Peter was born in Vancouver. After studying music he turned to law, where he graduated at the top of his class. While housing affordability in Vancouver has been an issue his entire life, Peter returned home from his studies in Montreal and Ottawa to find that virtually everyone he knew from growing up in Vancouver had been pushed out of the city.

Since then he has devoted countless hours to civic advocacy. Peter brings authenticity, knowledge, and humour to connect people and engage them with local government. His advocacy work includes live-posting city council meetings, leading walking tours, promoting participation in public consultations, organizing social events, and frequent media appearances as a leading voice in Vancouver's urbanist movement.

In 2025 Peter completed a Master of Laws degree at UBC on housing law and policy in which he set out his basic values: housing is about people, and we need to place people at the centre of our housing system.

Peter, his wife, and very cute rescue pup are residents of the Fairview neighbourhood.

Russil Wvong (he/him)

Nomination sought: City Council

I was born in Vancouver, I studied computer science and math at UBC, and I work as a software developer. I'm married, with two children who are now young adults. I spend a lot of time reading and writing about housing. Like a lot of parents, we worry about where our kids are going to live.

Why is housing in Vancouver so scarce and expensive? The short answer is, we've made it that way. To paraphrase the recent MacPhail Report, we regulate new housing like it's a nuclear power plant, and we tax it like it's a gold mine.

It's a terrible situation for younger people and renters, but it's also bad for older homeowners. When younger people can't afford to live here, hospitals find it very difficult to hire nurses and doctors.

Vancouver is like a bonsai tree: it's lovely, but it's much too small. We need to grow!

Christopher Lee (he/him)

Nomination sought: School Board

Christopher Lee, M.G.C., is an organizer, nonprofit leader, and young Vancouverite committed to building a future in the city he calls home. Raised in Vancouver, as the founder and leader of the Helping Hearts Youth Foundation, he has mobilized thousands of students, parents, and community members to take action on issues that matter most like improving education and food security to strengthening transparency and accountability in public institutions. Under his leadership, Helping Hearts has organized student-led initiatives that have driven meaningful change across the district. In recognition of this work, Christopher received the Medal of Good Citizenship, the province's second-highest honour. Through his direct work with Vancouver students, Christopher has a firsthand understanding of how policy decisions play out in real classrooms. He has seen how ineffective leadership at the School Board has eroded public trust and allowed students to fall through the cracks. At a time when Vancouverites are stretched thin by an affordability crisis, he knows that parents, students, and staff need a strong School Board through fully funded schools, transparent and accountable decisions, and a a world-class public education system. Christopher is proud to be running for School Board and join the OneCity education caucus.

Kareem Hassib (he/him)

Nomination sought: School Board

Kareem is an experienced post-secondary student leader, communicator and political organizer who is running to be your next VSB Trustee to see Vancouver's schools offer more resources to students, parents and teachers so that every child attending a public school in Vancouver can achieve their full potential, regardless of how much money they have at home or what neighbourhood they live in.

Kareem has served three terms on the UBC Vancouver Senate, the university's highest academic decision-making body, overseeing everything from academic policy to curriculum and pedagogy. He has also served as a member of UBC's Board of Governors, overseeing the university's multi-billion dollar budget, property management, and strategic direction. He currently serves as Associate Vice President, External Affairs of the AMS, Canada's largest student union, where he works with all levels of government to improve student wellbeing.

Kareem is currently on the Board of Directors of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, where he helps ensure the most vulnerable in our society have their rights protected. He is also a member of the City of Vancouver's Transportation Advisory Committee and is the Policy Director of the BC Young New Democrats. Kareem has previously worked as a Senior Program/Project Clerk for the Government of Canada, as a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Communications Assistant for the UBC Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, and as a Cultural Assistant at the UBC English Language Institute.

Building a better education system starts with ensuring that parents, educators, and, most importantly, our students have the support they need to succeed. This means making sure that every school has a free lunch program, that students with disabilities have better access to resources and assistance, that every parent has access to after-school childcare, and more. Kareem is your fighter for these priorities.

Krista Sigurdson, PhD (she/her)

Nomination sought: School Board

Krista is an academic researcher and educator, political staffer, mother, community organizer, parent advocate, friend, and spouse. She has a PhD in Sociology and worked as a health care researcher at Stanford University and as a research and writing instructor at UBC. Her academic work focused on breastfeeding, maternal and infant health, and racial and ethnic disparities in health care. She became engaged in local Vancouver politics through volunteering as a chair for Strathcona Elementary's Parent Advisory Council and board member for Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council. Krista is a OneCity Education Caucus volunteer, ran for school board in 2022 (almost won!) and served on the OneCity Organizing Committee. She has worked as staff on two recent successful political campaigns: Provincially for Vancouver-West End for Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert and Federally for Vancouver-East For Member of Parliament, Jenny Kwan. She worked as a Constituency Advisor for MLA Christine Boyle (Vancouver-Little Mountain) and MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert and now works as an Executive Assistant for the Minister of Children and Family Development, Jodie Wickens. Krista is a parent two two kids in the public K-12 school system in Vancouver. She believes that all Vancouver kids, regardless of where they live or their circumstances, deserve to experience all the wonderful things that public school can offer. Krista wants to be a part of putting kids and families at the center of OneCity's 2026 platform for Vancouver. She enjoys playing and listening to music, dancing, the outdoors, cooking, thrifting, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Rory Brown (he/him)

Nomination sought: School Board

Rory Brown is a member of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC and the former President of the Vancouver Secondary Teachers Association. He is a past Executive member of the BC Teacher's Federation and sits on the Board of the Hastings Community Association. Rory taught in Vancouver high schools for eighteen years and is interested in increasing fairness, safety and opportunity for Vancouver's youth in our public schools. Rory has a keen interest in keeping public spaces public and particularly, the stewardship of school and community facilities in Vancouver's neighborhoods. Rory loves living in the incredible diversity of East Vancouver with his family and beloved dog.

Sherry Breshears (she/they)

Nomination sought: School Board

Sherry's advocacy in public education began when families at Dr. A. R. Lord Elementary organized to prevent the school's closure. Since then, she has been a steady advocate for transparent, equity-focused decision-making. Sherry volunteers with Vancouver DPAC's Inclusive Education Working Group and was a lead author of Advocating for Equity: A Caregiver-Led Examination of Inclusive Education in Vancouver Public Schools, a caregiver-led report on inequities faced by learners with disabilities. She also served as DPAC secretary, representing parents and caregivers at the Vancouver School Board, and is an active volunteer with Dyslexia BC.

Sherry brings experience in governance, labour representation, and grassroots organizing. She is a former president of the Hastings Community Association, where she was instrumental in establishing an out-of-school care program and helping to negotiate a Joint Operating Agreement with the Park Board. As an adult educator, she spent more than a decade in elected union leadership roles. She holds a PhD in Education and Labour Studies from SFU, where she researched the working conditions of adult educators. She currently teaches in the Communications and Rhetoric program at UBC Okanagan.

Sherry is committed to creating an education system where inclusion is the foundation, not an afterthought, and where systemic barriers are acknowledged and addressed. With her youngest child set to graduate from the VSB, Sherry feels this is the right time to step forward as a candidate for school board trustee, offering thoughtful, community-minded, and equity-focused leadership to public education in Vancouver. She sees the VSB as a place where meaningful change is possible, and where long-term, community-centred planning can help create a future for children of all backgrounds.

Steve Cardwell (he/him)

Nomination sought: School Board

Steve Cardwell is seeking OneCity's nomination as a candidate for School Board.

He has a strong desire to continue his support and advocacy for students, parents, and workers as a trustee with the Vancouver Board of Education.

His key motivations are student success and well-being, accessibility, safe neighbourhood schools, and greater resources for improved teaching, learning and working conditions. He believes in democratic and open board meetings that are transparent and open to the public.

Steve has the experience to make a significant contribution to the Board. He was Superintendent for two school districts, including the VSB. He taught graduate students at UBC and was Vice President of Students at KPU. Having served the students, parents, and community in Vancouver for more than five years, Steve brings a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of the Vancouver School District.

As Superintendent, Steve visited all of the Vancouver public schools and has a strong understanding of how they function on a daily basis. As such, he knows the processes and practices of our school system. He also knows the people involved - stakeholders, government, and community.

Steve has two children who attended the public system throughout their schooling. His wife is a former school counsellor and lead educator for alternate programs in the public system.

With deep experience in public education at the K-12 and post secondary levels, Steve's background and leadership credentials have prepared him to respond to the most significant challenges affecting the Vancouver school district. His experience working with public school boards, other boards, and advisory councils makes Steve an ideal candidate for school trustee. He knows our schools. Above all, Steve puts children first. He ensures that whatever decisions are made, they are in the best interests of students and their care givers.

Vivek Khanna (he/him)

Nomination sought: School Board

Vivek Khanna is a longtime Vancouver resident and senior public-sector leader with over 15 years of experience in public accountability, labour relations, and equity-focused decision- making within the BC public service. He is proud to be running with OneCity Vancouver, whose commitment to justice, sustainability, and people-centred governance reflects his own values.

Throughout his career, Vivek has worked in complex public systems where decisions have lasting impacts on communities. He has overseen multi-million-dollar public operations, worked extensively with unionized workers, and navigated difficult issues involving accommodation, fairness, and limited resources. This experience has reinforced his belief that public institutions must be governed with transparency, courage, and a long-term, equity-first lens.

Vivek is deeply concerned by the current School Board's short-sighted approach to land and asset disposals. Public school lands are not surplus?they are critical community infrastructure. Once sold, they are gone forever. At a time of rapid densification, growing child populations, and increasing pressure on neighbourhood schools, irreversible decisions based on narrow or outdated data undermine equity, climate goals, and the public interest.

Vivek believes the VSB must plan for the city we are becoming, not the city we were. That means protecting neighbourhood schools, using up-to-date housing and demographic data, and rejecting false choices that pit fiscal pressure against access and inclusion. Equity must be foundational, not an afterthought, and reconciliation must be reflected in transparent, respectful stewardship of public land.

Vivek is running with OneCity to help build a School Board that is bold enough to protect public education, accountable to community voices, and committed to decisions that serve both today's students and future generations.

Dominic Denofrio (he/him)

Nomination sought: Park Board

Dominic Denofrio grew up in a co-op in Kitsilano, attended Vancouver public schools, and now lives in Marpole with his family.

Since graduating from SFU with a degree in political science, Dominic has worked as a Constituency Advisor for various BC NDP MLAs - currently working for MLAs Sunita Dhir and Bowinn Ma.

In 2022, Dominic put his name forward as an independent candidate for Vancouver City Council, advocating for more housing, better transit, strong urban communities, and more youth representation in government. In early 2025, he ran as a candidate for the federal NDP.

Dominic's interest in the Vancouver Park Board was sparked by a lack of action from the current Park Board on infrastructure and services in South Vancouver. Dominic's top priority for the Park Board is to ensure that our city's parks and community centres are well-maintained - and that we meet demand for more public space and recreation facilities to reflect the needs of our growing population centres. He believes that we must protect and expand access to green space for all Vancouverites, and that the people of Vancouver should maintain democratic control over our public parks and amenities.

Outside of his work, Dominic enjoys studying history, reading, and practicing classical fencing. He has been deeply involved in politics for nearly a decade, and currently serves on the executives of NDP electoral district associations at the federal level in Vancouver-Granville and at the provincial level in Vancouver-Langara.

John Irwin (he/him)

Nomination sought: Park Board

As coordinator of the Southeast False Creek (SeFC) Working Group, John advanced social and ecological justice. From 1997 to 1999, he sat on the City of Vancouver's advisory group for SeFC, and the City's Stewardship Group for SeFC from 2000 to 2008.

As a PhD (UBC, 2004) John specializes in sustainable urban development. He is a lecturer at Alexander College, (he lectured at SFU and UBC as well). He was a policy analyst for the Tenant's Rights Action Coalition and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC, and worked in fair trade retail from 1996 to 2003.

He served on the boards of: the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC); the Friends of False Creek; and the West End Residents Association. John was chair of the Henry Hudson Out-of-School Society (2011-2016), and advocates for affordable child care.

As a father of three children, John is keenly aware of the importance of Vancouver's parks and recreation facilities for our youth and the social and ecological sustainability of our city.

As a liaison John worked with Mt. Pleasant, Kitsilano, Dunbar, and Kerrisdale Community Centres as equal partners.

As a commissioner, John was successful in preventing the seeking of injunctions to move people from Oppenheimer, Strathcona, and CRAB Parks (2018-2022). John met regularly with the unhoused people, and their advocates, at each location. He also met with nearby residents to hear their valid concerns.

Commissioner Irwin met with Viveca Ellis from the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and others, one result of this work was the 'no fare for 12 and under' initiative, which reduced costs for Vancouver's families. Other transit initiatives included: requesting Translink to return of the around the park bus route for Stanley Park (existed pre-1990s); asking the City to request that TransLink establish a beach express bus during the summer months; and an earlier successful motion that asked City Council to support the 'All On Board' initiative to lower transit fares.

John's first term was a period of consistently working for those who are more vulnerable in our City.

Commissioner Irwin introduced a motion at the Park Board on March 28, 2022. If passed, this motion asked that the Park Board chair request that the Oakridge Park mall owners contract with Park Board staff and gardeners to attend to this specific park. Our parks should be maintained by our unionized staff with their long experience in delivering horticultural excellence.

Tyler Petersen (he/they)

Nomination sought: Park Board

Tyler Petersen is an advocate, a labour activist, and an environmentalist. With a background in the biological sciences, and a proven track record of negotiating, finding consensus, and achieving positive results, Tyler is seeking to run for Park Board with OneCity Vancouver.

Tyler is community-driven, and believes that building consensus starts with listening to people. Tyler's priorities are finding ways to improve affordability for the folks who use municipal services, ensuring that equity & inclusion are baked into the decision-making process, and that we find ways to regain the trust that has been lost by the past municipal governments.

Tyler is a leader within their union. Tyler has been a Shop Steward, has been at the bargaining table to advocate for improved conditions in their workplace, and continues that same work in the Joint Labour-Management Committee.

A practical leader, who believes that better is always possible. Tyler Petersen hopes to carry this work onward and collaborate with other representatives to achieve positive, lasting change.