Happy Pride Vancouver!

Yesterday, ABC walked away from their Villages Plan. The plan was not perfect and people didn’t feel heard. But here’s what was on the table: homes, for people and families, that are much more affordable than the ruinously expensive single family homes that are there today.

Last week, Ken Sim's ABC approved a motion that would slam the door on vital health services that save lives, connect people to care, and provide treatment for drug addiction. I'm deeply concerned that this will create barriers to offering harm reduction services that cannot be overcome.

New hyperscale AI data centres are coming to Vancouver. We need to make sure our laws are up to the task of regulating them, constraining bad actors, and addressing any risks to the community. I gave ABC a chance to do all of that. Instead, they voted the motion down, calling it 'red tape'.

I’m moving a motion to do that this week. So that communities have options despite cuts to cooling kits.

Currently, only half of Vancouver families in need of childcare can access it near their homes. The current rate of childcare centre development is simply insufficient to close this deficit quickly enough. That’s why I’m moving a motion to accelerate the development of childcare centres in our city!

AI data centres need to be regulated. Before Vancouver approves additional AI data centres, we need to fully understand their impact on water, power, noise, jobs, and land. And if projects move forward, we need to hold them accountable. ↪️ Next week, I’m bringing forward a motion to do just that.

Today I moved multiple amendments to the motion to extend the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone to September. We need to commit fully to a 3-year seasonal pilot to ensure Vancouver's investment and this opportunity we've been given aren't wasted.

Yesterday was the 52nd Greek Day on Broadway. Cheers to the Greek community for another great year! It was a joyful celebration filled with delicious Greek food, lively music, and fantastic dance performances 🇬🇷 Big thanks to @greekdayonbroadway for bringing everyone together!

Granville Street has come alive as a pedestrian zone during the World Cup. And what a success!🌟 If we want to see it and other potential pedestrian areas become permanent, it’s going to require new, bold leadership to make it happen. @wazaroff.bsky.social

Here's a link to my weekly Vancouver City Council update. https://www.onecityvancouver.ca/oc_update_13june26?e=e6b4e0074591855888cb366ded1a45a0&utm_source=onecity&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=june_13_newsletter&n=4

Yesterday at Council, I moved an amendment asking staff to report back on the resources needed to fast-track the creation of a seismic inventory of At-Risk private and public Buildings. ABC voted it down, choosing once again to make a plan about a plan instead of prioritizing urgent action.

National Accessibility Week starts TODAY, and I'm bringing a motion to Council to make it an official City of Vancouver Observance! 🎉 This recognition will amplify the incredible work of local organizations and move us closer to a truly inclusive Vancouver. #NAAW2026 #AccessibleCanada

On Friday night I spoke to Vancouver cyclist about how important it is to support the City of Vancouver’s Vision Zero Safe Mobility Plan, which is coming to Council on Tuesday.

Everyone deserves a place on the bus. 🚌🚏 You may have seen @movementyvr.bsky.social 's amazing campaign for a low-income transit pass. Next week, Council will vote on the next steps toward making it a reality — and we need your voice. Sign up to speak or send an email to Council.

Last summer, I moved a motion to improve the City's road safety policy. And next week, we take the next big step.🚦 Staff are bringing back recommendations on the changes needed to bring fatalities and serious injuries from motor vehicle crashes to zero in Vancouver. Let's make Vision Zero a reality!

Such good stuff in Report 3. Vision Zero Safe Mobility Plan coming before Vancouver City Council this Tuesday.

Car Free Day: SAVED. Elect progressives, get results. I moved this urgent motion today with Cllr Orr and was thrilled that it was approved unanimously by Council.

I hope that after this October’s municipal elections that Vancouver City Council has a majority willing to make the decisions and investments required to get us back on track to be competitive for the Biggest Leap Award in the coming term.

And congratulations to the City of North Vancouver, who received the coveted Biggest Leap Award for their commitment to reallocating street space and building a safer, more connected active transportation network.

Big congratulations to my friend Patrick Johnstone, Mayor of New Westminster, for being the well-deserved winner of the Arno Schortinghuis Cycling Champion of the Year Award.

Two City of Vancouver projects took home Infrastructure Improvement Awards: the new Granville Bridge Connector and the Kitsilano Beach extension of the Seaside Greenway, which closed one of the most significant remaining gaps in the 28km-long Seaside Greenway.

This week HUB Cycling hosted its 13th Annual Bike Awards, celebrating the organisations and individuals making biking better across Metro Vancouver.

Yesterday morning I went to the West Coast Leaf 2026 Equality Breakfast celebrating International Women’s Day with a number of @onecityvan.bsky.social candidate nominees including @ionabonamis.bsky.social, @russilwvong.bsky.social and Michael Tan.

Without investments from the city, landlords are unlikely to shoulder the cost of these upgrades because they do not see direct benefits; their tenants do.

The now-cut program aimed to make homes safer & more affordable in multi-family rental buildings such as single-room occupancy buildings & apartments for mid- to low-income people.

Replacing gas heating with electric heat pumps not only reduces climate pollution, it also provides essential cooling during extreme heat events which, thanks to climate change, will become more frequent & more intense. The 2021 heat dome alone claimed 99 victims in the City of Vancouver.

Unfortunately the funding source that made this work possible was cut by Cllr Lenny Zhou in an amendment to Mayor Sim & ABC’s 2026 austerity budget. After FortisBC complained, Mayor Sim & ABC cut $8.2 million that had been allocated to make rental buildings ⬇️ polluting & safer during hot weather.

The City of Vancouver contributed a $2million grant from the City’s Non-Market Housing Climate Resilient Retrofit Program, delivered in partnership with the BC Non-Profit Housing Assoc. & BC Hydro. A similar project reduced energy use by 72%, cut emissions by 98%, & ⬇️ utility costs by ~ $3,200p/a

This week I toured a successful deep climate-and-energy retrofit of a non-market, multi-family housing community near King Edward & Trafalgar Streets. Electric heat pumps now provide residents with efficient heating & cooling while upgraded windows & insulation keep suites comfortable.