The challenges facing Ken Sim’s re-election

We break down the issues shaping Ken Sim's election chances with just under a year to go until the next municipal election

Author

Geoff Sharpe
November 05, 2025

Good morning! 

A newsletter not delivered by 7 am, what’s going on Geoff? Well readers, this is what happens when you have three flights in 24 hours — unfortunately, the newsletter gets done later in the day. 

I shouldn’t complain, having returned from a much overdue European vacation. I finally spent a good amount of time in London. As someone who loves cities, London really grew on me while I was there. Smart use of greenery, great architecture and world-class food managed to almost dull the extraordinary costs of the city.

While I’m jet-lagged, I’m glad to be back in Canada. There really is nothing like home.

Let’s dive into today’s news.

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout founder and managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Wednesday: 12 🌡️ 8 | 🌧️

Thursday: 9 🌡️ 7 | 🌧️

Friday: 9 🌡️ 4 | 🌤️

ANALYSIS

The challenges facing Ken Sim’s re-election

We are just under one year out from the Vancouver municipal election and we’re starting to see the contours of what will be a fascinating race.

In what may become an ongoing series, we’ll be sharing analysis and insights on what you can expect in the coming months as we approach election day.

1. A challenging political environment

Ken Sim’s ABC Party faced a very different situation back in the last municipal election. Kennedy Stewart had become an increasingly unpopular mayor, and there was a fractured left, with both Stewart and TEAM for a Liveable Vancouver, Colleen Hardwick, running for mayor.

But most important for Sim’s victory was the centre-right coalesced around Sim, with the former right-wing powerhouse NPA receiving only 2.3 per cent of the vote. Having no vote split on the centre-right was a key reason for Sim’s success.

This story is only available for members. Unlock our exclusive analysis of municipal issues

While most of our stories are free, some are available only to members. To unlock the rest of this exclusive story, you must become a Lookout member.

Lookout Insider members fund our journalists as they spread out across the city, covering neighbourhood stories that the bigger, American-owned publications just aren’t interested in.

A membership also get you:

  • Risk-free access: Cancel anytime and get a 100% refund

  • Long-form journalism with members-only stories you can’t get anywhere else

  • Access all paywalled stories

  • Discounts to events (coming soon)

  • Support high-quality journalism in Vancouver

THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

$15 million

That’s how much the Parks Board is being told to cut from their budget in 2026 to cover council’s decision to freeze property taxes in 2026. According to the Parks Board, cuts this significant will mean reducing hours and potentially closing community pools and recreation centres, eliminating fireworks shows, stopping the development of new city parks, and ending popular programs like Symphony at Sunset and Polar Bear swims. Read more. [City News]

THE AGENDA
Man walks outside of Vancouver Aquatic Centre

Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Nate Lewis

🌊 And while we’re on the topic of budget cuts and recreation facilities, the Vancouver Aquatic Centre will be closed indefinitely after part of the concrete roof fell into the pool on Tuesday. Read more. [Global BC]

🏊‍♀️ Meanwhile, the City of North Vancouver has announced they are building a swimming platform - essentially an outdoor swimming pool - along the city’s waterfront. Design plans include a saltwater pool, lanes for laps, and a lounge area. Read more. [CBC]

🇵🇭 The federal government tabled the 2025 budget yesterday, which highlights a new funding program that will pay for the Mabuhay House Society’s proposed Filipino Community and Cultural Centre in Mount Pleasant. [Vancity Lookout]

💊 A “historic” amount of drugs was seized at YVR on September 3rd, according to the CBSA. The seizure included 560 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine, which were hidden in a shipment of car parts destined for Australia. An RCMP investigation is ongoing. Read more. [Daily Hive]

🛑 Highway 1 will be closed between the Sprott and Gaglardi exits in Burnaby on Saturday night, to allow for the construction of the Burnaby Lake Pedestrian-Cyclist Overpass bridge. Read more. [Daily Hive]

📚 For the first time in the library’s history, the VPL’s digital collection is more popular than its physical collection. While this is excellent news for accessibility and literacy, the costs for a digital collection, borne by the province and municipality, are significantly higher than what the library has paid for its physical collection. Read more. [CBC]

📬 A new petition is calling on Canada Post to reverse its decision to close the post office at Main and Hastings. Organized by the group Save Chinatown YVR, the petition argues that many Chinese seniors and low-income people in the neighbourhood depend on their neighbourhood post office, and the closest alternative - over half a kilometre away - is too far away. Read more. [CTV]

⚽ The head of Major League Soccer is coming to Vancouver to meet with business and government leaders. On his agenda is the need for the Whitecaps to have better access to a stadium. Currently, the team plays in B.C. Place, which it shares with other sporting events, trade shows, and concerts, making it difficult to schedule Whitecaps games at home. Read more. [CBC]

No annual fees? Yes, please!

The Neo World Mastercard® offers instant cashback on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and your recurring payments. Plus, get even more with 10,000+ partners. No blackout dates, no booking hassles—just real-time rewards you can save or spend however you like. Unlike points, cash never loses value. Simple, flexible, and no annual fee.

Apply now so you can start earning with the Neo World Mastercard®.

The Neo Mastercard, Neo World Mastercard®, Neo World Elite® Mastercard and Neo Money™ card are issued by Neo Financial™ pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated.

Mastercard, World Mastercard, World Elite, and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

HOME OF THE WEEK

If you’re looking for a two-bedroom in the West End, then this may be the home for you. This lovely 811 square foot home has an enclosed balcony and refreshed interiors. And of course, you’re steps away from some of the best beaches in Vancouver.

VANCOUVER ARTS GUIDE

Performance

OUROFEST is a perfect way to catch some dance performances in Vancouver. The festival features a wide array of dance shows, such as Latin and ballroom, from Nov. 14-15 at Massey Theatre. Tickets $35.

The Chutzpa! Festival is back from Nov. 12-23, featuring music, theatre, dance and comedy shows that show the breadth of the Jewish experience. Grab some tickets. 

And continuing with our festival trend, you can catch the Transform Festival featuring theatre, music, drag, circus and comedy Nov. 6-8 and 14-15 throughout Vancouver. 

Art

Here’s a lovely story about Glitch Theatre, formerly Realwheels, which creates and produces D/disability-led performances in the region.

Alliance Française Vancouver is hosting V-Unframed, an immersive art exhibit that combines art and technology in innovative ways. On from Nov. 20-23.

The outdoor art festival Lumière is back from Nov. 13-16, featuring free big and small illuminated and light-based projections across the city. You can find the map here.

One exhibit to check out in the future is Entangled Territories: Tibet Through Images over at Museum of Anthropology at UBC, which explores how Tibetans present and showcase themselves. The exhibit begins on Nov. 20.

Music

Anyone looking for classical music should mark down Dec. 6 – Vancouver Bach Choir at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church will be performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, featuring four different Canadian soloists.

This month’s big music shows in Vancouver include Eric Church, Sigur Ros, Sloan and Robert Plant.

Submit your event and it could appear here and reach 20,000+ Vancouver locals.

HOUSING

UBC student union calls for more details on long-awaited SkyTrain extension

Originally published in October.

It's a project with broad support from governments, the university, and the public, but it's languished for nearly two decades. UBC students and city councillors are calling for tangible progress.

COMMENT CORNER

Readers sound off on the Lookout’s sublet story

On Monday, we shared a story on sublets and ghost leases, and how newcomers are finding community in Vancouver’s rental maze. You can read that story here.

Here are some of our community’s thoughts on this issue. As always, you can share your thoughts about a story in our Comment Corner section.

Jo P: Back when my kids left home, 25 years ago now, I used to do what I called "short-term independent homestay", a maximum of one month. I always chose post-grad students or working holiday students from other countries. Two came in as new immigrants and another two came in on working holidays and are now citizens. Wonderful experience for both sides.

Clara Troje: On subletting, from a 10+ year renter/subletter — the risk of scams of sublets is far lower than with just regular renting in my experience. Usually, costs are cheaper due to longer leases, whereas scammy landlords are 'legally' raising rent by far more when someone moves out. UBC's restrictions seem far more in their own interest than for students.

Jill: Sharing accommodation and sublets are nothing new. Couch surfing was also popular. That is how I started in Vancouver in the late sixties. I came to know people from Vancouver and around the world. The friendships have endured.

Devo Faber: Grace is so lucky that the landlord did not increase the rent on signing a new lease. As a property manager and moderator of one of the largest Facebook rental groups in the Lower Mainland, I have seen many instances of landlords increasing rents when resigning leases. Grace should stick and stay where she is for as long as possible.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
VANCOUVER WORDLE

Think you can guess today’s Wordle? Play it here.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Reddit/beninvan

Is summer the most photogenic time for the city? I’d argue fall is, and this series of photos makes a strong case.

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.