By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | August 12, 2026
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Vancouver voters head to the polls on Saturday, October 17, 2026, to choose their next mayor. The city's official election period began January 1, 2026, with a pre-campaign period — when third-party advertising rules kick in — starting July 20, 2026. Several names lead a crowded mayoral field, though the ballot itself may end up much longer: some past Vancouver elections have drawn upwards of 25 mayoral hopefuls, so additional names could still surface before nominations close on September 11, 2026.

Ken Sim (ABC Vancouver) is seeking a second term as incumbent. ABC has campaigned on housing "affordability," faster permit approvals, and public safety, delivering a 0% property tax increase for 2026. Critics say the platform emphasizes speed of development over affordable/social housing, and it says little about heritage retention or environmental policy specifically.

Colleen Hardwick (TEAM for a Livable Vancouver) is making her second mayoral run after placing third in 2022. TEAM's platform centres on neighbourhood-level planning, opposing several city-wide development plans, and pledging $500 million toward co-op housing. Hardwick has also pushed to make it easier to retain heritage buildings, framing rapid densification as a threat to both affordability and neighbourhood character.

Kareem Allam (Vancouver Liberals), a former ABC campaign manager and briefly Sim's chief of staff, launched a new party built around fiscal discipline and a socially progressive approach to housing and homelessness policy, criticizing Sim's handling of the East Hastings encampment decampment.

Pete Fry (Green Party of Vancouver), a two-term city councillor, is his party's first mayoral candidate in 30 years. Fry supports a full range of housing options alongside investments in parks, green space, and climate action, and has been a vocal critic of Sim on transparency and governance.

William Azaroff (OneCity Vancouver) rounds out the current field of leading contenders. He's the CEO of non-profit housing developer Brightside Community Homes and a former Vancity Credit Union executive, running on a platform focused on reforming city hall's approval processes to get more housing built faster. Azaroff has secured an endorsement from the Vancouver & District Labour Council. Recent polling has shown him trailing the four candidates above, generally in the mid-single digits, though a large share of voters remain undecided this far out.

Rebecca Bligh (Vote Vancouver) is a two-term city councillor first elected with the NPA, who later joined Sim's ABC Vancouver in 2022 before being ejected from the party in early 2025 over disagreements on supportive housing and other issues. She launched Vote Vancouver in September 2025, campaigning on using public land for below-market housing and continued investment in parks, libraries, and public safety. Like Azaroff, recent polling has shown her trailing the top four in the single digits.

One recurring aside in political circles involves Fry's mother, Hedy Fry, who at 84 is Canada's longest-serving female Member of Parliament, having held the federal riding of Vancouver Centre since 1993. Some have jokingly speculated online that she's "saving" her seat for her son. It's worth noting, though, that her seat is federal, while Pete Fry is pursuing municipal office — two separate levels of government with no formal connection between them.

With six mayoral candidates already in the race and more names possibly still to come, this election offers Vancouverites a genuinely wide range of visions for the city's future. Municipal elections shape the decisions that touch daily life most directly — housing, transit, parks, policing, and neighbourhood character — yet they routinely see lower turnout than provincial or federal votes. Whatever your priorities, take the time to research the candidates and parties, reflect on what matters most to you, and cast your ballot on October 17. This is part of your Civic Duty!

For more information:

  • City of Vancouver 2026 election hub: vancouver.ca/your-government/2026-election.aspx
  • Elections BC, 2026 General Local Elections: elections.bc.ca/local-elections/2026-general-local-elections
  • ABC Vancouver: abcvancouver.ca
  • TEAM for a Livable Vancouver: voteteam.ca
  • Vancouver Liberals: (search "Vancouver Liberals Kareem Allam")
  • Green Party of Vancouver: vangreens.ca
  • OneCity Vancouver: onecityvancouver.ca
  • Vote Vancouver: (search "Vote Vancouver Rebecca Bligh")

Elke Porter at:
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TAGS: #VanPoli #VancouverElection #Vote2026 #VancouverMayor #CivicElection #VanVotes

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