5 belongings you did not find out about native politics in Vancouver

Vancouver has simply wrapped up one other municipal election and may have its forty first mayor as Ken Sim beat incumbent Kennedy Stewart on the polls Oct. 15.

Whereas it was a reasonably easy marketing campaign, Vancouver’s politics aren’t at all times the best for individuals to know. Together with is a historical past, like many locations, of bizarre or sudden political occasions.

For instance, Vancouver has the Vancouver Constitution, a provincial authorized doc that comes with town; what’s odd about that’s the reality it is the one metropolis in B.C. to have that kind of laws. Each different metropolis simply operates underneath the Native Authorities Act.

Listed below are 5 extra belongings you (most likely) do not find out about Vancouver’s politics.

1. Ken Sim is the first mayor of Vancouver who’s not a white male

For these being attentive to the 2022 municipal election, it is most likely no shock to be taught he is the primary mayor of Chinese language descent in Vancouver’s historical past; his mother and father moved right here within the 60s earlier than he was born.

On prime of that, although, is the very fact he is the primary mayor who wasn’t a white man.

No ladies and no particular person of color have held the workplace so far, which is maybe odd to individuals, given Vancouver’s progressive fame and worldwide really feel. On the similar time, many different B.C. cities have had mayors who weren’t white males. Actually, Kamloops is believed to have had the primary mayor of Chinese language descent in North America—Peter Wing.

2. UBC does not have a municipal authorities

Whereas many people consider UBC as being in Vancouver, it isn’t. A minimum of, not technically. UBC is on the College Endowment Lands, which sit outdoors the purview of the Metropolis of Vancouver.

On prime of that, these residing on UBC’s lands do not vote in municipal elections as a result of there is no municipal authorities there. It is an unincorporated entity; B.C. has a number of unincorporated communities, however typically, these are rural areas with out a important inhabitants, as a municipal authorities is supposed to cope with points that come up in denser communities. 

UBC, with greater than 3,000 residents, just isn’t a rural group like 150 Mile Home, Horsefly or Dragon Lake. In unincorporated communities the duties of native authorities are taken on by the regional district; in UBC’s case that is Metro Vancouver.

Whereas there is no municipal authorities, UBC residents can nonetheless vote within the faculty board election.

3. Vancouver is the only city in Canada with an elected parks board

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is exclusive in Canada.

No different metropolis has a board instantly elected by residents to manage parks and recreation points, which implies throughout municipal elections Vancouverites practically have the most individuals to vote for of any metropolis in Canada if it weren’t for the huge metropolis councils within the east; Toronto has 26 members, Ottawa has 24 and Montreal has an enormous 65. Even smaller cities have extra, like Halifax (17) and Quebec Metropolis (22).

Again on topic, whereas the parks board is unbiased of council, its finances continues to be underneath the management of town.

4. In the 1920s proportional representation was used

Again within the early days of town Vancouver used a ward system for some time, till the Nineteen Twenties, when a brand new concept was tried.

One thing referred to as proportional illustration.

Actually, in 1922, the mayor’s race went a few rounds as second-place decisions have been counted.

Nonetheless, the only transferable vote system ended by 1923.

5. One mayor worked for a dollar per year

Within the Fifties Fred Hume was the mayor, holding the job from 1950 to 1958 and successful 4 phrases (phrases have been shorter again then).

Certainly one of his standard strikes was to forego his mayor’s wage (as of late it is greater than $185,000), taking residence simply $1 per 12 months.

Hume was an attention-grabbing fellow, as he was additionally Mayor of New Westminster from 1933 to 1942. He is additionally been inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame for his work bringing the NHL to Vancouver.