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Ken Sim

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His Worship
Ken Sim
沈觀健
Sim in 2024
41st Mayor of Vancouver
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 7, 2022
Preceded byKennedy Stewart
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Sim

(1970-10-18) October 18, 1970 (age 54)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Political partyABC Vancouver (municipal)
Other political
affiliations		Non-Partisan Association (2018)
SpouseTeena Gupta
Residence(s)Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Alma materUniversity of British Columbia
ProfessionBusinessman
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese沈觀健
Simplified Chinese沈观健
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShěn Guānjiàn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSám Gūn-gihn
JyutpingSam2 Gun1-gin6
other Yue
TaishaneseSim2 Gon1-gen5

Kenneth Sim (Chinese: 沈觀健; Cantonese Yale: Sám Gūn-gihn; born October 18, 1970)[1][2][3][4] is a Canadian politician and businessman who has served as the 41st mayor of Vancouver since 2022.[5][6]

Biography

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Born in Vancouver to Hong Kong immigrants Francis Sim (d. 1999) and Maria Theresa Kim (1932–2016),[7][8] Sim attended Magee Secondary School, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, and the UBC Sauder School of Business, graduating with a BComm in finance in 1993. He also holds a FCPA and FCA accounting designation.[9]

Sim co-founded Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Services in 2001.[10][3]

Sim first ran for mayor of Vancouver with the Non-Partisan Association in the 2018 Vancouver municipal election and finished the runner-up to Kennedy Stewart.[11]

Sim was elected mayor of Vancouver, running under the ABC Vancouver party banner, on October 15, 2022. He is the first challenger to defeat a sitting mayor of Vancouver since 1980, when Mike Harcourt upset incumbent Jack Volrich.[12] Sim is the first Chinese Canadian elected Mayor of Vancouver.[13][14]

Mayoral term

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In 2023, The Globe and Mail published allegations from an anonymous Canadian Security Intelligence Service source claiming that China interfered in the 2022 Vancouver municipal election.[15][16][17] Sim has denounced the insinuations made in the article about himself and election interference, stating "If there's proof of foreign interference in our election, I want to know about it because I'm a Canadian … but right now there are a bunch of insinuations."[18]

Issues

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Homelessness and housing

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In March 2023, during Sim's mayoral term, a homeless count was commenced by the Homelessness Services Association of BC, the first since the beginning of the pandemic. The results of the count were released in October 2023.[19] A local non-profit serving the population expects the results to show increases given their increased demand for services.[20][21]

Sim's plan to address the homeless crisis in Vancouver has centred on partnership with Provincial and Federal government programs. Within his first 45 days in office Ken Sim and the ABC-dominated Council expedited work camp-style housing in partnership with BC Housing that implemented 90 units on City property.[22] On March 27, 2023, Sim and Provincial Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon announced a plan to open 330 additional units by June, 2023.[23] In addition, ABC Vancouver have repeatedly stated their intent to decrease permit processing times as additional means to stimulate the development of new, permanent housing.[24]

In early April 2023, news outlets began reporting on the City of Vancouver's efforts to bring the East Hastings encampment to a close. Sim remarked that the conclusion of the encampment is part of a larger effort of "finding empathetic ways to get people off the streets and into housing that they need."[25]

On April 5, 2023, Sim announced the encampment would be brought to a close.[26] By the end of the April 5, city workers removed most of the encampment on Hastings, disposed of much of the debris left by the encampment, and offered residents temporary re-homing to shelters while the city awaits new more permanent housing to arrive in June.[27] As part of the operation April 5 and 6, crews took down 94 “entrenched structures” and removed 50 propane tanks from the encampment zone. More than 70 totes for storage were also provided to individuals and stored off-site.[28]

Mental health

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During the 2022 campaign, Sim promised he would hire 100 nurses to join the previously established Car 87 program, alongside 100 new police officers.[29] On February 14, 2023, Vancouver City Council voted to allocate $2.8 million to Vancouver Coastal Health, to hire 58 mental health workers "to support people who are suffering from mental illness combined with lack of stable housing and substance abuse issues."[30][31]

Budget

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Mayor Ken Sim announced in April 2023 that he would create a task force with a mandate to review the city's operating and capital budgets and recommend ways tax dollars can be spent more efficiently and responsibly.[32]

Sim's major campaign promises included increases to the budget of VPD and a commitment to pay for these budget increases without cutting services or increasing property taxes.[33] Despite campaign promises, in a council meeting early in his term, he suggested that the Vancouver Public Library should look into "potential revenue opportunities" to fund operations.[34]

Vancouver City Council increased property taxes by 10.7% during Sim's first year in office. The property tax increase resulted in the average condo owner paying an additional 33 cents per day and the average home owner paying an additional 83 cents per day in property taxes. Council also voted to eliminate the controversial 25 cent "cup fee" on single-use beverage cups.[35][36][37][38]

Sim and his council increased property taxes by an additional 7.5% in his second year.[39]

Personal life

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Sim resides in West Point Grey with his wife and their four sons.[40] He has said that his children's inability to see "a future for themselves in Vancouver" was a primary reason for his involvement in politics.[41]

Hong Kong politician Bernard Charnwut Chan is a first cousin.[17] Sim's father was Chan's maternal uncle.[42][43] Canadian intelligence analyst Scott McGregor and journalist Ina Mitchell noted in their book, The Mosaic Effect, that Bernard's father, Robin Chan, who is Sim's uncle, held the role of vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC), a top-ranking organization in the Chinese Communist Party's united front network.[44]

Sim has taken training programs held by Landmark Worldwide, described by some as a large-group awareness training organization, crediting the training with teaching him how to have "authentic conversations" and giving him the confidence to run for mayor.[45]

Electoral record

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2022 Vancouver municipal election: Vancouver mayor
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
ABC Vancouver Ken Sim 85,732 50.96 Green tickY
Forward Together Kennedy Stewart (incumbent) 49,593 29.48
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver Colleen Hardwick 16,769 9.97
Progress Vancouver Mark Marissen 5,830 3.47
NPA Fred Harding 3,905 2.32
Independent Leona Brown 1,519 0.9
Independent Ping Chan 1,154 0.69
Independent Françoise Raunet 1,116 0.66
Independent Satwant Shottha 994 0.59
Independent Imtiaz Popat 411 0.24
Independent Lewis Villegas 363 0.22
Independent Mike Hansen 314 0.19
Independent Gölök Buday 195 0.12
Independent Ryan Charmley 183 0.11
Independent Dante Teti 142 0.08
2018 Vancouver municipal election: Vancouver mayor
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Independent Kennedy Stewart 49,705 28.71 Green tickY
NPA Ken Sim 48,748 28.16
Independent Shauna Sylvester 35,457 20.48
Coalition Vancouver Wai Young 11,872 6.86
Yes Vancouver Hector Bremner 9,924 5.73
Vancouver 1st Fred Harding 5,640 3.26
ProVancouver David Chen 3,573 2.06
Independent Sean Cassidy 1,536 0.89
IDEA Vancouver Connie Fogal 1,435 0.83
Independent Mike Hansen 951 0.55
Independent Jason Lamarche 695 0.40
Independent Rollergirl 686 0.40
Independent Ping Chan 653 0.38
Independent John Yano 510 0.29
Independent Tim Ly 349 0.20
Independent Sophia C. Kaiser 336 0.19
Independent Satwant K. Shottha 331 0.19
Independent Lawrence Massey 233 0.13
Independent Katy Le Rougetel 181 0.10
Independent Gölök Z. Buday 178 0.10
Independent Maynard Aubichon 139 0.08

References

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  1. ^ Klassen, Mike [@MikeKlassen] (October 18, 2022). "Happy birthday @KenSimCity! 🎉🎂🥳🎈So happy to be on this journey together serving the people of Vancouver. 🤛 https://t.co/DOc99BS2sN" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Cheung, Christopher (September 28, 2022). "Vancouver Election Controversy: What's in a 'Usual Name'?". The Tyee. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Charlie (June 3, 2018). "NPA nominates businessman Ken Sim as its Vancouver mayoral candidate". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ken Sim". ABC Vancouver. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Little, Simon (October 15, 2022). "Ken Sim defeats Kennedy Stewart to become mayor as ABC party sweeps Vancouver election". Global News. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Steacy, Lisa (October 15, 2022). "CTV News declares Ken Sim next mayor of Vancouver". CTV News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "OBITUARY: Maria Theresa Sim". Dignity Memorial. SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  8. ^ Boyko, John (January 11, 2023). "Ken Sim". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Ip, Stephanie (June 4, 2018). "Five things to know about Ken Sim, the NPA's mayoral nomination". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on June 9, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Smith, Charlie (January 18, 2012). "Vancouver's Canadian-born Chinese in their 30s and 40s make their mark, no small thanks to Milton Wong". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Nassar, Hana Mae (October 15, 2022). "Ken Sim defeats Kennedy Stewart to become Vancouver mayor". CityNews. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  12. ^ Howell, Mike (October 16, 2022). "Kennedy Stewart first Vancouver mayor in 42 years to lose race to challenger". Vancouver is Awesome. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  13. ^ Meissner, Dirk; Shen, Nono (October 16, 2022). "Vancouver elects first Chinese-Canadian mayor". Canada's National Observer. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Watson, Bridgette (October 16, 2022). "From public safety to housing plans, here is what you can expect from Ken Sim as Vancouver mayor". CBC. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven; VanderKlippe, Nathan (March 16, 2023). "China's Vancouver consulate interfered in 2022 municipal election, according to CSIS". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  16. ^ VanderKlippe, Nathan; Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (March 16, 2023). "Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim irate over CSIS reports on China's election interference". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Bilefsky, Dan (May 7, 2023). "Did China Help Vancouver's Mayor Win Election?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  18. ^ McElroy, Justin (March 16, 2023). "Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim rejects 'insinuations' he won election due to Chinese interference". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  19. ^ Homelessness Services Association of BC (2023). "2023 Homeless Count in Greater Vancouver" (PDF). Greater Vancouver Reaching Home Community Entity.
  20. ^ Matassa-Fung, Darrian (January 12, 2023). "First homeless count in Metro Vancouver since start of pandemic to begin in March". Global News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  21. ^ Devlin, Megan (March 8, 2023). "Greater Vancouver homeless count underway for first time since pandemic". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "Year-end interview: Vancouver mayor Ken Sim reflects on first 45 days in office". Vancouver Is Awesome. December 22, 2022. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  23. ^ "@KahlonRav on Twitter". Twitter. March 27, 2023. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  24. ^ "Ken Sim talks public safety, housing policy in first TV interview as Vancouver mayor-elect". CTV News. October 17, 2022. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "Leaked City of Vancouver documents show plan to escalate removal of DTES encampment". CBC News. April 4, 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  26. ^ "City claims 'staff error' caused 4 traffic cameras to go offline as it moved out DTES campers". Vancouver Is Awesome. April 5, 2023. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  27. ^ "With police support, workers remove tents and structures from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside". CTVnews.com. April 5, 2023. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  28. ^ "What the East Hastings encampment looks like — one week later". VancouverIsAwesome.com. April 12, 2023. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  29. ^ "Vancouver council votes to fund 100 new police officers, 100 new mental health nurses". CBC. November 22, 2022. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  30. ^ Carrigg, David (February 5, 2023). "City gives Vancouver Coastal Health $2.8 million to bolster mental-health team funding". vancouversun. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  31. ^ Garrett, Catherine (February 14, 2023). "Annual Women's Memorial March draws hundreds to downtown Vancouver". Global News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  32. ^ "Vancouver mayor Ken Sim creates task force to review city budgets". Vancouver Is Awesome. April 3, 2023. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  33. ^ "Dan Fumano: Vancouver's new mayor pitches 10.7% property tax hike in record-high budget". vancouversun.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  34. ^ Special Council (2023 Budget) - November 29, 2022. City of Vancouver. November 29, 2022. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ Thibault, Alissa (February 27, 2023). "Vancouver mayor admits proposed 9.7% property tax increase 'sucks'". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  36. ^ Howell, Mike (November 22, 2022). "Vancouver police request $383 million budget for 2023". Vancouver Is Awesome. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  37. ^ Denis, Jen St (March 1, 2023). "In Vancouver's Budget, Libraries Couldn't Compete with Police". The Tyee. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  38. ^ Steacy, Lisa (March 2, 2023). "City of Vancouver ends living wage policy for workers in closed-door meeting". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  39. ^ "Vancouver council passes 2024 budget with 7.5% property tax hike". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  40. ^ Vancouver, City of. "2022 mayor candidates". vancouver.ca. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  41. ^ Thibault, Alissa (October 10, 2022). "'This is deeply personal': Ken Sim explains why he wants to be Vancouver's next mayor". CTV News. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  42. ^ "Historic moment for Vancouver mayor with HK links". Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  43. ^ "Artist Guide- Art Enthusiasts". Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  44. ^ McGregor, Scott; Mitchell, Ina (2023). The Mosaic Effect: How the Chinese Communist Party Started a Hybrid War in America's Backyard. Optimum Publishing International. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-88890-324-2. OCLC 1374491172. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  45. ^ "NPA mayoral candidate Ken Sim learned how to have "authentic conversations" with the help of Landmark Forum". The Georgia Straight. September 20, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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