Mayor Pete Fry urges Vancouver City Council to put residents ahead of party politics | Daily Hive

Mayor Pete Fry urges Vancouver city councillors to put residents ahead of party politics

Mayor Pete Fry during Vancouver City Council's first public meeting on the evening of Nov. 2, 2026. (City of Vancouver)

Vancouver Mayor Pete Fry used his first working public meeting as mayor to offer a personal assessment of each of his 10 colleagues in Vancouver City Council, outlining how their experiences and interests could positively help shape the next four years at Vancouver City Hall.

The remarks came during a brief 10-minute public meeting in City Council chambers at City Hall on the evening of Monday, Nov. 2, shortly after the new mayor and City Council were sworn in at the Orpheum Theatre that afternoon. The meeting’s agenda consisted of the mayor’s address and several items concerning statutory appointments.

This supplemented Fry’s separate inaugural speech made in front of the audience gathered at the theatre earlier.

“You’ve all heard me speak about UBCM and what I’ve learned about effective local government. Partisan politics at the municipal level to be the exception, not the rule. I’ve often said that when party politics become the focus, it can be a hindrance to good governance,” said Fry in City Council chambers.

“Because at the end of the day, our job is not to deliver victories for political parties. Our job is to deliver results for the people of Vancouver. And that means working as a team.”

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The new City Council includes five Green Party of Vancouver members, including Fry’s mayoral seat, as well as four COPE city councillors and one city councillor each from OneCity Vancouver and ABC Vancouver. No party holds a majority.

Fry began with COPE city councillor Sean Orr, praising his advocacy to reduce poverty and stand up for people facing hardship. He said Orr had grown into the responsibilities of office while retaining the “punk rock dishwasher blogger spirit” that helped bring him into politics.

Fry also spoke warmly about getting to know Orr and sharing his own experience with him, linking that relationship to his choice of Orr as the first deputy mayor of the new term. City Council subsequently approved Fry’s recommended appointment unanimously, covering November 2026 through January 2027.

For OneCity city councillor Lucy Maloney, Fry’s remarks combined a personal thank you with an expectation that she would help advance street safety.

He recalled Maloney checking on his wellbeing when he was often alone on City Council, saying that gesture had stayed with him. A known local cycling activist prior to entering civic politics last year, he also pointed to her enthusiasm for active transportation and safer streets as strengths that could help the new City Council make progress.

“Once and always a Melburnian, you’ve become a truly exemplary Vancouverite,” said Fry, referring to Maloney’s Australian roots.

Fry offered a particularly direct reassurance to ABC city councillor Mike Klassen, the party’s only representative on the new City Council.

Their relationship long predates Fry’s own entry into elected office. Fry said Klassen was the first person he approached for advice when he began considering a run for municipal government, and praised the thoughtful approach Klassen brings to City Council discussions.

“You may be the lone representative of your party at this table, but you are not alone,” said Fry.

Turning to Green city councillor Annette Reilly, Fry highlighted how her film and television industry experience could translate into the demands of public office. Reilly is known for her acting career, particularly her previous recurring role in Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series in 2018 and 2019

He said that work had equipped her to respond quickly, solve problems, and manage competing priorities. He also saw her professional background as valuable to an industry with a major presence in Vancouver.

“It also gives you a strong voice for one of Vancouver’s most important industries,” said the mayor, who also acknowledged Reilly for being a cancer survivor.

For COPE city councillor Chloe Leslie, Fry identified shared interests in access to food, how food is produced and distributed, and reducing waste. He said Leslie’s experience gave him confidence that initiatives he had worked on during his eight years as a city councillor could continue under her attention.

Fry focused on COPE city councillor Devyani Singh’s background as a climate scientist, saying her research skills and understanding of environmental challenges would strengthen City Council’s decisions. He also acknowledged her place as a queer South Asian woman in local government.

“Your expertise will help ensure that our climate commitments are matched by practical action,” he said.

Of Green city councillor Stephanie Smith, Fry said their relationship went back further than his connection with anyone else around the City Council table.

He highlighted her advocacy for housing and renters, along with her experience in co-operative housing governance, as preparation for her new role. He also expressed confidence in her ability to represent Vancouver at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. City Council later unanimously approved recommendations that included nominating Smith for its board and endorsing her candidacy.

Fry described Green city councillor Camil Dumont as bringing substantial experience in public service, including work on difficult issues facing Vancouver. Dumont was previously a Vancouver Park Board commissioner under the Greens from 2018 to 2022.

He singled out Dumont’s understanding of natural systems, urban agriculture, and governing through challenging circumstances as knowledge the new City Council could draw upon. Dumont was the longtime executive director and head farmer of Inner City Farms Society, and the education manager at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm.

For COPE city councillor Solomon Yi-Kieran, Fry suggested that youth should not be mistaken for a lack of experience. Yi-Kieran turned 21 years old the day before last month’s civic election, making him Vancouver’s youngest-ever city councillor. He is in the middle of his undergraduate studies at UBC, and was an elected member of the Alma Mater Society, the university’s student union.

He pointed to Yi-Kieran’s advocacy and previous involvement in decisions carrying significant financial and organizational responsibilities. Fry also identified public transit, particularly extending SkyTrain to UBC, as an area where he would look to Yi-Kieran to help advance Vancouver’s interests.

Fry’s remarks about Green city councillor Bridget Burns centred on her concern for animal welfare, compassion, and commitment to public service. While acknowledging that she would have much to learn in the role, he said her personal experience and empathy would be valuable to City Council.

“I hope you’ll continue to be a voice for those vulnerabilities that often go unseen. I’m excited to watch you grow into this role,” said Fry.

After addressing each city councillor, Fry returned to his broader message about cooperation.

“I name each of you because I see you as individuals, not as party labels,” said the mayor.

He promised regular meetings with city councillors and said he would reduce the mayor’s office budget to direct more resources toward supporting city councillors and their constituencies.

He also encouraged colleagues to speak up when they believed the administration was heading in the wrong direction.

Fry urged them to pay attention to everyday concerns and judge their work by its effect on residents.

“I’m gonna ask you to put Vancouver first because how we row together begins with respect, understanding, and trust. The measure of your time on Council won’t be headline-grabbing motions that you pass. It will be the people you help, the voices that you take the time to hear, and the difference you make in people’s lives,” said Fry in his closing remarks.

“Sweat the small stuff, cherish the small stuff. Yes, we’re gonna do things a little differently, and yes, at times it may feel like you’re not doing enough. It may feel like we’re building the plane while we’re flying it. There may be turbulence. There may be even moments that feel uncomfortable, but we’re not gonna crash. I may be the captain, but every one of you is a co-pilot, and if you think we’re drifting off course, I expect you to tell me.”

The mayor also thanked City manager Donny van Dyk and his office in advance for their guidance and patience as the largely new City Council settles into its role, while recognizing City staff for their professionalism and expertise.

City Council will be sharing their chambers at City Hall with the Vancouver Park Board commissioners, who will be holding their scheduled public meetings in the same facility on a pilot project basis — starting with the first meeting of this new term on Nov. 30. Historically, the Park Board has held their meetings at the Park Board’s headquarters building in Stanley Park, but the relocation is intended to improve the public’s accessibility to participate in the deliberations and improve collaboration between the mayor, city councillors, and Park Board commissioners.

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