But there’s so much to love about downtown, from businesses to parks to community spaces. I will never give up on our downtown. We must work together as a community to build momentum, find opportunities, and support vulnerable members of our community.

There’s no silver bullet solution, but rather many actions, big and small, that we can take collaboratively to build our downtown, to attract new business and new residents, and continue making it a fun, and inviting and interesting place to be.

The City must work with businesses and the Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), reduce permitting/licensing timelines for businesses, work with housing providers and gov’t partners to create more supportive housing, harm reduction sites and mental health services. 

We can animate and invest in public spaces, tap into our rich multiculturalism and Indigenous cultures to host events and performances.

Downtown has always held a special place in my heart and in my work: I worked to secure federal support for the Winspear expansion and Citadel Theatre improvements because I and so many others love the experience of enjoying the arts in our beautiful downtown. 

I was a fierce advocate for the downtown arena because I believed it would be great for our economy and for our ability to attract high profile events. I pushed for LRT expansion in part because everyone should be able to get downtown easily to experience all it has to offer. 

If I’m elected Mayor I promise to continue working to build a safe and vibrant downtown for everyone. I commit to work collaboratively with the businesses, BIAs, arts organizations and community groups that worked so hard to adapt in the face of COVID. We are in this together. I will never give up on our downtown, and I know you won’t either. Because we all belong downtown.