Pete Fry officially became Vancouver’s mayor on November 2, taking the oath of office alongside 10 city councillors at the Orpheum Theatre.
The ceremony marked the beginning of the council’s 2026–2030 term, following an October election that ended Ken Sim’s bid for re-election and substantially changed the political composition of city hall.
Addressing an audience of more than 1,000 people, Fry promised to listen carefully, work through disagreements and bring a neighbourly approach to municipal leadership.
“I may be mayor, but I’m also a neighbour, and being a good neighbour means listening carefully,” he said.
New Vancouver council takes office
B.C. Provincial Court Judge Reginald Harris administered the oaths to Fry and the councillors.
The new council includes four Green Party councillors, four from COPE, one from OneCity Vancouver and one from ABC Vancouver. Fry also represents the Greens.
| Party | Councillors |
|---|---|
| Green Party | Bridget Burns, Camil Dumont, Stephanie Smith, Annette Reilly |
| COPE | Sean Orr, Chloe Leslie, Solomon Yi-Kieran, Devyani Singh |
| OneCity Vancouver | Lucy Maloney |
| ABC Vancouver | Mike Klassen |
Fry received 98,748 votes in the October 17 mayoral election, according to the supplied inauguration report.
ABC Vancouver, which secured a council majority in 2022, retained only one council seat through Klassen. The result leaves the new administration with a markedly different balance of political voices.
Fry calls for cooperation across party lines
Fry acknowledged that difficult decisions and disagreements would be unavoidable. His emphasis was on how councillors respond to those differences.
He urged respectful discussion and signalled that he wanted cooperation to continue beyond the campaign.
The Greens, COPE and OneCity had reached an agreement before the election on how many council candidates each would field. Their platforms were not identical, although affordability and support for vulnerable residents were shared priorities.
At the council’s inaugural meeting later that day, Fry highlighted individual members’ experience and interests. He also offered reassurance to Klassen, the sole ABC representative, that his contribution would be valued.
December budget is the first major test
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Fry identified balancing the city’s budget in December as the first major order of business.
That process will require the council to connect its policy ambitions with available funding and competing service demands.
The inauguration established the administration’s priorities, but it did not settle spending allocations or approve the programmes discussed during the campaign. Those decisions will come through subsequent council business.
Community safety proposals include CROW response team
Fry said his leading policy priority was building stronger support for community safety.
He highlighted the need for more daytime shelter access and stable environments for people experiencing homelessness and health difficulties. He also indicated that provincial and federal funding would be important to advancing that work.
During the campaign, the Greens proposed a 24-hour Community Response Outreach Workers service, known as CROW.
The proposed team would be non-police and non-medical, handling non-emergency calls involving people experiencing homelessness, addiction or other vulnerabilities. Its stated purpose is to provide an appropriate response while reducing pressure on emergency services.
The party also proposed an Office of Community Safety to improve coordination between municipal functions, including fire services, police, licensing, property use and planning.
These remain policy proposals rather than services whose implementation was confirmed at the inauguration.
Younger councillors put affordability on the agenda
Seven first-time councillors joined the new council, including Solomon Yi-Kieran, who, at 21, became the youngest person elected to Vancouver city council.
Yi-Kieran said his priorities included housing affordability, public transit and access to good jobs. He framed those issues around whether young people can remain in Vancouver and build a life there.
Fellow newcomer Chloe Leslie also emphasised affordability, describing friends who had left the city for less expensive places.
Her priorities included housing for families, childcare, school food programmes and accessible public transit. She also highlighted libraries, plazas and other public spaces where families can spend time.
Sean Orr asked to serve as deputy mayor
During the inaugural council meeting, Fry said he had asked Sean Orr to serve as deputy mayor.
He praised Orr’s advocacy for people experiencing poverty and his commitment to residents whose needs can be overlooked.
Fry also recognised other councillors’ experience in areas ranging from renters’ rights and food security to climate science, transportation and animal welfare.
Those remarks outlined the expertise he hopes to draw on as the council moves from campaigning to governing.
Ceremony marks a political transition
Representatives of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations welcomed attendees. The event also featured performances by the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Band and the Vancouver Police Department’s Lion Dance Team with its partner club.
Fry’s mother, longtime MP Hedy Fry, attended alongside other family members, public officials and community representatives.
With the ceremony complete, attention now turns to the council’s first substantive decisions. The December budget will offer an early indication of how Fry and his colleagues intend to fund their commitments on affordability, community safety and municipal services.
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