Pete Fry elected Vancouver's first Green mayor, defeating Ken Sim

Pete Fry, a two-term Green Party of Vancouver city councillor, has been elected as Vancouver’s mayor, defeating incumbent Ken Sim of ABC Vancouver in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. Fry becomes the first Green mayor in the city’s history. According to unofficial results reported by Business in Vancouver, Fry received 88,218 votes compared to Sim’s 62,603 with 145 of 149 polls reporting. The Vancouver Sun reported final counts of 98,494 votes for Fry and 67,467 for Sim.

Shift in City Council Composition

The election resulted in a significant shift in the composition of Vancouver City Council. ABC Vancouver, which swept to power in 2022 with a majority, was reduced to a single seat. Mike Klassen was the only ABC candidate elected to council.

Fry will lead a council with no majority, comprising members from the Green Party, COPE, OneCity, and ABC Vancouver. Four Green candidates were elected: Annette Reilly, Stephanie Smith, Camil Dumont, and Bridget Burns. COPE elected four councillors: Sean Orr, Chloe Leslie, Devyani Singh, and Solomon Yi-Kieran. OneCity’s Lucy Maloney was the sole OneCity candidate elected to council.

The Greens, COPE, and OneCity had entered into an agreement earlier in the year to limit the number of candidates running to avoid splitting the progressive vote. COPE’s Stephanie Allen and OneCity’s William Azaroff withdrew from the mayoral race to support Fry as a unity candidate.

Campaign Issues and Reactions

Fry’s campaign focused on affordable housing, sustainable growth, and community safety. Key platform promises included creating a 24-hour non-police mobile response team called CROW (Community Response Outreach Workers), hiring an “affordable housing czar,” and using city land for affordable housing. Fry also advocated for completing the major bikeway network and renewing the Vancouver Aquatic Centre.

In his victory speech, Fry stated, “Thank you for putting your trust in me and my team here. We’re not going to let you down.” He emphasized a collaborative approach, saying, “Let's shed our political colours, put those in the closet and we can pick them up in three-and-a-half years when the election ramps up again.”

Ken Sim conceded defeat and addressed his supporters at the Sheraton Wall Centre. “Obviously tonight voters wanted to go in a different direction — not just in the mayor’s office but with council, park and school board as well,” Sim said. He described being elected to the mayor’s office as “the highlight of my life.”

Plebiscite Questions and Turnout

Voters also faced two non-binding plebiscite questions added by the previous ABC-majority council. The first asked if residents supported strengthening laws to forbid open-air hard drug use in public spaces. The second asked if the city should formally request the province to convert part of the old St. Paul's Hospital into a secure medical facility for involuntary care. Results for these questions were expected to be released by October 21.

Voter turnout increased significantly compared to the 2022 election. More than 103,000 voters cast ballots during advance voting days, a 59 per cent increase over 2022. Total ballots cast reached 209,214, representing over 43 per cent of registered voters, up from 36.3 per cent in 2022.

Why it matters

Pete Fry’s election marks a historic shift for Vancouver, ending four years of ABC Vancouver dominance and installing the city’s first Green mayor. The result reflects a broader trend in British Columbia municipal elections where several incumbent mayors were ousted. Fry’s administration will face immediate challenges, including high homelessness rates and public safety concerns, while navigating a council with no single party majority.

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Sources

• thetyee.ca: In Kamloops and Across BC, Many Mayors Ousted | The Tyee
• biv.com: ‘Underdog’ Fry defeats Sim to become Vancouver’s new mayor - Business in Vancouver
• vancouversun.com: Vancouver Election Results: First Green mayor Pete Fry unseats Ken Sim | Vancouver Sun
• vancouver.citynews.ca: Vancouver election: Pete Fry defeats Ken Sim to become mayor
• canadianinquirer.net: Pete Fry defeats incumbent Ken Sim to become Vancouver’s next mayor - Philippine Canadian Inquirer Nationwide Filipino Newspaper

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.