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City Manager Update: March 2025

March 7, 2025

Staying the course

During this time of ambiguity and transition, I want to reinforce that Vancouver is committed to the course for the future that we plotted before the recent change of federal administrations, built around the core policy themes of climate, equity and community safety. We are also developing plans to overcome any potential hurdles the future may present. As the current administration continues to make changes to programs, grants and policies, we are working with our legislative delegation to continue advocating for Vancouver’s needs. The City is also looking for signs or indicators of what is to come and how it might impact the work we do to serve you, the community.

We are grateful that you continue to share your top priorities for the City through multiple channels such as emails, phone calls, community forums, surveys and more. Your input is essential, and we appreciate you letting us know that your key priorities include safety, homelessness, economic opportunity, improving livability and affordable housing. We continue to prioritize and invest in the issues you identified as critical.  

It is also important to remember in times of conflicting priorities between levels of government, City Council sets our policy vision, a vision that’s informed in part by community input. That remains unchanged. Until the City Council says that they want Vancouver to change direction, we will continue down this path. To that end, I want to reaffirm Vancouver’s steadfast commitment to advancing its work in addressing climate change, equity and inclusion, and keeping Vancouver safe.

For example, looking to the near future and as we have done in recent years, the City will continue to acknowledge and uphold International Transgender Day of Visibility later this month, Arbor Day in April, Small Business Month in May, and Pride Month and Juneteenth in June.

City projects and programs that are also underway to help ensure the achievement of our values-based goals will continue. Such City initiatives include:

These represent only a small fraction of the City’s initiatives designed to support the vision of both the community and City Council. You helped us map a positive and promising course for Vancouver’s future, and you have my word that we’re doing all in our power to keep us on that path.