After 15 years in municipal government, Vision Vancouver councillor Andrea Reimer has announced that she will not seek re-election in the 2018 Vancouver city election.
Reimer made the announcement in a letter published today (Oct. 25) on Facebook, in which she reflected on her journey from being the first Green Party School Board trustee in Canada to her time as deputy mayor.
“I am writing to you today with mixed emotions to let you know that after serving four terms in municipal government, I will not be seeking reelection in the 2018 Vancouver election,” she wrote.
The announcement comes amid earlier speculation that she would run for mayor in the 2018 election.
An outspoken city councillor, Reimer has been known for her on-the-ground involvement and participation in various communities (she is taking classes to learn the Squamish language, and last year she participated in the Welfare Food Challenge), and her willingness to sit down with concerned constituents.
“I don’t know that you can ever feel in life like you’ve done everything you wanted to do but I do feel that the issues I ran on and the initiatives I’ve championed - from Greenest City to Engaged City to City of Reconciliation, from opening government and public spaces, from transforming the city’s approach to community planning and the economy to overseeing the largest municipal expansion of childcare in Canada - have moved farther than I would have thought possible.”
A long-time advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and the parent of a transgender child, Reimer has also spoken in support of LGBTQ+ inclusive school policies, and against homophobia and transphobia.
The announcement, when shared over Twitter, elicited some disappointment.
What a fantastic letter. All the best in whatever you take on next and thanks for being such an inspiring voice on Council.
— AJ ✌️ (@alyssa_jayne) October 25, 2017
Oh, wow. Sad/surprised to hear this, but at same time so appreciative of all your work, esp. re: renters, but in so many other ways too. TY.
— Karen Sawatzky (@karensawa) October 25, 2017
Will be sorry to see you go!
— Lanefab - Bryn (@Lanefab) October 25, 2017
Thanks for all your help w green building policy, the st George Rainway, and the thousand other projects you always seem to have on the go.
