Entrepreneur Sim seeks NPA nomination for mayor
A fourth hat landed in the ring for the NPA mayoral nomination in Vancouver on Monday.
Entrepreneur Ken Sim cited affordability concerns in his nomination bid.
“I was born and raised in Vancouver and those close to me know that I’ve always been deeply passionate about this city,” said Sim, who made his mind up to run last week. “I grew up here, met my wife Teena here, had my first job here. I’m afraid my four boys won’t be able to afford to live here.”
Sim, 47, co-founded Nurse Next Door in 2001, a private homecare service for seniors with 175 franchisees, and Rosemary Rocksalt Salt Bagels in 2013. He graduated from Churchill High School in 1988 with fellow NPA candidate Glen Chernen and NPA president Gregory Baker.
“It’s a bit of a Churchill reunion,” Sim said. After graduating from the University of B.C.’s Sauder School of Business to become a chartered professional accountant, Sim worked at KPMG, then became an investment and merchant banker at CIBC World Markets in Vancouver, Toronto and London, England.
“All the bureaucratic red tape (in Vancouver), permit delays, it’s a huge cost,” he said. “It’s tough on business, it’s tough on people.”
Sim is also troubled by continued problems in the Downtown Eastside. “I’ve spent years supporting causes related to the Downtown Eastside and am disappointed with the lack of progress on issues related to mental health, addiction and homelessness, despite the fact significant money has been spent,” he said.
“Look, I’m not an expert at this type of stuff, I
don’t pretend to be. What I am great at is building teams and dealing with complex issues.
“I also want to pay it forward. This is my tour of duty.”
Sim joins fellow candidates Chernen, Coun. Hector Bremner and park board commissioner John Coupar for the NPA nomination, which will be held on May 29 at the Hellenic Centre on Arbutus Street.
Coun. Adriane Carr of the Green party has yet to decide if she will run for mayor, while Vision board member Shauna Sylvester has declared she is running as an independent.
Civic elections in B.C. are on Oct. 20.