Squamish chief Campbell eyes Vision Vancouver nomination
Lingering hopes that Vancouver’s left-leaning parties can unite behind a single mayoral candidate may have taken a hit following Ian Campbell’s announcement on Monday that he will be taking a run at city council’s top job.
Campbell, the hereditary chief of the Squamish Nation, is seeking the nomination of Vision Vancouver, which until Monday did not have a single candidate with a declared interest in succeeding outgoing mayor Gregor Robertson.
Were Campbell to get the party nod, that would pit him against at least two other candidates seeking office on the left — independents Shauna Sylvester and Kennedy Stewart.
Others continue to test the waters, but none have declared. Vision Councillor Raymond Louie is now among those who have decided against a mayoral run.
Mario Canseco, a Research Co. pollster, said Campbell’s announcement complicates the race for left votes.
“For a while, we were talking about a ‘Unite the Left’ effort that had no Vision Vancouver contenders,” he said. “This could potentially place a little bit of a bent in the negotiations because Vision might want to go it alone and essentially not deal with anyone else who might want to unite the left.”
Canseco said he has never ran numbers on Campbell, but noted that he may have an advantage over other Vision hopefuls, should any come forward. A win by Campbell would be a major milestone in that he would become the first Indigenous mayor of B.C.’s largest city.
Drummers and dancers heralded Campbell’s announcement speech, in which he positioned himself as a unifier and a bridge builder.
“This is a difficult moment in our city’s history. Everywhere I go, people have been sharing their concerns about things they care about. They’re worried if they have a seat in the canoe and if their interests will
be heard,” he said, speaking of the ability for people to live and thrive in Vancouver.
“As the next mayor of Vancouver, I will not rest until people who work hard and play by the rules can afford to live in your Vancouver again.”
Campbell said housing would be a key focus of his campaign. Affordability, job creation, climate change and homelessness were also priorities.
A news release issued by Campbell’s staff invited “all progressives” — regardless of party affiliation — to find a home with his campaign.
Campbell does have hurdles to overcome in his mayoral bid — foremost may be the fact that he lives in North Vancouver.
Ginger Gosnell-Myers, his campaign manager, said Campbell is now looking for a home to rent in Vancouver, where he has lived
during different periods of his life. Campbell’s Squamish name, Xalek, “descends from the Xatslanexw Family, whom Vancouverites today know as Kitsilano,” Gosnell-Myers said.
“Vancouver has always been Ian’s home. … It is because of this deep-rooted connection that he decided to run,” she added.
Campbell is a board member of MST Development Corp., a Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh partnership with a proclaimed 160-or-so acres of developable land. MST’s fully or partly owned Vancouver properties are the Jericho Lands, the Heather Street Lands, and a former Liquor Distribution Branch site on East Broadway that is co-owned with Aquilini Investment Group, according to the partnership.