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Sam C. Sullivan CM (born November 13, 1959[2]) is a Canadian politician who served as the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek. Previously, he served as the Minister of Communities, Sport, and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink in the short-lived BC Liberal government after the 2017 election, as well as the 38th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has been invested as a member of the Order of Canada.[3] He is currently President of the Global Civic Policy Society and an adjunct professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.[4]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Sam Sullivan was born on November 13, 1959, to East Vancouver residents Lloyd and Ida Sullivan. His father ran Sully's Autoparts on East Hastings Street. He has three brothers, Donald, Patrick, Terry, and a sister, Carol. Sullivan attended Chief Maquinna Elementary and Vancouver Technical Secondary School in East Vancouver.

Quadriplegia

[edit]

Sullivan became paralyzed after breaking his neck in a skiing accident at age 19.[5] He had a fracture dislocation of his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, leaving him almost completely paralyzed.[6]

After a seven-year struggle with depression,[5] he successfully completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Simon Fraser University.[7] Sullivan later founded six non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for disabled people in North America.[8]

Disability advocacy

[edit]

In 2005, Sullivan was inducted into the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian award for community achievement.[9] This was in recognition of his work to improve the lives of those with significant disabilities. The Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation has raised over $20 million and served over 10,000 people with disabilities since its inception.[10] Organizations he created include the following:

  • Tetra Society: this organization recruits technically skilled volunteers who create custom-made assistive devices that are not available on the market. There are currently 45 chapters throughout Canada and the US, which have created more than 5,000 devices.[11]
  • Adaptive Sailing Association: beginning at Vancouver's Jericho Sailing Center there are now 20 programs throughout Canada and the US. Sullivan initiated the development of the Martin 16 sailboat, designed specifically for people with disabilities, including high-level quadriplegics who use sip-and-puff technology. 150 of these sailboats are in use throughout the world.[12] Sullivan also initiated the Mobility Cup National Regatta for people with disabilities.[13]
  • British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society Wilderness Access Program: Sullivan worked with Tetra Volunteer Paul Cermak to invent the TrailRider, a one-wheeled vehicle that enables people with disabilities to access the wilderness. 100 of these are currently in use around the world. They have been used by people with significant disabilities to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and to the base camp of Mount Everest.[14] BCMOS also operates an Adaptive Paddleboarding and Kayaking program at the Olympic Village.[15]
  • Vancouver Adapted Music Society: This organization operates a music studio in the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre and supports the musical aspirations of people with disabilities, including recordings and performances.[16][17] Sam Sullivan and Dave Symington formed the band Spinal Chord and recorded an album of original music in 1993 called Why Be Normal? Sullivan was the band's vocalist and played keyboards using custom-designed computer software.
  • ConnecTra Society: ConnecTra links people with physical disabilities to activities and programs that will, over time, allow them to grow, gain confidence and become increasingly active and involved in the community. It has helped over 200 people with disabilities since the inception of the ConnecTra Project in 2012. This project helps people with disabilities get signed up at their local WorkBC. Many participants have gone on to find part-time and full-time jobs.[18]

In recognition of these achievements, Sullivan was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 2000 and won the Christopher Reeve Award in 2008.[19]

City Councillor

[edit]

Sullivan was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993 as a member of the Non-Partisan Association (NPA), and served for 15 years total.

In Vancouver's 2002 general local elections, Sullivan was the only incumbent member of city council from the NPA to win re-election after the NPA-dominated council was defeated by the COPE party, leaving only five out of 27 seats on the council, school board and parks board.

In 2004, he led the Knowards campaign opposing the COPE-initiated campaign to replace the city's at-large system of choosing councillors with a ward voting system. The proposal was defeated 54% to 46% in a referendum.

2005 mayoral race

[edit]

Following the 2002 electoral losses, the Non-Partisan Association rebuilt its slate for the 2005 election. Sullivan beat former BC Liberal Party deputy-Premier Christy Clark for the NPA mayoral nomination. He then led the party to electoral majorities on the City Council, School Board and Park Board with 17 out of 27 seats.

On May 2, 2006, Sullivan provided a statement to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police about his past decisions to provide money to illegal drug users.[20] Because of increased public awareness surrounding these incidents during the mayoralty race, the Vancouver Chief of Police requested that the RCMP investigate these incidents.

Sullivan's statement gave a brief account of his decision to provide financial support to a 20-year-old woman working as a prostitute in his neighbourhood in the late 1990s, by providing $40 a day for three weeks for heroin.[20] Sullivan also gave money to a severely addicted crack cocaine user so he did not have to steal, and let him smoke in his van.[20]

Jim / James Green controversy

[edit]

In the election, Sullivan ran against several candidates, the most prominent of which was Vision Vancouver councillor Jim Green. Sullivan defeated Green by a narrow margin of 3,747 votes of 130,000 ballots cast. A second, independent candidate named James Green also ran in this election, gaining over 4,000 votes. The close margin of Sullivan's victory and the similarity of independent candidate James Green's name to that of Sullivan's main opponent Jim Green led to a major controversy.[21] Speculation that James Green was a "spoiler" candidate was inflamed when it became known that Sullivan had helped Green in a dispute about office space.[22] No allegations were ever proven that Sullivan was supporting the independent candidate James Green, and both men denied any wrongdoing.[22]

As mayor of Vancouver

[edit]

Citizen Sam documentary

[edit]

Sullivan was the subject of a National Film Board of Canada documentary, Citizen Sam. It premiered in November 2006, and was nominated for a Gemini Award.[23]

Olympic and Paralympic Games

[edit]

Sullivan took part in the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics, in the ceremony where the Olympic Flag was passed from Turin to Vancouver. The ceremony involves an official of the current host city waving the flag eight times, then handing it off to an official of the next host city, who waves it eight times. When it was his turn, the flag was put into a special bracket built into Sullivan's wheelchair. He then swung his wheelchair back and forth eight times to wave the flag.


After the event, Sullivan received letters from people across the world who were inspired by the act, and received many invitations to be a keynote speaker at conventions.[citation needed] "I especially was moved to get letters from people who wrote very eloquent letters, saying they had considered suicide, and changed their mind when they saw me perform my duties...To see I had such an impact on people's lives was truly a humbling experience," Sullivan said in response to the reaction.[24]

EcoDensity initiative

[edit]

Shortly after the World Urban Forum held in Vancouver in June 2006, Sullivan launched the EcoDensity initiative. It was defined at its launch 'to make Vancouver more sustainable, affordable, and liveable'. This included plans to densify Vancouver, including more towers and allowing secondary houses on existing single-family properties. Sullivan claimed higher densities and smaller ecological footprints were necessary to sustain a growing population.[25]

In a move that was roundly criticized by both community members and the local media, Sullivan's staff registered the term "EcoDensity" with the patent office, under his name.[26][27] In September 2007 the City of Vancouver announced that the ownership of the trademark had been transferred to the city.[citation needed]

In 2009 the Canadian Institute of Planners awarded the EcoDensity its Planning Excellence award for City Planning.[28]

Project Civil City

[edit]

Sullivan conducted an informal survey on his website asking visitors how they felt about civil disorder in the City of Vancouver. On November 26, 2006, he released the results of his survey and created a new program called Project Civil City, which is known as the mayor's effort to enhance public order in Vancouver's public areas. The conclusion of Project Civil City was that police were not the answer to the city's social problems. The police chief of that time was opposed to the project, saying "I'm not in favor of this kind of position" and "I can do this job".[29] Throughout his term, Sullivan was criticized by the opposition for his reluctance to hire more police.[citation needed] An important initiative of Project Civil City was the creation of the Street to Home Foundation, whose goal was to encourage philanthropists in the city to contribute toward the solution to homelessness.[citation needed]

An initiative Sullivan championed was CAST(chronic addiction substitution treatment).[30] This would prescribe drugs to people with addictions. He formed a group called Inner Change which raised several million dollars to support the SALOME drug trials. An important goal was to reduce overdose deaths.[31] This was opposed by the opposition.[32]

Statistics from the Vancouver Police Board indicate that in 2005, the year before he became mayor, 51,429 property crimes were reported in the city.[33] In 2008, his final year as Mayor there were 40,514 property crimes.[34]

However, in its first two years, homelessness went up 54 to 78 per cent, drug offences doubled, and street disorder went up 84 per cent.[35] The project was cancelled in 2010.[36]

Civic strike

[edit]

A civic strike of Vancouver's inside, outside, and library workers that began on July 26, 2007, was dubbed "Sam's Strike" by the strikers.[37] The strike lasted 88 days and was the second longest in Vancouver's history; the longest was 90 days under Mayor Mike Harcourt in 1981.[38][39] The unions blamed Sullivan's intransigence at the bargaining table for prolonging the strike.[40] The union cited the city never tabling a written counteroffer as evidence of the city not negotiating.[41] A mediator was called in who recommended 17.5% (21% compounded), which was the amount accepted by the rest of the municipalities in the region. When two of the civic unions rejected the recommendation, public support collapsed, and within the week a new vote by the three civic unions accepted the deal. On October 19, 2007 CUPE Local 391 voted 71 per cent in favour of the city's offer and ended the strike.[38]

NPA donation allegations

[edit]

Critics accused of Sullivan of misusing political donations when $5000 raised for the Knowards campaign through the Nanitch Policy Society was used to buy tickets for campaign volunteers at a 2004 NPA dinner.[42] Calls for an inquiry by Vancouver city council opposition members were subsequently dismissed by the Provincial government. In December 2009, The Tyee published a letter from Sullivan in which he explained the background behind the Nanitch Policy Society, and in particular the donation made to the NPA.[43]

Ouster from NPA

[edit]

In 2008, although the NPA board had greenlighted Sullivan to run for mayor and he had the endorsement of all NPA City Councillors,[44] NPA councillor Peter Ladner announced that he wanted to challenge Sullivan for mayor. On June 8, 2008, it was announced that Ladner had defeated Sullivan to win the NPA's mayoral nomination.[45] Ladner beat Sullivan in a tight, 1,066-to-986 vote after convincing enough NPA members that Sullivan would be defeated in the municipal election without a change in leadership.[citation needed] Ladner proceeded to lose against his mayoral opponent with NPA reduced to 4 out of 27 seats on the council, School Board and Park Board.

Post-mayoral activities

[edit]

Global Civic Policy Society

[edit]

In November 2009, Sullivan formed the Global Civic Policy Society with a $500,000 startup grant from the Annenberg Foundation of California.[46] The society hosts a speaker series called Public Salons that "provide a public platform for the thinkers and doers of Vancouver".[47] The presentations are featured on a 1/2 hour weekly television program on Shaw TV called Sam Sullivan's Public Salons.[48] Through its Greeting Fluency Initiative, the society hosts salons that encourage citizens to "learn a few words of greetings in the languages of their neighbours".[49] It has developed a smartphone app called Greeting Fluency Aid, available free to the public, containing greeting phrases from eighteen languages.[50] It includes over 30 endangered first nations languages of British Columbia. The society hosts the Vancouver Urban Forum with a specific goal of increasing urban densities.[51][52] Its Early Documents Transcription Program is putting the oldest Vancouver City Council Minutes online for free access to the public.[53] It contributes to short BC education and policy videos under the Kumtuks banner which had 800,000 views by the end of 2017.

In 2023 Sullivan launched Global Civic as an Advocacy Think Tank modelled after groups in London, New York and Ottawa. Alain Bertaud, former Principal Urban Planner for the World Bank, made a 10 day visit to Vancouver to launch the House Price Initiative.[54]

Sullivan launched his End the Downtown Eastside Project in July 2025. [55]

Centre for Fourth Wave Reform

[edit]

In February 2011, Sullivan founded the Centre for Fourth Wave Reform to explore ideas for change in municipal governance. This was amalgamated into the Global Civic Advocacy think tank in 2023.

Chinook Jargon Revival

[edit]

Sullivan is trying to promote the revival of Chinook Jargon, the aboriginal trade language once widely used in British Columbia. On June 27, 2015, together with retired University of British Columbia Anthropology professor Jay Powell, he hosted Chinook Wawa Day at the Creekside Community Centre in Vancouver; from September 26–27, they hosted Chinook Wawa Weekend.[56][57] The workshops featured educational material to support citizens interested in the nearly extinct language. Sullivan has published and translated several videos of aboriginal elders speaking Chinook Wawa.[58]

In 2023 Sullivan contracted with David Robertson, the world's foremost expert on Northern Chinook Jargon, to create a new comprehensive Teach Yourself Northern Chinook Jargon curriculum.[59] Sullivan introduced it to the BC Social Studies Teacher’s Association conference in October 2024.[60]

Transcribimus

[edit]

In June 2012, Sullivan began hiring individuals and later recruiting volunteers to transcribe handwritten Vancouver City Council Minutes from 1886 to 1891. His goal was to make the achievements of David Oppenheimer, Vancouver's second Mayor, accessible online free of charge to the public. In December 2015 he announced the completion of the first four years of Minutes and the creation of Transcribimus to recruit more volunteers to transcribe additional handwritten documents of Vancouver.[61][62] Transcribimus is a network of over 100 volunteers that have completed 7000 pages of handwritten Vancouver City Council minutes from 1886 to 1901.

Kumtuks Educational Series

[edit]

In January 2016, Sullivan began publishing Kumtuks, a Chinook Jargon word meaning "knowledge". The series includes a video channel[63] and articles[64] about British Columbia's history, public policy, and general knowledge. Kumtuks videos have been viewed over 2 million times on various social media platforms and are often used by teachers.

Provincial politics

[edit]

In November 2012, Sullivan announced he would seek the BC Liberal Party nomination in Vancouver-False Creek after the current incumbent Mary McNeil said she would not be seeking a second term in the 2013 British Columbia general election.[65] Sullivan's main competition for the nomination was Lorne Mayencourt.[66] Sullivan defeated Mayencourt by a vote of 273 to 202, with commercial litigation lawyer Brian Fixter coming in third.[67] Sullivan went on to win the election, receiving 11,328 votes, with the NDP candidate Matt Toner receiving 7,981 votes.[68]

2017 provincial election

[edit]

Sullivan was re-elected in the 2017 election as MLA for Vancouver False Creek, but only after a recount.[69] On June 11, he was appointed Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink. His first move was to scrap the requirement for a referendum on Transit funding.[70]

His tenure in cabinet was short lived as the Liberal minority government of Christy Clark was defeated in a confidence motion on June 29, 2017. As a result, the BC New Democratic Party led by John Horgan formed a government weeks later, with the support of the Green Party of British Columbia, and Sullivan and the Liberals moved to the Opposition benches where he served as the Official Opposition Critic for Housing. Clark announced her resignation as Liberal leader weeks later.

Liberal leadership

[edit]

Sullivan announced on September 21, 2017, that he was seeking the leadership of the BC Liberal Party.[71] He was eliminated on the first ballot. "Sam Sullivan entered to raise issues, not win, and finished sixth, which is probably where he expected to be," Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer would write.[72] Sullivan was defeated in the 2020 provincial election.

Electoral record

[edit]
2020 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-False Creek
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Brenda Bailey 11,484 46.77 +6.30 $47,212.32
Liberal Sam Sullivan 9,217 37.54 −4.62 $85,582.35
Green Maayan Kreitzman 3,108 12.66 −3.11 $9,079.62
Conservative Erik Gretland 465 1.89 – $1,126.02
Libertarian Naomi Chocyk 280 1.14 +0.27 $0.00
Total valid votes 24,554 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 201 0.81 +0.08
Turnout 24,755 51.06 −4.62
Registered voters 48,482
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +5.46
Source: Elections BC[73][74]

2018 BC Liberal leadership

[edit]
  = Eliminated from next round
  = Winner
Candidate Ballot 1 Ballot 2 Ballot 3 Ballot 4 Ballot 5
Name Votes Points Votes +/- Points +/- Votes +/- Points +/- Votes +/- Points +/- Votes +/- Points +/-
Andrew Wilkinson 4828
15.69%		 1591.46
18.29%		 4928
16.05%		 100
0.36%		 1630.98
18.75%		 39.52
0.46%		 6436
22.39%		 1508
6.34%		 2202.30
25.29%		 571.33
6.54%		 7832
29.22%		 1396
6.83%		 2863.51
32.91%		 661.21
7.62%		 12509
53.76%		 4677
24.54%		 4621.29
53.12%		 1757.78
20.21%
Dianne Watts 7449
24.20%		 2135.13
24.54%		 7537
24.54%		 88
0.34%		 2167.49
24.91%		 32.36
0.37%		 8036
27.95%		 499
3.41%		 2470.62
28.38%		 303.13
3.47%		 9130
34.06%		 1094
6.11%		 3006.96
34.56%		 536.34
6.18%		 10761
46.24%		 1631
12.18%		 4078.71
46.88%		 1071.75
12.32%
Michael Lee 8100
26.32%		 1916.68
22.03%		 8206
26.72%		 106
0.40%		 1956.29
22.49%		 39.60
0.46%		 8614
29.96%		 408
3.24%		 2261.09
26.03%		 304.80
3.54%		 9842
36.72%		 1228
6.76%		 2829.53
32.52%		 568.44
6.49%		 eliminated
Todd Stone 5073
16.48%		 1483.48
17.05%		 5134
16.72%		 61
0.23%		 1504.69
17.30%		 21.21
0.25%		 5664
19.70%		 530
2.98%		 1765.98
20.29%		 261.30
2.99%		 eliminated
Mike de Jong 4837
15.72%		 1415.13
16.27%		 4906
15.97%		 69
0.26%		 1440.56
16.56%		 25.43
0.29%		 eliminated
Sam Sullivan 488
1.59%		 158.11
1.82%		 eliminated
TOTAL 30775 8700 30711 -64 8700 - 28750 -1961 8700 - 26804 -1946 8700 - 23270 -3534 8700 -


2017 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-False Creek
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Sam Sullivan 10,370 42.16 −10.27 $51,086
New Democratic Morgane Oger 9,955 40.47 +3.53 $30,096
Green Bradley Darren Shende 3,880 15.77 +6.85 $1,575
Libertarian Liz Jaluague 213 0.87 – $0
Your Political Party James Filippelli 91 0.37 +0 $561
Citizens First Phillip James Ryan 1 0.1 – $2950
Total valid votes 24,599 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 181 0.73 +0.18
Turnout 24,780 55.68 +5.57
Registered voters 44,508
Source: Elections BC[75][76]
2013 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-False Creek
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Sam Sullivan 11,228 52.21 −4.19 $114,796
New Democratic Matt Toner 7,981 37.11 +9.58 $110,920
Green Daniel Tseghay 1,928 8.96 −4.15 $1,050
No Affiliation Ian James Tootill 199 0.93 – $8,270
First Sal Vetro 90 0.42 – $3,207
Your Political Party James Filippelli 81 0.37 – $610
Total valid votes 21,507 100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 118 0.55 −0.17
Turnout 21,625 50.11 +1.96
Eligible voters 43,157
Source: Elections BC[77][78]

Municipal elections

[edit]
2005 Vancouver municipal election: Mayor
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
NPA Sam Sullivan 61,543 47.34 Green tickY
Vision Jim Green 57,796 44.45
Independent James Green 4,273 3.29
Work Less Ben West 1,907 1.47
Independent Scott Yee 688 0.53
Interest Austin Spencer 456 0.35
Independent Pedro Mora 443 0.34
Independent Gölök Zoltán Buday 384 0.30
Independent John Landry Gray 355 0.27
Independent Mike Hansen 304 0.23
Independent Darrell Zimmerman 283 0.22
Independent Frank D'Agostino 275 0.21
Independent Ian W. Simpson 246 0.19
Independent Arthur Crossman 219 0.17
Independent Grant Chancey 198 0.15
Independent Ray Power 171 0.13
Independent Peter Raymond Haskell 144 0.11
Independent Malcolm G. MacLeod 140 0.11
Independent Joe Hatoum 96 0.07
Independent Eliot Esti 90 0.07
Total votes 130,011 100.00
NPA gain from COPE Swing –

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sam Sullivan

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from Grokipedia
Sam Sullivan is a Canadian politician and rights advocate who served as of from 2005 to 2008. Following a skiing accident in 1978 that resulted in , he became a prominent figure in advocacy, founding the Sam Sullivan Foundation, which has raised over $20 million to support individuals with disabilities through various nonprofits. As mayor, Sullivan oversaw initiatives including the EcoDensity policy to promote sustainable urban development, which earned a 2009 award from the Canadian Institute of Planners, alongside a significant reduction in and the expansion of over 100 kilometers of routes. He previously served as a Vancouver city councillor from 1993 to 2002 and later as a for Vancouver-False Creek, holding ministerial portfolios in communities, sport, cultural development, and TransLink responsibility. Sullivan is a Member of the , recognized for his contributions to advocacy and public service.

Early Life and Disability

Childhood and Education

Sam Sullivan was born on November 13, 1959, in East Vancouver to parents Lloyd and Ida Sullivan. His father owned and operated Sully’s Autoparts on East Hastings Street, where Sullivan worked as a boy. As the second of five children, he grew up with three brothers—Donald, Patrick, and Terry—and one sister, Carol, in a working-class household in East Vancouver. Sullivan attended Chief Maquinna Elementary School and . During high school, he held multiple jobs simultaneously while pursuing interests in individual sports, such as , and taking classical lessons. After sustaining quadriplegia in a accident at age 19, Sullivan endured a seven-year period of depression that delayed his postsecondary pursuits. He subsequently attended and obtained a from .

Skiing Accident and Quadriplegia

On January 19, 1979, Sam Sullivan, then aged 19, sustained a severe while at Cypress Mountain near , . Attempting a by skiing between a friend's legs while in a crouched position, he lost control on a steep run, fell, and fractured his neck. This resulted in a fracture-dislocation of his fourth and fifth (C4-C5), causing immediate , a form of affecting all four limbs and the torso due to damage at the high cervical level of the . The injury rendered Sullivan unable to move below the neck initially, with complete loss of motor function in his trunk, arms, and legs, and requiring for a period due to impaired diaphragm control typical of C4-level damage. Over subsequent years of rehabilitation, he regained limited voluntary movement in his shoulders, , and fingers, though he remained dependent on a power for mobility and adaptive equipment for daily activities. , often termed quadriplegia in North American usage, thus defined his physical condition lifelong, stemming directly from the incomplete but high-level trauma without full neurological recovery.

Disability Advocacy

Founding of Key Organizations

Following his 1978 skiing accident that resulted in , Sullivan founded the Tetra Society of in 1987 to address barriers faced by individuals with physical through custom assistive devices. The organization recruits skilled volunteers, such as engineers and technicians, to design and build low-cost adaptive equipment tailored to specific needs, enabling greater independence in daily activities and recreation; by its early years, it had expanded to multiple chapters across and the . In 1988, Sullivan established the Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia (now Adaptive Sailing Association of BC) to provide accessible opportunities for people with physical disabilities, starting with adapted dinghies like the British-made and later developing specialized vessels such as the Martin 16 keelboat. This initiative annually facilitates hundreds of recreational and competitive sessions, emphasizing skill-building and social inclusion on the water. Sullivan went on to found additional specialized groups, including the B.C. Mobility Opportunities Society for enhanced transportation access, the Vancouver Adapted Music Society to promote musical participation via adaptive instruments, the ConnecTra Society in 1999 for technology-driven connectivity solutions, and the Nanitch Learning Society focused on educational programs. These entities collectively addressed gaps in adaptive , mobility, , and learning for people with disabilities. In 1996, Sullivan created the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation as an to coordinate and fund these affiliated non-profits, raising over $20 million by the to support programs promoting active lifestyles and full societal participation. The foundation's model prioritizes practical, volunteer-driven innovations over dependency on government aid, reflecting Sullivan's emphasis on self-reliance.

Major Advocacy Efforts and Recognition

Sullivan founded the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation in the late , which has raised over $20 million to fund quality-of-life programs for individuals with , including adaptive , , and other recreational initiatives. He also established the Tetra Society of to develop low-cost adaptive equipment and tools tailored for people with limited hand function, such as quadriplegics, enabling greater independence in daily tasks and hobbies. These efforts extended to promoting accessible ; Sullivan supported the Disabled Sailing Association and contributed to innovations like the Martin 16 keelboat, designed in the 1990s specifically for sailors with high-level injuries who lack upper body control. Overall, he created six nonprofit organizations that have assisted thousands of people with disabilities across in rebuilding lives post-injury. In recognition of his advocacy, Sullivan was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 2000 for advancing opportunities for those with physical disabilities. He received the Christopher Reeve Award from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation in 2008, honoring his leadership in improving lives for people with significant disabilities. In 2023, University Canada West conferred an honorary doctorate upon him for his foundational work in disability support and policy influence. Sullivan was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, with the official citation praising his role in founding organizations that empower individuals to overcome adversity following spinal cord injuries. Additionally, he received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 for sustained advocacy on behalf of the disability community, including ties to initiatives like the Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour.

Municipal Political Career

Service as City Councillor

Sullivan was first elected to in the November 1993 municipal election as a member of the (NPA), securing one of the top positions among candidates. He was re-elected in subsequent elections in 1996, 1999, and 2002, serving continuously until December 2005 when he assumed the mayoralty. As the longest-serving councillor by 2005, Sullivan focused on urban development, , and public amenities, often leveraging his background in to prioritize in city planning. During his tenure, Sullivan served on the steering committee for the Vancouver Public Library's Central Branch project, which opened in and became a key cultural hub with features designed for universal access. He contributed to zoning and redevelopment efforts in areas including , , International Village, Concord Pacific, and the future site, facilitating mixed-use developments and waterfront enhancements. Sullivan also supported the expansion of urban parks, including Andy Livingston Park, Coopers/Emory Barnes Park, and related green spaces, as well as improvements to seawalls and ferry docks. Sullivan played a role in advancing transportation and convention infrastructure, including early advocacy for the rapid transit extension and the new . He backed initiatives to reduce unauthorized moorage in city waters and supported upgrades to BC Place Stadium's roof. In December 2002, as councillor, Sullivan co-moved a notice supporting Vancouver's bid for the and Paralympics, emphasizing alignment with the city's bid agreement and long-term legacy benefits. These efforts positioned him as a proponent of sustainable urban growth and event hosting, though specific policy impacts were collaborative within council decisions.

2005 Mayoral Campaign and Jim Green Controversy

Sam Sullivan, a long-serving (NPA) city councillor, entered the 2005 Vancouver mayoral race as the party's candidate, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, public safety, and urban development priorities such as addressing and through enhanced policing and the "four pillars" approach to , which included prevention, treatment, , and enforcement. His opponent, Jim Green, represented the newly formed Vision Vancouver party, a centrist breakaway from the left-leaning Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE), campaigning on progressive housing policies, environmental sustainability, and community-oriented governance. The election, held on November 19, 2005, was marked by a tight contest, with Sullivan securing by a narrow margin. Sullivan received 47.3% of the vote, totaling approximately 72,000 votes, while garnered 44.5%, or about 68,000 votes, resulting in a difference of 3,747 votes. Independent candidate James Green, whose surname matched the frontrunner's, finished third with 4,273 votes (over 3% of the total), prompting accusations from Vision Vancouver that the similarity confused voters and split progressive support, potentially tipping the outcome to Sullivan. Post-election scrutiny intensified over allegations that Sullivan's campaign had indirectly influenced James Green's candidacy by inquiring into his eviction from a shared campaign office space. Sullivan admitted to contacting the landlord after the eviction occurred, citing concerns raised by associates about possible bullying of James Green by Jim Green's supporters, but he denied any intent to interfere with the race or connection to James Green's decision to run. Vision Vancouver demanded an independent inquiry, arguing the episode undermined electoral fairness under Vancouver's first-past-the-post system, though no formal investigation found evidence of impropriety by Sullivan's team. Critics, including some in progressive media, highlighted the controversy as emblematic of vulnerabilities in uninominal voting, suggesting ranked-choice alternatives might have mitigated vote-splitting without reliance on candidate withdrawals. Sullivan maintained the inquiries were benign and unrelated to electoral strategy, framing them as a response to reported tensions rather than manipulation.

Achievements During Mayoral Term

During his tenure as Mayor of from December 2005 to November 2008, Sam Sullivan focused on preparing the city for the and Paralympics, including accepting the Olympic flag on behalf of Vancouver at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Games and serving as Canadian Paralympic Ambassador. These efforts involved coordinating infrastructure upgrades, such as improvements to the Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth, and Playhouse civic theaters, and the development of the Olympic Streetcar line to enhance transportation for the events. Sullivan launched the EcoDensity Initiative in 2006, aimed at promoting higher-density urban development to combat sprawl, reduce , and improve affordability through innovative and building standards. This policy received recognition, including an award from the American Planning Association for its forward-thinking approach to sustainable growth. Complementing this, he outlined Five Goals for a Better in January 2007, emphasizing sustainability leadership, economic prosperity, social compassion, cultural vibrancy, and enhanced city governance. In addressing social issues, Sullivan advanced the Four Pillars drug strategy by convening a session for the coalition in 2007, focusing on prevention, treatment, , and enforcement, while advocating for expanded substitution therapies like to reduce illicit drug use. Additionally, through Project Civil City, he aimed to restore order on streets by increasing bylaw enforcement and to tackle issues like public drug use and , resulting in measurable reductions in reported street disorder incidents during his term.

Criticisms and Controversies of Mayoral Term

Sullivan faced scrutiny shortly after his November 2005 election for past actions involving financial assistance to individuals with drug addictions, which predated his mayoral term but raised questions about his judgment. In one incident around 1990, he provided $40 per day for three weeks to a 20-year-old prostitute to discourage her involvement in sex work, while in another post-2000 case, he gave money to an addict named Shawn, who consumed in Sullivan's vehicle near a police station. The RCMP launched an at the request of Police Chief Jamie Graham following Sullivan's public admissions during the campaign, amid concerns from the police union about his suitability to chair the Police Board. No criminal charges were filed in 2006, with authorities citing insufficient evidence and the age of the cases, though Sullivan acknowledged he would not repeat the actions despite believing them well-intentioned at the time. Sullivan's EcoDensity initiative, aimed at increasing urban density to reduce sprawl and emissions, sparked significant opposition during his term. Launched in 2006, the policy encouraged higher-density development, rezoning, and incentives for sustainable building, but public hearings attracted hundreds of speakers protesting perceived over-development and loss of neighborhood character. In 2007, Sullivan's personal application to trademark the term "EcoDensity" prompted Vision Vancouver councillors to demand an ethics investigation, arguing it blurred lines between official city policy and personal branding. The charter passed council on June 10, 2008, by a narrow margin, but critics, including urban planners and residents, contended it prioritized developer interests over community input and environmental claims were overstated. Sullivan defended the initiative as essential for Vancouver's growth amid housing shortages, though it contributed to his declining popularity and internal NPA challenges. In June 2008, Sullivan drew criticism for touting as North America's most wheelchair-accessible city ahead of the 2010 Olympics, despite ongoing infrastructure failures affecting disabled residents. Cheryl Tabler, a woman with , highlighted hazards in a $4 million Broadway sidewalk reconstruction, where uneven slopes caused wheelchairs to veer into traffic and steep ramps led to falls resulting in injuries like broken jaws and concussions; she also noted unusable disabled parking due to obstructive landscaping. Margaret Birrell of the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities labeled Sullivan's claims "misleading," pointing to issues such as crowded elevators and absent down escalators at stations. Sullivan responded that remained "light years ahead" of peers in policy terms but conceded he did not personally review construction plans, attributing problems to implementation rather than direction. This episode underscored perceived gaps between Sullivan's advocacy as a quadriplegic and practical outcomes under his administration.

Removal from NPA Leadership

In June 2008, incumbent Mayor Sam Sullivan faced a leadership challenge within the (NPA) when Councillor Peter Ladner contested the party's mayoral nomination for the November civic election. Ladner's campaign highlighted dissatisfaction with Sullivan's record, including perceived inadequate responses to rising homelessness and crime rates, as well as an overemphasis on preparations for the at the expense of longer-term city priorities. These critiques were compounded by the fallout from a contentious 2007 garbage strike, which had eroded public and party support for Sullivan's administration. The NPA nomination vote occurred on June 8, 2008, at a meeting where approximately 2,000 members participated. Ladner secured 1,066 votes to Sullivan's 986, securing a narrow victory in what was described as a shocking upset against the sitting . Sullivan conceded the result immediately, stating that "the membership has spoken" and pledging to collaborate with Ladner despite the personal and political setback. The defeat effectively stripped Sullivan of his position as the NPA's endorsed mayoral candidate and leader heading into the election, marking a rare internal ouster of an by their own —a pattern previously seen with Philip Owen's removal in 2002, which contributed to NPA electoral losses. The nomination loss exposed deep divisions within the NPA, with no fellow party councillors publicly backing Ladner during , leading to immediate efforts by party executives to reconcile factions. Sullivan remained in office as until the but without NPA backing, creating an awkward lame-duck status; he subsequently ran as an independent candidate in November 2008, finishing third behind Vision Vancouver's Gregor Robertson and Ladner. In later reflections, Sullivan described the ouster as a secondary regret compared to the garbage strike, while speculation arose—unconfirmed—that his frustration prompted the leak of a critical internal report on the project, highlighting ongoing tensions with party insiders. The event underscored vulnerabilities in Sullivan's , which some attributed to interpersonal strains and policy missteps, ultimately signaling the end of his alignment with the NPA.

Provincial Political Involvement

Election as MLA and Cabinet Positions

Sullivan won the BC Liberal Party nomination for the Vancouver-False Creek riding on February 20, 2013, defeating former two-term MLA Lorne Mayencourt by a margin of 273 votes to 202. He was subsequently elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Vancouver-False Creek in the May 14, 2013, provincial election, securing 10,506 votes (45.3% of the popular vote) against NDP candidate Colleen Hardwick's 8,487 votes (36.6%). This victory marked his transition from municipal to provincial politics following his tenure as Vancouver mayor. Sullivan was re-elected in the May 9, 2017, provincial election, receiving 9,332 votes (42.57%) to narrowly defeat NDP candidate Morgane Oger's 8,589 votes (39.19%). The election produced a , with the BC Liberals initially retaining power through a confidence-and-supply agreement with the BC . Following the 2017 election, Premier appointed Sullivan to cabinet on June 12, 2017, as Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, with additional responsibility for TransLink, the regional transportation authority. This role leveraged his prior experience in urban development and advocacy, though the Liberal government lost a vote on June 29, 2017, leading to its replacement by an NDP-Green minority and ending Sullivan's cabinet tenure after less than three weeks. In opposition, he continued as Social Development and critic.

2017 Provincial Election and Leadership Attempts

Sullivan sought re-election in the Vancouver-False Creek riding during the May 9, 2017, British Columbia general election as the BC Liberal incumbent. Initial results showed a narrow lead for NDP challenger Morgane Oger, prompting a judicial recount completed on May 24, 2017, which confirmed Sullivan's victory by 18 votes (11,069 to 11,051). This outcome preserved the riding for the Liberals amid a province-wide tie between the BC Liberals (43 seats) and NDP (41 seats), with the BC Green Party holding three seats to determine government formation. Following the BC Liberals' loss of a confidence vote on July 29, 2017, which led to Christy Clark's resignation as on August 4, 2017, Sullivan announced his candidacy for the BC Liberal leadership on September 21, 2017, becoming the first declared contender. His platform emphasized "ecodensity" to address housing shortages, expanded substitution therapies for opioid addiction, support for the (HST), and selective privatization in healthcare delivery. The leadership election occurred on February 3, 2018, with six candidates competing, including Sullivan, , Mike de Jong, Dianne Watts, Todd Stone, and Michael Lee. Sullivan's campaign positioned him as a policy innovator drawing from his mayoral experience but garnered limited party member support, resulting in early elimination during the ranked-ballot voting rounds. Wilkinson ultimately won on the fourth ballot, securing 62.2% of the vote against de Jong. Sullivan's bid highlighted internal party debates on and but underscored challenges for candidates advocating unconventional reforms within the .

Post-Political Activities

Establishment of Policy and Cultural Initiatives

Following his defeat in the 2020 British Columbia provincial election, Sam Sullivan founded the Global Civic Policy Society in , an organization dedicated to promoting informed civic discourse and cultural preservation through non-partisan public engagement. The society organizes Public Salons, discussion forums addressing topics such as urban policy, , and historical to encourage cosmopolitan while strengthening local community bonds. The Global Civic Policy Society has initiated projects blending policy analysis with cultural revitalization, including the development of the Greeting Fluency app, which teaches basic phrases in 20 languages to foster in diverse urban settings like . Another effort, Transcribimus, crowdsources the transcription of early municipal documents from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making archival records accessible online to support historical research and public understanding of civic evolution. Sullivan has also spearheaded the revival of Chinook Wawa, a trade language historically used by , fur traders, and settlers in the , through educational resources and online platforms aimed at preserving linguistic heritage amid declining native speakers. These initiatives reflect Sullivan's emphasis on dialogue and cultural continuity, drawing from his prior experiences in municipal and provincial to address gaps in public knowledge and community cohesion without reliance on government funding. In parallel, Sullivan continues to oversee the Disability Foundation, which he established in the but has expanded post-politics to support adaptive technologies and programs serving over 10,000 individuals with physical disabilities, including innovations like the TrailRider wilderness mobility device and the Martin 16 accessible sailboat deployed in 150 locations worldwide. The foundation's affiliated societies, such as the Tetra Society of —which Sullivan co-founded—focus on volunteer-driven assistive device fabrication, promoting self-reliance and inclusion through practical, community-sourced solutions rather than top-down interventions.

Recent Advocacy and Public Commentary

In July 2025, Sullivan published an in the calling for an end to the "cruel experiment" of concentrating , , and related facilities in Vancouver's (DTES), arguing that after decades this model has failed to improve outcomes and instead perpetuates despair, addiction, and isolation. He proposed dispersing services citywide to foster integration, enable self-sufficiency, and restore the DTES to function like typical urban neighborhoods in other cities. This stance aligned with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's January 2025 announcement to halt further concentration of in the DTES, which Sullivan publicly endorsed as a necessary step toward balanced urban policy. Sullivan has continued advocating for and reforms, including in a May 2024 discussion where he critiqued British Columbia's ongoing challenges and supported provincial legislation aimed at accelerating development to address supply shortages. Through the Global Civic Policy Society, which he founded as an advocacy focused on evidence-based civic solutions, Sullivan promotes policies emphasizing personal responsibility and community integration over institutional clustering. In commentary on disability support, Sullivan has stressed enabling self-sufficiency, drawing from his experience as a quadriplegic to argue that individuals with disabilities desire independence rather than dependency, as highlighted in a podcast interview where he critiqued overly paternalistic welfare models. He has also opposed initiatives perceived as erasing historical context, such as Vancouver school board renaming efforts, stating in 2023 that such actions do not advance reconciliation but instead obscure shared history without empirical benefits. These positions reflect Sullivan's broader public engagement on Vancouver's social issues via opinion pieces, interviews, and society-led events, including a October 2024 Public Salon on civic challenges.

Electoral History

Sullivan first won election to in the 1993 municipal election as a (NPA) candidate, and was re-elected in 1996, 1999, and 2002, serving continuously until 2005. In the 2005 Vancouver mayoral election held on November 19, Sullivan secured victory for the NPA with 47.3 percent of the vote, narrowly defeating Vision Vancouver candidate Jim Green who received 44.5 percent. Sullivan did not seek re-election in the 2008 municipal election after losing the NPA mayoral nomination to Peter Ladner on June 8, 2008. Sullivan entered provincial politics with the BC Liberal Party, winning the nomination for [Vancouver-False Creek](/page/Vancouver-False Creek) on February 20, 2013, and the seat in the May 14, 2013, general election with 52 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in the May 9, 2017, general election by 415 votes following a judicial recount, receiving approximately 42.6 percent of the vote. Sullivan lost the seat to BC NDP candidate Brenda Bailey in the October 24, 2020, general election by 2,267 votes.
YearElectionPartyVotes%Result
2005Vancouver MayorNPA-47.3Won
2013Vancouver-False Creek MLABC Liberal11,22852.2Won
2017Vancouver-False Creek MLABC Liberal9,33242.6Won
2020Vancouver-False Creek MLABC Liberal--Lost

References

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