Wikipedia

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver (TEAM) is a municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was established by Vancouver city councillor Colleen Hardwick, first elected in 2018 with the Non-Partisan Association (NPA), on August 24, 2021. It has generally been classified as a moderate and centrist political party prioritizing local communities within the city of Vancouver. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver has run candidates who span a wide variety of ideological viewpoints united together under shared concerns about the City’s financial policies and direction, planning and development, and engagement with residents and neighbourhoods.[5]

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver
AbbreviationTEAM
LeaderColleen Hardwick
PresidentChris Johnson
SecretarySal Robinson
FoundedAugust 24, 2021 (2021-08-24)
IdeologyLocalism[1]
Economic liberalism[2]
Political positionCentre[3] to centre-right[4]
City council
0 / 11
Park board
0 / 7
School board
0 / 9
Website
www.voteteam.ca

Founding and the 2022 Vancouver municipal election

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The party derives its name from former mayor Art Phillips' The Electors' Action Movement (TEAM). The new party held a conference in 2021 to develop policy directions, which were later ratified by the membership.[6] Colleen Hardwick, the daughter of Vancouver City Councillor and academic Dr. Walter G. Hardwick (1968-1974), had publicly considered running for mayor as early as September 2021.[7] She resigned from the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) as one of three members (alongside colleagues Lisa Dominato and Sarah Kirby-Yung) raising allegations about a "backroom deal" regarding future party governance.[8] An elected nine-member Board of Directors was established at an inaugural Annual General Meeting on November 28, 2021.[9]

In anticipation of the 2022 Vancouver municipal election, former Non-Partisan Association city councillor Colleen Hardwick was acclaimed as TEAM's 2022 mayoral candidate in March 2022.[10] At a general meeting on June 11, TEAM members nominated six candidates for city council;[11][12] of these individuals, Cleta Brown made a previous run for council in 2014 as a Green Party of Vancouver candidate, where she finished 18th;[13] Stephen Roberts ran provincially with the BC Liberals in the Saanich North riding in 2013, 2017, and 2020;[14] and Bill Tieleman was previously a BC NDP lobbyist. Tieleman told The Georgia Straight that TEAM "will make affordable housing, public safety and city services and livability the priority".[15] Shortly thereafter in September, incumbent Vancouver Park Board commissioner Tricia Barker announced her intention to join TEAM as one of its six city park board nominees.[16][17]

TEAM's platform in the 2022 municipal election included promises to use city-owned land for affordable housing, to increase consultation with neighbourhood residents about development, and to implement vacancy control on rental housing in apartment buildings.[18][19] It has consistently been critical of mass rezoning plans (specifically the Broadway Plan[20][21]) and called into question the merits of Vancouver's social housing plans,[20][22] arguing in 2025 that middle and low-income families are being sidelined by the rezonings,[23][24] with a press release stating, "TEAM agrees that Vancouver needs social housing, but thinks neighbourhoods should have a say in how that happens. TEAM also agrees with the many planners and experts who say 20-storey high-rises don't belong in low-rise areas, and that many social-housing residents, especially families, do better in lower-rise buildings than towers."[22] It has staunchly opposed the Broadway Plan's original tenets in favor of a more practical and financially responsible approach to low-income housing,[20][21][24][25][26][27] arguing that it "will encourage land speculation, increase rent, boost housing prices, and lead to the eviction of thousands of tenants" and thus make Vancouver less livable.[28]

In its fundraising, TEAM made a point of refusing to accept personal election contributions from major corporate property developers.[29] Hardwick also stated that she "encourages voters to explore [candidates' platform] differences carefully before deciding who they think is best suited for the mayor’s office" at several points during her campaign.[25]

On October 15, 2022, Colleen Hardwick placed 3rd in her campaign for mayor, obtaining less votes than Ken Sim (ABC Vancouver) and Kennedy Stewart (Forward Together) but more than Mark Marissen (Progress Vancouver) and Fred Harding (NPA) with 9.97% of the popular vote. Vancouver City Council party nominees Cleta Brown, Sean Nardi, Grace Quan, Bill Tielemen, Stephen Roberts, and Param Nijjar respectively finished 24th, 28th, 29th, 31st, 32nd and 35th in a field of 59 candidates. TEAM's six nominees for the Vancouver City Park Board - Tricia Barker, Kathleen Larsen, Kumi Kimura, Michelle Mollineaux, Patrick Audley, and James Buckshon - also failed to garner any seats, respectively placing 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, and 24th in the field of 32 candidates, and its sole Vancouver School Board nominee, Matiul Alam, placed 21st out of 31 candidates.[30]

Post-election activities and the 2025 Vancouver city council by-election

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TEAM continued to engage in civic issues following its defeat. One researcher affiliated with the party engaged in a review of various parties' election-campaign filings and identified apparent discrepancies in ABC Vancouver's donations, and Elections BC was notified in July 2023.[29][31][32] In July 2024, Colleen Hardwick appeared before Vancouver City Council to oppose ABC's plans to remove or change many of the view cones that protected mountain views.[33] TEAM worked to inform residents about the planned intensification of density in the Broadway Plan area throughout 2024 and 2025, and a rally to "Pause the Plan" was held In November 2024, soon before Vancouver City Council approved amendments removing some earlier limits to highrise towers.[26][34] Party employee Theodore Abbott told The Globe and Mail that the rally organizers wanted a reorientation of the Broadway Plan so that the voices of residents and community groups are listened to and used as a guide.[35]

The party also criticized the Vancouver City Council's decision to axe Vancouver's annual dragon boat racing for the 2026 calendar year, arguing that "City Hall supports private interests instead of local communities [...] tax dollars should be spent wisely for the benefit of residents - not on boondoggles that cancel popular local events like the Dragon Boat Festival and are too expensive for most people to attend," referring to Vancouver's role in hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[36] TEAM argued that the "tremendous" planned $281 million costs from Vancouver City Council associated with the FIFA World Cup, which included $10 million for temporary surveillance cameras around BC Place, was neither "used for real, lasting investments for residents" nor a permanent solution to the growing concerns over public safety throughout the city.[37]

Colleen Hardwick and Theodore Abbott were acclaimed as the TEAM for a Livable Vancouver nominees during a meeting in February 2025 held in anticipation of the forthcoming 2025 Vancouver City Council by-election on April 5th.[38][39][40] With two council seats to fill following the resignation of Christine Boyle (on December 12, 2024) and Adriane Carr (on January 15, 2025),[41][42] the two TEAM candidates topped the polls in four neighbourhoods: Kerrisdale, Kitsilano, Dunbar and West Point Grey.[43] However, neither Hardwick nor Abbott were able to secure a seat on city council, respectively finishing in 3rd and 5th out of the 13 prospective candidates.

2026 Vancouver municipal election

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TEAM for a Livable Vancouver confirmed in January 2026 its intentions to run candidates for mayor, city council and the park board in the 2026 Vancouver municipal election.[44] In April 2026, TEAM announced that Colleen Hardwick had been chosen as its candidate for mayor and Charles Kelly, Kathleen Larsen (previously a candidate in 2022 for the Vancouver Park Board) and Peter Tu were its first three nominees for city council.[45][46] In June, Amanda Boggan and Jonathan Weisman were also named TEAM city council candidates, with the complete slate of candidates set to be selected and announced in July.[47]

Electoral results

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Mayoral[30]
Election Candidate Votes % Position Result
2022 Colleen Hardwick 16,769 9.97 3rd Not elected
Vancouver City Council[30]
Election Seats +/– Votes % Change Position
2022
0 / 11
 Decrease 1 104,613 7.77 No seats

2022 TEAM for a Livable Vancouver City Council Candidates:[30]

  • Cleta Brown — 20,854 Votes — 12.16% — 24th — Not Elected
  • Sean Nardi — 18,353 Votes — 10.70% — 28th — Not Elected
  • Grace Quan — 17,955 Votes — 10.40% — 29th — Not Elected
  • Bill Tieleman — 17,240 Votes — 10.05% — 31st — Not Elected
  • Stephen Roberts — 16,261 Votes — 9.48% — 32nd — Not Elected
  • Param Nijjar — 13,950 Votes — 8.13% — 35th — Not Elected

2022 TEAM for a Livable Vancouver Park Board Candidates:[30]

  • Tricia Barker — 25,615 Votes — 14.94% — 16th — Not Elected
  • Kathleen Larsen — 21,418 Votes — 12.49% — 18th — Not Elected
  • Kumi Kimura — 19,394 Votes — 11.31% — 19th — Not Elected
  • Michelle Mollineaux — 15,943 Votes — 9.30% — 20th — Not Elected
  • Patrick Audley — 14,681 Votes — 8.56% — 22nd — Not Elected
  • James Buckshon — 13,222 Votes — 7.71% — 24th — Not Elected

2022 TEAM for a Livable Vancouver School Board Candidate:[30]

  • Matiul Alam — 20,772 Votes — 12.11% — 21st — Not Elected
Vancouver City Council By-Election[43]
Election Candidate Votes % Position Result
2025 Colleen Hardwick

Theodore Abbott

 17,352

11,581

 25.53

17.04

 3rd

5th

 Not elected

References

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  1. ↑ Pablo, Carlito (January 9, 2022). "Jak King explains how Colleen Hardwick as mayor will try and keep Vancouver as "city of villages"". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ Fumano, Dan (January 26, 2022). "Dan Fumano: What's in a name? Vancouver mayor looks 'forward,' rival pitches return to better days". Vancouver Sun. PostMedia Inc. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ Howell, Mike."Election 2022: Why Colleen Hardwick wants to be mayor of Vancouver" https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/2022-civic-election/election-2022-why-colleen-hardwick-wants-to-be-mayor-of-vancouver-kennedy-stewart-ken-sim-5783978, accessed October 12, 2022
  4. ↑ Bula, Frances (March 15, 2022). "Vancouver mayoral race becoming even more crowded". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  5. ↑ Smith, Charlie (September 21, 2021). "Vancouver councillor Colleen Hardwick joins new party called TEAM for a Livable Vancouver". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ Chan, Kenneth (September 29, 2021). "Vancouver city councillor Colleen Hardwick joins rebooted TEAM part". The Daily Hive. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. ↑ Caddell, Nathan (September 27, 2021). "Inside Colleen Hardwick's Polarizing Path Through Vancouver City Hall". Vancouver Magazine. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ Little, Simon (April 21, 2021). "Trio of Vancouver councillors exit NPA over 'backroom deal' to appoint mayoral candidate". Global News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  9. ↑ Abbott, Theodore (December 6, 2021). "TEAM Building For Next Municipal Election". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Colleen Hardwick acclaimed as Vancouver mayoral candidate representing TEAM". The Vancouver Sun. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ Chan, Kenneth (June 13, 2022). "TEAM party nominates six candidates to run for Vancouver City Council". The Daily Hive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ Abbott, Theodore (June 11, 2022). "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver Chooses Six 'Talented' Council Candidates To Run". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  13. ↑ Bula, Frances (September 18, 2014). "Green Party backs vacant-home tax proposal in Vancouver". The Globe & Mail. Archived from the original on September 18, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ Depner, Wolf (September 24, 2020). "Stephen Roberts returns for a third run for BC Liberals in Saanich North and the Islands". Peninsula News Review. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  15. ↑ Smith, Charlie (June 4, 2022). "Consultant and lobbyist Bill Tieleman seeks council nomination with TEAM for a Livable Vancouver". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  16. ↑ Mackin, Bob (September 1, 2022). "Two NPA Park Board candidates quit, join Team for a Livable Vancouver campaign". Business in Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  17. ↑ Little, Simon (September 1, 2021). "Two park board candidates defect from NPA to TEAM with weeks to Vancouver elections". Global News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  18. ↑ Carrigg, David (October 12, 2022). "TEAM Vancouver to revive efforts to introduce vacancy control in the city". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ Robinson, Sal (October 2, 2023). "Why We're Here". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 Little, Simon (September 29, 2022). "Election 2022: Where Vancouver's major parties stand on 3 key issues". Global News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Robinson, Sal (July 24, 2025). "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver Calls for an End to Governing by Stealth". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Robinson, Sal (July 14, 2025). "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver Says City's Social Housing Plan Is Undemocratic, Ineffective, and Unclear". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  23. ↑ Robinson, Sal (October 7, 2025). "TEAM Condemns Mass-Rezoning Vote That Doubles Down On Failed Housing Strategy". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  24. 1 2 Joannou, Ashley (October 12, 2022). "Vancouver housing strategies abound, but will a fractured council hinder next mayor?". Global News. Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Miljure, Ben (October 12, 2022). "Colleen Hardwick and TEAM make final pitch ahead of Vancouver election". CTV News. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  26. 1 2 Robinson, Sal (December 2, 2025). "TEAM Urges Council to Reject Plan Allowing 20-Storey Social Housing Towers in Vast Areas of Vancouver". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  27. ↑ Robinson, Sal (July 8, 2025). "Vancouver Residents Say Preserving Affordable Housing Is Top Priority". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  28. ↑ Pablo, Carlito (August 21, 2022). "Vancouver city council candidate defines how Colleen Hardwick's TEAM is "not anti-development"". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  29. 1 2 Smith, Charlie (September 14, 2022). "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver asks Elections B.C. to investigate fundraising list found by Stanley Q. Woodvine". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "B.C. municipal election 2022: Vancouver results". Global News. October 16, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  31. ↑ Fumano, Dan (January 4, 2024). "Dan Fumano: ABC Vancouver returns $116,000 in prohibited donations from 2022 election". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  32. ↑ Howell, Mike (January 22, 2025). "Elections BC continues to investigate ABC Vancouver's finances". Business in Vancouver. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  33. ↑ Chan, Kenneth (July 10, 2024). "It's official: Vancouver City Council approves view cone policy relaxations for more housing and job space". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  34. ↑ Chan, Kenneth (December 13, 2024). "Vancouver City Council approves removal of some Broadway Plan tower limits". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  35. ↑ Gold, Kerry (November 22, 2024). "Vancouver's public consultation process is being abused, critics say". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  36. ↑ Robinson, Sal (August 5, 2025). "TEAM Slams City's Decision To Sink Next Year's Dragon Boat Festival". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  37. ↑ Robinson, Sal (December 20, 2025). "TEAM Calls FIFA World Cup "A Bad Deal" For Residents". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  38. ↑ Chan, Kenneth (January 20, 2025). "TEAM party announces it will run two candidates in Vancouver by-election". Daily Hive. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  39. ↑ Kucheran, Laef (March 22, 2025). "Candidates - Colleen Hardwick, TEAM for Vancouver". VoteMate. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  40. ↑ Kucheran, Laef (March 22, 2025). "Candidates - Theodore Abbott, TEAM for Vancouver". VoteMate. Archived from the original on February 2, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  41. ↑ Brockman, Charles; Gangdev, Srushti (December 3, 2024). "Why Vancouver could be electing two new city councillors in 2025". CityNews. Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  42. ↑ Little, Simon (January 21, 2025). "Vancouver by-election to fill 2 council seats set for April 5". Global News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  43. 1 2 Chan, Cheryl (April 11, 2025). "Vancouver byelection: Where did COPE, OneCity win big and more on the widespread collapse of ABC". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  44. ↑ Robinson, Sal (January 29, 2026). "TEAM for a Livable Vancouver to Run Candidates for Mayor, Council, School and Park Board in This Fall's Election". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  45. ↑ Robinson, Sal (April 13, 2026). "Colleen Hardwick Chosen As TEAM's Mayoral Candidate Along With Three Council Candidates". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  46. ↑ Chan, Kenneth (May 4, 2026). "TEAM selects former city councillor Colleen Hardwick for second Vancouver mayoral run". The Daily Hive. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  47. ↑ Robinson, Sal (June 9, 2026). "TEAM Chooses Two More City Council Candidates". TEAM for a Livable Vancouver. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
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