Union activist. Writer and researcher on social policy.

Founding member of COPE’s “Left Wings.”

Membership and organizing. Canvass lead and election organizer.
Founding member of COPE's "Left Wings"

Incumbent Member-At-Large. Election organizer. Voter contact organizer on the Sean Orr 2025 Campaign.

“My name is Zakir Suleman (He/They). I’m a researcher and community organizer working in the DTES. I knocked on doors for Jean Swanson in 2017, and have worked as a core organizer on the 2022 Election and Sean Orr’s 2025 Byelection victory.

I joined the executive as Membership Secretary in 2023. Since then, we’ve worked to build membership by creating community around COPE. That means things like establishing “Left Wings” - the COPE pub night, and the COPE crafting circle, and COPE parties. It also means running organizing groups, trainings, strike solidarity, mobilizations to speak to council, and more.

Community is the radical foundation of all organizing, not a marketing slogan. We can weave a community of radical neighbours who are empowered to act. If we want to fight fascism, build power protect our neighbours, we need to create community. That’s my focus in COPE.”

“I first joined COPE in 1986 and in that year I did extensive door-knocking work in East Vancouver in the effort to elect COPE City Councillor Harry Rankin as mayor.

I have been proud to work for this civic party that has always stood for average citizens in Vancouver and has fought for things like affordable housing and childcare, free public transit, harm reduction, protecting neighbourhoods from freeways, and social justice for all of our citizens! 

I am a labour activist and was made an honorary Life Member of my union, the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU).

Based on my previous experience as COPE's treasurer, if I am re-elected to this position my goal is to carefully manage the huge donations that will pour into COPE this election year so that those contributions are used to the maximum in the struggle to Evict Ken Sim!

In 2026, so many are looking to COPE to fight, at the municipal level, the dangerous authoritarian world forces exemplified by people like Donald Trump and Elon Musk. We must not let them down and we must stand with the citizens of Minneapolis and Seattle and other urban centres who are also fighting this battle against encroaching police states!”

“I am a former COPE Park Board Commissioner and former COPE City Councillor. In my first year at law school, I helped to found HandyDart. I am a practicing lawyer. I am seeking re-election as a Member at Large as I want to contribute to what I believe will be one of our biggest victories ever in October of this year.”

“Vote Socialist” turned COPE. Team Sean Orr. Field Lead in the 2025 By-Election.

“I am committed to improving/ modernizing COPE’s digital platforms for an engaging on-boarding & membership experience. I connect with voters through tables and door knocking, and am constantly recruiting members. I work on the membership & organizing committee, participate in the onboarding working group & lead the website working group. I am a member of Socialist Alternative ✊”

West end resident. Team Jean organizer 2017. COPE fundraiser and organizer in 2018 election.

“I am an immigrant, a proud resident of the West End, and a student at Simon Fraser University.

When I arrived in Vancouver, I had a rosy-eyed vision of the city. However, that vision quickly shattered as I became increasingly aware of its deep-rooted inequalities, isolation, and injustices. Despite these challenges, I believe the city has immense potential.

Most of my political experience comes from organizing with the federal NDP, where I learned about COPE during Avi Lewis's campaign in Vancouver Centre and joined the party soon after.

I am running because I aim to bring the experiences and concerns of youth to this party.”

A lifelong resident of Vancouver, David's vision for his city extends far beyond any 4 year election cycle. We live in extraordinary times and the need for an equitable, functional Democracy for all is critical. I intend on representing COPE with a compassionate, curious and deep-thinking, attitude.

With, for and by the people, Always.

“Hi, my names are Solomon Yi-Kieran and 易行天 (they/them). In my time in the student movement, I’ve held fundraisers for Rainbow Railroad, done work with the UBC Pride Collective, and been a vocal advocate for accessible education policy at UBC for students with disabilities. 

If we want to evict Ken Sim, we need to expand COPE’s electorate by meeting communities across Vancouver where they’re at. That’s why I’m running for Equity Chair. 

Being Chinese, I know Vancouver’s Chinese community is disillusioned with Ken Sim’s embarrassing tenure. As Equity Chair, I want to strengthen our outreach by building a strong arsenal of non-English policies, and messaging that highlights COPE’s historical solidarity with Chinatown and other communities in the city. 

From organizing large on-campus advocacy campaigns, I know first-hand that so many of my classmates are young, working-class renters and commuters who don't even know if they'll be able to afford to live in the city by next year. 

I also know that many young Vancouverites don't vote. I want to help the executive build a campaign that actually gets us to the polls through targeted policies and a strong presence on campuses. 

Also four words. COPE drag show fundraiser.”