On Saturday July 11th, I attended a COPE policy conference and came away tremendously energized, exhilarated, and full of optimism.
I have been a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) for almost 50 years, joining back in the late 1970s. In the leadup to every municipal election, we have had a policy conference at which the membership has developed and approved the platform COPE will take out on the campaign trail.
This year’s platform is by far the most detailed. However, it is not just the details of the final document we approved that gives me so much optimism for our electoral success this coming October. It is the quality of the draft policy that was put before the membership.
This draft policy did not come from on high. Instead, it was developed by the membership at numerous policy workshops over the past two months. It was informed by input from literally dozens of community groups — experts in their own fields.
During the policy conference, we also received a campaign update. We are far, far ahead of where we were at this point in previous election cycles. We already have over 200 volunteers actively campaigning for COPE, with events and canvassing already lined up for more than a month ahead. Our finances are in their best shape in many, many years.
Our full platform will build on our current campaigns to fight for affordable housing, to make public transit free for youth under 18, to implement full vacancy control on rental housing, and to keep the Vancouver Park Board.
We also have a great group of candidates, including current City Councillor Sean Orr and Vancouver School Board Trustee Suzie Mah. Our exceptional mayoralty candidate, Stephanie Allen, will lead the way to achieving a Vancouver You Can Afford.
I cannot wait for the upcoming COPE campaign for the October 17th election!
Daily atmospheric CO2 [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]
Latest daily total (July 11, 2026): 428.85ppm
One year ago (July 11, 2025): 428.55ppm
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