Vancouver mayor Ken Sim describes hateful messages targeting his family

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says his wife received a threatening message on her social-media account as his family continues to face harassment. Sim, who is seeking re-election on Oct. 17, said Friday that he expects abuse as a politician but finds it difficult when family members receive hateful messages.

In an online video interview, Sim said he and his wife, Teena Sim, had planned to record a video together Sunday about their experiences during his time as mayor. After she received the threatening Instagram message days earlier, they decided she should remain out of the spotlight.

The video shows several threatening messages. One refers to the recipient’s family and skin colour, while another proposes removing “his head from his body.” Sim said he has a “pretty thick skin,” but his family did not ask to be treated this way.

He said he did not report the threat to police, adding that police in all jurisdictions do a good job monitoring such material. Sim said there have been previous online threats and incidents involving people going to his home, as well as numerous incidents at his house, around his family, during his time in office and at city hall.

Sim has previously said his family was targeted in multiple incidents and hate-fuelled attacks, including a bomb threat. Their home was defaced with what he called hateful graffiti on Halloween night in 2024. Sim has been mayor since 2022 and is one of eight candidates running for the office in Vancouver.

He said attacks on politicians are unhealthy for democracy and can discourage people from running for office, regardless of their political views. The video drew online support and sympathy, though some commenters said he was playing the victim card.