Ken Sim skips first Vancouver mayoral debate

Major candidates for Vancouver mayor gathered at UBC’s Robson Square campus Tuesday night for a debate, but incumbent Mayor Ken Sim was absent.

Hosted by the Sauder School of Business and its Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate, the debate focused on real-estate-related issues including zoning, housing affordability, homelessness and public safety. Kareem Allam of the Vancouver Liberals, Rebecca Bligh of Vote Vancouver, Colleen Hardwick of TEAM and Pete Fry of the Green Party of Vancouver attended the well-attended event.

William Azaroff, formerly OneCity Vancouver’s mayoral candidate, did not participate after dropping out of the race and endorsing Fry earlier Tuesday. Azaroff and former COPE candidate Stephanie Allen each withdrew in an effort to unite left-leaning voters behind one progressive challenger to Sim.

In a statement, Sim’s ABC Vancouver party said it had been invited to several debates and would participate in many of them. The party said it was waiting for the full slate of candidates while deciding which debates to attend.

Nomination packages for October’s municipal election are due Friday. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.