View source for Sam Sullivan

{{Short description|Canadian politician, Mayor of Vancouver}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name             = Sam Sullivan
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|size=100%}}
| image            = SamSullivan-mic.jpg
| caption          = Sullivan in May 2008
| order            = 38th
| office           = Mayor of Vancouver
| term_start       = December 5, 2005
| term_end         = December 8, 2008
| predecessor      = [[Larry Campbell]]
| successor        = [[Gregor Robertson (politician)|Gregor Robertson]]
| office1          = Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development of British Columbia
| premier1         = [[Christy Clark]]
| term_start1      = June 12, 2017
| term_end1        = July 18, 2017
| predecessor1     = [[Peter Fassbender]]
| successor1       = [[Lisa Beare]] (Tourism, Arts, and Culture)
| assembly3        = British Columbia Legislative
| constituency_AM3 = [[Vancouver-False Creek]]
| term_start3      = May 14, 2013
| term_end3        = October 24, 2020
| predecessor3     = [[Mary McNeil]]
| successor3       = [[Brenda Bailey]]
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1959|11|13}}
| birth_place      = 
| death_date       =
| death_place      =
| constituency     =
| party            = [[BC Conservatives]] (provincial, current)<br />[[British Columbia Liberal Party|BC Liberal Party]] (provincial, former)<br />[[Non-Partisan Association]] (municipal)
| alma_mater       = [[Simon Fraser University]]<br />[[Langara College]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Outstanding Alumni Award : Sam Sullivan|url=https://langara.ca/alumni/outstanding-alumni/past-recipients/2012-sam-sullivan.html|publisher=Langara College|access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref>
| spouse           = 
| signature        =
| footnotes        =
}}

'''Sam C. Sullivan''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born November 13, 1959<ref>{{cite web|title=28 Mayor of Vancouver Sam Sullivan|url=http://irelandmonumentvancouver.com/side-3-the-100-names/the-100-names/sam-sullivan/|publisher=The Ireland Canada Monument|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician who served as the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|MLA]] for [[Vancouver-False Creek]]. Previously, he served as the Minister of Communities, Sport, and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink in the short-lived BC Liberal government after the 2017 election, as well as the 38th [[mayor]] of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada, and has been invested as a member of the [[Order of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Governor General to invest 44 recipients into Order of Canada|url=http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4388|publisher=Governor General of Canada|access-date=March 3, 2005}}</ref> He is currently President of the Global Civic Policy Society and an adjunct professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.<ref>{{cite web|title=UBC faculty listing|url=http://www.sala.ubc.ca/people/faculty/sam-sullivan}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Sam Sullivan was born on November 13, 1959, to [[East Vancouver]] residents Lloyd and Ida Sullivan. His father ran Sully's Autoparts on [[Hastings Street (Vancouver)|East Hastings Street]].  He has three brothers, Donald, Patrick, Terry, and a sister, Carol. Sullivan attended [[Maquinna Annex|Chief Maquinna Elementary]] and [[Vancouver Technical Secondary School]] in East Vancouver.

== Quadriplegia ==
Sullivan became paralyzed after breaking his neck in a skiing accident at age 19.<ref name="dis">[http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/sam-sullivan.shtml "Vancouver Mayor Achieves his Dreams"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120728200033/http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/sam-sullivan.shtml |date=2012-07-28 }}, ''Disability News'', April 18, 2008.</ref> He had a fracture dislocation of his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, leaving him almost completely paralyzed.<ref>{{cite news|first=Greg|last=Bishop|title=Maverick Vancouver, B.C., mayor faces Olympic-size challenge|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=September 30, 2007 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20070930/mayor30/maverick-vancouver-bc-mayor-faces-olympic-size-challenge|access-date=2017-11-29}}</ref>

After a seven-year struggle with [[clinical depression|depression]],<ref name="dis"/> he successfully completed a [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] degree at [[Simon Fraser University]].<ref name="sfu">[http://www.reachdisability.org/member_sam_sullivan.html "Caucus Member Sam Sullivan"], ''Disability Foundation'', Retrieved August 16, 2009.</ref>  Sullivan later founded six [[non-profit organization]]s dedicated to improving the quality of life for disabled people in North America.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/sports/olympics/31sullivan.html | work=The New York Times | first=Greg | last=Bishop | title=Vancouver's Former Mayor Remains Face of the Games | date=January 31, 2010}}</ref>

== Disability advocacy ==
In 2005, Sullivan was inducted into the [[Order of Canada]], the nation's highest civilian award for community achievement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Governor General to invest 44 recipients into Order of Canada|url=http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4388|work=Governor General of Canada archives|publisher=Government of Canada}}</ref>  This was in recognition of his work to improve the lives of those with significant disabilities. The [[Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation]] has raised over $20 million and served over 10,000 people with disabilities since its inception.<ref>{{cite web|title=Catching a ride on the Martin 16|url=http://vancouverfoundation.ca/stories/dec-17-2010/catching-ride-martin-16|work=Vancouver Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814014241/http://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/stories/dec-17-2010/catching-ride-martin-16|archive-date=2013-08-14}}</ref> Organizations he created include the following:

*[[Tetra Society of North America|Tetra Society]]: this organization recruits technically skilled volunteers who create custom-made assistive devices that are not available on the market. There are currently 45 chapters throughout Canada and the US, which have created more than 5,000 devices.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Tetra Society|url=http://www.tetrasociety.org/about/index.php|work=Tetra Society website|publisher=Tetra Society|access-date=2013-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004514/http://www.tetrasociety.org/about/index.php|archive-date=2013-12-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Adaptive Sailing Association of British Columbia|Adaptive Sailing Association]]: beginning at Vancouver's Jericho Sailing Center there are now 20 programs throughout Canada and the US. Sullivan initiated the development of the Martin 16 sailboat, designed specifically for people with disabilities, including high-level quadriplegics who use [[sip-and-puff]] technology. 150 of these sailboats are in use throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Disabled Sailing Association|url=http://www.disabledsailingbc.org/history_of_dsa.shtml|work=Disabled Sailing Association|access-date=2013-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030844/http://www.disabledsailingbc.org/history_of_dsa.shtml|archive-date=2013-12-03|url-status=usurped}}</ref>  Sullivan also initiated the Mobility Cup National Regatta for people with disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Mobility Cup|url=http://www.disabledsailingbc.org/mobility_cup.shtml|work=Disabled Sailing Association of BC|access-date=2013-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203025550/http://www.disabledsailingbc.org/mobility_cup.shtml|archive-date=2013-12-03|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
*[[British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society]] Wilderness Access Program: Sullivan worked with Tetra Volunteer Paul Cermak to invent the TrailRider, a one-wheeled vehicle that enables people with disabilities to access the wilderness. 100 of these are currently in use around the world. They have been used by people with significant disabilities to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and to the base camp of Mount Everest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Woman with MS Makes Mt Everest Trek with a Dream Team|url=http://blog.amsvans.com/woman-with-ms-makes-mt-everest-trek-with-a-dream-team/|work=amsvans.com Wheelchair Accessibility Blog and Disability News|date=2011-10-14}}</ref> BCMOS also operates an Adaptive Paddleboarding and Kayaking program at the Olympic Village.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/adapted-paddleboarding-vancouver-1.3611855|title=Adapted paddleboarding comes to Vancouver|last=Zeidler|first=Maryse|date=June 1, 2016|work=CBC News}}</ref>
*[[Vancouver Adapted Music Society]]: This organization operates a music studio in the [[GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre]] and supports the musical aspirations of people with disabilities, including recordings and performances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) — Music studio for people with disabilities|url=http://cec.sonus.ca/econtact/11_2/vams_maccormac.html|work=Canadian Electroacoustic Community}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vancouver Adapted Music Society|url=http://www.vams.org/index.html|work=Vancouver Adapted Music Society website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010508/http://www.vams.org/index.html|archive-date=2013-12-03}}</ref> Sam Sullivan and Dave Symington formed the band Spinal Chord and recorded an album of original music in 1993 called ''Why Be Normal?'' Sullivan was the band's vocalist and played keyboards using custom-designed computer software.
*[[ConnecTra|ConnecTra Society]]: ConnecTra links people with physical disabilities to activities and programs that will, over time, allow them to grow, gain confidence and become increasingly active and involved in the community. It has helped over 200 people with disabilities since the inception of the ConnecTra Project in 2012. This project helps people with disabilities get signed up at their local WorkBC.  Many participants have gone on to find part-time and full-time jobs.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Connectra Society|url=http://www.connectra.org/about.html|work=Connectra Society website}}</ref>

In recognition of these achievements, Sullivan was inducted into the [[Terry Fox Hall of Fame]] in 2000 and won the Christopher Reeve Award in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sullivan to receive Reeve award|url=http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=8e839471-03b7-4a25-ac52-cb0f8480dae7|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=March 7, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917103559/http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=8e839471-03b7-4a25-ac52-cb0f8480dae7|archive-date=September 17, 2015}}</ref>

== City Councillor ==
Sullivan was first elected to [[Vancouver City Council]] in 1993 as a member of the [[Non-Partisan Association]] (NPA), and served for 15 years total.

In [[2002 Vancouver municipal election|Vancouver's 2002 general local elections]], Sullivan was the only incumbent member of city council from the NPA to win re-election after the NPA-dominated council was defeated by the [[Coalition of Progressive Electors|COPE]] party, leaving only five out of 27 seats on the council, school board and parks board.

In 2004, he led the Knowards campaign opposing the COPE-initiated campaign to replace the city's [[Plurality-at-large voting|at-large]] system of choosing councillors with a [[ward (politics)|ward]] voting system. The proposal was defeated 54% to 46% in a referendum.

== 2005 mayoral race ==
Following the 2002 electoral losses, the Non-Partisan Association rebuilt its slate for the [[2005 Vancouver municipal election|2005 election]]. Sullivan beat former [[British Columbia Liberal Party|BC Liberal Party]] deputy-Premier [[Christy Clark]] for the NPA mayoral nomination. He then led the party to electoral majorities on the City Council, School Board and Park Board with 17 out of 27 seats.

On May 2, 2006, Sullivan provided a statement to the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] about his past decisions to provide money to illegal drug users.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} Because of increased public awareness surrounding these incidents during the mayoralty race, the Vancouver Chief of Police requested that the RCMP investigate these incidents.

Sullivan's statement gave a brief account of his decision to provide financial support to a 20-year-old woman working as a prostitute in his neighbourhood in the late 1990s, by providing $40 a day for three weeks for heroin.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} Sullivan also gave money to a severely addicted crack cocaine user so he did not have to steal, and let him smoke in his van.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}

=== Jim / James Green controversy ===
In the election, Sullivan ran against several candidates, the most prominent of which was [[Vision Vancouver]] councillor [[Jim Green (councilman)|Jim Green]]. Sullivan defeated Green by a narrow margin of 3,747 votes of 130,000 ballots cast.  A second, independent candidate named James Green also ran in this election, gaining over 4,000 votes.  The close margin of Sullivan's victory and the similarity of independent candidate James Green's name to that of Sullivan's main opponent Jim Green led to a major controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2005/11/15/JimOrJamesGreen/|title=Was that Jim or James Green?|work=The Tyee|date=November 15, 2005|access-date=2015-05-27}}</ref> Speculation that James Green was a "spoiler" candidate was inflamed when it became known that Sullivan had helped Green in a dispute about office space.<ref name="canada.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=e2815c0e-4774-41fb-ac67-f8317ce76132|title=Mayor-elect Sullivan helped James Green in dispute over office space|work=Vancouver Sun|date=November 22, 2005|access-date=2015-05-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817082015/http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=e2815c0e-4774-41fb-ac67-f8317ce76132|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref> No allegations were ever proven that Sullivan was supporting the independent candidate James Green, and both men denied any wrongdoing.<ref name="canada.com"/>

==As mayor of Vancouver==

===''Citizen Sam'' documentary===
Sullivan was the subject of a [[National Film Board of Canada]] documentary, ''Citizen Sam''. It premiered in November 2006, and was nominated for a [[Gemini Award]].<ref>[http://www.nfb.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?id=53696&v=h&lg=en&exp=${citizen}%20AND%20${sam} NFB – Collection – Citizen Sam<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

===Olympic and Paralympic Games===
Sullivan took part in the [[2006 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony|Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics]], in the ceremony where the [[Olympic symbols|Olympic Flag]] was passed from [[Turin]] to Vancouver. The ceremony involves an official of the current host city waving the flag eight times, then handing it off to an official of the next host city, who waves it eight times.  When it was his turn, the flag was put into a special bracket built into Sullivan's wheelchair.  He then swung his wheelchair back and forth eight times to wave the flag.
After the event, Sullivan received letters from people across the world who were inspired by the act, and received many invitations to be a keynote speaker at conventions.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} "I especially was moved to get letters from people who wrote very eloquent letters, saying they had considered [[suicide]], and changed their mind when they saw me perform my duties...To see I had such an impact on people's lives was truly a humbling experience," Sullivan said in response to the reaction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=9c575798-57e8-4c5d-892d-949ccc9763bc&k=42980|title=Fan mail swamps Mayor Sam Sullivan|work=Vancouver Province|date=March 8, 2006|access-date=2015-05-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817082018/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=9c575798-57e8-4c5d-892d-949ccc9763bc&k=42980|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref>

===EcoDensity initiative===
Shortly after the [[World Urban Forum III|World Urban Forum]] held in Vancouver in June 2006, Sullivan launched the [[EcoDensity]] initiative. It was defined at its launch 'to make Vancouver more sustainable, affordable, and liveable'. This included plans to densify Vancouver, including more towers and allowing secondary houses on existing single-family properties. Sullivan claimed higher densities and smaller [[ecological footprint]]s were necessary to sustain a growing population.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.straight.com/article-119328/ecodensity-initiative-bends-to-criticism | title= EcoDensity Initiative bends to criticism| author=Georgia Straight | date=21 November 2007 | access-date=27 May 2015| author-link= Georgia Straight}}</ref>

In a move that was roundly criticized by both community members and the local media, Sullivan's staff registered the term "EcoDensity" with the patent office, under his name.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=793a0490-7c91-4c3c-a942-69cdcdea2c36&k=30403 | title=Mark of Sam | author=Vancouver Courier | date=16 January 2008 | access-date=17 April 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601193328/http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=793a0490-7c91-4c3c-a942-69cdcdea2c36&k=30403 | archive-date=1 June 2014 | author-link=Vancouver Courier }}</ref><ref name="mayorseeks">{{Cite web | url=http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7b9ad7d2-f12d-4e69-8064-7e46259cef31 | title=Mayor seeks to trademark 'EcoDensity' for himself | author=Vancouver Sun | date=23 June 2007 | access-date=17 April 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315071347/http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7b9ad7d2-f12d-4e69-8064-7e46259cef31 | archive-date=15 March 2014 | author-link=Vancouver Sun }}</ref> In September 2007 the City of Vancouver announced that the ownership of the trademark had been transferred to the city.{{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}

In 2009 the [[Canadian Institute of Planners]] awarded the EcoDensity its Planning Excellence award for City Planning.<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Awards for Planning Excellence|url=http://www.cip-icu.ca/web/la/en/pa/5C36B14CA4B5414DBE424841C5FE4D60/template.asp|publisher=[[Canadian Institute of Planners]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221224536/http://www.cip-icu.ca/web/la/en/pa/5c36b14ca4b5414dbe424841c5fe4d60/template.asp|archive-date=2013-12-21}}</ref>

===Project Civil City===
Sullivan conducted an informal survey on his website asking visitors how they felt about civil disorder in the City of Vancouver. On November 26, 2006, he released the results of his survey and created a new program called Project Civil City, which is known as the mayor's effort to enhance public order in Vancouver's public areas. The conclusion of Project Civil City was that police were not the answer to the city's social problems. The police chief of that time was opposed to the project, saying "I'm not in favor of this kind of position" and "I can do this job".<ref>{{cite news|last=Pablo|first=Carlito|title=Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham rejects idea for Project Civil City commissioner|url=https://www.straight.com/article/vancouver-police-chief-jamie-graham-rejects-idea-for-project-civil-city-commissioner|access-date=27 May 2015|newspaper=[[The Georgia Straight]]|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> Throughout his term, Sullivan was criticized by the opposition for his reluctance to hire more police.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} An important initiative of Project Civil City was the creation of the [http://www.streetohome.org/ Street to Home Foundation], whose goal was to encourage philanthropists in the city to contribute toward the solution to [[homelessness]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}

An initiative Sullivan championed was CAST([[chronic addiction substitution treatment]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2007/06/26/CAST/index.html|title=Mayor Sam's Idea for Addicts|last=Freeman|first=Sunny|date=June 26, 2007|work=The Tyee}}</ref> This would prescribe drugs to people with addictions. He formed a group called Inner Change which raised several million dollars to support the SALOME drug trials. An important goal was to reduce overdose deaths.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metrovancouver.org/boards/Mayors/Mayors_Committee-September_19_2008-Agenda.pdf|title=Metro Vancouver Mayors Committee meeting agenda, September 19, 2008|date=September 19, 2008|website=Metrovancouver.org}}</ref> This was opposed by the opposition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.straight.com/article-112625/council-split-on-addict-aid|title=Council split on addict aid|last=Burrows|first=Matthew|date=October 3, 2007|work=The Georgia Straight}}</ref>

Statistics from the [[Vancouver Police Board]] indicate that in 2005, the year before he became mayor, 51,429 property crimes were reported in the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vancouver Police Department Crime Incident Statistics|url=http://vancouver.ca/police/Planning/StatsDistrict/2005/200512.pdf|publisher=Vancouver Police Department|access-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801115510/http://vancouver.ca/police/Planning/StatsDistrict/2005/200512.pdf|archive-date=1 August 2013}}</ref>  In 2008, his final year as Mayor there were 40,514 property crimes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vancouver Police Department Crime Incident Statistics|url=http://vancouver.ca/police/Planning/StatsDistrict/2008/200812.pdf|publisher=Vancouver Police Department|access-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801071345/http://vancouver.ca/police/Planning/StatsDistrict/2008/200812.pdf|archive-date=1 August 2013}}</ref>

However, in its first two years, homelessness went up 54 to 78 percent, drug offenses doubled, and street disorder went up 84 percent.<ref>{{cite news|first=Monte|last=Paulsen|title=Bad Numbers for 'Civil City'|publisher=The Tyee|date=January 21, 2008|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2008/01/24/CivilCity/|access-date=2011-10-24}}</ref> The project was cancelled in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|author=Daniel|title=West Vancouver city staff support police operations|publisher=City Caucus|date=April 12, 2010|url=http://www.citycaucus.com/2010/04/west-vancouver-city-staff-support-police-operations|access-date=2011-10-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827224848/http://www.citycaucus.com/2010/04/west-vancouver-city-staff-support-police-operations|archive-date=August 27, 2011}}</ref>

===Civic strike===
A civic strike of Vancouver's inside, outside, and library workers that began on July 26, 2007, was dubbed "Sam's Strike" by the strikers.<ref name="vancourier">[http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=9a4dfa70-c8e6-4d05-a773-301e3510a6c9&k=51852 "It's not my strike, says Mayor Sam"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107002256/http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=9a4dfa70-c8e6-4d05-a773-301e3510a6c9&k=51852 |date=2012-11-07 }}, ''[[Vancouver Courier]]'', September 5, 2007.</ref> The strike lasted 88 days and was the second longest in Vancouver's history; the longest was 90 days under Mayor Mike Harcourt in 1981.<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=b8bcf51d-64c3-4465-951e-07d1a5d8eabe&k=4164 "Deal ends 88-day Vancouver labour strife"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107190641/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=b8bcf51d-64c3-4465-951e-07d1a5d8eabe&k=4164 |date=2012-11-07 }}, ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', October 15, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=This civic strike preceded by many lengthy disputes|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=44350a2b-1fa3-452c-87a3-21e820cb8c15|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=September 22, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817082014/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=44350a2b-1fa3-452c-87a3-21e820cb8c15|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref>  The unions blamed Sullivan's intransigence at the bargaining table for prolonging the strike.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tieleman|first=Bill|title=Clueless Sam's Strike Show|date=July 31, 2007|url=http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/Columnists/NewsViewsAttitude/2007/07/31/4381513-sun.html|access-date=2007-09-07}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The union cited the city never tabling a written counteroffer as evidence of the city not negotiating.<ref name="tyeestrike">{{cite web|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2007/08/16/EndlessSummer/|title=Endless Summer (Strike)|work=The Tyee|date=August 16, 2007|access-date=2015-05-27}}</ref> A mediator was called in who recommended 17.5% (21% compounded), which was the amount accepted by the rest of the municipalities in the region. When two of the civic unions rejected the recommendation, public support collapsed, and within the week a new vote by the three civic unions accepted the deal. On October 19, 2007 [[CUPE]] Local 391 voted 71 percent in favour of the city's offer and ended the strike.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===NPA donation allegations===
Critics accused of Sullivan of misusing political donations when $5000 raised for the Knowards campaign through the Nanitch Policy Society was used to buy tickets for campaign volunteers at a 2004 NPA dinner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2007/11/28/MayorSamDonors/|title=Sullivan's Society Hides NPA Donors|work=The Tyee|date=November 28, 2007|access-date=2015-05-27}}</ref> Calls for an inquiry by Vancouver city council opposition members were subsequently dismissed by the Provincial government. In December 2009, ''[[The Tyee]]'' published a letter from Sullivan in which he explained the background behind the Nanitch Policy Society, and in particular the donation made to the NPA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2009/12/16/SullivanPiece/|title=No Effort to Secretly Give Money to NPA: Sullivan|work=The Tyee|date=December 16, 2009|access-date=2015-05-27}}</ref>

==Ouster from NPA==
In 2008, although the NPA board had greenlighted Sullivan to run for mayor and he had the endorsement of all NPA City Councillors,<ref>{{cite news|last=Pablo|first=Carlito|title=Mayor Sam Sullivan primes the pump for reelection|url=https://www.straight.com/article-126161/mayor-sam-sullivan-primes-the-pump-for-reelection|access-date=27 May 2015|newspaper=The Straight|date=December 21, 2007}}</ref> NPA councillor [[Peter Ladner]] announced that he wanted to challenge Sullivan for mayor. On June 8, 2008, it was announced that Ladner had defeated Sullivan to win the NPA's mayoral nomination.<ref name="straight2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/article-149128/peter-ladner-beats-sam-sullivan-npa-race|title=Peter Ladner beats Sam Sullivan in NPA Race|work=Georgia Straight|date=June 8, 2008|access-date=2015-05-27}}</ref> Ladner beat Sullivan in a [[2008 Vancouver municipal election|tight, 1,066-to-986 vote]] after convincing enough NPA members that Sullivan would be defeated in the municipal election without a change in leadership.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} Ladner proceeded to lose against his mayoral opponent with NPA reduced to 4 out of 27 seats on the council, School Board and Park Board.

==Post-mayoral activities==

===Global Civic Policy Society===
In November 2009, Sullivan formed the Global Civic Policy Society with a $500,000 startup grant from the Annenberg Foundation of California.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sullivan's new project gets a $500,000 boost|url=http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=19a24f4e-d277-45ef-97b7-c75de8e92a78&p=1|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=November 6, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203043017/http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=19a24f4e-d277-45ef-97b7-c75de8e92a78&p=1|archive-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref>  The society hosts a speaker series called Public Salons that "provide a public platform for the thinkers and doers of Vancouver".<ref>{{cite web|title=Salon concept for Sullivan goes big|url=http://archive.citycaucus.com/2010/05/salon-concept-for-sullivan-goes-big|work=citycaucus.com|publisher=Citycaucus.com|access-date=May 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011108/http://archive.citycaucus.com/2010/05/salon-concept-for-sullivan-goes-big|archive-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref>  The presentations are featured on a 1/2 hour weekly television program on Shaw TV called ''Sam Sullivan's Public Salons''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shaw TV community programs schedule: Sam Sullivan's Public Salon|url=http://www.shaw.ca/ShawTV/Vancouver/Volunteer/|work=shaw.ca|publisher=Shaw TV}}</ref>  Through its Greeting Fluency Initiative, the society hosts salons that encourage citizens to "learn a few words of greetings in the languages of their neighbours".<ref>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Denise|title=Sam Sullivan's 'greeting fluency' program aimed at bridging cultures and building community|url=http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=15c33764-735b-47ee-8e81-200d4204ca5b|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=March 26, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806180210/http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=15c33764-735b-47ee-8e81-200d4204ca5b|archive-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref>  It has developed a smartphone app called Greeting Fluency Aid, available free to the public, containing greeting phrases from eighteen languages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greeting Fluency Aid|url=https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/greeting-fluency-aid/id525318895?mt=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228153155/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/greeting-fluency-aid/id525318895?mt=8|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2014|work=iTunes store|publisher=Apple}}</ref> It includes over 30 endangered first nations languages of British Columbia. The society hosts the Vancouver Urban Forum with a specific goal of increasing urban densities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vancouver Urban Forum|url=http://sfuurban.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/vancouver-urban-forum/|work=SFU Urban Studies|access-date=June 12, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621110821/http://sfuurban.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/vancouver-urban-forum/|archive-date=June 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Behind Sam Sullivan's Urban Agenda|url=http://vanmag.com/uncategorized/behind-sam-sullivans-urban-agenda/|newspaper=Vancouver Magazine|date=June 14, 2012|access-date=2017-11-29}}</ref>  Its Early Documents Transcription Program is putting the oldest Vancouver City Council Minutes online for free access to the public.<ref>{{cite web|title=Documents of Early Vancouver|url=http://globalcivic.org/documents-of-early-vancouver/|work=globalcivic.org|publisher=Global Civic Policy Society|access-date=2013-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928021218/http://globalcivic.org/documents-of-early-vancouver/|archive-date=2013-09-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> It contributes to short BC education and policy videos under the Kumtuks banner which had 800,000 views by the end of 2017.

=== Centre for Fourth Wave Reform ===
In February 2011, Sullivan founded the Centre for Fourth Wave Reform to explore ideas for change in municipal governance.

=== Chinook Wawa Revival ===
Sullivan is trying to promote the revival of [[Chinook Jargon]], the aboriginal trade language once widely used in British Columbia. On June 27, 2015, together with retired University of British Columbia Anthropology professor Jay Powell, he hosted Chinook Wawa Day at the Creekside Community Centre in Vancouver; from September 26–27, they hosted Chinook Wawa Weekend.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sinoski|first1=Kelly|title=Why kumtuks Chinook?|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/why-kumtuks-chinook|access-date=14 August 2021|work=The Vancouver Sun|publisher=The Vancouver Sun|date=June 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rossi|first1=Cheryl|title=Chinook Wawa Day celebrates B.C. trade language|url=http://www.vancourier.com/news/chinook-wawa-day-celebrates-b-c-trade-language-1.1980422|access-date=15 December 2015|work=Vancouver Courier|publisher=Vancouver Courier|date=June 25, 2015}}</ref> The workshops featured educational material to support citizens interested in the nearly extinct language. Sullivan has published and translated several videos of aboriginal elders speaking Chinook Wawa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkSVuMuRES0jcQ86dJ0r4qLT2UQWBzMRE|title=Elder's speaking Chinook Wawa|website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

=== Transcribimus ===
In June 2012, Sullivan began hiring individuals and later recruiting volunteers to transcribe handwritten Vancouver City Council Minutes from 1886 to 1891. His goal was to make the achievements of [[David Oppenheimer]], Vancouver's second Mayor, accessible online free of charge to the public. In December 2015 he announced the completion of the first four years of Minutes and the creation of Transcribimus to recruit more volunteers to transcribe additional handwritten documents of Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mackie|first1=John|title=Documents of early Vancouver transcribed and posted online|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/documents-of-early-vancouver-transcribed-and-posted-online|access-date=14 August 2021|work=The Vancouver Sun|publisher=The Vancouver Sun|date=December 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Verenca|first1=Tereza|title=Former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan leads project to preserve early Vancouver council records|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2015/12/08/experiencing-early-vancouver-a-word-at-a-time.html|access-date=15 December 2015|work=Vancouver Metro|publisher=Metro News|date=December 7, 2015}}</ref> Transcribimus is a network of over 20 volunteers that has transcribed 2,500 pages of handwritten documents.

=== Kumtuks Educational Series ===
In January 2016, Sullivan began publishing Kumtuks, a [[Chinook Jargon]] word meaning "knowledge". The series includes a video channel<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_u5un5y9kYzHj6u8szNSg/videos|title=Kumtuks video channel|website=YouTube.com|access-date=2020-09-26}}</ref> and articles<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kumtuks.ca/|title=Kumtuks.ca|website=Kumtuks.ca|access-date=2020-09-26}}</ref> about British Columbia's history, public policy, and general knowledge.

== Provincial politics ==
In November 2012, Sullivan announced he would seek the [[BC Liberal Party]] nomination in [[Vancouver-False Creek]] after the current incumbent [[Mary McNeil]] said she would not be seeking a second term in the [[2013 British Columbia general election]].<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/sam-sullivan-to-seek-liberal-nomination-in-vancouver-false-creek/article5084202/ "Sam Sullivan to seek Liberal nomination in Vancouver-False Creek"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 8, 2012.</ref> Sullivan's main competition for the nomination was [[Lorne Mayencourt]].<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lorne-mayencourt-to-seek-b-c-liberal-nomination-1.1222892 "Lorne Mayencourt to seek B.C. Liberal Nomination"]. [[CBC News]], November 21, 2012.</ref> Sullivan defeated Mayencourt by a vote of 273 to 202, with commercial litigation lawyer Brian Fixter coming in third.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/former-mayor-sam-sullivan-wins-bc-liberal-nomination-for-vancouver-false-creek|title=Former mayor Sam Sullivan wins BC Liberal nomination for Vancouver-False Creek|work=Vancouver Sun|date=February 21, 2013|access-date=2021-08-14}}</ref> Sullivan went on to win the election, receiving 11,328 votes, with the NDP candidate Matt Toner receiving 7,981 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 General Election Final Voting Results|url=http://electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net/electionsbcenr/GE-2013-05-14_Candidate.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930121853/http://electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net/electionsbcenr/GE-2013-05-14_Candidate.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-09-30|work=Elections BC|publisher=Elections BC}}</ref>

=== 2017 provincial election ===
Sullivan was re-elected in the 2017 election as MLA for Vancouver False Creek, but only after a recount.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vancourier.com/news/sam-sullivan-wins-vancouver-false-creek-1.20175960|title=Sam Sullivan wins Vancouver-False Creek|last=Staff|first=Courier|date=May 24, 2017|work=Vancouver Courier}}</ref> On June 11, he was appointed Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink. His first move was to scrap the requirement for a referendum on Transit funding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-liberals-start-making-nice-with-mayors-where-votes-vanished|title=Vaughn Palmer: Liberals start making nice with mayors where votes vanished|last=Palmer|first=Vaughn|date=June 16, 2017|work=Vancouver Sun}}</ref>

His tenure in cabinet was short lived as the Liberal [[minority government]] of [[Christy Clark]] was defeated in a [[confidence motion]] on June 29, 2017. As a result, the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|BC New Democratic Party]] led by [[John Horgan]] formed a government weeks later, with the support of the [[Green Party of British Columbia]], and Sullivan and the Liberals moved to the [[Opposition (politics)|Opposition]] benches where he served as the Official Opposition Critic for Housing. Clark announced her resignation as Liberal leader weeks later.

===Liberal leadership===
Sullivan announced on September 21, 2017, that he was seeking the [[2018 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election|leadership]] of the BC Liberal Party.<ref name=sam>{{Cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3762516/sam-sullivan-bc-liberal-leadership-race/ | title=Sam Sullivan enters BC Liberal leadership race}}</ref> He was eliminated on the first ballot. "Sam Sullivan entered to raise issues, not win, and finished sixth, which is probably where he expected to be," ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'' columnist Vaughn Palmer would write.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vaughn-palmer-andrew-wilkinsons-first-challenge-as-b-c-liberal-leader-is-to-show-change|title=Vancouver Sun}}</ref> Sullivan was defeated in the 2020 provincial election.

== Electoral record ==
{{2020 British Columbia general election/Vancouver-False Creek}}

===2018 BC Liberal leadership===

:{{Color box|pink|border=darkgray}} = Eliminated from next round
:{{Color box|lightgreen|border=darkgray}} = Winner

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Candidate
! colspan = "2"|Ballot 1
! colspan = "4"|Ballot 2
! colspan = "4"|Ballot 3
! colspan = "4"|Ballot 4
! colspan = "4"|Ballot 5
|-
! Name
! style="width:50px;"|Votes
! style="width:50px;"|Points
! style="width:50px;"|Votes
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Points
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Votes
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Points
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Votes
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Points
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Votes
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
! style="width:50px;"|Points
! style="width:50px;"|+/-
|- style="text-align:right;background:lightgreen;"
|| '''[[Andrew Wilkinson (Canadian politician)|Andrew Wilkinson]]''' ||4828<br />15.69%||1591.46<br />18.29%||4928<br />16.05%||100<br />0.36%||1630.98<br />18.75%||39.52<br />0.46%||6436<br />22.39%||1508<br />6.34%||2202.30<br />25.29%||571.33<br />6.54%||7832<br />29.22%||1396<br />6.83%||2863.51<br />32.91%||661.21<br />7.62%||'''12509<br />53.76%'''||4677<br />24.54%||'''4621.29<br />53.12%'''||1757.78<br />20.21%
|- style="text-align:right;"
|| '''[[Dianne Watts]]''' ||7449<br />24.20%||'''2135.13<br />24.54%'''||7537<br />24.54%||88<br />0.34%||'''2167.49<br />24.91%'''||32.36<br />0.37%||8036<br />27.95%||499<br />3.41%||'''2470.62<br />28.38%'''||303.13<br />3.47%||9130<br />34.06%||1094<br />6.11%||'''3006.96<br />34.56%'''||536.34<br />6.18%||10761<br />46.24%||1631<br />12.18%||4078.71<br />46.88%||1071.75<br />12.32%
|- style="text-align:right;"
|| '''[[Michael Lee (Canadian politician)|Michael Lee]]''' ||'''8100<br />26.32%'''||1916.68<br />22.03%||'''8206<br />26.72%'''||106<br />0.40%||1956.29<br />22.49%||39.60<br />0.46%||'''8614<br />29.96%'''||408<br />3.24%||2261.09<br />26.03%||304.80<br />3.54%||'''9842<br />36.72%'''||1228<br />6.76%||2829.53<br />32.52%||568.44<br />6.49%|| style="text-align:center; background:pink" colspan=4 | eliminated
|- style="text-align:right;"
|| '''[[Todd Stone]]''' ||5073<br />16.48%||1483.48<br />17.05%||5134<br />16.72%||61<br />0.23%||1504.69<br />17.30%||21.21<br />0.25%||5664<br />19.70%||530<br />2.98%||1765.98<br />20.29%||261.30<br />2.99%|| style="text-align:center; background:pink" colspan=8 | eliminated
|- style="text-align:right;"
|| '''[[Mike de Jong]]''' ||4837<br />15.72%||1415.13<br />16.27%||4906<br />15.97%||69<br />0.26%||1440.56<br />16.56%||25.43<br />0.29%|| style="text-align:center; background:pink" colspan=12 | eliminated
|- style="text-align:right;"
|| '''Sam Sullivan''' ||488<br />1.59%||158.11<br />1.82%|| style="text-align:center; background:pink" colspan=16 | eliminated
|- style="text-align:right;"
|| '''TOTAL''' ||30775||8700||30711||-64||8700||-||28750||-1961||8700||-||26804||-1946||8700||-||23270||-3534||8700||-
|}

{{2017 British Columbia general election/Vancouver-False Creek}}
{{2013 British Columbia general election/Vancouver-False Creek}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.samsullivan.ca/}}
* [http://globalcivic.org/ Global Civic Policy Society]
* [http://disabilityfoundation.org/sam-sullivan.html Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation]
* {{IMDb name|2678020}}
* [http://publicsalon.org/about/ Sam Sullivan Public Salon]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180218091151/https://transcribimus.ca/about-us/ Transcribimus]
* [http://kumtuks.ca/ Kumtuks]

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=Christy_Clark}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Peter Fassbender]]
| post1         = Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
| post1years    = June 12, 2017–July 18, 2017
| post1note     = 
| post1followed = [[Lisa Beare]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Mayors of Vancouver}}
{{Christy Clark Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Sam}}
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