12pm: Workers and Residents to Deliver Petition with over 8,000 signatures to City Hall Urging Vancouver Council to Pause Approvals of Holborn’s “Supertall” Tower Project and Put Affordability First
5pm: Rally to be held at City Hall calling on Mayor Ken Sim and Council to Review and Rescind Parq Casino Slot Expansion
VANCOUVER, BC – Today, hospitality workers, tenants, and Vancouver residents will gather at Vancouver City Hall at 12pm as part of a two-week encampment to deliver a petition signed by thousands of local residents urging Council to postpone approval of the massive Holborn condo and hotel towers until after the October election and prioritize affordable housing instead.
For years, City Hall has justified fast-tracking hotel development by claiming Vancouver urgently needs more hotel rooms for major events like the World Cup. But the hotel room shortage has not materialized. FIFA World Cup hotel demand fell far short of hype, and many hotel workers are facing one of the slowest summers in years. Yet, City Hall is rushing Holborn Group’s proposed ‘supertall’ luxury condo and hotel project through Council despite the project running afoul of the city’s own planning frameworks.
Today’s noon action will be followed by a 5pm rally. Rallygoers will be calling on Mayor Sim and Council to review and rescind their previous 5-4 decision approving the expansion of slot machines at Parq Casino arguing that it reflects the same pattern of putting developers’ needs ahead of community priorities.
“My co-workers and I can’t afford to support our families and live in this city,” said Kirsten Lebrun, a hotel worker at Pan Pacific Hotel. “We need Mayor Sim to prioritize affordability for regular working people over the needs of billionaire hotel owners.”
WHAT: As part of the two-week encampment, workers and other community members will deliver a petition to City Hall (12pm) and hold a rally (5pm).
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15
WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
WHO: UNITE HERE Local 40 members, hospitality workers, tenants, housing advocates, and Vancouver residents.
VISUALS: Signs and stacks of petitions, people marching and chanting with bullhorns.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Speakers will be available for interviews before and after the action.
Background: The City of Vancouver is moving forward with major hotel approvals and other significant land-use decisions while residents face a deep affordability crisis, tenants face displacement, and workers struggle with unstable hours. UNITE HERE Local 40 is calling on Council to pause major hotel approvals until after the October election so voters can hold candidates accountable for their positions on hotel development, housing affordability, and public benefits. According to a recent poll conducted by Stratcom, Vancouver voters favour prioritizing affordable housing over more hotel development by a 3-to-1 margin.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2026-07-15 16:04:432026-07-15 16:04:43Media Advisory: Day 2 of City Hall Encampment
Rally and media availability at 5:30pm ahead of public hearing for Villages Plan
Hospitality workers, tenants, housing advocates and Vancouver residents will begin a two-week encampment outside Vancouver City Hall on Tuesday, to protest City Council’s misplaced priorities as Vancouver’s affordability crisis worsens.
Beginning July 14, participants will maintain a daily presence at City Hall, calling on Council to pause hotel approvals and other major land-use decisions that fail to put affordable housing first. The encampment comes as Council considers a wave of major land-use approvals ahead of its summer recess and the October municipal election.
“City Hall has lost sight of its priorities,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Instead of focusing on affordable housing, Council is rushing through hotel projects, sweeping rezonings and other major development decisions before the election. Vancouver residents deserve a Council that puts housing affordability ahead of developer interests.”
The encampment will continue through July 28, with daily events highlighting housing affordability, hotel approvals, neighbourhood planning, and other City decisions that are moving Vancouver in the wrong direction.
Encampment Launch & Rally
What: Rally and media availability to launch two-week encampment calling on Council to pause major land-use decisions and hotel approvals until after the election.
Why: Among the projects before Council on July 14 are two mixed-use hotel developments that are exempt from public hearings. At least three more hotel proposals are expected in coming days, including 75 East 8th Avenue, which would displace dozens of tenants, and Holborn Group’s proposed downtown supertall towers. City Hall continues to fast-track hotel developments even though the anticipated FIFA World Cup hotel shortage never materialized, while the city’s housing affordability crisis deepens.
City Hall is rushing other major land-use decisions such as the proposed “Villages Plan,” which would rezone nearly 14,000 properties and establish 17 new village areas across Vancouver – a massive upzoning that would allow developers to bypass public hearings, limiting local input and undermining the democratic process. Changes of this magnitude deserve careful public scrutiny and not a rushed approval process in the final weeks of Council’s mandate.
Who: Hospitality workers, tenants, community organizations and Vancouver residents
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 5:30pm
Where: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2026-07-14 11:01:312026-07-14 11:01:31Media Advisory: Workers, Tenants, Residents Launch City Hall Encampment as Council Rushes Hotel Projects and Major Rezonings Before Election
Vancouver, BC – More than 100 hospitality workers, tenants, and community members gathered outside Vancouver City Hall yesterday for a lively rally calling on City Council to put affordable housing ahead of hotel development.
The rally highlighted a stark contradiction: while politicians argued the World Cup required a rush of new hotel approvals, many hospitality workers lost shifts during the tournament as hotel occupancy declined. Recent hotel performance data show downtown occupancy fell to levels not seen since the pandemic, calling into question claims that Vancouver faces an urgent hotel room shortage. City Hall is approving hotels faster than affordable, non-market housing at a time when affordable homes should be the priority.
“Council has been told for years that the World Cup justifies fast-tracking hotel projects,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The facts now tell a different story. Vancouver doesn’t have a hotel room crisis – we have an affordability crisis.”
Meanwhile, proposed hotel projects could displace existing tenants, including residents of Myron Manor at 75 East 8th Avenue, illustrating the human consequences of replacing affordable housing with hotel development.
Participants called on City Council to postpone major hotel development approvals until after the October municipal election, arguing that voters deserve an opportunity to weigh in on proposals that could shape Vancouver’s future.
Speakers highlighted the growing pressures facing working people across the city, including soaring rents, the loss of affordable housing, and the displacement of long-term tenants. They urged City Hall to focus on protecting existing affordable housing and accelerating new non-market and below-market housing instead of advancing hotel developments.
Recent polling conducted by Stratcom shows Vancouver voters favour prioritizing affordable housing over building more hotel rooms by a 3:1 margin, reinforcing that the public’s priorities differ sharply from those of the hotel development industry.
The coalition announced that yesterday’s rally marks the beginning of a broader “Affordable Housing Now!” campaign at City Hall. Beginning Tuesday, July 14, when Council resumes its meetings, coalition members plan to maintain a daily presence at City Hall and organize a series of actions until Council wraps up this summer.
The campaign comes as City Council is expected to consider dozens of rezoning applications and major land use decisions before wrapping up business ahead of the October municipal election. Coalition members say they will be closely monitoring those decisions and pressing Council to prioritize affordable housing over projects that displace existing residents or primarily benefit private developers.
“You can’t build a world-class city by displacing the people who make it run,” said Jan Budd, a hotel worker facing displacement due to the redevelopment of her affordable rental building. “Council needs to put housing first. Vancouver’s housing crisis can’t wait. Hotels can.”
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2026-07-10 11:31:162026-07-10 13:32:09Press Release: Affordable Housing Now! Coalition Launches City Hall Campaign as World Cup Hotel Rationale Crumbles
Vancouver, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed a human rights complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on behalf of three hotel workers, alleging the City of Vancouver discriminated against them by denying them an equal opportunity to participate in a public hearing held by City Council on June 2, 2026.
The workers, all members of UNITE HERE Local 40, registered to speak at a public hearing on the city’s Bill 16 Financing Growth Update, which included a proposed incentive for hotel developers. Each planned to speak in their first language, Punjabi or Serbian, with consecutive English interpretation provided by their own translator.
The complaint argues that the city provides no clear interpretation services for public hearings and no clear process for those who wish to speak in a language other than English. Instead, the city created barriers to allowing the workers’ interpreters to participate by phone.
Despite repeated attempts, the city’s telephone system failed to allow the interpreters to be heard by Council. In one case, Councilor Sarah Kirby-Yung, who was presiding over the hearing as acting Deputy Mayor, refused an interpreter’s attempt to provide English translation. As a result, Council did not receive translations of the speakers’ comments.
This effectively denied those wanting to use translators an equal opportunity to address Council. The complaint challenges these barriers as discrimination by denying the speakers equal access to a public service, contrary to the BC Human Rights Code.
“Vancouver is one of Canada’s most diverse cities, yet those whose first language is not English can still be shut down at City Hall,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The right to fully participate in public hearings should not depend on the language you speak.”
The Union is seeking systemic remedies requiring the city to establish interpretation procedures and accessible technology so that all members of the public can meaningfully participate in future Council hearings.
Last month, four hospitality workers filed a judicial review with the Supreme Court of B.C. seeking to overturn two rezoning decisions made by City Council on May 5 and May 7 after being denied a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public hearing process.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2026-07-06 15:57:522026-07-06 15:57:52Press Release: Hospitality Workers’ Union Challenges City of Vancouver’s Failure to Provide Equal Language Access at Public Hearings
Petition alleges City Council approved new hotel development incentive after being wrongly told provincial law required it
Vancouver, BC — UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking judicial review of the City of Vancouver’s decision to grant hotel developers a new density bonus that was approved based on an unreasonable interpretation of provincial law.
Unlike traditional density bonuses, which are intended to secure public amenities or affordable housing, the new provision rewards hotels for building commercial spaces that primarily generate revenue for the hotel itself. The exclusion allows developers to build larger hotels without rezoning approval, while providing no comparable public benefit to Vancouver residents.
The petition asks the Court to quash Council’s June 2, 2026, decision to create a new floor area exclusion for downtown hotel projects, potentially worth millions of dollars in additional development rights, and send the matter back to Council for reconsideration.
According to the petition, city staff repeatedly advised Council and the public that the change was required to comply with provincial housing legislation under Bill 16, the Housing Statutes Amendment Act, which sets out new rules for municipalities to streamline housing approvals. The Union argues that this advice was legally incorrect.
“Council was told this change was mandatory. It wasn’t,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “It was a new incentive for hotel developers to build larger projects by excluding commercially valuable space from density calculations. This case is about ensuring major planning decisions are made fairly and determined on the basis of accurate information.”
UNITE HERE Local 40 argues that nothing in Bill 16 required the city to make this change. Instead, the lawsuit says Council relied on an unreasonable interpretation of the legislation when approving the bylaw.
The amendment replaces an existing discretionary hotel density provision with a new rule allowing downtown hotel developments to exclude up to 20 per cent of their floor area from density calculations for revenue-generating spaces such as meeting rooms, conference facilities, business centres, and other hotel spaces.
This is the second time UNITE HERE Local 40 has sought judicial review of a City of Vancouver decision involving hotel development. In May, the Union filed a judicial review challenging Council’s approval of a proposed floating hotel at Canada Place over concerns that material information about the project was withheld, denying the public a fair hearing process. The latest petition continues the Union’s efforts to ensure that significant planning decisions are made in accordance with the law and in the public interest.
The court challenge follows a new report released by the Union challenging claims that Vancouver faces a hotel room shortage “crisis” requiring public incentives. The report found no evidence of a long-term supply crisis and concluded that many industry claims relied on selective data and unsupported assumptions.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2026-07-03 12:52:312026-07-03 12:52:31Press Release: UNITE HERE Local 40 Files Court Challenge Over Vancouver Hotel Development Incentive
Media Advisory: Day 2 of City Hall Encampment
12pm: Workers and Residents to Deliver Petition with over 8,000 signatures to City Hall Urging Vancouver Council to Pause Approvals of Holborn’s “Supertall” Tower Project and Put Affordability First
5pm: Rally to be held at City Hall calling on Mayor Ken Sim and Council to Review and Rescind Parq Casino Slot Expansion
VANCOUVER, BC – Today, hospitality workers, tenants, and Vancouver residents will gather at Vancouver City Hall at 12pm as part of a two-week encampment to deliver a petition signed by thousands of local residents urging Council to postpone approval of the massive Holborn condo and hotel towers until after the October election and prioritize affordable housing instead.
For years, City Hall has justified fast-tracking hotel development by claiming Vancouver urgently needs more hotel rooms for major events like the World Cup. But the hotel room shortage has not materialized. FIFA World Cup hotel demand fell far short of hype, and many hotel workers are facing one of the slowest summers in years. Yet, City Hall is rushing Holborn Group’s proposed ‘supertall’ luxury condo and hotel project through Council despite the project running afoul of the city’s own planning frameworks.
Today’s noon action will be followed by a 5pm rally. Rallygoers will be calling on Mayor Sim and Council to review and rescind their previous 5-4 decision approving the expansion of slot machines at Parq Casino arguing that it reflects the same pattern of putting developers’ needs ahead of community priorities.
“My co-workers and I can’t afford to support our families and live in this city,” said Kirsten Lebrun, a hotel worker at Pan Pacific Hotel. “We need Mayor Sim to prioritize affordability for regular working people over the needs of billionaire hotel owners.”
WHAT: As part of the two-week encampment, workers and other community members will deliver a petition to City Hall (12pm) and hold a rally (5pm).
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15
WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
WHO: UNITE HERE Local 40 members, hospitality workers, tenants, housing advocates, and Vancouver residents.
VISUALS: Signs and stacks of petitions, people marching and chanting with bullhorns.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Speakers will be available for interviews before and after the action.
Background: The City of Vancouver is moving forward with major hotel approvals and other significant land-use decisions while residents face a deep affordability crisis, tenants face displacement, and workers struggle with unstable hours. UNITE HERE Local 40 is calling on Council to pause major hotel approvals until after the October election so voters can hold candidates accountable for their positions on hotel development, housing affordability, and public benefits. According to a recent poll conducted by Stratcom, Vancouver voters favour prioritizing affordable housing over more hotel development by a 3-to-1 margin.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
Media Advisory: Workers, Tenants, Residents Launch City Hall Encampment as Council Rushes Hotel Projects and Major Rezonings Before Election
Rally and media availability at 5:30pm ahead of public hearing for Villages Plan
Hospitality workers, tenants, housing advocates and Vancouver residents will begin a two-week encampment outside Vancouver City Hall on Tuesday, to protest City Council’s misplaced priorities as Vancouver’s affordability crisis worsens.
Beginning July 14, participants will maintain a daily presence at City Hall, calling on Council to pause hotel approvals and other major land-use decisions that fail to put affordable housing first. The encampment comes as Council considers a wave of major land-use approvals ahead of its summer recess and the October municipal election.
“City Hall has lost sight of its priorities,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Instead of focusing on affordable housing, Council is rushing through hotel projects, sweeping rezonings and other major development decisions before the election. Vancouver residents deserve a Council that puts housing affordability ahead of developer interests.”
The encampment will continue through July 28, with daily events highlighting housing affordability, hotel approvals, neighbourhood planning, and other City decisions that are moving Vancouver in the wrong direction.
Encampment Launch & Rally
What: Rally and media availability to launch two-week encampment calling on Council to pause major land-use decisions and hotel approvals until after the election.
Why: Among the projects before Council on July 14 are two mixed-use hotel developments that are exempt from public hearings. At least three more hotel proposals are expected in coming days, including 75 East 8th Avenue, which would displace dozens of tenants, and Holborn Group’s proposed downtown supertall towers. City Hall continues to fast-track hotel developments even though the anticipated FIFA World Cup hotel shortage never materialized, while the city’s housing affordability crisis deepens.
City Hall is rushing other major land-use decisions such as the proposed “Villages Plan,” which would rezone nearly 14,000 properties and establish 17 new village areas across Vancouver – a massive upzoning that would allow developers to bypass public hearings, limiting local input and undermining the democratic process. Changes of this magnitude deserve careful public scrutiny and not a rushed approval process in the final weeks of Council’s mandate.
Who: Hospitality workers, tenants, community organizations and Vancouver residents
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 5:30pm
Where: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
Press Release: Affordable Housing Now! Coalition Launches City Hall Campaign as World Cup Hotel Rationale Crumbles
Vancouver, BC – More than 100 hospitality workers, tenants, and community members gathered outside Vancouver City Hall yesterday for a lively rally calling on City Council to put affordable housing ahead of hotel development.
The rally highlighted a stark contradiction: while politicians argued the World Cup required a rush of new hotel approvals, many hospitality workers lost shifts during the tournament as hotel occupancy declined. Recent hotel performance data show downtown occupancy fell to levels not seen since the pandemic, calling into question claims that Vancouver faces an urgent hotel room shortage. City Hall is approving hotels faster than affordable, non-market housing at a time when affordable homes should be the priority.
“Council has been told for years that the World Cup justifies fast-tracking hotel projects,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The facts now tell a different story. Vancouver doesn’t have a hotel room crisis – we have an affordability crisis.”
Meanwhile, proposed hotel projects could displace existing tenants, including residents of Myron Manor at 75 East 8th Avenue, illustrating the human consequences of replacing affordable housing with hotel development.
Participants called on City Council to postpone major hotel development approvals until after the October municipal election, arguing that voters deserve an opportunity to weigh in on proposals that could shape Vancouver’s future.
Speakers highlighted the growing pressures facing working people across the city, including soaring rents, the loss of affordable housing, and the displacement of long-term tenants. They urged City Hall to focus on protecting existing affordable housing and accelerating new non-market and below-market housing instead of advancing hotel developments.
Recent polling conducted by Stratcom shows Vancouver voters favour prioritizing affordable housing over building more hotel rooms by a 3:1 margin, reinforcing that the public’s priorities differ sharply from those of the hotel development industry.
The coalition announced that yesterday’s rally marks the beginning of a broader “Affordable Housing Now!” campaign at City Hall. Beginning Tuesday, July 14, when Council resumes its meetings, coalition members plan to maintain a daily presence at City Hall and organize a series of actions until Council wraps up this summer.
The campaign comes as City Council is expected to consider dozens of rezoning applications and major land use decisions before wrapping up business ahead of the October municipal election. Coalition members say they will be closely monitoring those decisions and pressing Council to prioritize affordable housing over projects that displace existing residents or primarily benefit private developers.
“You can’t build a world-class city by displacing the people who make it run,” said Jan Budd, a hotel worker facing displacement due to the redevelopment of her affordable rental building. “Council needs to put housing first. Vancouver’s housing crisis can’t wait. Hotels can.”
Fact Sheet – Affordable Housing Now
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
Press Release: Hospitality Workers’ Union Challenges City of Vancouver’s Failure to Provide Equal Language Access at Public Hearings
Vancouver, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed a human rights complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on behalf of three hotel workers, alleging the City of Vancouver discriminated against them by denying them an equal opportunity to participate in a public hearing held by City Council on June 2, 2026.
The workers, all members of UNITE HERE Local 40, registered to speak at a public hearing on the city’s Bill 16 Financing Growth Update, which included a proposed incentive for hotel developers. Each planned to speak in their first language, Punjabi or Serbian, with consecutive English interpretation provided by their own translator.
The complaint argues that the city provides no clear interpretation services for public hearings and no clear process for those who wish to speak in a language other than English. Instead, the city created barriers to allowing the workers’ interpreters to participate by phone.
Despite repeated attempts, the city’s telephone system failed to allow the interpreters to be heard by Council. In one case, Councilor Sarah Kirby-Yung, who was presiding over the hearing as acting Deputy Mayor, refused an interpreter’s attempt to provide English translation. As a result, Council did not receive translations of the speakers’ comments.
This effectively denied those wanting to use translators an equal opportunity to address Council. The complaint challenges these barriers as discrimination by denying the speakers equal access to a public service, contrary to the BC Human Rights Code.
“Vancouver is one of Canada’s most diverse cities, yet those whose first language is not English can still be shut down at City Hall,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The right to fully participate in public hearings should not depend on the language you speak.”
The Union is seeking systemic remedies requiring the city to establish interpretation procedures and accessible technology so that all members of the public can meaningfully participate in future Council hearings.
Last month, four hospitality workers filed a judicial review with the Supreme Court of B.C. seeking to overturn two rezoning decisions made by City Council on May 5 and May 7 after being denied a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public hearing process.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
Press Release: UNITE HERE Local 40 Files Court Challenge Over Vancouver Hotel Development Incentive
Petition alleges City Council approved new hotel development incentive after being wrongly told provincial law required it
Vancouver, BC — UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking judicial review of the City of Vancouver’s decision to grant hotel developers a new density bonus that was approved based on an unreasonable interpretation of provincial law.
Unlike traditional density bonuses, which are intended to secure public amenities or affordable housing, the new provision rewards hotels for building commercial spaces that primarily generate revenue for the hotel itself. The exclusion allows developers to build larger hotels without rezoning approval, while providing no comparable public benefit to Vancouver residents.
The petition asks the Court to quash Council’s June 2, 2026, decision to create a new floor area exclusion for downtown hotel projects, potentially worth millions of dollars in additional development rights, and send the matter back to Council for reconsideration.
According to the petition, city staff repeatedly advised Council and the public that the change was required to comply with provincial housing legislation under Bill 16, the Housing Statutes Amendment Act, which sets out new rules for municipalities to streamline housing approvals. The Union argues that this advice was legally incorrect.
“Council was told this change was mandatory. It wasn’t,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “It was a new incentive for hotel developers to build larger projects by excluding commercially valuable space from density calculations. This case is about ensuring major planning decisions are made fairly and determined on the basis of accurate information.”
UNITE HERE Local 40 argues that nothing in Bill 16 required the city to make this change. Instead, the lawsuit says Council relied on an unreasonable interpretation of the legislation when approving the bylaw.
The amendment replaces an existing discretionary hotel density provision with a new rule allowing downtown hotel developments to exclude up to 20 per cent of their floor area from density calculations for revenue-generating spaces such as meeting rooms, conference facilities, business centres, and other hotel spaces.
This is the second time UNITE HERE Local 40 has sought judicial review of a City of Vancouver decision involving hotel development. In May, the Union filed a judicial review challenging Council’s approval of a proposed floating hotel at Canada Place over concerns that material information about the project was withheld, denying the public a fair hearing process. The latest petition continues the Union’s efforts to ensure that significant planning decisions are made in accordance with the law and in the public interest.
The court challenge follows a new report released by the Union challenging claims that Vancouver faces a hotel room shortage “crisis” requiring public incentives. The report found no evidence of a long-term supply crisis and concluded that many industry claims relied on selective data and unsupported assumptions.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785