Why We're Here

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver was formed in August 2021 by people of all political backgrounds who hoped to create a more neighbourhood-friendly City Hall that would honour electors’ decisive vote for change in the 2018 election.

We chose the name TEAM because we were inspired by the insights and legacies of The Electors’ Action Movement (T.E.A.M.), the party that brought residents together in 1968 to save Strathcona, Chinatown, Gastown and Vancouver’s waterfront from a freeway system. Then, City Hall bureaucrats badly underestimated the desire of residents to have meaningful involvement in the face and future of their city.

We are feeling a similar disconnect today.

We believe Vancouver residents want thriving, livable neighbourhoods for ourselves and newcomers and that, if City Hall listens to us, there is still time to reverse many of the problems that have developed over the past decade.

TEAM will be a voice for all neighbourhoods. We can:

Start valuing the contributions of neighbourhood organizations and commit to genuine consultation with residents instead of surveys and workshops aimed at getting pre-determined results
Start prioritizing the types of housing that residents say they want and need in order to manage the housing crunch, instead of promoting building to maximize developer profits
Establish an evidence-driven City Hall that will make better decisions, both financially and in planning for the future
Overhaul policies that make doing business more expensive and lead to closed shops and services
Stop taking on senior governments’ responsibilities and focus on core municipal ones such as the streets, sidewalks and parks that make a comfortable, functioning city
Reverse the downward trajectory of community safety with initiatives aimed at easing the fear and despair in our streets that are backed by research and funded appropriately
Be realistic about Vancouver’s contribution to climate change and ensure mitigation measures are effective without overburdening already financially-stressed residents
Require Council, School and Park Boards to get out of their silos and work together (For example, the School Board is currently planning to close and sell off schools while the City is planning major increases in population density.)

TEAM's Board of Directors for 2025-26 (contact at info@voteteam.ca)

Cleta Brown is a lifelong resident of Vancouver. Cleta has always been a busy volunteer with various charitable activities. She is a longtime advocate for several causes and has held many non-profit Board directorships, including in leadership roles. Cleta has been politically active as a volunteer in most elections and as a candidate in two elections. Cleta’s civic involvement is based on an ethic of service and gratitude.

Colleen Hardwick (Past President) is a former Vancouver City Councillor (2018-2022) and TEAM Mayoral Candidate in 2022. A life-long Vancouverite, Colleen is the mother of two daughters and now a grandmother to two, who want to continue living in Vancouver. With an academic background in urban geography, her career has spanned the film and television industry and digital technology as a serial entrepreneur. Colleen’s purpose is to apply her background, knowledge and experience to course correct the City of Vancouver for future generations.

Chris Johnson, K.C. (President) is a lifelong resident of Vancouver. He graduated from high school here before attending the University of Victoria, where he obtained a BSc and a J.D. He is currently employed as a criminal defense lawyer and occasional Special Prosecutor.

Douglas Johnstone is a Chartered Accountant who spent his career working primarily in medium sized privately-owned enterprises. A Vancouver native who graduated from Vancouver College and UBC, his earliest ancestor arrived in Metro in 1859 from Sligo, Ireland. Home renovations on his 1930 “Vancouver Special” and travelling keep him busy. Doug is married with three children and two grandchildren in Kamloops and Vancouver.

David Ley, born in South Wales, is a retired professor of urban geography at UBC, where he taught for 45 years. His teaching and publications have included the areas of gentrification, immigration, and housing affordability. He has a particular interest in Vancouver housing and neighbourhoods. David is married with four children and five grandchildren.
Harvey McCormick (Treasurer) is Vancouver born, of Vancouver-born parents. He has worked as a non-designated accountant (CGA educated) for close to 50 years, including in financial institutions, public companies and the entertainment industry. Harvey is past director and treasurer of the British Columbia Country Music Association and co-producer of four years of music festivals.

Stephen Mikicich (Vice President) is a Registered Professional Planner with over 30 years’ experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, including urban design, economic development, heritage conservation, neighbourhood planning, transit-oriented development, business improvement areas, and community engagement. The child of European immigrants, Stephen was born and raised in Vancouver and makes his home in Kitsilano.

Sal Robinson (Secretary) spent 41 years working at Vancouver’s oldest public alternative school, proving resistance is not futile. She is an avid researcher and writer who values truth and accountability. Sal's Vancouver roots are generations deep. Consequently, she takes a keen interest in the city’s history and in its sustainable future.

Jean Shapiro is a retired medical specialist. Born and raised in Montreal, a graduate of McGill University Medical School, UCLA, and UCSD, she moved to Vancouver in 1984 with her husband, where she enjoyed a career in academic medicine. She comes from a family of community activists and has been engaged with TEAM efforts since 2022.

Ward Stirrat, a Vancouver-born entrepreneur, is a decentralist who believes in creating small, environmentally-friendly systems that can work worldwide while supporting local communities.