Anne Roberts
 |
Anne Roberts | |
|---|---|
 Roberts visits a community centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in early 2007. | |
| Occupation | College instructor (retired) |
| Known for | Former Vancouver city councillor |
Anne Roberts is a Canadian politician and retired journalism instructor. She served on Vancouver City Council from 2002 to 2005 as a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE).[1] Prior to entering politics, she taught journalism at Langara College.[2]
Political career
[edit]Roberts served as a trustee on the Vancouver School Board from 1993 to 1996.[1] During her tenure, she also served as chair of the District Parent Representatives.
Roberts was elected to Vancouver City Council in the 2002 municipal election.[1] She served as chair of the Planning and Environment Committee and was appointed by council as a delegate to the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
During her tenure, Roberts advocated for the expansion of child care spaces and services,[3] and supported a $25-a-month subsidy for 600 daycare and preschool spaces.[4] In November 2003, she voted against TransLink's ten-year plan, which included funding for the construction of Richmond–Airport–Vancouver (RAV) line (now known as the Canada Line).[5][6]
In January 2004, Roberts voted against allowing slot machines in the city.[7] In June 2005, she led the opposition to an application by Walmart to build a store in south Vancouver, citing concerns about traffic congestion and land use; on June 28, council voted 8–3 to reject the application.[8][9][1] She also opposed the 2010 Winter Olympics.
She was among the five left-wing councillors described as "COPE Classic" by Charlie Smith of The Georgia Straight, in contrast to "COPE Lite",[10] a term used for Mayor Larry Campbell and the three councillors who left COPE to form the centrist Vision Vancouver party ahead of the 2005 municipal election.[11]
Roberts ran for re-election in 2005; she placed 19th with 41,739 votes and was not re-elected.[1][12]
On April 27, 2018, Roberts announced that she would seek the party's nomination for the municipal election that October.[1] She secured the nomination and was one of three COPE candidates for council in the general election, along with Jean Swanson and Derrick O'Keefe.[2][13][14] During her campaign, she advocated for free transit for children aged 18 and under, reduced fares for low-income individuals, and an expansion of the U-Pass program.[15] She also supported transitioning Vancouver to a ward-based electoral system instead of at-large representation.[16] She received 36,531 votes, placing 16th and losing the election by approximately 7000 votes.[17]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lupick, Travis (April 27, 2018). "Anne Roberts announces return to Vancouver politics ahead of COPE nominations meeting set for June 10". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- 1 2 Smith, Charlie (October 14, 2018). "Long read: How Jean Swanson, Derrick O'Keefe, and Anne Roberts plan to upend Vancouver's political status quo". The Georgia Straight.
- ↑ Smith, Charlie (October 17, 2018). "Women Transforming Cities applies an intersectional gender lens to the Vancouver election". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ Bula, Frances (July 18, 2003). "Vancouver mulls subsidizing child care [CA-BC]". Vancouver Sun.
- ↑ Smith, Charlie (February 26, 2004). "COPE advises politicos to support TransLink". The Georgia Straight.
- ↑ Cooper, Sam (December 5, 2005). "What's next for Jim Green and Vancouver's civic left". The Tyee.
- ↑ Smith, Charlie (January 29, 2004). "NDPers John Horgan, Ian Reid, and John Heaney played key roles in bringing slot machines to Vancouver". The Georgia Straight.
- ↑ "Wal-Mart rejected". CBC News. June 28, 2005.
- ↑ "No Wal-Mart for Vancouver". CBC News. June 29, 2005.
- ↑ Deveau, Scott (February 8, 2005). "Will Mayor Larry walk away?". The Tyee.
- ↑ Mickleburgh, Rod (December 15, 2004). "Vancouver mayor splits council, forms own caucus". The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "Election Summary Report: November 19, 2005". Archived from the original on September 13, 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
- ↑ Lupick, Travis (June 11, 2018). "COPE nominates left-wing rabble-rouser Derrick O'Keefe among 2018 candidates for Vancouver council". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ Zimmer, Eric (September 17, 2018). "There are 158 candidates running in the City of Vancouver election". Daily Hive. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ Roberts, Anne (October 4, 2018). "Anne Roberts: Vancouver needs U-Pass for the working class". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ O'Connor, Naoibh (June 11, 2018). "Randomized ballot didn't go over well in Vancouver's 1993 election". Vancouver Is Awesome.
- ↑ "COPE 2018 Candidates". Coalition of Progressive Electors. Retrieved April 20, 2026.