Mike Klassen
Businesses & Jobs
Business Permitting
ABC promise
"We will continue cutting wait times and simplifying approvals for businesses, patios and home construction, as well as other City permits and licences."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Economic Growth
ABC promise
"Scale Vancouver as a hub for technology companies and grow the job economy"
— abcvancouver.ca, 2026-09-28
Climate Change, Heat, Fires, & the Environment
Private Vehicles & Parking
ABC promises
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will eliminate parking fees at the Jericho and Spanish Banks beaches, and at all community centres, to make it more affordable for Vancouverites to visit places that bring us together."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will work towards a universal parking app so Vancouverites can find, pay for and extend parking anywhere in Vancouver."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Community Centres, Libraries, Parks, and Other Public Spaces
After-School Programs
ABC promise
"We will work with the School Board, Park Board, and community partners to expand after-school programs that give children safe, enriching and affordable options outside traditional school hours."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Community Centres
ABC promises
"We’ve made the largest investment in community centres in Vancouver’s history, and we’re not stopping there. This upcoming term’s capital plan will deliver the second tranche of community centre investments across the city, rebuilding these key assets city-wide."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
We will build the long-awaited community centre for the River District, with or without developer support.
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Fitness & Sports Facilities
ABC promises
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will rebuild the Vancouver Aquatic Centre with a 50-metre pool within the current budget allocated. ABC Vancouver will continue to drive down the cost of getting public amenities built."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will build two new outdoor pools in the Sunset and Marpole communities, and we’re just getting started. We’re expanding recreation and youth programming through our Carrying on Joe Fortes’ Legacy motion."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will create year-round public pickleball courts to meet growing demand and give Vancouverites more opportunities to play."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will work with the School Board and Park Board to bring back swim classes during the school day, allowing our children to learn this important life skill while using pool space outside peak pool hours."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will support children aged 3-12 to access the first three levels of the Joe Fortes Learn-to-Swim program at no cost, ensuring more of our children can build confidence and water safety skills."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will create more opportunities for families to use our rinks and pools, by restoring open access at Kitsilano Pool and building more ice rinks to keep up with demand from our hockey, ringette, and speed skating teams. At the same time, kids under 18 in care will gain free access to pools and community centres."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will deliver a historic $400 million capital allocation for community centres, supporting new centres and major renovations across the city."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will create more opportunities for families to use our rinks and pools, by restoring open access at Kitsilano Pool and building more ice rinks to keep up with demand from our hockey, ringette, and speed skating teams. At the same time, kids under 18 in care will gain free access to pools and community centres."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will create more opportunities for families to use our rinks and pools, by restoring open access at Kitsilano Pool and building more ice rinks to keep up with demand from our hockey, ringette, and speed skating teams. At the same time, kids under 18 in care will gain free access to pools and community centres."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Parks
ABC promise
"We will add more designated dog parks and off-leash areas, so residents have better access to safe, well-managed spaces for their pets."
— abcvancouver.ca, 2026-09-28
Pedestrian Spaces
ABC promise
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will invest in Granville Street to make it a safer, more successful entertainment and business district. This includes bringing back the Granville Street pedestrian zone as a permanent seasonal feature."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Playgrounds
ABC promise
"We will create a dedicated fund to upgrade and maintain playgrounds, parks, boulevards and public spaces so children have clean, safe and welcoming places to play."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will create a dedicated Playground Improvement Fund to upgrade and maintain playgrounds, parks, boulevards and public spaces so children and families have clean, safe and welcoming places to play"
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Stanley Park
ABC promise
"The Stanley Park Train has been a beloved Vancouver tradition for generations of families and visitors. The ABC City Council and Park Board will work together to restore the Stanley Park Train, bringing this iconic attraction back to life, and will work to bring back Bright Nights and the Halloween train immediately."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Culture & Events
Festivals & Events
ABC promises
"A new era of cooperation between the City & major events, along with a new funding model"
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will ensure the Celebration of Light continues annually and support other major events that bring people into Vancouver."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"The Stanley Park Train has been a beloved Vancouver tradition for generations of families and visitors. The ABC City Council and Park Board will work together to restore the Stanley Park Train, bringing this iconic attraction back to life, and will work to bring back Bright Nights and the Halloween train immediately."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will ensure the Celebration of Light continues annually and support other major events that bring people into Vancouver."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Monuments and Landmarks
ABC promise
"We will create a landmark celebrating the contributions of Vancouver’s Punjabi and South Asian communities and their lasting impact on South Vancouver and the city."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Housing & Homelessness
Housing Prices & Supply
ABC promise
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Public & Assistive Housing
ABC promise
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Local Government, Planning, & Democracy
Good Governance
ABC promise
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Mental Health, Drugs, & Addiction
Public Drug Use
ABC promises
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will allow police to seize hard drugs being used in public and issue a bylaw ticket. Although the provincial government’s decriminalization pilot ended, the experiment had a lasting impact on our streets by normalizing open-air hard drug consumption. By giving police new tools to seize hard drugs and issue bylaw tickets, we could re-establish social expectations, and restore safe and clean streets for everyone."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will call on the province to convert part of the former St. Paul’s Hospital, or another suitable facility, into a secure medical facility for involuntary and voluntary care, delivering 100-plus treatment beds."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will prohibit the use of hard drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, meth and crack in public spaces. Although these hard drugs are already illegal everywhere in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, federal law currently directs prosecutors and police to enforce the law only as a last resort. A municipal bylaw would give police and bylaw officers another option to intervene when drugs are used openly in parks, streets and other public spaces."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will restrict the location of drug consumption sites near schools, playgrounds and parks so Vancouverites can enjoy these spaces free of needles and drug paraphernalia."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
Public Safety & Policing
Public Drug Use
ABC promises
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will allow police to seize hard drugs being used in public and issue a bylaw ticket. Although the provincial government’s decriminalization pilot ended, the experiment had a lasting impact on our streets by normalizing open-air hard drug consumption. By giving police new tools to seize hard drugs and issue bylaw tickets, we could re-establish social expectations, and restore safe and clean streets for everyone."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will call on the province to convert part of the former St. Paul’s Hospital, or another suitable facility, into a secure medical facility for involuntary and voluntary care, delivering 100-plus treatment beds."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will prohibit the use of hard drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, meth and crack in public spaces. Although these hard drugs are already illegal everywhere in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, federal law currently directs prosecutors and police to enforce the law only as a last resort. A municipal bylaw would give police and bylaw officers another option to intervene when drugs are used openly in parks, streets and other public spaces."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will restrict the location of drug consumption sites near schools, playgrounds and parks so Vancouverites can enjoy these spaces free of needles and drug paraphernalia."
— abcvancouver.ca, retrieved 2026-09-28
Public Services
After-School Programs
ABC promise
"We will work with the School Board, Park Board, and community partners to expand after-school programs that give children safe, enriching and affordable options outside traditional school hours."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Childcare
ABC promises
"Under ABC Vancouver, the City has already opened more than 2,000 new childcare spaces. We will build on this progress through continued partnerships with the Province, School Board, Park Board, non-profits, and private providers to create more spaces in the neighbourhoods where families live and work."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will explore and pilot new ways to attract and retain early-childhood educators through co-locating childcare facilities with affordable housing initiatives in key areas of the city"
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Roads, Transit, & Getting Around
Private Vehicles & Parking
ABC promises
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will eliminate parking fees at the Jericho and Spanish Banks beaches, and at all community centres, to make it more affordable for Vancouverites to visit places that bring us together."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will work towards a universal parking app so Vancouverites can find, pay for and extend parking anywhere in Vancouver."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Roads
ABC promise
"We have invested $104 million to repair and restore Vancouver’s roads and sidewalks, improving accessibility, safety and mobility in every neighbourhood."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Biography
Mike Klassen was born and raised in Vancouver. He brings to his role as city Councillor over two decades of experience as a community organizer in the Fraser Street neighbourhood and many years of executive leadership in the non-profit sector.
Prior to being sworn into office in November 2022, Mike served as Vice President, Public Affairs for BC Care Providers Association where at the start of the pandemic, he was appointed as Acting CEO at the height of the biggest crisis in the continuing care sector’s history. Mike championed for visitation rights as family and loved ones were kept apart by COVID-19 restrictions, as well as urging for the wider access to rapid test kits for healthcare workers.
Mike firmly believes that supporting older adults in our community is critical when our demographics are shifting. In one of his earliest acts on council, he received unanimous support for enhanced measures to make Vancouver a more Age-friendly City, and for the recruitment a new Strategic Lead for Seniors.
Mike served as President of the board of directors for PAL Vancouver (Performing Arts Lodge), a unique social housing organization that supports our local creative and performing arts community. In 2019, his efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing for arts and entertainment professionals resulted in the ground-breaking of a new 8-storey 66-unit apartment building opening in Fall 2023.
Mike’s past roles include serving as Vice Chair of the Vancouver City Planning Commission, Vice Chair for DOXA Documentary Festival board, and a director on the B.C. Small Business Roundtable. Mike was civic affairs columnist with Vancouver Courier newspaper until 2020.
As the Executive Director of the Appellation Task Group, Mike led a province-wide industry consultation that led to significant regulatory reforms to grow B.C.’s successful wine and grape growing sector.
Mike was recognized by Vancouver Sun business columnist Don Cayo for excellence in small business advocacy, citing his ‘clear and credible’ campaign leading a nine-member business coalition. He was later recognized with an award for his leadership in that coalition.
During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics & Paralympic Games, Mike co-founded an online free events guide that attracted 2.5 million web hits in the span of a few weeks, which boosted community spirit to new heights. He was later recognized by the Provincial minister responsible for the Games for these efforts.
At the beginning of his career Mike worked in B.C.’s fledgling film industry, serving on TV series and feature film sets. He later worked in the video gaming industry on EA Sports popular NBA Live franchise.
Mike is a UBC graduate (Bachelor of Arts studying English literature and political science), as well as being an avid fitness enthusiast. Mike is a father of one and lives with his wife in the Fraser Street community.
abcvancouver.ca/team/mike-klassen abcvancouver.ca/team/mike-klassen