Province appoints Larry Campbell to work with partners to improve quality of life for everyone in Downtown Eastside

Sept. 29, 2025

VANCOUVER – The Province has appointed Larry Campbell to convene and co-ordinate partners in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) with the aim of improving the quality of life for all people who live and work in the neighbourhood.

The former mayor of Vancouver and Canadian senator will provide focused intergovernmental co-ordination and leadership to drive forward solutions with the community to deliver better outcomes for the Downtown Eastside.

“The Downtown Eastside is a vibrant community of strong, resilient people who have a long history of supporting each other through tough times,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “Our government is determined to deliver better outcomes for this community at the heart of Vancouver. I’m looking forward to working with Mr. Campbell as he helps bring all our efforts together and all partners to the table to improve quality of life for everyone in the Downtown Eastside.”

Campbell’s overall focus will be co-ordinating and advancing the Province’s improvements for people, public spaces, infrastructure, health care, housing and economic development in the Downtown Eastside. Campbell brings significant experience and existing relationships, and a deep commitment to this work as a longtime leader in the city.

In collaboration with the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and the parliamentary secretary for the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown, Campbell is specifically tasked with:

• facilitating negotiations between all levels of government to advance planning, co-ordination and capital investments in housing development, as well as prioritize improved efficiency of significant government investments in wraparound supports and service delivery in the area;
• engaging with government and non-government sectors for the purposes of aligning DTES activities and approaches with provincial policy objectives and priorities; and
• supporting the development and implementation of operational frameworks to address systemic challenges and improve outcomes in the DTES that align with provincial work currently underway.

“The Downtown Eastside is a unique and incredibly resourceful community. Being on the ground – listening and working directly with the people that live, work and gather there – is critical to finding practical ways forward,” Campbell said. “By working in partnership with the strong community and business leadership that already exists, and bringing my experience and relationships to this role, we will advance housing policy that meets local needs, and reduce barriers to strive for seamless care for our unhoused neighbours, especially women and Indigenous people, and those with complex mental health and addictions. Working together on these solutions will help us address community concerns and move ahead in a focused, compassionate and effective way.”

The contract is for six months from Sept. 29, 2025, until March 31, 2026.

“Concerted, focused efforts to continue supporting people with the services they need are paramount to improving people’s health and well-being,” said George Chow, parliamentary secretary for the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown. “Larry Campbell is uniquely qualified to take on this role and his years of experience will be an asset as we work together to build a stronger Downtown Eastside.”

Campbell will provide ongoing advice to the Premier, the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, and the parliamentary secretary for the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown, and work with the responsible ministries to take action on opportunities that will benefit the neighbourhood and surrounding areas, while addressing systemic barriers that prevent progress for the community. The goal is to build on government’s existing work that’s delivering more housing, new treatment and recovery options in the neighbourhood, and supporting safety-related initiatives.

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Media Relations
236 475-4435

BACKGROUNDER

What people are saying about Larry Campbell’s appointment

Sarah Blyth, executive director of the Overdose Prevention Society –

“Larry Campbell, former coroner, senator, and VPD, supported Vancouver’s first safe-injection site when he was mayor. Larry understands harm reduction, poverty and the devastation the overdose crisis has had on the Downtown Eastside community. I can’t think of a person with so much experience spanning decades, and we welcome his leadership and support as we work towards finding solutions to the serious issues we are facing.”

Steve Johnston, executive director of Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES) –

“Community Impact Real Estate Society welcomes the appointment of Larry Campbell to support transformative change in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Strong community networks have long driven change in the DTES, but a formal link to the Province has been missing. We’re optimistic Mr. Campbell’s role will help bridge that gap, champion community-led solutions, and strengthen collaboration.”

Chris Livingstone, executive director of Aboriginal Front Door Society –

“I have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Campbell as mayor of Vancouver and trust he can bring the right amount of focus, momentum and solutions for people of the Downtown Eastside. Aboriginal Front Door Society looks forward to working together to connect our urban Indigenous, and street family to better health and lives.”

Wendy Pedersen, executive director of the Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative –

“We have work to do in the Downtown Eastside related to housing with a holistic, community-based approach. The community has the knowledge, but we don’t have the power to make it happen. Thank you to Minister Boyle and the Premier for giving us this chance to bring people together. I’m hopeful this is a ‘supermoon’ moment where everyone can be in alignment – the different parts of the community and all levels of government. Larry Campbell is a smart choice at a crucial time. Larry learned a lot about the Downtown Eastside when he was the coroner and then mayor, and he ushered in key policy changes that we really needed at that time. I trust he can get the federal government paddling in the same direction with us and help us inspire other struggling communities across Canada. We’re ready for him to help the community, and we are here to help him do it.”

Dean Kurpjuweit, president of Union Gospel Mission –

“Union Gospel Mission looks forward to partnering with Mr. Campbell to support the Downtown Eastside community. We‘re committed to fostering understanding, empathy, and driving meaningful collaboration. Together, we can address systemic challenges with hope and compassion.”

Amanda Burrows, executive director of First United –

“I’m hopeful this appointment signals a genuine commitment to solutions led by the community in the Downtown Eastside, in collaboration across governments. With someone who has experience in the DTES and navigating complex systems, and with transparency and accountability, this role can help strengthen and not replace our strong community leadership. What matters most now is bold action: expanding safe supply, voluntary treatment options and safe, secure, affordable housing. We’ve learned from past efforts that process and communication matter. My hope is that this appointment will amplify Indigenous- and peer-led solutions and move us past consultation toward lasting change.”

Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services –

“From its very beginnings, Vancouver was shaped by the violence of men like Deighton, Stamp and Van Horne, who built a city on unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaɬ lands, while erasing Indigenous women and girls from its story. Formally known as Skwxwú7mesh community Kum’kum’a’lay and at Luq’luq’I – the Grove of beautiful maple trees, the Downtown Eastside carries that legacy, a neighbourhood where systemic inequities, licit and illicit substance use, and the devaluation of women’s and girl’s lives converge most brutally. For decades, women-serving organizations have stood in that breach, resisting the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and the national emergency of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. As we move forward, our task is clear: centre women and girls in every intervention. That means investments rooted in equity, wellness and housing so that safety, dignity and justice are not exceptions, but the rule. I am eager to work with all partners to ensure that the voices and needs of women and girls are at the heart of every solution for the Downtown Eastside.”

Contact:

Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Media Relations
236 475-4435

NT5