Tim Louis
Encyclopedia
Tim Louis is a lawyer and municipal politician in Vancouver
, Canada. He was elected to the Vancouver Parks Board in 1990 and 1993, and later to Vancouver City Council as a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors
(COPE) in 1999 and 2002.
(class of 1979) and the University of British Columbia
where he graduated from law school in 1983. While a student at UBC, he co-founded the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), a consumer watchdog nonprofit.
He articled with lawyer and then-city councillor Harry Rankin
in 1984.
He also served on the board of BC Transit
's paratransit service and was chair of the Vancouver Public Library Board.
First elected to Vancouver City Council in 1999, Louis became known for his pointed questions aimed at addressing issues of social justice in the city of Vancouver. He was re-elected in 1993. Louis proudly showed off his progressive beliefs, often appearing at public functions in a red Che Guevara
shirt.
Louis has been a critic of large government projects, including the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit project
and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, but always in the spirit of protecting community priorities. He also takes a public stance on local and international causes; for example he has been an open critic of the U.S blockade of Cuba and the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
In the 2005 municipal election
, Louis attracted attention when he told the Vancouver Sun editorial board that he favoured establishing a city-owned non-profit brothel
to help protect sex-trade workers. He lost his council seat in that election, finishing 17th with 43,349 votes.
In 2008, Louis ran for a nomination for city council within COPE, as part of a 'Keep It COPE' slate; he narrowly lost by six votes to Ellen Woodsworth. She and David Cadman went on to become elected to council as part of COPE's combined slate with the Green Party and Vision Vancouver
.
Louis sought re-election as a Vancouver city councillor in the municipal election of 2011
but lost, coming in 17th, with 43,926 votes.
, a West Side neighbourhood of Vancouver.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada. He was elected to the Vancouver Parks Board in 1990 and 1993, and later to Vancouver City Council as a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors
Coalition of Progressive Electors
The Coalition of Progressive Electors is a municipal political party in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia.-Origins:...
(COPE) in 1999 and 2002.
Education, Advocacy and Professional Life
Tim Louis graduated South Delta Secondary School (class of 1976), and went on to attend Langara CollegeLangara College
Langara College is a public degree-granting college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which serves approximately 20,000 students annually through its university, career, and continuing studies programs...
(class of 1979) and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
where he graduated from law school in 1983. While a student at UBC, he co-founded the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), a consumer watchdog nonprofit.
He articled with lawyer and then-city councillor Harry Rankin
Harry Rankin
Harry Rankin was a Vancouver lawyer and socialist alderman on city council.- Early Years:Rankin was born Harry Riffkin in Vancouver to a secular Jewish family which had immigrated from the Ukraine...
in 1984.
He also served on the board of BC Transit
BC Transit
BC Transit is a provincial crown agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside of Greater Vancouver...
's paratransit service and was chair of the Vancouver Public Library Board.
Political career
In 1990, Louis was elected to the Vancouver Board of Parks & Recreation and re-elected in 1993.First elected to Vancouver City Council in 1999, Louis became known for his pointed questions aimed at addressing issues of social justice in the city of Vancouver. He was re-elected in 1993. Louis proudly showed off his progressive beliefs, often appearing at public functions in a red Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
shirt.
Louis has been a critic of large government projects, including the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit project
Canada Line
Canada Line is a rapid transit line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain metro network, servicing Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport...
and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, but always in the spirit of protecting community priorities. He also takes a public stance on local and international causes; for example he has been an open critic of the U.S blockade of Cuba and the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
In the 2005 municipal election
Vancouver municipal election, 2005
The City of Vancouver, along with the rest of British Columbia, held its triennial municipal elections on November 19, 2005. Canadian citizens who were over 18 years of age at the time of the vote, and had been a resident of Vancouver for the past 30 days and a resident of B.C...
, Louis attracted attention when he told the Vancouver Sun editorial board that he favoured establishing a city-owned non-profit brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
to help protect sex-trade workers. He lost his council seat in that election, finishing 17th with 43,349 votes.
In 2008, Louis ran for a nomination for city council within COPE, as part of a 'Keep It COPE' slate; he narrowly lost by six votes to Ellen Woodsworth. She and David Cadman went on to become elected to council as part of COPE's combined slate with the Green Party and Vision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver is one of three parties represented on Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vision was formed in the months leading up to the 2005 municipal election.-Formation:...
.
Louis sought re-election as a Vancouver city councillor in the municipal election of 2011
Vancouver municipal election, 2011
The City of Vancouver held its triennial municipal election on November 19, 2011, along with other municipalities and regional districts in British Columbia. The ballot elected one Mayor, 10 councillors, nine school board trustees and seven park board commissioners...
but lost, coming in 17th, with 43,926 votes.
Personal life
Louis' long-time partner is Penny Parry, an artist and community advocate. They live in KitsilanoKitsilano
Kitsilano is an upmarket neighbourhood on the West Side of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Known colloquially as "Kits", this neighborhood is home to many yuppies, young families and students as well as yoga studios, organic markets, cafes and Vancouver's Greektown. The primary...
, a West Side neighbourhood of Vancouver.