Vancouver Mayor-elect Pete Fry out door-knocking to support B.C. Greens Leader Lowan

Vancouver Mayor-elect Pete Fry out door-knocking to support B.C. Greens Leader Lowan

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Incoming Vancouver Mayor Pete Fry endorsed B.C. Greens Leader Emily Lowan on Tuesday, joining her to knock on doors in Sidney as she seeks to hold the Saanich North and the Islands riding for the party.

“We share so many of the same values,” Fry said. “Some of the things that Emily’s fighting for are things that resonate with folks in Vancouver and really mean a lot to my community.”

The Green Party has held the riding since 2017, but the seat was vacated when incumbent Green Rob Botterell declined to run. Green Adam Olsen held the seat before Botterell.

Emily Lowan faces the NDP’s Kala Bryson, the Conservatives’ Ryan Windsor, and CentreBC’s Richard Smith.

Elected as Vancouver mayor this past Saturday, Fry drew questions when he appeared alongside NDP Leader David Eby at an election event on Monday.

The Vancouver Green Party works with the provincial and federal Green parties on shared priorities, but they are all independent organizations, leading reporters to wonder if Fry was endorsing Eby.

Fry says he appeared alongside Eby to show support as Eby rallied against Alberta separatism, not to endorse the NDP.

“That was a pro-Canada rally that was on the cusp of the referendum in Alberta that was suggesting that Alberta might leave Canada, and I was invited as the mayor-elect of Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia,” he said.

“I wasn’t going in any capacity as an endorser but rather as a proud Canadian and somebody who wanted to see Alberta stay in the country.”

Lowan spoke about attending Fry’s first mayoral campaign fundraiser, and the excitement of a Green win in Vancouver.

He credited her for some of his campaign success because of her efforts to build the Green brand.

“So many people are inspired by Emily’s vision and what she’s bringing to British Columbians,” he said.

With the Green Party focusing resources on key, winnable ridings, Lowan hopes to win enough seats to put real pressure on the government, potentially holding the balance of power, similar to after the 2017 election.

But Lowan was dissatisfied with the latest deal between the NDP and Green Party, struck in 2025 to provide legislative support for Green priorities.

Unlike in 2017, when three Green MLAs held the true balance of power, the NDP still had a one-vote majority without Green support following the 2024 election, and Lowan said the New Democrats failed to complete two-thirds of the agreed-upon government commitments.

But she is still open to a new deal, depending on how things shake out.

“Whether it’s a coalition cooperation or on a vote-by-vote basis, I think first and foremost Greens need to evaluate where our power lies,” she said.

Recent surveys show the B.C. Green Party polling between eight and 11 per cent. The party received 8.24 per cent of the total provincial vote in 2024, winning two ridings.