Two high-profile candidates to face off in Vancouver-Yaletown riding

The new provincial riding of Vancouver-Yaletown is now set up for an race between two high-profiled candidates: a former Vancouver Police officer and a multi-term city councillor.

Former VPD member Terry Yung — who’s married to Vancouver City Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung — is the only candidate seeking the NDP nomination in the riding, saying his priorities, if elected, are housing, affordability, and public safety.

The BC Conservative Party candidate is former city councillor Melissa De Genova, who served three terms on city council and the Vancouver Park Board.

De Genova is also married to a VPD officer, and her platform is all about restoring public safety in Yaletown.

“I’ve served this community for over a decade when I was elected at the city level,” De Genova said.

“And unfortunately, because of the BC NDP’s actions to warehouse people without proper wraparound supports in SROs and hotels, we now actually hear of this neighbourhood called the Downtown Westside, similar to the Downtown Eastside.”

Despite the name, this new contested riding stretches from Yaletown to Gastown.

On the south end of the riding, Yaletown residents say they have a range of issues, from noise to public safety.

“The homelessness — that’s going to be something that’s top of the list, for sure,” said resident Aik Krutngoen.

Another Yaletown resident, Christopher McFadden, says safety is not a concern for him.

“Everywhere I go, I’m out all the time, and that’s the last thing on my mind, getting robbed, or anything bad happening,” he said.

Meanwhile, an overdose prevention site (OPS) — recently relocated to a more private spot in the neighbourhood — was a lightning rod for safety concerns.

“The OPS, although it has been moved, has not been moved to a supportive area, where there are proper wraparound supports or good treatment options, and that’s what I’d like to see,” De Genova said.

Neither the BC United nor the BC Greens have announced candidates for the riding.

The provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 19.