Raymond Louie

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Raymond Louie

| birth_place = Vancouver, British Columbia

| nationality = Canadian

| office = Vancouver City Councillor

| termstart = 2 December 2002

| termend = 5 November 2018

| party = Vision Vancouver (2005 - present)
COPE (? - 2005)

}}

Raymond Louie ({{zh|first=t|t=雷建華|s=|p=Léi Jiànhuá}}; born 16 January 1965) is a Canadian politician. He is a five-term Vancouver City Councillor. Formerly a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors civic party, Louie broke away and was re-elected in 2005, and again in 2008, 2011, and 2014 as a member of Vision Vancouver.

Background

Louie was born and raised in East Vancouver, and has ancestry from Zhongshan, Guangdong, China. His family ran a local bakery.[https://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/2008/12/12/raymond-louie-detailed-hardworking-part-solution "Raymond Louie: Detailed, Hardworking, Part of the Solution"], Vancouver Observer, 13 December 2008. He was the youngest of three siblings. He is distantly related to billionaire businessman Brandt Louie.[https://www.straight.com/news/vancouvers-canadian-born-chinese-their-30s-and-40s-make-their-mark-no-small-thanks-milton-wong Vancouver's Canadian-born Chinese in their 30s and 40s make their mark, no small thanks to Milton Wong] Louie attended Nootka Elementary School and Windermere Secondary School. After graduating from high school he attended British Columbia Institute of Technology, yet never graduated. Louie worked at Mail-O-Matic Services, a local mailing house, and as a mailer with Pacific Newspaper Group. While working at Pacific Newspaper Group, Louie became a National Representative for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

Vancouver City Council

Louie was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 2002, and was re-elected in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

As a City Councillor, Louie is on a number of local organizations, including, the Parent Advisory Committee for Maquinna Annex and Community Visions, a community liaison group in Hastings-Sunrise.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In Council, Louie has served in numerous city committees:{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

  • Member, Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
  • Member, Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
  • Member, Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
  • Director, Vancouver Parking Corporation
  • Director, Vancouver Civic Theatres Board
  • Co-chair, Steering Committee for the redevelopment of Southeast False Creek
  • Vice-chair, City Creative Task Force
  • Co-chair, Mayor's Working Group on Immigration
  • Director, Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD)
  • Director, GVRD Labour Relations Bureau
  • Director, GVRD Finance Committee
  • Director, Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (GVTA)
  • Director, GVTA Finance and Audit Committee
  • member of COPE

Homeless Emergency Action Team

Louie was one of three elected officials who served on Homeless Emergency Action Team,[http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/newsreleases2008/NRmayor_HEAT.htm "Mayor Robertson announces creation of Homeless Emergency Action Team"], Gregor Robertson press release, 9 December 2008. which conceived the controversial[https://vancouversun.com/news/Controversial+Vancouver+homeless+shelter+closing/1845182/story.html "Controversial homeless shelter to shut down Aug. 7"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803090305/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Controversial+Vancouver+homeless+shelter+closing/1845182/story.html |date=2009-08-03 }}, Vancouver Sun, 30 July 2009.[http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/269924--decision-on-heat-shelter-closure-likely-today "Decision on HEAT shelter closure likely today"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604221048/http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/269924--decision-on-heat-shelter-closure-likely-today |date=2011-06-04 }}, Metro Vancouver, 29 July 2009.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/controversial-homeless-shelter-reopens-1.892539 "Controversial homeless shelter reopens"] Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters.

Mayoral aspirations

In a 2007 interview, former Vancouver Mayor and current Senator, Larry Campbell, described Louie as a future mayor of Vancouver. Campbell added that he still holds that view, but wouldn't say if Louie should run for mayor in 2008. "That would be up to Raymond," Campbell said. "I just know that someday he'll be mayor. I don't know when that will be."[https://www.straight.com/article-106713/senator-campbell-swats-gregor-robertson-praises-raymond-louie Senator "Campbell swats Gregor Robertson, praises Raymond Louie"], Georgia Straight, 23 August 2007. On 12 March 2008, Louie announced his intention to run for the Vision Vancouver mayoral nomination.[http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/3/13/3578996.html "City Councilor Raymond Louie officially declares his quest to be Vancouver mayor"], GungHaggisFatChoy, 13 March 2008. In an effort to secure the Vision Vancouver nomination, Louie outspent all mayoral hopefuls by spending a total of $243,621.[http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/opinion/story.html?id=631bd9ee-f873-47d2-939e-5ef70c222731 "Coun. Raymond Louie blows big money in defeat"], Vancouver Courier, 18 March 2009. However, in June 2008 he was defeated in the Vision Vancouver nomination race by Gregor Robertson, who went on to win the subsequent general election.[http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=30e4c717-65a7-417e-ab59-cea2ac1276fe "It's Robertson vs. Ladner for mayor"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107010905/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=30e4c717-65a7-417e-ab59-cea2ac1276fe |date=2012-11-07 }}, Vancouver Sun, 16 June 2008.

Family life

Louie lives in East Vancouver with his wife and their three children.[http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/councillor/louie.htm "Councillor Raymond Louie"], Vancouver City Council Website, Accessed 27 August 2009. He is an avid cyclist and has participated in the Gastown Grand Prix and Tour de White Rock.

References

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