Ken Sim, a father of four, is an entrepreneur and lifelong Vancouverite. He has a tremendous passion for Vancouver and its residents. He is running with a strong, renewed NPA Team to deliver the change Vancouverites needs and clamoring.
Ken co-founded Nurse Next Door in 2001 to provide seniors with the services they need to age in place with dignity—building the company into an award-winning employer with franchises throughout North America. In 2013, Ken co-founded Rosemary Rocksalt Bagels, now a beloved Vancouver staple with locations on Main Street and Commercial Drive.
Having built and operated both small and large businesses, Ken understands the challenges faced by Vancouver entrepreneurs and companies—and the impact of skyrocketing housing costs on our local economy.Ken received accolades as EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and 2016, and Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2005.
“Running for Mayor is deeply personal for me. People I care about are leaving Vancouver, and I refuse to stand by while our city hollows out. Together, we can make this a truly liveable city where Vancouverites would feel at home and get to build the future they want.”
Born at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Ken attended Winston Churchill and Magee High Schools before graduating from the Sauder School of Business at UBC. An accountant by training, Ken worked in investment banking and private equity before deciding to start a business of his own.
Ken and his wife Teena have four sons. With Teena by his side, Ken has learned and understood how similar both the Chinese-Canadian and Indo-Canadian cultures are when it comes to family ties and family support. Ken has traveled to India many times over the past twenty years, often bringing his sons so they can appreciate this part of their heritage. Ken and Teena’s four sons have grown up respecting and understanding both of their cultures.
In a speech at the nomination meeting, he got into politics to try and fix Vancouver’s home affordability crisis. He wants his children and other young people to afford to stay in the city. “Housing affordability will be the ‘only issue’ in Vancouver municipal election,” he declared.
He had little political experience but said his business background had given him the skills required to run the city if elected.The 2018 municipal election takes place on Oct. 20, considered to be an open race after the three-term mayor, Gregor Robertson with Vision Vancouver, announced he would not run again.
