Demand Accountability: Call for the Resignation of Councillor Christine Cassidy
Demand Accountability: Call for the Resignation of Councillor Christine Cassidy
The Issue
We, the undersigned residents and community members of West Vancouver, are deeply concerned by recent comments made by Councillor Christine Cassidy during a council debate:
"The genie is out of the bottle. So we are going to be attracting the hordes whether we want them or whether we don't. Whether we're free or whether we're $2.50, they're a coming,"
"And you can just see it these days when you go down on those hot last few weekends, the crowds that were on that seawall, you could tell they did not live in West Vancouver.”
The suggestion that one can determine whether someone “belongs” in West Vancouver based on their appearance is harmful and unacceptable. Such language echoes a long history of exclusion based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Whether intentional or not, it reinforces the idea that some people are less welcome in shared public spaces.
As parents, residents, and community members, we reject this message. We believe our community should be defined by inclusion, respect, and a shared sense of belonging, not by assumptions based on how someone looks.
Ambleside Park, including its beach and seawall, is a public space for everyone. It is a place where families gather, children play, and people of all backgrounds should feel safe and welcome. It is also located on the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, whose stewardship of this land long predates municipal governance and continues to this day.
No elected official should be questioning someone’s right to be there based on how they look.
We are also concerned by prior reports regarding Councillor Cassidy’s conduct and public response, which raise additional concerns about accountability and judgment.
Taken together, these issues represent a serious lapse in leadership and undermine public trust.
We, the undersigned, call for:
A formal public apology from Councillor Christine Cassidy
Her resignation from office
A reaffirmation from Council of its commitment to inclusion and respect for all community members
Our community deserves leadership that reflects the values we want to pass on to our children—fairness, accountability, and respect for all.
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Direct Quote:
"The genie is out of the bottle. So we are going to be attracting the hordes whether we want them or whether we don't. Whether we're free or whether we're $2.50, they're a coming,"
"And you can just see it these days when you go down on those hot last few weekends, the crowds that were on that seawall, you could tell they did not live in West Vancouver.”
Reference:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/beach-parking-fees-metro-vancouver-9.7182351
Recording:
108
The Issue
We, the undersigned residents and community members of West Vancouver, are deeply concerned by recent comments made by Councillor Christine Cassidy during a council debate:
"The genie is out of the bottle. So we are going to be attracting the hordes whether we want them or whether we don't. Whether we're free or whether we're $2.50, they're a coming,"
"And you can just see it these days when you go down on those hot last few weekends, the crowds that were on that seawall, you could tell they did not live in West Vancouver.”
The suggestion that one can determine whether someone “belongs” in West Vancouver based on their appearance is harmful and unacceptable. Such language echoes a long history of exclusion based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Whether intentional or not, it reinforces the idea that some people are less welcome in shared public spaces.
As parents, residents, and community members, we reject this message. We believe our community should be defined by inclusion, respect, and a shared sense of belonging, not by assumptions based on how someone looks.
Ambleside Park, including its beach and seawall, is a public space for everyone. It is a place where families gather, children play, and people of all backgrounds should feel safe and welcome. It is also located on the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, whose stewardship of this land long predates municipal governance and continues to this day.
No elected official should be questioning someone’s right to be there based on how they look.
We are also concerned by prior reports regarding Councillor Cassidy’s conduct and public response, which raise additional concerns about accountability and judgment.
Taken together, these issues represent a serious lapse in leadership and undermine public trust.
We, the undersigned, call for:
A formal public apology from Councillor Christine Cassidy
Her resignation from office
A reaffirmation from Council of its commitment to inclusion and respect for all community members
Our community deserves leadership that reflects the values we want to pass on to our children—fairness, accountability, and respect for all.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Quote:
"The genie is out of the bottle. So we are going to be attracting the hordes whether we want them or whether we don't. Whether we're free or whether we're $2.50, they're a coming,"
"And you can just see it these days when you go down on those hot last few weekends, the crowds that were on that seawall, you could tell they did not live in West Vancouver.”
Reference:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/beach-parking-fees-metro-vancouver-9.7182351
Recording:
108
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Petition created on April 30, 2026