Our Candidates
2025 Vancouver Civic By-Election
Colleen Hardwick
Colleen Hardwick is a former Vancouver City Councillor (2018-2022) and TEAM Mayoral Candidate in 2022.
Colleen was born, raised and educated in Vancouver. The Hardwick family has provided civic leadership in the City for three generations. Her father, Dr. Walter G. Hardwick, served on city council from 1968 to 1974 and is known as the ‘Father of False Creek.” Her grandmother, Iris L. Hardwick, was one of the the first women elected to the Vancouver Park Board (1956-1960). Colleen obtained a B.A. in Geography and Political Science at the University of British Columbia in 1983, and a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UBC in 2011.
From the mid-1980s to 2000, Colleen worked in the film industry and progressed through the ranks to create her own company, New City Productions, which produced dozens of film and TV projects in the region. During this period, she was nominated in the Entrepreneurship category for a prestigious YWCA Women of Distinction Award, named one of the 13 Most Important People in the B.C. Film Industry by the Financial Post, and received a 40 under 40 Award from Business in Vancouver.
Circling back to her urban geography roots while working on a planning project in 2010, Colleen sought to consult with residents online within specific neighbourhood boundaries. When she could not find a solution, she set out to invent one. The result is PlaceSpeak, a pioneering location-based community consultation platform designed to authenticate online public consultation in order to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and policy development. Since receiving the support of the National Research Council of Canada for technology validation in 2011, Colleen has continued to advance the platform’s technology and processes, and is a frequent speaker on the subject of online citizen engagement.
Colleen has two daughters, who live and work in Vancouver, and is a grandmother of two, and is committed to helping ensure that future generations can continue to live in Vancouver. She is married to well known character actor Garry Chalk, and lives in Kitsilano.
Theodore Abbott
Born and raised in East Vancouver, Theodore Abbott is a fourth-generation Vancouverite with a deep commitment to the City and its people. As a community organizer and urban researcher, he has extensive experience working alongside residents to push back against policies that reduce Vancouver’s livability.
Theodore’s background in urban studies has shaped his understanding of Vancouver’s transformation into an unaffordable City. His academic work - focused on urbanization, housing policy, land use and social change - has been complemented by hands-on experience advocating for tenant protections, affordability and stronger neighbourhood representation. Theodore is also the host of a podcast called On Site Report, which explores various urban issues in Vancouver.
Shortly after graduating from Capilano University with a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Theodore began organizing with TEAM for a Livable Vancouver, where he has worked to empower communities, challenge top-down planning decisions and fight for a City that puts people first. He’s running for city council to bring transparency, accountability and real solutions, while ensuring that the future of Vancouver is shaped by those who call it home.