Now, more than ever, Vancouver needs a mayor with strong leadership skills, dedication and integrity to make this great city even greater. Kirk LaPointe is that individual. His personal background, career achievements and values make him the right person to lead Vancouver.
Kirk’s ability to rise above a challenging childhood built character and compassion and instilled in him a principled work ethic, commitment to community and constant sense of service. The son of a single mother, he and his family didn’t have a lot of resources, but his circumstances served to create the quality of perseverance and the motivation to excel.
In his executive roles at many of Canada’s major news organizations, he earned a reputation for setting and achieving high standards and having a modern understanding of the need to adapt to constant change. As an Ombudsman for CBC, he took independent stands on behalf of the public. During his career, he has fought for greater government openness, inclusiveness and public access to information.
One of Canada’s leading journalists for over 30 years, he has been Managing Editor of The Vancouver Sun, head of CTV News, founding Executive Editor of the National Post, host of CBC Newsworld, Editor-in-Chief of Southam News and The Hamilton Spectator, and Ottawa Bureau Chief and General News Editor of The Canadian Press. Kirk’s newsrooms have won Gemini Awards, National Newspaper Awards, Jack Webster Awards and Ontario Newspaper Awards.
Kirk is currently Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Self-Counsel Press and an Adjunct Professor and an Executive-in-Residence at the University of British Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where he teaches ethics and leadership. He blogs about media change and standards at themediamanager.com.
Kirk has been a volunteer coach for girls’ softball for seven years and the past president of the Vancouver Minor Softball Association. His other interests and activities include hockey goaltending, running, cycling, golf and boxing. He is an Internet-savvy fan of new music, avid reader and supporter of literacy and a blogger and early adopter of social media.
He is married with three children.
Follow Kirk’s campaign blog posts at
Facebook: facebook.com/KirkLaPointeVancouver
Twitter: twitter.com/kirklapointe
Website: thevancouveriwant.ca
