2025 Community Safety Forum
Our Annual Community Safety Forum is happening on October 2, 2025 at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
About this event
This year, we are honoured to host subject experts on downtown’s most relevant safety concerns. Featuring a panel of experts who will provide their perspectives on bail reform, repeat offenders, retail crime, the perception of safety downtown, as well as the opioid crisis. They will discuss current initiatives, upcoming programs, as well as proposed solutions to tackle the safety issues that are most pressing for downtown Vancouver. A moderated Q&A session will be facilitated after the panel to hear from members. Enjoy passed canapés and refreshments catered by the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
Details
When: Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 3:00-6:00 PM
Where: Rosewood Hotel Georgia (Spanish Ballroom), 801 W Georgia
Thank you to the sponsors of Downtown Van’s 2025 Community Safety Forum.
Schedule
- 3:00 – 3:30 PM: Registration
- 3:30 – 4:15 PM: Event program and presentations
- 4:15 – 5:00 PM: Moderated Q&A
- 5:00 – 6:00 PM: Networking
Reminders
- Registration will be limited to three (3) per organization.
- Canapés and refreshments catered by the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
- The Q&A will be conducted “panel-style,” with all speakers available to answer.
- We kindly ask that you keep your questions quick and on-topic to allow for all questions to be answered in a timely manner.
- A friendly reminder that this forum is for educational purposes. Please be respectful of the speakers and their efforts to share their experiences and insights.
Meet the Speakers
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Adam Dalrymple has been a criminal prosecutor in Vancouver, British Columbia for over 17 years. He has prosecuted a wide range of criminal offences, with a particular focus on therapeutic justice and community courts. He has been a director of the B.C. Crown Counsel Association for approximately 12 years and was elected President of the Association in 2023. The B.C. Crown Counsel Association represents approx. 550 frontline prosecutors in the province of B.C. He also serves as the Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Crown Counsel (CACC). He holds a Honours. B.A. from McMaster University and a J.D. from the University of Ottawa. He has a master’s in public administration from Dalhousie University. He is passionate about community courts, criminal justice reform, and the health and welfare of criminal prosecutors and the communities they serve. -
Galib Bhayani is a respected public safety leader and accomplished academic with over 30 years of policing experience and 14 years as a university educator. Having served as Chief Superintendent of RCMP Metro Vancouver, where he led 2400 police personnel across 13 detachments, prioritizing emergency planning and risk mitigation for 1.8 million residents. As Chief of Police for the City and District of North Vancouver, he led strategic initiatives and financial planning, promoting a unified vision. With global recognition, he held the role of UN Regional Security Chief in Sudan and spearheaded policing efforts in Baghdad, Iraq. Honoured with the Member Order of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal, he currently serves as the Chief Safety and Risk Officer at Simon Fraser University since 2023.
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Howard Chow is the Officer in charge of the Operations Division. The division includes all four patrol districts of Vancouver; Diversity, Community, and Indigenous Relations Section; Court and Detention Services; Emergency Response Section; Operations Support Section, Traffic Section; Emergency Operational Planning Section, and the FIFA World Cup VancouverTM Integrated Safety Security Unit. Deputy Chow is currently the Co-Chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Law Amendments Committee. As a member of the Advisory Committee on Provincial Police Standards where his extensive operational, investigative, and administrative police experience is relied upon to review, analyze, and provide ongoing feedback on crucial policing and public safety matters. Additionally, he serves on the Justice Canada Steering Committee on Justice Efficiencies and Access to Justice and a past president of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police.
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Mayor Ken Sim has built a life in Vancouver with his wife Teena, their four sons, and their dogs Hank and Kona. Ken is a proud Vancouverite, having been born and raised in Vancouver. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and the co-founder of two successful Vancouver-based companies: Rosemary Rocksalt and Nurse Next Door. Professionally, Ken holds an FCPA (FCA) designation and has been a speaker at post-secondary institutions and conferences globally. Ken is a two-time recipient of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Pacific Region) in the Emerging Entrepreneur category (2006) and Healthcare Services category (2016). Ken was sworn in as the 41st Mayor of Vancouver on November 7th, 2022.Ken has committed to delivering on the major issues facing Vancouver including affordability, public safety, and mental health and addictions – leading a City Hall that prioritizes inclusivity, collaboration, and Indigenous Reconciliation. During his tenure as Mayor, Ken wants to see Vancouver become a city that is once again vibrant, prosperous, fun, and open for business – with a renewed sense of swagger and optimism about the future.
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Niki Sharma was elected MLA for Vancouver-Hastings in 2020 and again in 2024. Niki was first appointed Attorney General in 2022 and subsequently appointed Deputy Premier in 2024. As Attorney General, Niki led changes to help people access justice – including a record investment in family law legal aid, new ways to protect people from exploitation online, combatting racism and make schools safer for all students. Working with other provinces, Niki led the successful charge for national bail reform that became law in 2024. Niki is committed to improving access to justice across the province and building a safer, more equitable BC. Niki is a lawyer and prior to becoming elected, her practice focused on representing Indigenous people, including residential school survivors. Niki has worked across B.C. as an advocate on climate policy and reconciliation. She has also been recognized for her work on combatting racism. Niki was elected to the board of Vancity Credit Union where she served as vice-chair and chaired the Climate Justice Working Group. In these roles, she worked to improve her community and make life better for people and our planet. Niki was raised in Sparwood, B.C. A mother of two, she has lived in East Vancouver for more than 15 years and has deep connections in the community.
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Terry Yung was elected MLA for Vancouver-Yaletown in 2024. Terry is the Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services. Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Terry was a veteran, senior officer with the Vancouver Police Department and a community leader. In his policing career, he held leadership roles in Diversity, Community & Indigenous Relations, Operations and Administration, as well as on national and provincial advisory committees tackling issues like hate crimes. An active community volunteer, Terry sat on the boards of Covenant House Vancouver, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, the Vancouver Classical Chinese Garden, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and S.U.C.C.E.S.S., where he was the organization’s longest-serving Board Chair. Terry holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts from Royal Roads University. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, Sarah.
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Sonia Sunger is the Co-Anchor of Global News Morning.
