Raymond Louie (; born 16 January 1965) is a Canadian politician who served five terms as a Vancouver City Councillor. Formerly a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors, Louie left the party and was re-elected in 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014 as a member of Vision Vancouver.
Background Louie was born and raised in East Vancouver, and has ancestry from Zhongshan, Guangdong, China. His family ran a local bakery."Raymond Louie: Detailed, Hardworking, Part of the Solution", Vancouver Observer, 13 December 2008. He was the youngest of three siblings. He is distantly related to billionaire businessman Brandt Louie.Smith, Charlie. "Vancouver's Canadian-born Chinese in their 30s and 40s make their mark, no small thanks to Milton Wong", The Georgia Straight, 18 January 2012. Louie attended Nootka Elementary School and Windermere Secondary School. After graduating from high school he attended British Columbia Institute of Technology, yet never graduated. Louie worked at Mail-O-Matic Services, a local mailing house, and as a mailer with Pacific Newspaper Group. While working at Pacific Newspaper Group, Louie became a National Representative for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.
Vancouver City Council Louie was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 2002, and was re-elected in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
As a city councillor, Louie was involved with a number of local organizations, including the Parent Advisory Committee for Maquinna Annex and Community Visions, a community liaison group in Hastings–Sunrise.
In Council, Louie has served in numerous city committees:
Member, Standing Committee on Planning and Environment Member, Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic Member, Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets Director, Vancouver Parking Corporation Director, Vancouver Civic Theatres Board Co-chair, Steering Committee for the redevelopment of Southeast False Creek Vice-chair, City Creative Task Force Co-chair, Mayor's Working Group on Immigration Director, Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Director, GVRD Labour Relations Bureau Director, GVRD Finance Committee Director, Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (GVTA) Director, GVTA Finance and Audit Committee
Homeless Emergency Action Team Louie was one of three elected officials who served on Homeless Emergency Action Team,"Mayor Robertson announces creation of Homeless Emergency Action Team" , City of Vancouver News Release, 9 December 2008. which conceived the controversialHansen, Darren. "Controversial homeless shelter to shut down Aug. 7" , Vancouver Sun, 30 July 2009.Hodson, Jeff. "Decision on HEAT shelter closure likely today" , Metro Vancouver, 29 July 2009."Controversial homeless shelter reopens", CBC News, 5 January 2010. Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters.
Mayoral aspirations In a 2007 interview, former Mayor of Vancouver and current Canadian Senator, Larry Campbell, described Louie as a future mayor of Vancouver. Campbell added that he still holds that view, but wouldn't say if Louie should run for mayor in 2008. "That would be up to Raymond," Campbell said: "I just know that someday he'll be mayor. I don't know when that will be."Pablo, Carlito. Senator "Campbell swats Gregor Robertson, praises Raymond Louie", The Georgia Straight, 22 August 2007. On 12 March 2008, Louie announced his intention to run for the Vision Vancouver mayoral nomination."City Councilor Raymond Louie officially declares his quest to be Vancouver mayor", GungHaggisFatChoy, 13 March 2008. In an effort to secure the nomination, Louie outspent all mayoral hopefuls with a total of $243,621 in expenses."Coun. Raymond Louie blows big money in defeat", Vancouver Courier, 18 March 2009. However, in June 2008 he was defeated in the nomination race by Gregor Robertson, who went on to win the subsequent general election."It's Robertson vs. Ladner for mayor" , Vancouver Sun, 16 June 2008.
Family life Louie lives in East Vancouver with his wife and their three children."Councillor Raymond Louie" , Vancouver City Council Website, Accessed 27 August 2009. He is an avid cyclist and has participated in the Gastown Grand Prix and Tour de White Rock.
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