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An investigation into Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s behaviour has found that he breached the city’s code of conduct and misused his influence to personally attack Coun. Sean Orr shortly after Orr was elected in 2025.
The investigation came after Orr filed a complaint against Sim in October, which pointed to two events: a press conference held at city hall on April 8, 2025 and a social media post from Sim on Oct. 4 that year.
During the press conference, Sim condemned comments made by Orr on the social media platform X back in 2021. The post, in response to comments about zoning and housing costs, stated, “Everyone knows Vancouver City planners are controlled by a secret cabal of Jews who have a bunker in the earth’s core fml.” Orr said the post was sarcastic and quoting a joke from a comedian.
Several months later, Sim posted on X himself, calling out Orr for participating in an event in Vancouver that he said was affiliated with a terrorist organization.
The investigation, completed by Jamie Pytel of Kingsgate Legal, found Sim violated the Code of Conduct when he held the press conference, and misused the influence of his office.
It also found Sim “objectively harassed” Orr at the press conference by suggesting he was antisemitic, creating “a hostile environment for him as a newly elected councillor.”
The Oct. 4, 2025 post was also determined to be a “continuation of the harassment,” and the report says Sim’s behaviour encouraged negativity toward Orr.
The report suggests Sim issue a letter of apology to Orr, specifically for misusing the influence of his office and for his comments at the 2025 press conference, and a social media post.
Orr told CBC News in an interview that reading the report was bittersweet — saying it felt vindicating, but real people were hurt by Sim’s comments.
He said the mayor had a pattern of “weaponizing communities” as a tool to target other councillors.
“I think Vancouver deserves better … I think this erodes trust in our political institutions,” he said.
“You know, we need a mayor that’s going to bring people together and heal communities, and not divide them.”
In a statement, COPE Vancouver called for the mayor to apologize and retract his statements.
The party said the ruling shows that Sim has “created a hostile work environment” for councillors and city staff.
“A pattern emerging from Ken Sim is making stuff up to stoke anger in ethnic communities,” said Suzie Mah, a COPE school trustee.
“He’s using the city’s diversity to divide people, instead of bring people together. That needs to stop.”
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is facing a lawsuit for his claim that Coun. Sean Orr was giving drugs to the public on Christmas Day. Orr made the legal filing Tuesday and held a press conference to explain why. CBC’s Justin McElroy explains what the lawsuit says and why Orr says the mayor’s apologies aren’t good enough.
In an emailed statement, the mayor said he disagrees with the investigation’s findings.
“My comments were made against the backdrop of a wave of rising antisemitism and hate across Canada,” Sim said.
“All elected officials have a responsibility to speak out when a segment of our city feels targeted and unsafe. I reject the claim that it was not my duty as Mayor to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish residents of Vancouver. On the contrary, it is absolutely my responsibility as Mayor to respond to the serious and legitimate concerns brought to me by the leaders of our Jewish community.”
Orr has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Sim following the mayor’s unfounded claim earlier this year that Orr distributed illegal drugs on Christmas Day.
In his response, Sim said his comments didn’t damage Orr’s reputation because Orr had previously said he “supported drug use.”
