Since accepting the Olympic Flag at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Sam Sullivan has become one of the world’s most recognized mayors.

Mayor Sullivan is a recipient of the nation’s highest honour, the Order of Canada, for his community service on behalf of marginalized people. He is the founder of six non-profit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of North Americans with disabilities.

After being elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993, Sullivan served as a Councillor for 12 years. He was elected Mayor in November 2005.

Among the initiatives he has introduced is EcoDensity, an innovative policy to reduce the City’s impact on the environment, reduce housing prices and improve the vitality of neighbourhoods through high quality densification. The Mayor has also introduced Project Civil City (PDF, 1.7Mb), a broad initiative aimed at improving public order and civility on Vancouver streets which includes four key goals to significantly reduce homelessness and incidences of crime and public disorder in the City by 2010.

A believer in life-long learning, Mayor Sullivan has devoted himself to studying a broad range of topics. He obtained a Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University and has also taught himself the basics of several languages including Cantonese.

He is an avid sailor using a specially designed boat he helped to create, and also enjoys hiking in the Coast and Rocky Mountains using an assistive device he co-invented.

Mayor Sullivan’s achievements are noteworthy due to the fact that they were accomplished since he became a quadriplegic after breaking his neck in a skiing accident at the age of 19.