Jessica Walton
Jessica Walton is running for Vancouver City Council with the Vancouver Liberals in the 2026 municipal election because she believes City Hall should be focused less on partisan politics, and more on what’s best for the people of Vancouver.
From the age of 15, when Jessica worked her first of many retail jobs to support a family member in poverty, Jessica has been advocating for fair wages and inclusive workplaces. Having worked across industries – from retail, restaurants, film, trades, politics, government, and most recently as an entrepreneur and small business owner – Jessica has a realistic understanding of the everyday challenges facing Vancouverites.
Jessica got her start in politics as a student, environmental, and feminist activist. Like many young people living in Vancouver, she saw firsthand how not everyone has equal access to education, and that issues around affordable housing, lack of well-paying jobs, and rising food costs are driving students and young people out of the province. She didn’t stay quiet about this, but instead led a province-wide student lobbying organization to tell municipal, provincial, and federal governments: they’re not doing enough.
As a BCGEU shop steward, Jessica supported colleagues through disputes, and bargained directly with the provincial government. At the same time, Jessica was a frontline government worker, helping connect people directly to services, and she knows how difficult it is to get ahead when the system feels stacked against you.
Jessica has a broad spectrum of experience in both partisan and non-partisan political outreach. She has managed two federal elections in Vancouver Centre, connecting with thousands of Vancouverites on the doors and out in the city. She has spent the last five years doing unpaid, non-partisan, voter outreach, and being interviewed as a political commentator by local news. She has worked directly in a non-partisan capacity for the government on provincial and federal elections, and knows we need to make voting and government in general more accessible for people. Because when you’re struggling to just pay rent, it’s impossible to pay attention to such divisive and inaccessible politics and governance.
Like so many people in the last six years, Jessica navigated starting a small business in response to the changing job market. She did this while recovering from an injury that exacerbated existing disabilities. Because of this, Jessica deepened her commitment to being a disabilities, accessibility, and inclusion advocate, and wants to bring that experience to City Hall – because everyone should feel like they belong in their workplace, in parks and recreation, and in our city. She also wants to support other small business owners, who drive our economy in Vancouver and across the country.
On a personal note, Jessica is currently an expecting mother, and like so many young families, was considering leaving the city due to the lack of child care and schools in her neighbourhood, a growing concern about public safety, and diminishing infrastructure and services. Instead of leaving, she’s decided it’s time to speak up – for all of us.
Jessica knows we need more advocates and regular working people at city hall, not more politicians looking to take a crack at the job to feed their own egos. She cares about people with disabilities, has experience of family struggling with addiction and homelessness, and has lived experience with gender-based and domestic violence. She is not just another politician, but a strong progressive voice, with a pragmatic approach to getting things done for the people of Vancouver.
This is why Jessica has joined the Vancouver Liberal team with Kareem Allam. She has seen from decades of experience, how hyper-partisan and disorganized movements fail to get the job done for regular working people. Along with the Vancouver Liberal team, Jessica will build relationships based on shared values and common goals, because the people of Vancouver deserve a city council that actually works in their best interests.
Jessica’s passions include weightlifting, literature, libraries, writing, and spending time at the ocean or surrounded by trees. She lives in Vancouver with her two cats, husband, and is looking forward to the birth of her first child in a few short months.