4 September 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vancouver Liberals Announce Fitness Consultant and Former Park Board Commissioner Tricia Barker as Candidate for Vancouver Park Board Commissioner
Tricia Barker joins Kareem Allam’s team to be a voice for seniors and people with disabilities.
Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Liberals are proud to announce that Tricia Barker, a former Park Board Commissioner and current fitness consultant, will be running for Park Board Commissioner as part of Kareem Allam's Vancouver Liberals team. Barker is passionate about the wellbeing of Vancouverites and has worked with seniors and people with terminal illnesses for the last 30 years, aiming to help them live the best lives they can.
The reasons Barker chose to run in the 2026 municipal election and return to the Park Board are twofold. The first is that the Park Board was under threat from Ken Sim’s government, and she met with ex-Park Board Commissioners to work on how to protect the Board. The second reason, and what was Barker’s tipping point, was meeting the Vancouver Liberals mayoral candidate Kareem Allam. “I wasn’t going to get back into politics, and then I met Kareem. He understood my passion to help seniors and came up with some insightful input. “Kareem also put together a team that could get the job done.” explained Barker. “It was amazing to see so many different types of people come together with a love of Vancouver, a love of our parks, and most important, wanting to make this place better with a ‘let’s fix this’ attitude.”
Barker emphasizes several points about what she would do if re-elected as a Park Board Commissioner.
Improve Accessibility for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Barker wants to build on her prior experience to create a better-functioning parks system that won’t disregard seniors and those with disabilities. “I really noticed over the last 4 years that seniors and people with disabilities have been ignored and cast aside. I want to make sure we don’t ever forget them.” said Barker, “As our population is getting older, our parks and facilities aren’t getting more accessible, and I want to change that.”
A component in being able to make improvements is making sure ageism is never a part of the Park Board decision making process.
Increase the Number and Quality of Public Washrooms
Barker views public washrooms as an important component of accessibility when it comes to parks. “Vancouver has the fewest public bathrooms of any city in North America. That’s a disgrace. If there’s not a public washroom available, many people won’t go out for a walk,” she explained. Barker also wants to ensure that public washrooms aren’t just available, but are accessible, clean, well-maintained, and safe.
Protect Golf Courses as Wildlife-Supporting Green Spaces, and Profit Generators
“When I was a Park Board commissioner, one of the big things I fought for was our municipal golf courses. They are a gem for many seniors.” said Barker. She believes that golf courses are important Park Board facilities as they provide an accessible activity for seniors and generate profits which can be reinvested into other assets and programs. They also support biodiversity and wildlife conservation as they are well-maintained green spaces.
Barker’s passion for assisting seniors and people with disabilities, as evident in her prior work as a Commissioner, demonstrates her commitment to improving parks and recreation facilities. This is the reason she is running to be re-elected.
“I love Vancouver. I am constantly walking around our city, enjoying the scenery and taking tons of pictures. It’s how I stay connected with the people and nature in our treasured parks.”
Media Contact:
Vancouver Liberals Communications