Outgoing COPE councillor Ellen Woodsworth was described by Mayor Gregor Robertson during the last council meeting of the current term as a “tireless advocate for affordable housing and solving homelessness”.

Like other departing councillors, Woodsworth is considering her next steps, as the city prepares for an inauguration ceremony on Monday (December 5) to officially welcome the new members of council on board. But as she transitions from city hall, the politician clearly remains passionate about the issues she worked on there.

“How do we make Vancouver a city for everyone?” Woodsworth said in an interview with the Georgia Straight in her city hall office earlier this week, reflecting the remarks that she opened the final council meeting with on November 29.

“I’ve been living here since I was 18, basically, and I love it as a city. I’m really concerned that everyone is able to live here, and that it doesn’t just become a city for the rich.”

“We should be able to have basic health care, housing, education and welfare,” she noted. “These are things that should be a given in a rich city like this. There shouldn’t be a question about the ability to provide the affordability necessary for seniors, youth and immigrants, low-income people.”

As the outgoing councillor looks ahead to her next steps, the Coalition of Progressive Electors is also looking to rebuild after a blow that saw them lose all seats but one school trustee in the November 19 election.

Woodsworth expressed concern about the loss of COPE voices in the council chambers. David Cadman, who was in Durban, South Africa during the last council meeting as part of his work with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), is departing city politics after three terms on city council. He has indicated to the Straight that he plans to finish his term as president of ICLEI. Woodsworth, who first served as a city councillor from 2002 to 2005, is marking her second departure from city hall.

“I just am concerned that so many people are saying that they’ve lost their voice,” said Woodsworth, noting she’s been getting “literally hundreds and hundreds” of e-mails following election night.

“People across the city don’t feel like they’re heard at city hall.”

One of the initiatives the councillor is most disappointed to let go of after losing the election is her plan to advocate for the establishment of neighbourhood organizations to improve community representation at city hall.

“That was the next thing I was going to work on is those kinds of support to elected neighbourhood organizations where there’s accountability and a voice for citizens,” she said.

“I am concerned that we haven’t seen a commitment to that, and we haven’t seen any commitment to wards (and) fair electoral representation.”

Woodsworth comes from a background as a community organizer. Her parents were both active in social movements, and her uncle was J.S. Woodsworth, a pioneer in the Canadian social democratic movement.

“I’m the one in the family who kept feeling like I really had to speak up,” she said.

“I don’t know where that’s going to take me next.”

But she affirms that wherever she lands, she plans to continue in some aspect with her work in the community.

“Whatever I’m doing, I’ll be working on the issues,” she said.

Asked for any final thoughts on the term, Woodsworth paused for a moment and added: “It’s been fun”.

“It’s been a really good three years,” she said. “I’ve worked seven days a week for three years, giving it everything I had, and it’s been a real challenge to my mind and my spirit and my physical stamina.”

“So I really feel like I’ve come out of it really enriched and stronger.”