Sean Antrim resigning as COPE executive director

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      Sean Antrim doesn’t want to be the executive director of Vancouver’s storied left-wing party anymore.

      It’s not that the youthful activist is leaving the Coalition of Progressive Electors altogether.

      On the contrary, Antrim says he intends to be with COPE for a long time.

      However, he wishes to play a different role in the civic organization, one that has to do with this year’s November election campaign.

      “In some ways, I’m resigning from my position so that I could do something else,” Antrim told the Straight in a phone interview today (August 21).

      Antrim also said that he isn’t sure if COPE will have an executive director’s position during the election campaign, but that would depend on what the board will decide later.

      “We are in the election planning phase, where these roles are being created,” he said. “It wouldn’t be fair for me to create the job positions, and then apply for them. So I’m doing it now.”

      Antrim will still be around as executive director when COPE holds its nominating convention on September 7.

      Antrim was hired as COPE executive director in 2012. He replaced Alvin Singh following the almost complete rout suffered by the party in the previous year’s election.

      COPE’s website offers this background about Antrim: “Sean grew up in Kitsilano, and studied Economics at Capilano College, Carleton University, and Simon Fraser University. He is a founding editor of the Mainlander. He is also active in the BC NDP.

      “He enjoys cycling, reading and writing, weekend street hockey, and the outdoors. He lives in Strathcona with his cat, Monk.”

      Comments

      9 Comments

      Jon Q. Publik

      Aug 21, 2014 at 2:03pm

      I wonder if his resignation has anything to do with the recently released polling numbers showing COPE behind the Greens (lol!).

      Nicholas Ellan

      Aug 21, 2014 at 2:36pm

      If the party intends to hire a campaign manager, it makes sense for Antrim to transition into that role. Nobody in the party is more qualified than he. A little less uncertainty, only 3 months out, would come as some relief though.

      JamieLee

      Aug 21, 2014 at 2:43pm

      Many Green supporters vote COPE and many COPE supporters vote Green. If you add the numbers of Green and COPE supporters in this poll this places Green/COPE ahead of the other parties. If COPE runs fewer candidates chances are Greens and COPE could conceivably have a majority on Council. Most voters do not vote full slates and this could be a deciding factor in the November 15 municipal election.

      Lil' Al

      Aug 21, 2014 at 2:47pm

      Here's hoping our next ED has an equally impressive moustache

      Jon Q. Publik

      Aug 21, 2014 at 2:58pm

      @JamieLee my magic 8 ball suggests that you will be rather unhappy come November 16th.

      JamieLee

      Aug 21, 2014 at 3:37pm

      Perhaps Jon Q Publik but everyone goes in hoping to win some seats. The voters ultimately decide and not some magic ball.

      Stuart Mackinnon

      Aug 21, 2014 at 5:03pm

      Where ever Sean lands, he'll do a fantastic job. One of the brightest guys around, he's also caring and an incredibly dedicated and hard worker. Good luck to you Sean in your new endeavours.

      Polls

      Aug 22, 2014 at 6:49am

      JamieLee - and we all know how accurate polls are in predicting election outcomes in BC.

      Affronted Democracy

      Aug 24, 2014 at 9:56am

      The current autocratic Vision Vancouver government at City Hall is an embarrassment in a so called democratic country like Canada. This was once a city to be proud of where the process legitimately included and reflected the public's vision for their neighbourhoods. Now we're just 'f*#king hacks' according to Her Moonbeam's Worshipness. We've become a very selfish, stupid, lazy, arrogant ass of a Vancouver electorate that clearly is getting what's coming to it. You don't know what you've got til it's gone! And this COPE meltdown is a pitiful spectacle. If there were any brains operating at all at COPE headquarters they would be running Cadman as a mayoral candidate. He may not win but it would put a big dent in the current dictatorship's dreamboat souffle.