One City Vancouver · City Council Candidate
A Voice for
Vancouver’s
Future
Historian. Author. Community advocate. Fighting for arts, culture, safety, and affordability in our great city.
One City Vancouver · City Council Candidate
Historian. Author. Community advocate. Fighting for arts, culture, safety, and affordability in our great city.
About Aaron
“I’ve lived in neighbourhoods all over this city. I know what makes Vancouver extraordinary — and what we need to protect.”
Aaron Chapman is a Vancouver historian and best-selling author of six books on the history of the city, focusing on its arts, cultural life, nightlife, and the history of the Vancouver Police Department. A two-time BC Book Prize winner and a 2025 City of Vancouver Award recipient for Vancouver After Dark, Chapman has spent decades documenting and celebrating what makes this city unique.
For over 20 years, Chapman worked in the live concert and event industry, producing concerts at the Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vogue Theatre, Commodore Ballroom, and just about every concert stage in Vancouver. Before that, he was a touring musician through the early 1990s and 2000s, recording and performing around the world.
A University of British Columbia graduate, Chapman has served on the board of the False Creek Residents Association addressing neighbourhood issues, the Friends of the Vancouver Archives helping fund the City Archives collections, and the city’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. He speaks regularly at Vancouver history and heritage events.
Chapman currently resides in the east False Creek Chinatown area with his cat named Steve Martin.
The Platform
As a prospective City Council candidate for One City Vancouver, Aaron is focused on the issues that shape our daily lives.
Vancouver’s arts and cultural community is the soul of our city. Aaron will champion policies that support artists, protect venues, and ensure the creative sector thrives — not just survives.
With deep knowledge of the VPD’s history, Aaron brings a unique and informed perspective to public safety — one rooted in understanding both community needs and effective policing.
Having lived in neighbourhoods across Vancouver, Aaron understands the housing crisis first-hand. He'll push for real solutions that make our city livable for everyone, not just the wealthy.
From years on the False Creek Residents Association board, Aaron knows civic engagement starts at the neighbourhood level. He’ll fight for the issues — big and small — that matter where you live.
As the author who documented Vancouver’s story, Aaron will protect our heritage buildings, archives, and cultural landmarks — ensuring the city remembers where it came from as it builds its future.
Bringing fresh ideas and a wide array of civic interests to the table, Aaron will address the full spectrum of issues that affect those who live and work in our great city.
Background
Chapman has authored six books chronicling Vancouver’s history — its vibrant arts scene, its nightlife, and its policing history. His work is published by Arsenal Pulp Press and Anvil Press.
A two-time BC Book Prize winner and recipient of the 2025 City of Vancouver Award for Vancouver After Dark. Chapman's work has earned recognition for its contribution to the cultural memory of the city.
Producing concerts at the Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vogue Theatre, and Commodore Ballroom — Chapman knows Vancouver’s cultural infrastructure from the inside. Before that, he toured internationally as a musician in the 1990s and 2000s.
Board member of the False Creek Residents Association and the Friends of the Vancouver Archives. Former member of the City's Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. A regular speaker at Vancouver history and heritage events.
One City Vancouver
Aaron Chapman is ready to bring his experience, knowledge, and passion for this city to Vancouver City Council. Whether it’s arts and culture, public safety, housing, or the everyday issues that shape our neighbourhoods — he’s listening.
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