Special Event Task Force banner with a lion dancer on the street in Chinatown

Join Vancouver’s first task force on special events

November 29 2023 –

Applications are now open to join Vancouver’s inaugural Special Event Advisory Task Force. The City is seeking event organizers who want to help make it easier to host festivals and events in Vancouver. We are looking for people with a broad range of experience and expertise hosting everything from small, grassroots community events to large-scale, complex events.

Council directed staff (47.2 KB) to form the Special Event Advisory Task Force to help identify key challenges and opportunities to improve the current event permitting process, with a focus on reducing barriers for music and arts-related events. The task force will also help strengthen the connection between the City and the event community.

“Events help support our local economy and create a vibrant and exciting city for residents and visitors alike,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “I look forward to the Special Event Advisory Task Force helping us make it easier for Vancouver’s iconic events, festivals, and cultural celebrations to continue to have a significant and positive impact on our city.”

The City is seeking individuals who represent Vancouver’s diverse events landscape and are actively seeking applications from community and industry professionals including those who are from the following groups:

  • xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and other Indigenous Peoples
  • Urban Indigenous People
  • Black and people of colour
  • People with disabilities
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ People
  • Women, Trans, non-binary, and Two-Spirit people

Members of the Special Event Advisory Task Force will be appointed for a one-year term. The deadline for applications is January 10, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST. For more information, including how to apply, visit vancouver.ca/special-event-task-force.

A Special Event Advisory Task Force is one of several initiatives the City is pursuing to make it easier to host events and festivals in Vancouver. Earlier this month, Council approved changes to allow more flexibility for arts and culture organizations looking to host events at creative, unconventional locations that are not regularly licensed for events. Additionally, the City has implemented a low complexity event permit and has been taking steps to streamline the events permitting process between various departments and jurisdictions.