Vancouver city hall denied FOI requests for Mayor Ken Sim's FIFA World Cup trip costs
Vancouver city staff denied two freedom-of-information requests for records about Mayor Ken Sim's FIFA World Cup Final trip, saying the records "do not relate to the business of the city," journalist Bob Mackin reported October 15.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on bobmackin.substack.com.
Two freedom-of-information requests for records about Mayor Ken Sim's attendance at the FIFA World Cup Final were denied by Vancouver city staff, journalist Bob Mackin reported on October 15.
City staff Kevin Tuerlings and April Miller denied the requests on September 24, saying "the requested records do not relate to the business of the city." The denials covered Sim's trip to East Rutherford, New Jersey, where he attended the July 19 final in which Spain defeated Argentina. Ken Sim's office made no comment about the denials, according to the report.
Vancouver was one of 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup and received four VIP tickets to the final under its host city contract, Mackin reported.
What Mackin found in the calendar
Mackin reported that Sim's public calendar shows nine weekdays with no scheduled appointments during the FIFA period: June 9, June 15, 16, and 17, June 25, June 29, July 6, July 17, and July 20.
Video footage shows Sim, his wife Teena Gupta, and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson leaving through the VIP gate after Canada defeated Qatar 6-0 on June 18, Mackin reported.
Mackin previously reported that Trevor Ford, the ABC Vancouver campaign director, wore a FIFA credential and a City of Vancouver employee pass at World Cup matches. That earlier report was covered by voche.me in October. Ford is not a candidate in the October 17 election.
The hosting costs question
The NDP government estimated in late May that Vancouver's World Cup hosting costs could reach $729 million, according to Mackin's report. Hotel occupancy in Vancouver fell to 73.2% in June 2026, down from 87% in June 2025, Mackin reported.
The FOI requests denied on September 24 covered both Sim's trip costs and the broader hosting expenditures. With those records not released, the cost details are not in the public record before the October 17 vote.
Ken Sim is seeking re-election as mayor on October 17. Voters can read Ken Sim's full profile at voche.me to compare the candidates. See where to vote for the location nearest to you.
Questions this story answers
What records did Bob Mackin request under freedom of information?
Journalist Bob Mackin filed two freedom-of-information requests for records about Mayor Ken Sim's attendance at the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina. The requests covered the costs of Sim's trip and details about the tickets Vancouver received as a World Cup host city. Vancouver was one of 16 host cities and received four VIP tickets to the final under its host city contract, according to Mackin's report.
What was the city's response to the FOI requests?
City staff Kevin Tuerlings and April Miller denied both requests on September 24, 2026, saying 'the requested records do not relate to the business of the city.' The denial effectively said no records exist that cover the subject of the requests. Ken Sim's office made no public comment about the denials, according to Bob Mackin's report. The denial was reported by Mackin on October 15, two days before the municipal election.
What did Bob Mackin find about Mayor Sim's FIFA activities?
Bob Mackin reported that Mayor Sim's calendar shows nine weekdays with no scheduled appointments during the FIFA period, on June 9, 15, 16, 17, 25, and 29 and July 6, 17, and 20. Mackin also reported that video shows Sim, his wife Teena Gupta, and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson leaving the VIP gate after Canada defeated Qatar 6-0 on June 18. ABC Vancouver campaign director Trevor Ford wore both a FIFA credential and a City of Vancouver employee pass at matches, Mackin reported.
What is Vancouver's role as a FIFA World Cup host city?
Vancouver was one of 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bob Mackin reported that Vancouver's host city contract included a quota of four VIP tickets to the World Cup Final. Vancouver also hosted multiple matches and a fan festival. The NDP provincial government estimated hosting costs could reach $729 million, according to Mackin's report. Hotel occupancy in Vancouver fell to 73.2% in June 2026, down from 87% in June 2025, Mackin reported.
Who is Bob Mackin?
Bob Mackin is a Vancouver journalist who publishes independently through his Substack newsletter. He has reported extensively on Vancouver city hall through freedom-of-information requests and public records. The article about the FOI denials was published on October 15, 2026.
Who is Trevor Ford and what is his connection to this story?
Trevor Ford is the campaign director for ABC Vancouver, the party Ken Sim leads into the October 17 election. Bob Mackin previously reported that Ford, while serving as ABC's campaign director, wore a FIFA credential and a City of Vancouver employee pass at World Cup matches. That earlier report was covered by voche.me in October. Ford is not a candidate in the election.
What does this mean for voters in the October 17 election?
The FOI denial means the public record of what Mayor Sim's FIFA trip cost the city, and how the VIP tickets were allocated, is not available before the October 17 election. Voters who want to weigh this when choosing the mayor's race can read Ken Sim's full profile at voche.me. Voting takes place October 17; the where-to-vote page at voche.me lists all voting locations.
Did Ken Sim or city hall respond to the FOI story?
Bob Mackin's report published October 15 does not include a comment from Ken Sim, his office, or ABC Vancouver. The city staff denial, signed by Kevin Tuerlings and April Miller on September 24, said only that the requested records do not relate to city business.
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