04/16/2026
Yesterday, community organizations, including PACE Society, released a statement expressing alarm at the City of Vancouver’s decision to eliminate one of two S*x Work Social Planner positions. These roles were created in direct response to the failures identified in the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry. It was intended to ensure that the safety and voices of s*x workers are never ignored again.
This decision does not exist in isolation. It comes in the context of years of evidence-based research and community organizing, including the “By Us, For Us” report, which highlights the complex and intersecting risks s*x workers face—from violence and stigma to the ongoing impacts of the toxic drug crisis, systemic racism, and gaps in health and social supports.
At a time when the need for coordinated, community-informed responses is clear, removing the position undermines safety, trust, and accountability.
After multiple reports, inquiries, and recommendations, centering community voices should be the bare minimum.
We are calling on the City of Vancouver to reinstate this critical position and demonstrate a real commitment to s*x worker safety.
