Sex workers in Vancouver are expressing deep concern over the loss of essential safety resources, just months before the city hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The event is expected to bring increased policing and disruption to downtown areas, leaving vulnerable individuals with fewer safe spaces to eat, rest, or seek emergency assistance.
City Cuts Safety Planner Position
Advocates report that the city has eliminated one of its two sex worker safety planner positions. This role was established in 2018 following a provincial inquiry into missing and murdered women, after the conviction of serial killer Robert Pickton, who targeted women in Vancouver's sex trade. The position served as a crucial link between sex workers and City Hall, flagging safety issues and building trust with a community often hesitant to engage with authorities due to stigma or fear of legal repercussions.
The restructuring aligns with Mayor Ken Sim and the ABC-majority council's directive to find efficiencies and cut costs, resulting in the elimination of several roles and layoffs. Angela Wu, executive director of SWAN Vancouver, which supports migrant and immigrant indoor sex workers, described the cut as “devastating,” adding that these jobs were created to prevent violence.
Impact on Community Services
The loss of the safety planner comes as community services and drop-in spaces for sex workers are shrinking. Steph Sia, a sex-trade worker and co-chair of Living in Community, a non-profit supporting sex workers, noted that the organization has scaled back operations due to funding constraints. Wu highlighted that the safety planner provided an anonymous avenue for workers to communicate needs and build trust with agencies, assisting with basic necessities like obtaining a cellphone for emergency calls.
Violence has escalated to the point where Wu’s non-profit is preparing emergency kits and planning community training on wound care and self-defence. “Cutting this position right now is just terrible,” she said.
City’s Response and World Cup Plans
The City of Vancouver stated that sex work-related planning has been integrated across several departments, led by its social policy and projects division, as part of broader organizational changes. For the World Cup, the city is funding “temporary service enhancements to support gender and sex worker safety during the seven match days” under its FIFA human rights plan, though details are still being finalized. The city also noted that gender and sex worker safety “continues to be a priority,” with $1.1 million approved for sector organizations in the 2026 budget.
However, local advocates argue these assurances fall short. Wu emphasized that the loss of a dedicated safety planner leaves a gap in coordination and trust at a time when sex workers feel increasingly vulnerable. Discussions with the FIFA organizing committee about how the World Cup could affect sex workers—particularly regarding policing, displacement, and access to services near event venues—are ongoing.
The situation underscores the tension between cost-cutting measures and the need for targeted support for marginalized communities, especially during a global event that will put Vancouver in the spotlight.
