After more than four decades as one of Vancouver's most respected civic affairs journalists, Frances Bula is preparing to cross what she once described as the "thin line" between observer and participant. The veteran city hall reporter has announced her intention to seek the OneCity nomination for Vancouver city council in the upcoming October 2026 municipal election.
From Media Desk to Council Chamber
Bula, who has spent 43 years working in British Columbia journalism including more than three decades focused specifically on Vancouver city hall, wants to trade her familiar spot at the council chambers media desk for an elected seat on council itself. The transition represents a significant career shift for the 71-year-old journalist, who acknowledged the challenges ahead.
A Daunting Transition
"It is daunting," Bula admitted. "It's like going to a totally new country and just taking in everything all at once." Over the past few weeks, she has been learning the basics of organizing a political campaign, describing the process as presenting a steep learning curve.
Ironically, Bula herself wrote about this very transition back in 2014 when covering her former managing editor at The Vancouver Sun, Kirk LaPointe, as he launched his own mayoral run. In that Globe and Mail story, she noted that "the move to politics makes for a strange and bumpy ride for former journalists, say those who've done it and those who've watched it."
She described the transition as moving from being a scrutinizer of government to being scrutinized by former colleagues, noting that some journalists-turned-politicians like René Lévesque in Quebec, Ralph Klein in Alberta, and Simma Holt in B.C. found success, while others were "notable flops."
Timing the Career Change
Bula said that throughout her years covering city hall, people frequently asked if she would consider running for office herself, but she didn't seriously contemplate the possibility until the last year or two. She identified both personal and political reasons for making the jump in 2026.
"I'm 71, so if I was ever going to change careers, this was the time to do it," Bula explained regarding the personal motivation. Politically, she emphasized that after covering seven different mayors during her journalism career, she believes there has never been such a pressing need to restore accountability, transparency, and respectful behavior in both the mayor's office and council chamber.
Journalistic Background
Bula's extensive career includes 21 years as a reporter for The Vancouver Sun followed by 18 years as a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail and other publications. She has also spent many years teaching journalism at both Langara College and the University of British Columbia, mentoring the next generation of reporters.
Her transition to potential political candidate has been carefully managed. Bula informed her editor at The Globe and Mail last year that she was considering a 2026 run. By December, though still undecided, she stopped pitching stories about Vancouver politics "just to be on the safe side." She continued filing stories for The Globe and Mail, B.C. Business, and University Affairs magazine through January and February, but carefully avoided any civic politics coverage during that period.
The veteran journalist's potential candidacy represents a significant development in Vancouver's political landscape, bringing decades of institutional knowledge and civic affairs expertise to the campaign trail as she seeks to transition from chronicling municipal government to potentially helping shape its future direction.
