Sean Orr

Sean Orr (born ) is a Canadian politician and writer in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2025, he was elected to represent the left-wing Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) on Vancouver City Council. During the 2025 Vancouver City Council by-election, Orr garnered 50.7 percent of the vote, becoming one of two councillors elected.

Biography Orr was born in Surrey to Northern Irish immigrant parents and raised in the Metro Vancouver area. He credits his family for his involvement in politics from a young age.

He studied geography at the University of British Columbia before dropping out in his third year and soon began writing letters to the editor and blogging. This led to Orr writing for Toronto-based Beyond Robson's Morning Brew column in the mid-2000s, through which he gained popularity.

Sean has undertaken many art projects. In 2009, he self-published a photography book called "Pretty Drifted," encapsulating snapshots of urban Vancouver. Sean has been a musician in multiple bands such as Taxes, Kidnapping, producing music via the project Tassels, and most recently as front man for the hardcore-punk band NEEDS, since 2012.

Since 2011, Sean has been a writer for Vancouver-based Scout Magazine. His column Tea and Two Slices showcases Orr's outspoken leftist political commentary and has provided a digital outlet for his advocacy and activism.

Orr graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts in geography and political science in 2025.

Vancouver City Council Orr first ran as a candidate for Vancouver City Council in the newly formed municipal party VOTE Socialist during the 2022 Vancouver municipal election. Orr received 13,744 votes in the election. Orr previously ran as a Green Party of British Columbia candidate in Surrey-Tynehead in the 2005 British Columbia general election.

Ahead of the 2025 Vancouver City Council by-election, the VOTE Socialist party officially deregistered as an electoral party in support of Sean Orr's candidacy with COPE. His campaign focused on homelessness, rent control, the Downtown Eastside, and climate change.

In 2026, Orr endorsed Avi Lewis in that year's federal NDP leadership race.

Electoral record