Sam Sullivan has been elected twice as Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Vancouver False Creek. He served as Minister of Communities, Sport, and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink. Prior to that, Sam served as Mayor of Vancouver from 2005-2008. He served as a Vancouver City Councillor from 1993 to 2002. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, Founder of Global Civic Policy Society, and Founder of Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation.

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The Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation was founded by Sam to improve the quality of life for people with significant disabilities. To date, it has raised $20 million and served 10,000 people with disabilities throughout Canada and beyond. It consists of six nonprofit organizations: the Disabled Sailing Association, Tetra Society, ConnecTra Society, Vancouver Adapted Music Society, BC Mobility Opportunity Society, and the Disabled Independent Gardeners Association. Sam has made significant contributions to the disabled community in making outdoor activities more accessible. Through his work with the Disabled Sailing Association, the Martin 16 Sailboat was created with 150 in use around the world. He also co-invented the TrailRider with engineer Paul Cermak to help disabled people access the wilderness. Disabled people have used it to go to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the base camp of Mount Everest.