Vancouver's World Cup Sparks Supercharged Policing Concerns

The Surge in Policing Ahead of the World Cup

On a brisk afternoon on 14 April 2026, Tyson Singh Kelsall was walking to work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside when he noticed five people lying sedated in a line along the sidewalk on Main Street. The scene was all too familiar for Singh Kelsall, who has spent years working in harm reduction in the neighbourhood, as Vancouver’s drug supply is increasingly contaminated with sedatives like benzodiazepines.

Aggressive Policing Tactics

Singh Kelsall and the team at Power have been documenting police interactions in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) since the project launched in July 2024. They hold weekly community drop-in sessions where residents can report instances of violence, aggression, or intimidation by law enforcement. And twice a week, trained members conduct observations in the neighbourhood and document their findings.

The Data Analysis

For the World Cup, the city has allocated at least $242m from an estimated total budget of $685m to $729m for integrated public safety, traffic management, and stadium management. Deputy police chief Don Chapman expects it to be the city’s largest police deployment to date.

The Impact Analysis

Community members, civil society groups, and researchers blame the World Cup for the uptick in aggressive practices by law enforcement agencies in the city. The city insists these decisions are unrelated to the World Cup, but for community members on the frontlines of the city’s policies, it is hard to parse the difference.

The Prediction

“Once the games are done, will we all of a sudden see less of them? Or will it stay the same?” asked Delilah Gregg, president of Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society and one of Power’s founding members. The concern is that the increased police presence and aggressive tactics will have a lasting impact on the community, particularly on Indigenous people and those who have experienced trauma.