Larry Campbell


Larry Campbell
Canadian Senator
from British Columbia
In office
August 2, 2005 – February 28, 2023
Nominated byPaul Martin
Appointed byAdrienne Clarkson
37th Mayor of Vancouver
In office
2002 – December 5, 2005
Preceded byPhilip Owen
Succeeded bySam Sullivan
Personal details
Born
Larry W. Campbell

(1948-02-28) February 28, 1948
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Political partyNon-affiliated
Other political
affiliations
  • COPE (2002–2005)
  • Vision Vancouver (2005)
  • Liberal (2005–2014)
  • Senate Liberal Caucus
    (2014–2016)
  • Independent Senators Group (2017–2019)
  • Canadian Senators Group (2019–2022)
Profession
  • Politician
  • RCMP
  • BC Coroner's Service

Larry W. Campbell (born February 28, 1948) is a Canadian politician and businessman. He was the 37th mayor of Vancouver. He was elected on November 16, 2002.[1] Campbell was also a member of the Senate of Canada from 2005 until 2023.

Before becoming mayor, Campbell moved from Ontario to British Columbia in 1969 and worked as a member of the drug squad with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Langley.[2] After leaving the RCMP, Campbell became the chief coroner for Vancouver and British Columbia before retiring after 20 years.[3]

Campbell started his political career as a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors party and was elected mayor under the party in the 2002 Vancouver municipal election. He worked under an independent caucus after in-fighting within the party. Campbell started a new party called Vision Vancouver and was shortly the leader before he announced that he was not going to seek re-election.[4]

On August 2, 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that Campbell will become a senator for the Liberals.[5] On February 28, 2023, Campbell retired from senate after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.[6]

Campbell's life and career inspired the crime drama television show Da Vinci's Inquest and its spin-off Da Vinci's City Hall.[7]

References

  1. "Real-life Da Vinci leads sweep in Vancouver elections". CBC News. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  2. "The War on Drugs Has Failed. Is Legalization the Answer?". Rice University's Baker Institute. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  3. "B.C.'s former chief coroner Larry Campbell fought for drug decriminalization. Now he backs its reversal". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. "Vision's Three Would-Be Kings". The Tyee. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  5. "Prime Minister Announces Appointments to the Senate". Government of Canada. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  6. "Senators' Attendance and Activities on Sitting Days". Senate of Canada. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  7. "Da Vinci's Inquest inspiration to help inquiry into pathologist". CBC News. Retrieved February 28, 2025.