Maria Kritikos
Climate Change, Heat, Fires, & the Environment
Private Vehicles & Parking
ABC promises
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will eliminate parking fees at the Jericho and Spanish Banks beaches, and at all community centres, to make it more affordable for Vancouverites to visit places that bring us together."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will work towards a universal parking app so Vancouverites can find, pay for and extend parking anywhere in Vancouver."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Culture & Events
Monuments and Landmarks
ABC promise
"We will create a landmark celebrating the contributions of Vancouver’s Punjabi and South Asian communities and their lasting impact on South Vancouver and the city."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Local Government, Planning, & Democracy
Good Governance
ABC promise
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Public Safety & Policing
Police in Schools
ABC promise
"We will protect and maintain the School Liaison Officer program we implemented last term, ensuring that students, families, teachers and administrators have access to trained police officers who build relationships, support safety, and help prevent problems before they escalate."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Schools & Public Education
After-School Programs
ABC promise
"We will work with the School Board, Park Board, and community partners to expand after-school programs that give children safe, enriching and affordable options outside traditional school hours."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Childcare
ABC promises
"Under ABC Vancouver, the City has already opened more than 2,000 new childcare spaces. We will build on this progress through continued partnerships with the Province, School Board, Park Board, non-profits, and private providers to create more spaces in the neighbourhoods where families live and work."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
"We will explore and pilot new ways to attract and retain early-childhood educators through co-locating childcare facilities with affordable housing initiatives in key areas of the city"
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Neurodivergent Students & Support
ABC promise
"Vancouver taxpayers contribute significant school tax revenue to the Province. We will hold the Province accountable to ensure Vancouver receives its fair share of funding, and advocate for those funds to be allocated towards:
- More classroom resources and support staff to improve learning environments and ensure teachers and students have the tools they need.
- More individualized student support including educational assistants, specialized staff, and targeted resources for diverse learners."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Police in Schools
ABC promise
"We will protect and maintain the School Liaison Officer program we implemented last term, ensuring that students, families, teachers and administrators have access to trained police officers who build relationships, support safety, and help prevent problems before they escalate."
— abcvancouver.ca, Retrieved 2026-09-28
Biography
Maria is an educator, entrepreneur, community leader, and mother with deep roots in the city and a lifelong commitment to education, opportunity, and service.
She began her career as a teacher with the Vancouver School Board, teaching French and Spanish to secondary students and gaining firsthand experience in Vancouver’s public school system. Maria holds a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish, both from the University of British Columbia.
Maria’s commitment to education continued as an entrepreneur. She founded CREO College of English, an English-as-a-Second-Language college serving international students and newcomers to Vancouver, and later co-founded Canaglobe TESL Centre, which trained educators to teach English as a second language.
For nearly two decades, Maria has also built a successful Vancouver real estate business. Her work with families, homeowners, and the building community has given her practical insight into the housing, affordability, density, and neighbourhood changes shaping Vancouver and the communities our schools serve.
Maria is also the founder of Ladies Who Lunch®, a network created to connect and empower women, and the author of Girl With A Plan, a practical guide encouraging women to pursue their personal and professional goals. She is involved with The Hellenic Initiative Canada and volunteers with community programs supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.
As a mother who raised her son in Vancouver, Maria understands that strong public schools are foundational to strong families and thriving communities.
Maria is running for Vancouver School Board Trustee to bring classroom experience, entrepreneurial problem-solving, fiscal responsibility, and compassionate, practical leadership to the Board.
