Solomon Yi-Kieran
| Solomon Yi-Kieran | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 16 October 2005 |
| 🏫 Education | University of British Columbia |
| 💼 Occupation | Student leader, political activist |
| Known for | Student advocacy, housing advocacy, transit advocacy |
Solomon Yi-Kieran (born October 16, 2005) is a Canadian student leader, political activist, and municipal political candidate. They are known for their activism regarding the extension of the Millennium Line SkyTrain route and their involvement in student government at the University of British Columbia (UBC), serving as a student senator and as vice-president external of the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia (AMS). Their advocacy has focused on housing affordability, public transit, student rights, accessibility, climate initiatives, and post-secondary education policy.
Early life and education
Yi-Kieran completed their high school at Glenlyon Norfolk School[1] before studying history and linguistics at the University of British Columbia. During their time at UBC, they became involved in student governance and advocacy organisations, including the UBC Disabilities United Collective, where they served in a leadership role. They later served as a student senator on the UBC Senate, the university's academic governing body.[2]
Student politics
UBC Senate
Yi-Kieran was elected as a student senator at UBC. During their tenure, they advocated for academic accessibility, increased transparency in university governance, improved accommodation procedures for students with disabilities, expanded lecture recording policies, and reforms to academic support systems.[2]
As a senator, they also participated in the Student Senate Caucus and were involved in discussions relating to academic policy, student services, and governance reform.
AMS vice-president external
In 2025, Yi-Kieran was elected vice-president external of the Alma Mater Society (AMS), the student society representing UBC students.
As vice-president external, they represented students before municipal, provincial, and federal governments. Their platform focused on affordability, housing rights, public transit,[3][3] and government relations. During their campaign, they advocated for applying provincial tenancy protections to student housing and expanding student affordability programs.
Throughout their term, Yi-Kieran worked with student organisations, labour groups, and advocacy coalitions on issues affecting post-secondary students across British Columbia.[2]
Advocacy
SkyTrain to UBC campaign
Yi-Kieran's tenure as AMS vice-president external was prominently known for their advocacy for extending the Millennium Line SkyTrain route to the University of British Columbia.[4][3]
Yi-Kieran launched and promoted a petition campaign supporting rapid transit expansion to UBC, which collected more than 15,000 signatures. They also organised public rallies and lobbying efforts intended to increase public and governmental support for the project.[5]
The campaign sought to renew political attention on the proposed extension, which had been discussed for many years but had not advanced to construction.[6][7]
In January 2026, Yi-Kieran and the AMS organised a symbolic event marking the eighteenth anniversary of the provincial government's commitment to extend SkyTrain service to UBC. At the event, Yi-Kieran called for the provincial government to release a timeline for the planning, construction and completion of the project, and argued that the extension could increase transport capacity and support transit-oriented housing development along the corridor.[8]
Housing advocacy
Yi-Kieran advocated for housing affordability and tenant protections, calling for stronger tenancy protections for students living in university-operated housing and increased construction of affordable and non-market housing in the University Endowment Lands. They also supported policies encouraging rent-controlled and below-market housing developments near UBC.[2][9]
Government relations and lobbying
As AMS vice-president external, Yi-Kieran participated in provincial and federal lobbying efforts on behalf of students. During the AMS's 2025 provincial lobbying trip, they met with approximately 50 members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia to advocate for student priorities, including food-security grants for campus food banks, increased student financial aid, expansion of the B.C. Access Grant, a proposed $10 BC Ferries student fare, and the extension of the Millennium Line SkyTrain to UBC.[10]
During the lobbying campaign, Yi-Kieran advocated for provincial support for campus food banks, citing rising food insecurity among post-secondary students. They also voiced concerns regarding the Government of British Columbia's review of the public post-secondary education system and advocated for maintaining domestic tuition protections.[10]
Yi-Kieran additionally led a campaign promoting the extension of SkyTrain service to UBC. In November 2025, a petition organized by the AMS was presented in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia by Nanaimo–Lantzville MLA George Anderson during Question Period.[10]
Municipal politics
Yi-Kieran is involved in municipal politics in Vancouver. They are running as a city council candidate with the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) for the 2026 Vancouver municipal election, campaigning on issues including housing affordability, public transit, labour rights, climate action, and municipal governance reform.[11]
References
- ↑ GNS (2023-02-17). "Grade 12 Student Accepted into Oxford University". Glenlyon Norfolk School. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Massing, Navya Chadha and Elena (2025-03-03). "Candidate profile: Solomon Yi-Kieran, VP external". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Schuermann, Jan (2025-09-24). "Student union pushes for SkyTrain extension to UBC". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ "Open Letter to Vancouver City Council regarding SkyTrain to UBC". AMS of UBC. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ Zavarise, Isabella (2025-10-03). "UBC students call on feds, province to commit to SkyTrain extension to campus". CTVNews. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ "Millennium Line UBC Extension". www.translink.ca. Archived from the original on 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ Quinn, Stephen (January 14, 2026). "UBC students rally for long-awaited SkyTrain expansion to campus". CBC.ca. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "UBC students lament '18th birthday' of long-promised SkyTrain extension | Daily Hive | Urbanized". Daily Hive. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
- ↑ Lee, Sidney Shaw and Shean (2026-02-04). "Midterm review: VP External Solomon Yi-Kieran". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Zhang, Micah Sébastien (2025-12-20). "AMS pleased by results of provincial lobbying trip". The Ubyssey. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
- ↑ "Chinese advocate running for COPE council nomination reacts to Ken Sim and Lenny Zhou's false allegations and apologies". CBC Listen. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2026-02-27. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
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