▁The ▁GC AP ▁was ▁approved ▁by ▁V ancouver ▁city ▁council ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁Zero ▁W aste ▁ 2 0 4 0 ▁Str ategy ▁passed ▁V ancouver ' s ▁city ▁council . ▁The ▁city ▁began ▁work ▁the ▁same ▁year ▁on ▁decre asing ▁the ▁amount ▁of ▁single - use ▁items ▁distributed ▁in ▁the ▁city , ▁and ▁has ▁stated ▁its ▁intention ▁to ▁ban ▁these ▁items ▁in ▁ 2 0 2 1 ▁if ▁business es ▁don ' t ▁meet ▁reduction ▁targets . ▁As ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁plan , ▁a ▁ban ▁on ▁pl astic ▁st raw s , ▁pol yst y rene ▁food ▁pack aging ▁and ▁free ▁sho pping ▁b ags ▁will ▁go ▁into ▁effect ▁during ▁mid - 2 0 1 9 . ▁ ▁T win ▁towns ▁– ▁sister ▁cities ▁The ▁City ▁of ▁V ancouver ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁cities ▁in ▁Canada ▁to ▁enter ▁into ▁an ▁international ▁sister ▁cities ▁arrangement . ▁Special ▁arrang ements ▁for ▁cultural , ▁social ▁and ▁economic ▁benefits ▁have ▁been ▁created ▁with ▁these ▁sister ▁cities . ▁ ▁Notable ▁people ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁▁ ▁East ▁V ancouver ▁ ▁G entr ification ▁of ▁V ancouver ▁ ▁Le ak y ▁con do ▁crisis ▁ ▁History ▁of ▁S qu am ish ▁and ▁Ts le il - W aut uth ▁long sh orem en , ▁ 1 8 6 3 – 1 9 6 3 ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Further ▁reading ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁▁ ▁Category : 1 8 8 6 ▁establish ments