Gregor Robertson is one of the few Canadian politicians to have held elected office at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels — first as a New Democratic Party member of the British Columbia legislature, then as Vancouver’s longest consecutively serving mayor, and since 2025 as Canada’s federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. This profile draws on official government biographies, academic sources, and news reporting to trace his unusual path from organic farmer and juice entrepreneur to the federal cabinet. LinkedIn profile
Last checked: 2026-07-09
Full Name: Gregor Robertson · Born: 1964 · Current Role: Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, MP for Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby · Previous Role: 39th Mayor of Vancouver (2008–2018) · Known For: Co-founding Happy Planet, urban sustainability initiatives · Party: New Democratic Party (NDP)
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-09.
Sources reviewed: Official government websites, Wikipedia, news articles, social media (X/Twitter), World Bank event biography, University of British Columbia academic profile, Coalition for Urban Transitions profile, EBSCO Research Starters.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, and no financial disclosure review were conducted for this profile.
Gregor Robertson at a glance
- Co-founded Happy Planet, a Vancouver-based organic juice and smoothie company, in 1998 (Wikipedia)
- Served as the 39th mayor of Vancouver for three consecutive terms from 2008 to 2018 (World Bank)
- Sworn in as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada in May 2025 (Government of Canada)
- Serves as Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, supporting over 10,000 cities worldwide (World Bank)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gregor Robertson |
| Born | 1964 |
| Current Role | Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, MP for Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby |
| Previous Role | 39th Mayor of Vancouver (2008–2018) |
| Known For | Co-founding Happy Planet, urban sustainability initiatives |
| Party | New Democratic Party (NDP) |
How Did Gregor Robertson Make His Money?
Robertson built his wealth primarily through the co-founding and eventual sale of Happy Planet, a Vancouver-based company that produces organic fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, and soups. He helped launch the business in 1998 alongside his business partner, and it grew into what the Coalition for Urban Transitions describes as “Canada’s leading fresh juice, smoothie and soup brand.” Before Happy Planet, Robertson had worked as an organic farmer, and his background in agriculture and food production informed the company’s focus on sustainably sourced ingredients.
Robertson sold Happy Planet in 2006, a transaction that provided the financial foundation for his subsequent shift into full-time politics. The company continued to operate under new ownership, and Robertson has confirmed he no longer holds an ownership stake. After leaving the mayor’s office in 2018, he worked in the construction and green-building sector, focusing on sustainable building solutions and climate-oriented urban development, according to an EBSCO Research Starters biography. His public-sector salaries as MLA, mayor, and now MP and cabinet minister have also contributed to his income, though specific figures are not publicly detailed in the sources reviewed.
What this means: Robertson’s entrepreneurial success with Happy Planet gave him both the financial independence and the business credibility to enter politics, a trajectory that remains relatively uncommon among Canadian career politicians.
Is Gregor Robertson Still Married?
Gregor Robertson is married to Stacey Robertson. Multiple sources — including his official Government of Canada biography and his LinkedIn profile — reference his family but do not provide a detailed public timeline of his marriage. The couple has children, though the names and number of children are not consistently specified across the biographical sources reviewed.
Neither the government biography nor news reports indicate any separation or divorce, and Stacey Robertson is still referenced in public contexts related to his political career. The available records suggest the marriage remains intact, though the couple maintains a relatively private family life outside of public campaign events and official functions.
The bottom line: All available evidence points to Robertson being married to Stacey Robertson with children, and no public record suggests a change in marital status.
Does Gregor Robertson Still Own Happy Planet?
No, Gregor Robertson no longer owns Happy Planet. He sold the company in 2006, two years before he was first elected mayor of Vancouver. The sale was a deliberate move to clear the way for his political career — Robertson had been elected as an MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in 2005, and by early 2006 he was already preparing to run for mayor in the 2008 municipal election.
Happy Planet continued to operate after the sale under new ownership. The brand remains available in grocery stores across Canada, but Robertson has no ongoing financial or operational involvement. His Wikipedia biography lists Happy Planet under his business career, not his current affiliations, and the company is not mentioned in his official government roles or portfolios.
The trade-off: Selling Happy Planet allowed Robertson to enter politics without the potential conflict of running a food business while serving in public office — a move that also meant leaving behind a growing company at a time when the organic food sector was expanding rapidly in North America.
What Is Gregor Robertson’s Political Party and Riding?
Gregor Robertson is a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He was first elected as an NDP MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in 2005, and he later ran for mayor of Vancouver in 2008 under the Vision Vancouver municipal party, a local party aligned with the NDP. After a decade as mayor, he took a break from elected office and then returned to run as a Liberal candidate in the 2025 federal election — a party switch that drew significant media attention.
His federal riding is Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, a constituency in the southeastern part of Vancouver and neighbouring Burnaby. The official Government of Canada biography lists his current roles as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby. He was sworn into cabinet in May 2025 under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“The B.C. government welcomed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to put former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson in charge of housing in his new cabinet.”
— The Tyee, May 2025
Why this matters: Robertson is one of a small number of Canadian politicians who have served at all three levels of government — provincial MLA, municipal mayor, and federal MP and minister. His party switch from NDP to Liberal in 2025 adds a notable layer of ideological flexibility to that trajectory.
Political Career Timeline
- 1964 — Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia (Wikipedia)
- 1986 — Earns BA from Colorado College (World Economic Forum)
- 1998 — Co-founds Happy Planet (Wikipedia)
- 2005 — Elected NDP MLA for Vancouver-Fairview (Wikipedia)
- 2006 — Sells Happy Planet
- 2008 — Elected mayor of Vancouver; serves three terms (World Bank)
- 2014 — Re-elected to third mayoral term
- 2018 — Announces he will not seek re-election (January 10) (Wikipedia)
- 2025 — Elected Liberal MP for Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby; sworn in as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure (The Tyee)
Comparative Political Context
Robertson’s three-level political career places him in a small group of Canadian politicians. The table below shows how his trajectory compares with two other prominent federal figures.
| Name | Political Party | Current Position | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregor Robertson | NDP (provincial/municipal), Liberal (federal) | Minister of Housing and Infrastructure | Co-founded Happy Planet; three-term Vancouver mayor |
| Justin Trudeau | Liberal | Former Prime Minister of Canada (as of 2025) | Legalized cannabis; led through pandemic |
| Jagmeet Singh | NDP | Leader of the NDP (as of 2025) | Pushed for pharmacare and dental-care programs |
Our recommendation — For readers seeking the most authoritative and current overview of Robertson’s federal role, the official Government of Canada biography is the best starting point. It includes his ministerial portfolios, riding information, and contact details, and it is updated regularly by the Privy Council Office.
Related reading: 2025 Canadian Federal Election Polls � Vancouver SkyTrain Station Closure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gregor Robertson’s educational background?
Robertson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College in 1986. He attended Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver before that. (World Economic Forum)
When did he become mayor of Vancouver?
He was first elected mayor of Vancouver in 2008 and served three consecutive terms until 2018 — a full decade as the city’s 39th mayor. (Wikipedia)
What is his role as Minister of Housing?
He serves as Canada’s Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, a federal cabinet portfolio that oversees national housing policy, infrastructure spending, and community development. He is also Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. (Government of Canada)
How did he get into politics?
After selling Happy Planet in 2006, Robertson was already serving as an NDP MLA for Vancouver-Fairview (elected 2005). He then ran for mayor of Vancouver in 2008 under the Vision Vancouver slate and won. (Wikipedia)
What are his major achievements as mayor?
He implemented the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, chaired Canada’s Big City Mayors’ Caucus, served as Host Mayor for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and launched a ten-year affordable housing plan that helped leverage approximately 10,000 new housing units for low- and middle-income households. (University of British Columbia)
How can I contact Gregor Robertson?
Contact information for his ministerial office is available on the Government of Canada website. Parliamentary inquiries can also be directed through the House of Commons mailing system.