City of Vancouver honours "Ryan Reynolds" with Freedom of the City Award

 

Ryan Reynolds with City Council of Vancouver, Freedom of City (Source: City of Vancouver, X)

After receiving Order of Canada & Order of British Columbia, Ryan Reynolds Receives another Major Award, being recognized with Freedom of the City Award, This Year!

Sept 18 (2025), City Of Vancouver: The City Council of Vancouver officially recognized the Canadian & American Actor, Producer, Writer, Entrepreneur, Vancouverite and Philanthropist Ryan Reynolds with City's highest award as, 'Freedom of the City'. This major recognition comes as recognition for the Vancouver born actor, as his and family's unwavering support for the Canada, Canadians and especially, Vancouverites. 

The Actor has donated billions in the causes affecting Canadians inclusive of contributions to Food Banks Canada & City of Vancouver during the pandemic to matching $1 million in donations for displaced Ukrainian families, and $500,000 funding Water First Education & Training to advance hands-on skills training and education for young Indigenous adults in Canada. Following the devastating 2021 flooding in British Columbia, Reynolds and Lively donated to the Red Cross of B.C.

 Ken Sim (Mayor, City of Vancouver) Awarding Ryan Reynolds The Freedom of City. (Source: City of Vancouver, X)

Mayor Sim remarked during this occasion, 'Today we celebrated one of Vancouver’s own whose hometown pride has taken our city’s name around the world. Ryan Reynolds isn’t just a movie star, he’s a proud Vancouverite who never forgets where he came from and always finds ways to give back. Awarding him the Freedom of the City is our way of saying a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for everything he’s done for our community.' From Kits Pool to Deadpool, Reynolds is the hometown kid who made it big, he has made his love of Vancouver part of his public identity, carrying the city’s name with pride on the world stage.

The Actor to receive this prestigious award has now added his name alongside: 

Leslie & Gordon Diamond, Yosef Wosk, Cornelia Oberlander, Margaret Mitchell, Vancouver Police Pipe Band, Judy Graves, Jim Pattison, Jim Green, Milton Wong, Art Phillips, Michael Harcourt, Dr. David Suzuki & Freedom of City Honorees prior to 2010.

Ryan Reynolds acceptance speech was: This means the world to me. Vancouver shaped who I am, and I carry it with me in everything I do. To now be part of its history in this way is both humbling and surreal, and I’m deeply grateful to be recognized by the city that gave me my start.'

Ryan has received Order of Canada (2024) & Order of B.C. (2023), This marked as his Third Official Recognition from Canadian Public Honorary Systems in Third Consecutive year.

Ryan Reynolds Inscribing His Name on 'Book of Freedoms' (Source: City of Vancouver, X)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

About Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Rodney Reynolds born in October 23, 1976 in Vancouver, B.C, Canada. The youngest of four siblings, his father James Chester Reynolds, was a food wholesaler, and mother, Tamara Lee 'Tammy' (Stewart), worked as a retail-store saleswoman. Ryan appeared in Hillside (1990) - Nickelodeon Series filmed in Florida, United States. 

He also had parts in Glenn Close's Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995) and CBS Mini Series 'In Cold Blood (1996)'. He is know worldwide for his portrayal of Wade in Blockbuster Movie Deadpool (2016). Read more about Ryan Reynolds at IMDB

About Freedom of City Awards

The Freedom of City Award (Vancouver), is awarded to exceptional individuals who has acclaimed national and international acclamation in arts, business, or philanthropy and who has brought recognition to Vancouver through their achievements. The City began honoring individuals and groups with the Freedom of the City Award in 1936. Recipients have their names inscribed in the 'Book of Freedoms'. Members of City Council nominate individuals for the award. 

According to the Vancouver Charter (Section 205), these nominations must be approved by unanimous vote of Council. Know more about The Freedom of City Award at City of Vancouver Website.

About City Council of Vancouver

City Council in Vancouver is made up of the Mayor and 10 councilors who are elected at large for a 4-year term. The Mayor is the chair of City Council. The City of Vancouver is governed by the Vancouver Charter and has the power to Pass by-laws regulating businesses, building, noise, and land use, Buy and sell property, Collect property taxes and other taxes, Approve major spending for all parts of the City government, Take on debt, Allocate funds for special activities, such as arts and community services, Set up departments and offices for City services, Hire staff for City departments and offices and more. Click here to read about The City Council of Vancouver.