Introduction
Heather Deal is an English-born Canadian biologist and politician. She is currently a Vancouver city councillor, first elected as a member of Vision Vancouver in 2005. She previously served as a Vancouver Parks Board commissioner for the 2002 to 2005 term as a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors.
Deal was born in England and raised in Michigan. In 1984, she moved to Vancouver and became a Canadian citizen in 1991.
Open microphone controversy
Deal, Councillor Tim Stevenson, and Mayor Gregor Robertson were caught on an open microphone mocking public speakers at a July 2010 council session who had called for greater transparency in the selection of a 12-person committee that will advise council on rezoning. A recording of the incident was widely circulated on YouTube, which led to a public apology from Robertson.