Welcome to the SGI Newsletter for September! We have notes from Elizabeth, reflections on fall fairs, picnics and other similar gatherings, high school scholarship recipients, and upcoming exciting events – some starting this weekend! Thank you for reading on……
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Notes from Elizabeth
Hello SGI Greens-
We have two big events coming up- our AGM on October 22 and a campaign launch for my re-election combined with the 40th Birthday Party for the Green Party of Canada. That’s right, the first meeting of the Green Party of Canada was November 4, 1983! My where did the time go?!
The programme for the event is not yet finalized, but expect great music, a few speeches (me!), our first leader and founder Dr. Trevor Hancock!, fun, and fundraising! Please mark your calendar for the evening of November 4 at the Charlie White Theatre at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. More information will be available soon – and will be posted on our website.
Locally I am so grateful to all who got out to the climate marches in Vancouver and Victoria on September 15! They were wonderful! We also have the day of action for old growth forests on September 28. The only other news is that I am steadily recovering and planning for all the community meetings across the electoral district in January. Details to follow!
SGI EDA Report
Off and running with Fall Fairs! And UVIC Club Days!
Autumn is officially upon us and it is wonderful to see and smell the much needed fall rains. It is a time of renewal on our landscape and in our own activities.
Our EDA always enjoys participating in the Saanich Fall Fair and our volunteers always have a fabulous time interacting with the public and working with each other. Our booth was right next to the BC Greens booth this year and together we were able to create the synergy of a strong Green presence. The two parties shared an “issues board”, an interactive display of current topics of interest.
Elizabeth attended our booth every day and attracted visitors of all types. Sonia Furstenau, Adam Olsen and BC Green candidates Dr. Lisa Gunderson and Christina Winter ensured that their next door booth was also kept very busy.
This was the second year that we handed out GPC branded bicycle bells and our usual bumper stickers and pins. As an extra this year, we had delightful hand sewn produce bags created by our volunteers.
The following weekend, both SGI and local BC Greens shared a tent at the ever-popular Salt Spring Island Fall Fair. Both Elizabeth and Adam attended the event on a very warm and sunny weekend dominated by great conversation, wonderful displays and zucchini races!
UVIC Club Days (Young Greens of Canada, the BC Green Party, and, centrally, the UVic Greens) provided an opportunity for local greens, both provincial and federal, to meet students. Elizabeth was able to attend one day, and drew a large crowd. Local BC Greens candidates Dr. Lisa Gunderson (Oak Bay-Gordon Head), Ned Taylor (Saanich South) and Christina Winter (Victoria-Swan Lake) attended and had the opportunity to speak with many students. The GPC cards which outlined the six pillars of all Global Greens on the front were especially popular and a helpful tool when answering students’ questions about Greens and how we are different from other parties.
The executive committee of this EDA all agree that our participation in these events was a great opportunity to connect with many people, and gives us a strong lead-in to the autumn and winter season. As CEO of this organization, I am very proud of the effort put into these events by our dedicated volunteers. Special mention must go to Tom Mitchell of Salt Spring Island, who always goes above and beyond to travel back and forth to fetch and return supplies. Everyone’s enthusiasm and support is always appreciated and goes a long way to ensure the success of activities such as these fairs. My sincere thanks go to each and every one.
SGI EDA Civic Engagement Scholarship 2023
Every year at high school graduation time, Elizabeth May and the Saanich Gulf Islands Green Party Electoral District Association (EDA) recognize students within our Electoral District for their civic engagement. The seven secondary schools in our EDA choose a recipient who they believe has shown exemplary commitment to effective citizenship. They have improved our world through their volunteer activities. The value of the scholarship is presently set at $500.00.
It was wonderful for the schools to be able to host an awards ceremony this year. Elizabeth was able to present awards at all but two of the Secondary schools. Mary Leslie from the SGI EDA provided congratulations to Lambrick Park Secondary School.
The Recipients are:
- Cordelia Taylor, Parklands Secondary
- Sadikshya Baral, Mount Douglas Secondary
- Maggie Naphtali, Gulf Islands Secondary
- Ikroop Chauhan, Lambrick Park Secondary
- Thomas Jungen, Stelly’s Secondary
- Emily Waugh, Reynolds Secondary
- Grace Sinats, Claremont Secondary
Congratulations to all the winners this year. And thank you to all our SGI EDA contributors who make it possible to run this program.
Annual General Meeting: Save the Date!
Saanich Gulf-Islands Greens would like to inform you of their 2023 Annual General Meeting, which will be held on the afternoon of October 22.
An email with AGM details, including registration for in-person attendance and a Zoom registration link for those who wish to attend virtually will be sent shortly to our contacts in SGI. If you live in Saanich-Gulf Islands and have not previously received emails about our AGMs, please reply to this email to be sure you are on that mailing list (sent from a different system than this newsletter).
**Please consider putting your name forward for an executive position! We are an active and engaged EDA Executive and enjoy working together to ensure a strong and relevant voice for Greens in our area.
The purpose of the EDA and the executive are to provide organizational and financial support to the Green Party of Canada (GPC) candidate in an election, and to promote the principles and ideas of the GPC in our area. We enthusiastically welcome new input and ideas! Executive terms have defined limits and so the addition of new members is required to replace those whose terms have ended.
Any nomination must be submitted by October 14th. To nominate yourself or someone else, or to learn more about the executive, please contact Dan Kells
Sign storage
For the past few years, both the SGI Greens and the Saanich North and the Islands BC Greens have been able to store campaign signs inside portable shelters on private property in North Saanich. The owners of the property now have other plans for that space and so the search is on. If you have, or know of someone who might be interested in providing a spot for one or two shelters (~10’ x 20’ each) in an accessible area, please let us know. We have much gratitude for the generosity of many people over the years who have made post-campaign logistics, such as sign storage, possible.
BC Greens News and Events
Saanich North and the Islands: Voices of Saanich & the Islands – The Healthcare Crisis – What We Can Do Right Now
During this special virtual event, Adam Olsen will host Karen Morgan, the former President and CEO of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation. Following her retirement, Karen joined Shoreline Medical to support the development and growth of community-based primary healthcare. Adam and Karen will be joined by BC Green Deputy Leader Dr. Sanjiv Ghandi to discuss solutions to our healthcare crisis. More details and registration are available here.
Saanich South Nominates Ned Taylor
Congratulations to Ned Taylor for becoming the Green Party candidate for Saanich South! Ned was elected to Saanich Council at the age of 19 and is excited at the prospect of “bringing a much-needed younger perspective to the legislature”. He has the passion and drive to give Lana Popham a run for her money in October 2024.
Community Information
Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The South Island Powwow is an opportunity to recognize Survivors and their families in the spirit of reconciliation. Help, celebrate traditional Indigenous cultures and resiliency through song and dance.
- Where: Royal Athletic Park 1014 Caledonia Ave, Victoria.
- When: September 30th, 2022, 10 am – midnight
A Bioregional approach to the future of our shared region
Tuesday October 24th, 7.30 – 9 pm. Joe Brewer, author of The Design Pathway for Regenerating Earth, along with a panel of local leaders, is speaking at a public event at UVic, at the C103 Lecture Theatre, David Strong Building. The panel will be discussing “A Bioregional approach to the future of our shared region.”
Climate Friendly Homes Tour
Oct 14, 2023. Visit climate-friendly homes in your neighborhood. The Climate-Friendly Homes Tour provides an opportunity to visit homes and learn how to make your home climate-friendly by viewing the successful steps that others have taken to decarbonize their homes.
Home Energy Navigator
If you have questions about upgrading your home, the Home Energy Navigator is a free service supported by local governments in our region, to help you all along your retrofit journey. There are great financing and rebate options available!
Regional information: Saanich Peninsula
Volunteer opportunity at Oak Haven Park
A new group “Friends of Oak Haven Park” has recently formed and is seeking additional local volunteers to help restore this amazing natural area. The first invasive species removal event will take place at the end of September.
If interested or if you want to learn more, please contact us at climate@csaanich.bc.ca or volunteers@hat.bc.ca.
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Questions? Comments? Feedback?