For past years, EDA Executive Committee members are listed here, and their bios here.
Our 2022-2023 Saanich-Gulf Islands EDA Executive Committee:
(scroll down for a bio of each current member)
Dan Kells – Chief Executive Officer
Jennifer Kennedy – Financial Agent
Tom Niemann – Secretary
Mona Donovan – Member-at-large
Mary Leslie – Member-at-large
Helena Murray-Hill – Member-at-large
Pieta VanDyke – Member-at-large
Dan Kells – Chief Executive Officer,
from North Saanich,
joined Executive in 2019,
first 3-year term as CEO, ending 2024
From my job as a junior forest ranger at 17 to a surveyor working the length of Vancouver Island, my interests have always included the natural history of where I live. I wish to preserve our natural environment and just as importantly, our human place in that complex ecosystem. In 2004, I became the founding CEO of the North Vancouver GPC EDA. For three years, I was a sign maker and erector and campaign manager among other duties.
Now that I am retired, I volunteer with Peninsula Streams, Dominion Brook Park and the Green party. To me, local community is the key to everything. You can’t affect your country or the world unless you work at the community level. I am proud to add a voice of varied experience and assist our local EDA team to continue to be the best in Canada.
Jennifer Kennedy – Financial Agent,
first 3-year term, ending 2024
Tom Niemann – Secretary,
first 3-year term, ending 2025
After retiring from a career in forestry, focused on sustainability issues including climate change, helping out the Greens in my riding seemed a good fit. Turns out you can have a lot of fun putting up campaign signs, building/maintaining a new SGI website, and talking to strangers on their doorsteps!
Working with other Greens makes me feel better about the future. Conversations that lead to shared actions that improve our world, locally and globally, are the best antidote to the polarized culture and politics of our time. There’s much to do, and I’m happy to pitch in where I can.
Mona Donovan – Member-at-large
first 3-year term, ending 2024
I have always felt most comfortable outdoors and have structured my life around hikes, runs and mountain climbing. The Green Party represents to me the beauty of the natural world and the importance of keeping it that way. When I moved from Vancouver to Salt Spring Island in 2019, I had an opportunity to take part in a meaningful way in the Green Party. Luckily, the 2019 election provided many chances to help with canvassing, taking part in Green events and putting up lawn signs. It also allowed me to meet people who understand the importance of caring for our world and preserving it for future generations.
Through watching and listening to the people on the SGI Board over the past few months, I have been very impressed with both their commitment and organization. I look forward to learning more from them in the future!
Mary Leslie – Member-at-large,
first 3-year term, ending 2024
I moved to Vancouver Island from Burnaby in Nov. 2015 and was thrilled to have landed in Elizabeth May’s riding. No more strategic voting, I said with relief. Having Adam as an MLA is an extra plus.
I was born and lived briefly in northwestern Alberta and spent all my growing up years in Ontario, north of Toronto, until moving to BC to take my masters at UBC. I lived in Vancouver and Bowen Island before moving to Burnaby and now Sidney. I became interested in politics while taking a political sociology course in my BA program, many years ago and have been involved in political campaigns from time to time; most recently I was supporting Kennedy Stewart in Burnaby (whose passion for environmental issues was not always supported by his NDP counterparts, I might add). Trans Mountain/Kinder Morgan issues were front and center for me there, especially as I lived just meters from the pipeline; they continue to be important for me.
I am semi-retired, as a clinical social worker, having worked mostly in health fields, private practice and teaching as a sessional faculty member at UBC School of Social Work. I have had two very impactful visits to Fairy Creek and am passionate about saving our old growth forests. Hiking and outdoor activities have always been important to me and to my two now adult sons. I am enjoying sharing this passion with my two grandchildren in California. They have added an even greater urgency to my efforts re environmental issues.
I have campaigned for Adam and for Elizabeth in each of their last two elections in several capacities and have been impressed by the level of organization and deep commitment of those involved. I hope to be able to lend my skills where they are needed most and to be of support for Elizabeth’s fine contributions in any way I can.
Helena Murray-Hill – Member-at-large,
first 3-year term, ending 2023
As a political science student, I was keenly interested in gettng involved with the 2019 election. I chose to canvass and scrutineer for the Green Party and had the privilege of joining Elizabeth May on a canvassing blitz. I was astonished by her passion and knowledge of the complex issues she represented in her campaign. I was thrilled to have the chance to represent the often overlooked voices of young people and immerse myself in the campaign process of a party whose values reflected my own. Like many young people, I am dismayed by the lack of access to affordable higher education. As well, I believe the federal government is not taking the climate crisis seriously enough.
As a young person, student, and essential worker, I bring a unique energy and perspective. I am interested in running for the EDA so I can continue to immerse myself in the Green Party’s campaign process and support an organization that upholds my values and
represents my interests at the highest level of government.
Pieta VanDyke – Member-at-large
first 3-year term, ending 2025
I have a long history of community activism, starting with food co-ops and the People’s Food Commission in the 1970s. Later I became a union shop steward and held a position on the Executive of the Victoria Labour Council. I worked on federal and provincial election campaigns as well as involvement with my neighbourhood association. This led to an appointment to the Planning Commission for the City of Victoria and was elected to a term on Victoria City Council. Latterly I became a member of the Associates of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and with Rotary International. I’ve served two terms as President of the Rotary Club of Sidney by the Sea. Currently I’m on the Transportation Task Force of the Central Saanich Community Association and volunteer at the Extended Care Unit at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.