(VICTORIA) – Two-hundred supporters showed up on Saturday, January 17, for the opening of a flagship West Coast office of the Green Party of Canada. Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands, performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony and called the opening a momentous beginning for a ‘green wave’ across BC.
The new West Coast Green Space at 843 Fort St. in the heart of downtown Victoria will also serve as the central office of the Green Party of BC, and play host to green community events and gatherings.
Along with Ms. May, the grand opening included speeches and introductions by Green Party of BC leader Adam Olsen and members of the federal 2015 ‘Team Green'. Team Green includes BC candidates Paul Manly (Nanaimo-Ladysmith), Lynne Quarmby (Burnaby North-Seymour), Ken Melamed (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country) and Glenn Sollitt (Courtenay-Alberni).
The office is a key part of the Green Party plan to win over a dozen seats in the next election; enough to hold the balance of power in a minority government and foster true cooperation towards sustainability and a diversified economy. Recent EKOS polling has shown BC vote intentions for the Green Party at almost 20% – on par with the Conservative Party of Canada.
A series of nomination meetings in the next month will determine the remaining slate of Green Party candidates across coastal BC, including Cowichan-Malahat-Langford on January 30, Victoria on January 31 and Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke on February 14.
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca