Members Newsletter – July 10, 2021 

We seek to walk in gratitude and humility.

As Green Party of Canada members in the federal electoral district called Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, we respectfully and gratefully acknowledge living, working and recreating on the unceded traditional territories that have been lived on since time immemorial by the many nations of people who are indigenous to these lands.

These many First Nations include: 

– the Cowichan Tribes, which at 4900+ members is the largest single First Nation Band in BC,

– the five nations of the Saanich Leadership Council, including the Malahat, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum, and Pauquachin Nations who collectively lay claim to the Saanich Inlet, Mt. Finlayson, and the Goldstream Watershed,

– the Pacheedaht, Ditidaht, and Nuu-chal-nulth Nations in the lands surrounding Port Renfrew, Jordan River, Gordon River and the Nitinat Lakes,

– the lands of the Halalt, Penelakut and Lyackson Nations of Crofton, Chemainus, Thetis Island and Penelakut Island,

– and the lands of the Lek’wungen, (Esquimalt and Songhees Peoples) living in Langford, Goldstream and the Highlands. 

  Cowichan-Malahat-Langford EDA Mission statement

We will support the Green Party of Canada and work to elect a Green MP to represent the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford Electoral District in Ottawa. To achieve this we will:

· Uphold the Six Core Values of the Green Party of Canada; including Non-Violence, Sustainability, Social Justice, Participatory Democracy, Respect for Diversity, and Ecological Wisdom,

· Support our elected CML Candidate by providing resources and direction as able,

· Provide local outreach for our electoral district by demonstrating our green values through community participation, hosting local live and online events, engaging in district fundraising, and by maintaining a vibrant social media presence and webpage,

· Support our nation-wide MPs and Parliamentary Caucus by amplifying their work,

· Cooperatively work to make our community and Canada a better place for all.

CEO’s Message

Greetings! And thank you, for being Green Party Members and Supporters. As your CEO, I would like to say how much I appreciate you all, and how much I have missed being able to gather in person. While Zoom meetings have the advantage of including people from far and wide without the burden of travel, there is something wonderful about sharing a cup of tea and a goodie too! So, as we move into the last half of 2021 I would like to say I look forward to reconnecting with you in person, very soon.

Since our Annual General Meeting, held last March 01, 2021, our EDA Executive has been hard at work. We meet once per month on the third Monday of each month to discuss general agenda items and move our vision forward. We also have a communications sub-committee that meets as required, and which has been growing our social media following and developing our new website. A second sub-committee, formed to revise and update our CML EDA constitution, has yet to meet due to a hierarchy of EDA priorities. Annual reporting documentation required by Elections Canada was submitted on May 31. Caroline Wylie was named as our Secretary and she has been keeping detailed minutes of our meetings. Meetings are open to observers who are members in good standing, and you may request the zoom link to attend.

Although a fall federal election has not YET been called, it seems very likely, as all major political parties are making preparations; including electing candidates, running fundraising campaigns, and even putting up highway signs. Here in CML, we would be remiss if we weren’t already making preparations.

We’ve bought four beautiful new banners for sign waves, and have buttons, bumper stickers, and T-shirts ready too. Our electoral district currently has two approved nominees, Lia Versaevel of Chemainus, and Nick Dickinson-Wilde of East Sooke. We continue to welcome further applicants from anyone with a heart and a will for serving the people of the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford Electoral District. Interested applicants can nominate themselves, or they can be nominated by a second party. Nominators can even be anonymous, and we will gladly follow up with potential nominees on your behalf.

Nominate Yourself or Nominate Someone Else

It’s not too late to APPLY NOW: We will close nominations on July 23, 2021

August 9, 2021, we will hold a virtual candidate debate, and selection meeting. Please join us to hear from our Nominees, and gather the information you need to make an informed choice. Following the meeting, voting will commence and continue for 48 hours. All members in good standing are encouraged to vote for the candidate of your choice. We will announce the successful candidate on the morning of August 12 (my birthday:)

When the election is called we want to be ready to stand up for Canadians, ready to stand up for the environment, and ready to stand up for you in Ottawa. Together we can do it, and it all begins with selecting our best candidate.

-Kim Hughes, Cowichan-Malahat-Langford Greens EDA CEO

Party Leadership News 

You may have heard that the Green Party of Canada has been going through some internal party leadership and governance challenges. Indeed, there has been much social media buzz to this effect as well as independent and mainstream news coverage. In these troubled times, we, the members of your executive, have been struggling with how best to communicate with you, the members. Consequently, we have opted to remain in the background, continuing to steer the local riding, but refraining from passing official comment. As individuals, we have differing views, and appreciate that our membership are likely to have strong views too. For this reason we have decided as an executive to remain impartial. However, should you wish to express your personal views to the leader and to the central party, the best way is to send a letter to the individual members of Federal Council, of which the leader is one.

As a result of the troubles, a vote of non-confidence in our leader Annamie Paul, will go before a special meeting of our Federal Council on July 20. In order to pass, the vote requires 75% of the votes cast to be in favour of the non-confidence motion. If the motion passes, the non-confidence motion will be brought to the entire membership at the General Meeting which has been called for Saturday, August 21.

Here is a link to the names and addresses for the members of Federal Council. If you have an opinion you would like to voice prior to the council members casting their vote, it is suggested you direct your email to each member of council individually, as each council member has a single vote.

Remember, one of our six core values is participatory democracy and this is an important opportunity for members to have a say in the governance and the leadership of our national party.

Federal Council Members and Contact Emails

Calendar of Important Dates

Tue, July 20, 2021 – Federal Council Meeting, Leadership Non-Confidence Vote (in camera)

Wed, July 23, 2021 – CML Nominations Close at end of GPC Headquarters business day, EST

Tues, July 27, 2021 – 8:00 PM / 1st Meet & Greet with the CML Nominees (open to ALL)

Wed, August 04, 2021 – 8:00 PM / 2nd Meet & Greet with the CML Nominees (open to ALL)

Mon, August 09, 2021 – 8:00 / CML Candidate Debate and Selection Meeting (open to ALL)

Mon, August 09, 2021 – Voting begins at 10:00 PM. Must be a Member for 30 days prior to Vote.

Tue, August 10, 2021 – Voting is Open

Wed, August 11, 2021 – Voting Closes at 10:00 PM

Thu, August 12, 2021 – Announcement of the Successful Candidate

Sat, Aug 21, 2021 – GPC BGM – Business General Meeting (Virtual)

TBA – Coming in September, an afternoon at the Old Firehouse Wine Bar in Duncan, to support our Candidate, and enjoy a real live social gathering with ‘Green Friends & Good Cheer’  Hooray 🙂 

Links to meetings will be sent by email and posted to social media platforms. Check your email boxes for these events throughout July and August. 

 ________________________________________________________________________________

Meet Our Nominees 

Lia Versaevel, Chemainus

“Lia Versaevel, came to the Island in 1971, completing high school at Claremont, then a BA at UVIC, a Diploma in Public Sector Management also at UVIC and a MA at Royal Roads University in Conflict Analysis and Management. She worked for 30 years in the Attorney General’s Ministry in a variety of roles, before taking on a Mediation role in the State of Nevada. Lia is a former Chair of the CML EDA, a twice former Provincial Green Candidate, and she stood in 2019 as a federal nomination contestant. Lia has three adult children and three grandchildren. She continues to work, live and play in the Qwu’tsun Territories of the Hul’q’umi’num’ speaking peoples who have been guardians of this place for millennia.

Connect with Lia on Facebook

Follow Lia on Twitter

________________________________________________________________________________

Nick Dickinson-Wilde, East Sooke 

Nick (he/him) is a web developer by trade. He has lived on/around Vancouver Island his whole life – ranging from Pacheedaht lands (Port Renfrew) to Tsawout/Tseycum lands (Pender Islands) and most recently in the T’Souke (Sooke) area, where he currently resides with his wife and furry pets. For shopping and services Nick relies on the bustling business community of Langford, connecting him to the CML EDA. When not being a self described computer nerd, Nick can be found hiking, biking, gardening or at community events. Although on pause for the pandemic, Nick is a Shukokai Karate sensei and enjoys helping a couple of local choirs.

Meet Nick on his Website

Connect with Nick on Facebook

Follow Nick on Twitter

________________________________________________________________________________

Check out our newly launched CML Website! 

Our New Website ~ still ‘Under Construction’

Thanks to a Hub Site owned by the Saanich-Gulf-Islands EDA, we have been able to piggy back and have a Satellite Site. Two of our EDA executive members, Caroline Wylie, and Kara Middleton are hard at work building and revising the ‘mother’ template to make our satellite site unique to CML. But… all good things take time, so please be patient if you see something that looks not quite right!

________________________________________________________________________________

Election Readiness Fundraising 

In order for our successful candidate to benefit immediately from your donation, please direct your donation to our Electoral District by making an e-transfer to our Official Financial Agent, Paul Chorney. Funds will be deposited to our CML Bank account and transferred to our candidate.

Email Paul at … paul.chorney@greenparty.ca

Alternately, you can mail a cheque c/o Paul Chorney, to 2425 Renfrew Road, Shawnigan Lake Road, V0R 2W1. Please make your cheque out to CML EDA GPC.

If you prefer to make your donation through the Green Party web-site, you can do so using this link. Donations made in this way WILL NOT BE available to our candidate’s campaign until late October.

Donate now

_____________________________________________________

Call to Action!

We need a New Social Media Profile Picture and Circle Logo

Do you have an eye for design? Know your way around photo shop? If the answer is yes then consider helping the CML Greens create a new logo! This could be your way to give back and get creative helping to further the Green cause in our area. The logo above was created by an amateur (our CEO;) using a free design app. We are looking for something more professional but still dynamic and memorable! We are holding an open call for submissions until August 12, which is the official start of our campaign. We look forward to seeing what our talented members can create.

For approved Hex colour codes and graphics go to the following link:

GPC Approved Logos, Colours and Graphics

Of course, if you aren’t artistically inclined there are many other volunteer opportunities, and ways to participate. Reach out today and do your part cmlgreens@greenparty.ca

________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for being a Green supporter! Your help allows us to continue to spread the Green message.

***********

Connect to local Greens and join the discussions on Social Media and Slack. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMLGreens

Volunteers: CML Greens Volunteers

Twitter: @CMLGreens

Instagram: cml_greens

Slack: provide your email address in order to be invited to join.

Contact CML EDA by email – cmlgreens@greenparty.ca

Contact Kim Hughes, CEO – kim.hughes@greenparty.ca

Contact Paul Chorney, FA – paul.chorney@greenparty.ca

Many thanks to the members of the EDA Executive for helping to write this our first Cowichan-Malahat-Langford Newsletter. In particular, I would like to thank Cody Travis, for his significant contribution to the initial format and first draft copy, Cheryl Maclachan for her thorough and sensitive research into our Territorial Acknowledgement, Caroline Wylie for her meticulous record keeping and for taking the reigns on getting our website up and going, and finally to Kara Middleton for her team-building skills and her insight into content and final editing skills.

We aim to make these newsletters a quarterly event, with issues each March, June, Sept, and Dec.

This email is being sent to all of the current and lapsed members on our mailing list.

Kim Hughes, CEO

July 10, 2021