The Green Party is an international political movement. There are Green Parties in over 90 countries around the world and while they operate independently, they have created a Global Greens Charter outlining their shared values. The Global Greens Charter identified six guiding principles:
• Ecological wisdom
• Social justice
• Participatory democracy
• Nonviolence
• Sustainability
• Respect for diversity
Elizabeth May leads the Green Party of Canada (GPC). Nationally, the GPC increased its percentage of votes from 2004 to 2008 by 61%
Mike Schreiner leads the Green Party of Ontario. Provincially the GPO increased its percentage of votes from 2003 to 2007 by 133%
The Guelph Greens have been active for over 20 years. We have fielded candidates in both federal and provincial elections since 1988. The percentage of votes for Guelph Green candidates has grown steadily throughout the years from 1% in 1988 of the vote to 21% in 2008. Currently, Guelph is considered one of the winnable ridings in Canada.
Guelph Greens Executive
To contact individual members of the Executive, click the email address of the person you wish to reach.
President .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Back in the day, I graduated with a university degree in Ecology and Economics. At the time I thought this combination made a lot of sense and I'd be able work towards providing solutions the world needed. Then I got an education. Since then I've worked as a biologist, a computer systems analyst, and a project manager.
When I moved to Guelph six years ago, it was in part because of the Guelph Greens and the possibilities they had created in this community. I had an opportunity to see their ground breaking work and saw the potential for widespread local acceptance of green values at both the social and political levels.
I've spent the last six years watching, listening and learning from the people that made the Guelph Greens. I helped on the election campaigns, I joined the executive as a member at large and most recently served as the Membership Chair.
I believe we are at a juncture in our history. The Green Party is no longer a small band of hearty souls getting together a few weeks before the election. It is now a mainstream political party, and Guelph is at the forefront of the party’s growth. The Guelph Greens need to become an organization that actively engages in promoting a green vision at the social and political levels all year around.
Vice-President, Federal .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I have had a love of the outdoors and the environment for as long as I can remember. Protecting and preserving – and finding political ways as a society to do that – has brought me to the Green Party. The Green Party is the only political expression in Canada, I believe, that has the analysis and depth to provide a truly sustainable future for us and our kids. I have been a minister in the United Church of Canada for the last 25 years. I have a BA from the University of Western Ontario, a Masters degree from the London School of Economics and a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. I'm an avid gardener and committed to local food. We just welcome chickens into our backyard! I'm proud to be part of Green Party and the green movement around the world.
Vice-President, Provincial .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Over the next 20 years, Guelph is expected to become home to 54,000 more people. The effects of climate change, instability of financial systems, and peak oil will result in people from all parts of the globe to seek homes here in Guelph. I want to serve as the VP Provincial for the Guelph Greens, because I believe we can build a sustainable future.
I moved to Guelph with my partner Vera and our son Nathan (now 18) and daughter Amber (now 16) in 2002, not long after 911. We had been living in the United States, and returning to Canada was of my commitment to peace. I felt it was wrong to willingly pay taxes that would be used to wage war for oil. We wanted to be part of community and country that invested in peace making through universal health care and education.
After we moved to Guelph, the work I found was in Mississauga as a Program Manager in engine development. I was able to contribute to making cars and trucks engines more efficient, but I was part of the rat race commuting insanity that is a blight on us all. For the last two years I have been developing my business – Guelph Solar Hot Water, because we need the foundations for local sustainability. This is now my full time work.
The world needs Canada to re-establish itself as a voice for peace-making and community building. We need to develop local sustainable options to the oil, nuclear and war based economies. I have made my life about these changes, and I love talking with my neighbours about them.
Financial Agent, Federal .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Hi! As the CFO for the Federal side of the Guelph Greens, I have significant responsibility for the financial health of our organization as well as some legal requirements around reporting to Elections Canada. I've been a member, volunteer and donor in Guelph for a few years and am excited by the potential that we have to build a community capable of creating change. In my non-Green party volunteer time I play soccer, work at the University of Guelph and volunteer with the Hanlon Creek Neighbourhood Group. I have a Bachelors Degree from the University of Alberta and a Masters Degree from Royal Roads University. My passion and interest in the Greens is completely based in bringing people together around the idea that we can offer a better and different kind of leadership than we have come to expect from our political leaders and I look forward to working with such a talented executive team to see that vision come to life. My favourite food is anything meat-flavoured and I am a huge supporter of both TFC (Toronto Football Club) and the Vancouver Canucks.
Financial Agent, Provincial .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I want to be involved. I have been Treasurer in many different organizations, and a union, want to help the GuelphGreens grow.
Networks and Organizations: BNI, Guelph Networking Group, CANSIA working group
Social Skills: Public speaking, facilitating meetings and events, mentoring and adult education
Computer literate, project management, human resource experience, solar wind energy environmental background.
Recording Secretary .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I've been involved in almost all the local political campaigns since 2003, in capacities from volunteer co-ordination to just knocking on doors. I am getting involved in the Exec because I want to the Greens to focus on long-term building of local capacity and establishing strong interconnections between existing groups in Guelph.
Networks and Organizations:
Transition Guelph, GEL, University of Guelph
Professional and Technical Skills: basic web design, proficiency with MS-Office, basic graphic design/layout, writing and editing (news/opinion pieces, reports, web content), social marketing.
Passions: I believe we each share a responsibility to live within our means and the capabilities of the earth to support us. I believe we can live in comfort and thrive in happiness when we work together collaboratively to build systems that allow us to focus on what really matters to humans: good times and connections with others, the joy of life and watching living things grow and thrive.
Things I like the most: Sitting cozily on the couch with blankets and hot chocolate and a loved one in the winter; getting together with friends and talking through the night; being ridiculous on the internet; extraordinarily long walks through the woods; learning anything about science; reading great children's literature.
Membership Chair .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I’d like to take an active role in developing the Green Party in Guelph. I’d like to help the Green Party have a presence in Guelph between elections.
Networks and Organizations: YPN (Young Professionals Network) member, Thursday morning networking group member, Guelph Green drinks member,
Skills and Resources: Networking, marketing, social media, organization, time management
I have experience promoting different groups through networking and social media
I’m a trained teacher, with experience teaching adults. I also have experience in Sales and Marketing for a solar company. This has given me an understanding of Ontario’s energy situation.
Communications Chair .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I am a concerned local citizen who has lived in Guelph for over 25 years, gone to University here and raised a family here.
I have an Honours degree in International Development and Women’s Studies.
I have volunteered for OPIRG, coordinated Environment Week events for the Guelph Environmental Council (way back), organized my own little backyard environment group, was an organizer of the anti-MAI protest in Guelph, was on the Board of GIRC and have mainly voted Green for the last 20 years. I consider myself to be an environmentalist even though every day life has sometimes gotten in the way of my commitment. I would like to change that.
Member-at-Large .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Coming soon!
Member-at-Large .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I would like to see the Guelph Greens take a more active approach to fundraising, with an emphasis on small donors. I recognize that traditionally the CFO has only
done receipts and report submitting and I would like to expand on that.
Networks and Organizations: I took part in the Lawson campaign in 2011 and I work for Flight Centre. I also occasionally play soccer in the city and I volunteer for my local neighbourhood
association.
Skills and Resources: fundraising, working with youth.
I’m very friendly J
Member-at-Large .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Coming soon!
Member-at-Large .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
David Estill comes to us from the renewable energy field. David is the president of Estill Energy, a local solar installation company. He brings on the ground political experience, from knocking on doors, to working as a district organizer in North Carolina, and most recently as the campaign manager for Steve Dyck. When he's not campaigning or putting up solar panels, David likes to spend time with his wife Amy, his dog Jackson, and restoring his sailboat. He is very excited to join the executive this year.