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Update on Special Ballots for our Federal Candidate Nomination

Thank you to all the nominees, their supporters, and members who have asked questions and expressed concerns about whether or not they would be able to cast a vote in this nomination contest. The vote will take place on Friday April 5th, at Cutten Fields, during the nomination event. We are not able to safely, privately and legally accept any votes not cast in person at the event. There will be no special ballots or advanced ballots.

The nomination contest here in Guelph this year is very exciting, especially after a successful 2018 Provincial election. We, as a party, have grown in an exponential way over the last two years.

This unprecedented nomination contest, which may have five nominees, has brought a lot of attention to our party and to our city. Thanks to that extra attention, it has brought our own EDA attention to our systems. Our constitution and by-laws were written and voted into place in 2012, 7 years and 3 elections ago. While reviewing our by-laws we have come to understand that we are not in a position to accept special or advance ballots. We do not have a secure system.

While this must leave many members frustrated that they can not take part in the selection of the candidate for the Federal election, I really hope you will take the time to work with us to update and modernize our constitution and by-laws for our next AGM. If you are interested in joining a committee to help review the by-laws as they are and to help with updates please let us know. If you have a particular interest in only the nomination election process we need your voice also. Please email president@guelphgreens.ca to let us know.

Candice Lepage

President, Guelph Greens EDA and CA

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Upcoming Event: Nominee Town Hall

The Nomination Committee and Guelph Greens Executive invite you to our Town Hall event featuring your 2019 Federal Candidate Nominees. Meet the candidates and hear about where they stand on key political issues.

WHEN: Friday March 22 @ 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cutten Fields, 190 College Ave E, Guelph, ON N1H 6L3
Please RSVP if you are going to attend

In this Candidate Town Hall we will have a moderator pose pre-selected questions to the candidates, plus a series of questions from the floor to elicit conversation and thoughtful debate surrounding the hot topics of the forthcoming election and also federal issues facing Guelph.

If you have a question for the candidates, email nominations@guelphgreens.ca before March 18th at 7pm.

Light refreshments will be served and there will be a cash bar.

We hope to see you there!

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Successful first event for Federal Campaign

The Guelph Greens’ first official event for the 2019 Federal Campaign, a nominee mixer, was a resounding success. The room was packed at the Symposium in Guelph on the afternoon of March 9, 2019, where 3 of the 5 nominees vying for the candidacy of Guelph Greens were present to chat with attendees.

Nominee Ralph Martin speaks with attendees
Nominee Ralph Martin speaks with voters.
Nominee Jax Thornton
Nominee Jax Thornton
Nominees speaking with Green party members at the mixerNominees speaking with Green party members at the mixer
Nominees speaking with Green party members at the mixer

Official nominees Ralph Martin and Steve Dyck, and unofficial nominee Jax Thornton were busy all afternoon speaking with attendees. Unfortunately, nominee Alex Chapman and unofficial nominee  Hayley Kellett were unable to attend.

Great turnout at Guelph Greens nominee mixer
Great turnout at Guelph Greens nominee mixer
Snacks at nominee mixer
Snacks at nominee mixer

Those who attended were able to enjoy some delicious snacks as they learned more about the nominees, mixed and mingled with fellow Guelph Greens,  found out what it takes to work on a winning campaign, and signed up to volunteer.

Nominees speaking with people
Nominees speaking with people
Nominee Mixer march 2019
Nominee Mixer March 2019
Signing up new volunteers
Signing up new volunteers
Nominee Jax Thornton chats with a voter
Nominee Jax Thornton chats with a voter

Watch for news of our next event, a nominee townhall, which will include all 5 of the (by then) official Guelph Green nominees.  The event is expected to be held towards the end of March.

Guelph Greens president Candice Lepage and Vice President Brett Nodwell address the crowd
Guelph Greens president Candice Lepage and Vice President Brett Nodwell address the crowd
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The Guelph Greens Federal EDA is pleased to announce two more nominees vying for the role of the 2019 Federal Green Party Candidate, Alex Chapman and Steve Dyck.

The Guelph Greens Federal EDA is pleased to announce two more nominees vying for the role of the 2019 Federal Green Party Candidate, Alex Chapman and Steve Dyck.

Alex is currently the manager of Guelph’s Climate Change Office. He is excited to be a leader in Guelph’s award-winning Community Energy Initiative, helping to found Our Energy Guelph and providing leadership to its Transitional Board, Guelph Energy Managers, the Guelph Energy Efficiency Retrofit Strategy working group, and the Education, Communication, Outreach and Awareness Team. Alex was instrumental in obtaining the following awards for the City of Guelph: the QUEST Community Energy Builder Award, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Communities Award, and the GLOBE Climate Award.

“My kids are my everything. I believe we can build them a better world – a restored environment, a prosperous economy, and care for the most vulnerable. Guelph can be a beacon of hope and possibility for the entire nation. That is a message I want to bring to Ottawa,” says Alex.

As founder and President of Guelph Solar, Steve Dyck has been instrumental in creating green economy jobs in Guelph since 2009. As well, Steve is an active member of Fair Vote Guelph and Democracy Guelph, volunteer for Guelph Citizens Climate Lobby and a dedicated member of the Green Party. It is Steve’s dedication to community and future generations that drives his commitment to a sustainable world.

“I am seeking the Guelph Green nomination to build bridges of trust so people can vote for a plan that puts people and the planet first. Canadians deserve elected members of Parliament that listen to their concerns and treat them with respect and honesty. I will work to build these bridges among all Canadians for a prosperous community that protects our shared healthy and sustainable future,” says Steve

Read the full bios of the Guelph Greens nominees on the Guelph Greens web site.

Applications to become a nominee are now closed. More nominees are expected to be announced soon.

The nomination election will be on April 5th. More details to be announced soon.

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Candidate Mixer

Come out, have a bite to eat, and meet the nominees.  Mix and mingle with fellow Guelph Greens, and find out what it takes to volunteer on a winning campaign.

WHEN:  Saturday March 9, 2019   2-4 p.m.

WHERE: Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge
304 Stone Rd W, Guelph, ON

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Guelph Greens Federal EDA announces its first nominee for the role of 2019 Federal Candidate

(Guelph): The Guelph Greens Federal EDA is pleased to announce the first nominee vying for the role of the 2019 Federal Green Party Candidate, Ralph Martin.

Martin is a professor of plant agriculture in the Ontario Agriculture College at the University of Guelph. In 2001, he founded the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada to coordinate university research and education pertaining to organic systems, across Canada. From 2011 until 2016, he was the Loblaw Chair of Sustainable Food Production at the University of Guelph. Currently, he is the chair of the Canadian Rights and Freedoms Centre.

“I intend to advocate and negotiate for policies that will provide more predictability and less risk for businesses, and for policies to advance healthy ecosystems for all citizens,” says Martin. “I appreciate legacies of First Nations’ civilizations and recognize how addressing climate change and species loss requires ongoing partnerships with indigenous people.”

Applications to become a nominee are being accepted until March 1st. More nominees are expected to be announced soon.

The nomination election will be on April 5th. More details to be announced soon.