Vancouver - Little Mountain voters invited to candidate debate on nature & climate

Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – September 17, 2024—Voters in Vancouver – Little Mountain constituency are invited to a candidate debate on nature and climate on the evening of Sept. 27, 2024 at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre hosted by The BC Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-BC).

“Recent polling shows the vast majority of voters support more protected areas on land and in the ocean with strong support among all major parties. It’s important for voters in Vancouver – Little Mountain to hear how their candidates intend to address their concerns about nature and climate,” says Eden Luymes, Youth Engagement Coordinator at CPAWS-BC.

The forum is non-partisan and candidates from Christine Boyle from the BC NDP and Wendy Hayko from the BC Green Party have confirmed to attend*. Candidates will have a chance to share ideas and plans with the audience on key environmental issues that are front and centre in BC and the constituency.

“During the panel, we will be looking over False Creek, an area that used to be brimming with marine life, “ Zaida Schneider, co-founder of False Creek Friends Society shared. “This is an opportunity to hear from candidates about how they will work to help nature here, and across BC, be resilient and healthy, now and for future generations.”

Youth from the CPAWS-BC Young Leaders in Conservation Program will be developing and asking specific questions to candidates. There will be time allotted for audience Q&As towards the end of the panel.

“Youth provide a unique perspective to environmental policy as their past, present, and future are so greatly shaped by the relatedness between climate change and socioeconomics,” says Ethel Wai, a participant in the Young Leaders in Conservation Program.

Doors will open at 6 pm, with complimentary snacks and drinks before the debate begins. Attendees are encouraged to reserve a seat via Eventbrite, as only a limited number of seats will be held for walk-ins.

* UPDATED ON SEPT. 24: John Coupar, who previously confirmed his attendance in this candidate debate, has now declined. The debate will go ahead with the other two candidates for this riding.

About the organizer:
CPAWS-BC is part of one of Canada’s oldest non-profit conservation groups. We advocate for the protection of wilderness in every corner of BC and deep into the ocean. We work with Indigenous, provincial and federal governments with the goal of creating large protected and interconnected areas: places that can nurse nature through climate change and shelter plants and animals forever.

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Media Contacts:
Max Winkelman, CPAWS-BC, max@cpawsbc.org, 604-685-7445 x3