Prince George voters invited to candidate debate on nature & climate
Oct. 7, 2024
Unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples/Vancouver, BC – OCTOBER 7, 2024—Voters in Prince George are invited to a candidate debate on nature and climate on the evening of Oct. 9, 2024 at the Weldwood Lecture Theatre (Room 7-238) at UNBC hosted by UNBC students and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia (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 Prince George 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 BC NDP, BC Green Party, Conservative Party of BC and Independent candidates for the Prince George-Mackenzie, Prince George-North Cariboo and Prince George-Valemount ridings have been invited. 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 their own constituencies.
For Prince George – Mackenzie, Shar McCrory, BC NDP, James Steidle, BC Green Party and Rachael Weber, Unaffiliated, have confirmed their attendance. For Prince George-North Cariboo, Coralee Oakes, Independent, and Randy Thompson, BC Green Party, have confirmed their attendance.
Youth from the CPAWS-BC Young Leaders in Conservation Program will be developing and asking specific questions of the candidates. There will be time allotted for audience Q&As towards the end of the panel.
“As youth, we will live the future that we help shape today; let us shape a future that is worth fighting for. It is easy to think there is nothing one person can do to make an impact. Never believe that your vote does not matter. We all have a voice and a vote to go along with it; your vote is significant, so become informed and make your vote count,” says Tina Watters, a local participant in the Young Leaders in Conservation Program who will be co-hosting the debate.
“Youth are the future. With voter rates declining, we must prioritize informed voting amongst our youth! Environmental issues are becoming more and more prominent every day. It is crucial that we as a society begin to shift to a more ecocentric view, and demand change and protection for the environment from our government leaders,” says Madi Tokarchuk, a local participant in the Young Leaders in Conservation Program who will be co-hosting the debate.
Doors will open at 6:15 pm, with the event starting at 6:30 pm. Attendees are encouraged to reserve a seat via Eventbrite, as only a limited number of seats will be held for walk-ins.
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