By Lawrence Loiseau
The BC Green Party Cariboo-Chilcotin candidate Rita Giesbrecht held her first “Get to Know You” event at the Critical Mass Pop Up Art Gallery in 100 Mile House on Dec. 17.
The occasion was the first public event hosted by the local Cariboo-Chilcotin Greens since Giesbrecht was nominated for the candidacy in October.
Her campaign manager Teresa Donck and financial agent Lisa De Paoli were in attendance.
Although not part of the campaign, which officially starts when the election writ is dropped, the idea of the Dec. 17 gathering was to get out and meet people, says Giesbrecht.
“We want to engage as many people as we can and listen to as many people as we can. The purpose at this stage is to really communicate the Green Party approach to politics and government. We want to give people the opportunity to get involved.
“The Green Party is not a young party anymore. It has been around 30 years and has come of age.”
For youngsters, the occasion offered cupcake decorating, arts and crafts, and vase decorating. There was also hot cider, cinnamon buns baked by Giesbrecht, and numerous baked goods donated by local artist Cecilia De Groot.
It is the most progressive of parties, Giesbrecht says.
“For example, the Green Party doesn't accept corporate donations. It only takes donations from identified individuals – no companies, organizations, unions or anonymous donations.”
She also prefers the term “movement” rather than “party.”
“We emphasize finding solutions, not partisanship. The Greens have a pragmatic approach and stress intersectionality.”
“Intersectionality” recognizes the complexity of identity categorization. The Oxford English dictionary defines the term as “the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.”
The party diverts 90 per cent of its donations to the local ridings and its representatives rather than the party itself.
If you are interested in learning more about the Giesbrecht and the Green Party, visit the website www.bcgreens.ca.