Join us on September 13, for a virtual town hall to discuss the upcoming elections and hear from some of the Women of Colour running as candidates.
We have confirmation of attendance from the B.C. Greens with Devyani Singh and Cheryl Matthew, Marcella Williams- PPC and Anjali Appadurai from The NDP.
Women of colour are changing the face of Canadian politics. Their voices are needed and Canada will be better for it. This virtual event is free and open to the public. It will feature panel questions posed to candidates, followed by a chance for attendees to ask questions. Please join us to hear from these local candidates about their stand on important issues including- Post-pandemic planning, environmental challenges, housing crisis and more.
If you haven't decided on who you're going to vote for, this is the chance to hear from candidates themselves, to help inform your decision ahead of September 20.
The event link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85706482337
Anjali Appadurai, The NDP
Anjali Appadurai is a seasoned advocate for environmental, social and economic justice. She’s also a musician and a staunch believer in people power. After years of advocacy at UN climate conferences, with West Coast Environmental Law, the Sierra Club BC, the Padma Centre for Climate Justice and the Climate Emergency Unit, Anjali is stepping up and running to be the leader we need - representing the NDP in the swing riding of Vancouver-Granville.
She is passionate about exposing the way climate change intensifies economic inequality, and she champions combining climate action with a strong social safety net. In Ottawa, she will fight for meaningful action on affordable housing, universal pharmacare, student debt, Indigenous rights, clean water, and getting profit out of long-term care.
Dr. Devyani Singh, B.C. Greens
Dr. Devyani Singh is a proud resident of Vancouver Quadra, and is running to bring more honesty, science and transparency to Parliament. She believes that racial, social and environmental justice is integral to building an equitable and green society.
Devyani holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Climate Policy, a M.Sc. in Environmental Science, a M.B.A. in Finance and serves as the Green Party Shadow Cabinet deputy critic for a green recovery. She uses her expertise in energy and climate policy, oil and gas emissions, carbon markets and environmental finance to work with governments, Indigenous communities, industry, regulators and non-profits to find implementable solutions for a just transition. She helped develop a sustainable forestry business plan for First Nations in Bella Coola, created a just climate action plan for municipalities in Pennsylvania and worked with the Canadian government and industry on improving accountability of methane emissions from oil and gas fracking.
In 2020, Devyani was a B.C. Green candidate, achieving over 17 per cent of the vote in a snap election with limited time and resources. She hopes to bring her unique perspective, her lived experience and her expertise to Canadian politics as Quadra’s first Green MP.
Marcella Williams, PPC
Marcella Williams is a First Nation’s Mother to three amazing daughters and a Grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren. Marcella is determined to set fire to the past and burn a new path towards a glorious future, for not only her family, but for ALL Canadians. Marcella grew up predominately in the lower mainland, graduated from college with a BBA with a Marketing Major. She has worked for the provincial government and various organizations that assist First Nation's and Metis citizens.
She has also been in the real estate industry for 13 years and counting. As a candidate and a proud member of the PPC, Marcella is looking forward to having the opportunity to confidently represent her constituents in parliament. With listening and hard work, she believes she has the ability to ensure Canada has thriving communities, supported small businesses, and a booming economy.
Marcella is willing to do whatever it takes. She is here to serve the people who value their rights and the freedoms that our young men and women fought and died for. She stands for the values that our beloved country were founded upon.
Cheryl Matthew, B.C. Greens
Dr. Cheryl Matthew (Simpcw First Nation) is a change-maker who works to end inequity and discrimination and to create cross-cultural understanding. She is an accomplished not-for-profit executive, public servant, consultant, a sometimes gardener, but most importantly she is a single working Mom.
After moving to Ottawa in 2007 to work with the federal government and selling her condo on Commercial Drive she returned in 2012 to find she was priced out of the market; gentrification had overtaken the neighbourhood, tent cities had grown, and most people couldn’t afford to live there any longer. Challenged as a working Mom, professional, full-time PhD student, with three children, limited housing options, long commutes, and barely able to stretch her paycheque to cover housing, daycare, food and transportation. Cheryl has met every challenge head on and still makes time to volunteer and work towards changing the world. Cheryl volunteered for the BC Greens last election, submitted policy on MMIWG, working toward an equitable, safer, affordable, and greener Canada for families.
Cheryl spent 12 years as a manager and senior policy analyst with the federal government with Service Canada and Indigenous Services Canada and has a PhD (Carleton), MA (Royal Roads), and a BA (SFU)
The event will also be livestreamed on www.facebook.com/sniwwoc. Closed captioning is available for this event.
For media enquiries, please contact domi@sniwwoc.ca at least 48 hours prior to the event.
We acknowledge that this event is hosted from the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people, currently and specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.