Sturgeon Falls native Kris Rivard is seeking the Green Party nomination in the federal riding of Nickel Belt.

Rivard will be up against Ericha Hendel and Casey Lalonde, both of Sudbury, when the Greens hold their nomination contest, expected around Labour Day.

“We want to give existing members some time to get to know these three fantastic contestants – and to give potential new members a chance to sign up to support Ericha, Casey and Kris,” says Steve May, chair of the Nickel Belt Greens nomination committee.

Rivard is a former student of Canadore College in North Bay, completing a post-graduate certificate in environmental management in April of 2018. He has BA in geography from Laurentian University in Sudbury and is to be married in August.

Rivard is pursuing the Green nomination motivated by a life-long interest in the environment and sustainability.

Lalonde attended Laurentian University and currently works for a non-profit agency while completing a master’s degree in counselling psychology. She ran for the Green Party of Ontario in 2014 and 2018 and currently serves on the provincial executive for the Green Party of Ontario as the Northern female representative.

Hendel graduated from the French environmental studies program at Laurentian University in June.

“The Nickel Belt Greens are just thrilled with the fact that we’ll have three excellent choices to represent the Green Party in Nickel Belt in the October election,” says May.

“The Green Party has never had a contested nomination in the Nickel Belt riding. Clearly, what we’re seeing now with three qualified contestants is the result of a growing national interest in the Green Party of Canada.”