Jonina Campbell is going green when she returns to school next week – a fitting move for the face of the B.C. Greens in New West.



Campbell, who was the Green Party of B.C. candidate in New Westminster in the spring provincial election, is returning to her job with the Richmond School District in September after a one-year leave of absence. Having worked in special education and English language learning for the past few years, she’s looking forward to returning to the classroom as a Grade 1 teacher.



“I am very excited because I have Hamilton Elementary, which is just past Queensborough. I am looking to insert myself into the lifestyle of commuting by bicycle to work for the first time in my life. It will be a transition. I want to walk the walk,” she said. “Also, I think it might actually be faster getting to work.”



A relative newcomer to the Greens, Campbell has taken on a number of roles within the party. During the election, the two-term New Westminster school trustee served as the party’s education spokesperson.



Since the election, Campbell has taken on a role as a spokesperson for the Green Party of B.C. on issues including education, transportation, mental health and addictions. That role has included regular appearances on CBC and CKNW.



Campbell, who placed second in the May 9 provincial election behind NDP incumbent Judy Darcy, is committed to building the Greens in New Westminster and is working on plans to start a local riding association. A meeting has been tentatively set for Oct. 1.



“There was a lot of people who stepped up and said they would love to continue to grow the B.C. Greens here in New Westminster. Most of the people who came to the campaign were new to politics or new to the Greens,” she said. “I think there is a real appetite there for change and an opportunity to be involved in a party that is very evidence based, very committed to making decisions based on principled politics and putting the environment first. Everything we saw this summer with the flooding in the spring and the fires throughout the summer, I think a lot of people are really waking up and saying, ‘Wow, we really need to pay attention to climate change and to growing the green economy that is going to make sure we can live sustainably.’”



While the Vancouver Greens have started a local municipal party, Campbell said her commitment is to building a provincial riding association in New West – not a municipal party.



“I haven’t made any decisions yet based on what my role will be at a municipal level,” said Campbell, when asked about her future political plans. “My first and foremost thing is to serve people of New Westminster in whatever capacity that is.”

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