Charlottetown - The Green Party of PEI announced Sunday that two nominees will be seeking candidacy in their nomination contest Monday evening. Karla Bernard, shadow critic for Education and Hannah Bell, shadow critic for Finance have both come forward.

“I’m looking forward to the Island Green Party’s first contested nomination tomorrow,” said Green Party leader Peter Bevan-Baker. “The calibre of the people who have come forward, even in such a compressed timeframe, is a real testament to the party’s growth in recent years, and the hard work done by our team to build the Green Party into a politically viable alternative to old-style politics.”

“We have immense talent in both of these extremely competent women” said deputy leader Lynne Lund. “The membership will have a tough choice on Monday evening, but regardless of which nominee is successful, the Green Party will be highly competitive in the District 11 by-election, and we intend to win this seat.”

The Green Party’s nomination meeting will take place at the Murphy Center in Charlottetown on Monday, October 30th at 6pm. Green members and supporters, and members of the media, are welcome.

Meeting agenda outline:

6pm - Meeting begins

6:15pm - Speeches from nominees and questions from members

7:30pm - Results of vote expected to be announced. Speeches from leader Peter Bevan-Baker and deputy leader Lynne Lund

Green Nominee Profiles:

Karla Bernard was born and raised in rural P.E.I. Bernard has been the Shadow Critic for Education with the Green Party since 2016. She holds a certificate in Business Administration from Holland College, a BEd from U.P.E.I. (focus on Indigenous Studies, French and history), and an MEd in Counselling from Acadia University.

Bernard now resides in Charlottetown with her partner Ryan and 2 young children. She has been an educator with the Public Schools Branch for the last 12 years in the role of both teacher and counsellor. She has also worked as a counsellor at the Provincial Addiction Treatment Facility. She has had ongoing involvement on various school and community committees promoting healthy, safe spaces and advocating for services. She also sat as a member of the Citizen Reference Panel in the creation of the National Mental Health Action Plan for Canada. In her roles, she is passionate about helping create happy, healthy, productive, critically thinking citizens. Throughout her work, she has played a role in the arts and theatre, taking advantage of these opportunities whenever possible. She is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a member of the PEI Counselling Association. Karla Bernard is committed to healthy, engaged communities, mental wellness, education and the eradication of poverty focussing on the social determinants of health.

Hannah Bell is the Green Party Finance critic. She holds an MBA in Innovative Management from UPEI, and has 30 years of varied experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Canada and the UK. She is currently the Executive Director of the PEI Business Women's Association, owner of consultancy firm ‘The Solution Agency’; a partner in training firm ‘Business Learning Solutions’, and co-owner of ‘The SPOT Charlottetown’, a creative co-workspace and business incubator. Her work focuses on building capacity and influencing change through the power of storytelling, practical training and skills development, strategic planning and partnerships, and sustainable project design.

Bell is a community leader locally and nationally, including representing the province as governor with National Trust Canada and as champion for Startup Charlottetown, part of the Startup Canada entrepreneurs network.

She lives in Parkdale with her daughter Ava and her mother Judith.