With a close vote at the July 14 nomination meeting held simultaneously in four cities in the riding, the Kootenay-Columbia Green Party elected Abra Brynne (pictured) as their candidate for October’s federal election.

“It was inspiring to meet with Green Party members across the Riding and wonderful to do this process collaboratively with Kerri Wall,” Brynne commented.

“I’m deeply concerned about the social and environmental upheaval happening around the world,” said Brynne. “The Green Party is the only political party with the vision and courage to effectively tackle these pressing issues.”

With the recent election of a second Green MP joining longtime leader Elizabeth May in Ottawa, the Greens forming the official opposition in P.E.I. and recent polls showing Green support in B.C. equal to NDP support, it’s clear that the Green Party has grown since the last election.

Abra has lived, played and worked across the Kootenay-Columbia riding since she moved here with her young family in 1990. Throughout her career, her paid and volunteer work has focused on healthy, sustainable communities and food systems. She understands that non-profits are a key thread in our social safety nets and that for-profit businesses are equally important in creating resilient communities.

“I’m running to respond to the call from youth around the world for adults to step up to fix the climate,” said Brynne. “The crisis is very real; it’s happening now and we have seen its impact on our landscapes and on farms for many years already. It’s time for real action to defend our climate, not more talk.”

Abra grew up on a farm in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley and, as part of a family of thirteen, learned the value of co-operation and hard work from an early age. She volunteers as Chair of USC Canada and as President of the Kootenay Country Store Cooperative in Nelson and is the Executive Director of the Central Kootenay Food Policy Council. She lives with her partner of 26 years in Nelson and has two grown children.

Her competitor, Fernie resident Kerri Wall commented, “Being in this nomination contest with Abra was an incredible learning experience and wonderful leadership challenge. I look forward to working with Abra on her campaign and seeing at least 12 Green MPs in the House of Commons after October 21.”

Abra said, “I’m very excited to be able to represent the Green Party and to give voters in our riding the choice to vote for a party that will take real action to fight climate change, to improve health care, and to promote local economies.”

Abra is currently pulling together her campaign team and looks forward to further conversations with people across the riding so she can earn their votes and better represent them in Ottawa.

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