Thursday, July 08, 2010

Green Vote

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It'll take two days but Okanagan Shuswap Greens are about to choose a federal candidate. Hugette Allan stepped down in February leaving the vacancy, now there are three candidates, all from Salmon Arm, and all men. Paul Nobel, a 25 year old rescent univercity grad, Eric Bjorgan, a 32 year old Pastor and Jay St.Onge, a 44 year old building manager are the hopefulls. Voting is in Salmon Arms Padolin inn on the 13th and Vernon's Schubert centre on the 14th.
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From the Green Party Press Release:
Paul Noble
25 years old, Paul has recently completed a Political Science degree at the University of Victoria, and has been accepted into UVic’s Masters program. But he has decided to put further schooling on hold in order to work instead with the Green Party. He was born on Saltspring Island and at the age of 5 moved to a farm near Salmon Arm, where he grew up. He graduated from Salmon Arm Senior Secondary in 2003 and enrolled at UVic in 2004. In order to put himself though school he worked in pipeline construction in the oil and gas industry (he is a member of United Associates Local 170), work that has taken him across western Canada, including Fort McMurray. Paul is confident that we can include young Canadians in the political process with new types of engagement and organizing, as well as with ideas and perspectives that are relevant to their daily lives.

Erik Bjorgan
32 years old, Erik received his Master of Divinity degree in 2007, and was ordained at Deo Lutheran Church in Salmon Arm, where he continues to serve as pastor. He spent his childhood in various rural and urban communities in Saskatoon and Alberta, until moving to Coquitlam where he completed high school. He then went on to study Psychology in Camrose, Alberta. After receiving his B.A., he served as a live-in assistant in a home for developmentally disabled adults, then in 2000 moved to Tokyo, where he taught English for 2½ years. In 2002 he began seminary studies in Saskatoon; also working at a home for developmentally delayed youth. He was married in 2005, to Marla, who works as a public health nurse at the Salmon Arm Health Unit. Erik is respected for his thoughts on the central role of community in connection to both environmental and economic well-being.

Jade St. Onge
44 years old, Jade has lived and worked throughout the Okanagan, both as the owner of a Building Maintenance company and, prior to that, as manager within a large chain restaurant, during which time 2 years were also spent in Alberta. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and moved to Osoyoos at the age of 10. He graduated high school in 1984 and began by working in restaurants. This led to becoming journeyman cook, and he completed his Red Seal in 1989. He and his wife Michelle have 4 teenaged children, and run a Property Maintenance business together. Jade feels that his long experience in successful businesses has given him the ability to build a Green team that pulls together.

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