by Pieter Vorster | Feb 13, 2019 | News and Events
Mark de Bruijn Nominee for the Green Party of Canada Candidate for NIPR Much of my passion for the natural world and it’s wonders comes from leaving my urbanized European homeland at the age of 3, and moving to a country with nothing but wilderness everywhere. My father was smitten by it, and our family spent countless weekends and summers exploring the wilds, from our home in the Calgary foothills to the California Sierras. I grew up hiking, canoeing, trail riding and rock climbing my summers away in the glorious Rockies, much of it as a counsellor with a YMCA wilderness camp near Banff. Upon graduating from the University of Calgary with a 1st class honours B.Sc. in zoology, I worked as a fish biologist in the Arctic on Canada’s first major environmental assessment for a pipeline destined to bring Alaskan natural gas to Edmonton. Our work ultimately contributed to the Canadian government’s decision to decline the development application – the huge pipe was never built. Gradually I discovered my real interest lay in helping others appreciate and treasure the wonders of nature. I became a college biology instructor at Mount Royal College in Calgary. Later I completed the training to teach high school chemistry, biology and math, including a stint as school principal. As economics, interests and lifestyles changed, I gathered an eclectic range of skills working as general contractor, sporting goods buyer, healing program coordinator, and employability teacher and coach. But always I returned to education and the natural world as my primary passion. Along the way I discovered an interest in exploring the potential of creative...
by Larry McCumsey | Nov 4, 2025 | News and Events
Annie Smith and Katy Lepine were members of the organizing committee for the David Suzuki Event on October 17, 2025 at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay, BC. David Suzuki’s presentation was titled: Humanity at a Crossroads: Transformation or Extinction. It was a huge undertaking for the small group of volunteers with the North Island – Powell River Greens. Annie and Katy share their reflections and photos from the event. Click here to read the full story on Cortes...
by Larry McCumsey | Oct 1, 2025 | Newsletters
What kind of world do you want your grandchildren to inherit? Comment on Facebook to be entered to win 2 tickets to hear David Suzuki’s presentation: Humanity at a Crossroads in Courtenay, October 17! This is a special opportunity to hear Suzuki’s presentation on escalating climate change and the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Winner will be announced on our Facebook page on October 10. Enter the contest. Learn more about the event. Tickets are valued at $45 each. One entry allowed per person. Contest closes 11:59pm PST, October 9, 2025. Good luck, Your NIPR EDA...
by Larry McCumsey | Sep 17, 2025 | Newsletters
On the evening of September 4th, 2025, we held our North Island Powell River EDA Annual General Meeting via Zoom. If you would like a link to the recorded version of this meeting please let me know. While we recognize that Zoom is not ideal, considering the size of our EDA it is important that members throughout the riding be able to attend. In past years we have had a guest speaker following the business part of the meeting. This year however we decided to have a separate event. We are excited to announce that our special guest speaker is David Suzuki. He will be presenting at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay on Friday, October 17th. David’s presentation is entitled Humanity at a Crossroads: Transformation or Extinction. More information about the event and details of how to purchase tickets is available on our website (David Suzuki Event) and social media platforms (NIPR Greens on Facebook). We have sadly said good bye to three of our long time directors, Susan Short who held the position of Financial Agent, Carol McCuaig and Mark de Bruijn. Many thanks go to Susan, Carol and Mark for their commitment to our Green cause, which is simply trying to make the world a better place for generations to follow. These three individuals have brought so much to our organization and we will undoubtedly feel the absence of their tremendous involvement. Susan, Carol and Mark have said they will stay connected and continue to support the EDA in whatever capacity their schedules will allow. On the plus side we are very fortunate to have Katy Lepine join the...
by Larry McCumsey | Sep 9, 2025 | News and Events, Newsletters
Join us at 6:00 p.m., October 17, at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay, BC to hear David Suzuki’s insights about escalating climate change and the relationship between humanity and the natural world. David’s presentation is titled Humanity at a Crossroads: Transformation or Extinction. You will be able to purchase a signed copy of his book, The Sacred Balance, or his children’s book Bompa’s Insect Expedition, and have him personalize it. If you have purchased any of David Suzuki’s books prior to the event you can bring one book in for signing. Light refreshments will be available by donation. The Florence Filberg Centre is located at 411 Anderton Avenue in Courtenay, BC. The venue is wheelchair accessible with ample free parking. Tickets are $45. Get your tickets today! To express interest in volunteering or to request special ticket pricing for people experiencing hardship please e-mail jessica.wegg@greenparty.ca. 6:00 pm: Doors open. Book signing with David Suzuki 7:15 pm: Event begins. Introductions and Territorial welcome with the local Pentl’ach Peoples 7:30 to 8:15 pm: David Suzuki’s presentation 8:15 to 9:00 pm: Question & Answer period with David...
by Larry McCumsey | Apr 18, 2025 | News and Events
April 17, 2025 MONTREAL – The Green Party of Canada has launched its election platform. You can read it here. This is a platform for everyone who has been pushed to the margins, sidelined, underestimated, or ignored—and who is done with the status quo. For people who are organizing, showing up, and demanding more social justice. Please find the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s costing...
by Larry McCumsey | Mar 23, 2025 | Newsletters
Hello fellow Greens! The Coldest Night of the Year Comox Valley Green Team graces the cover page this issue. This is just one of the many things that we have been up to but of course the election dominates our thinking right now. Here’s your chance to see what has been happening and what we have planned for the coming weeks. NIPR Newsletter (Vol IV - Issue 1) Mar...
by Larry McCumsey | Mar 17, 2025 | News and Events
From Elizabeth May’s weekly newsletter: Good Sunday Morning! Issue #258 – March 16, 2025 I rarely make a prediction–in writing–about politics- especially in the volatile times we are in! But today is an exception. I am close to 100% sure that a week from today – March 23 - our new Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Mark Carney, will stroll over to Rideau Hall to ask the Governor General to call an election. Why Sunday March 23? Because on January 6, when Justin Trudeau announced he would resign as soon as a new leader for the Liberal Party was chosen, he asked the GG to prorogue Parliament until March 24. The Liberal Party made its own decision to select the new leader by March 9. If you ask me, this was an odd choice, rushing through their leadership race and leaving a new Liberal leader with only 25 days until the House resumed normal business. At that point both the NDP and Bloc leaders were saying they would vote to bring down the government as soon as possible–hardly normal times! It would be a pretty tricky path for any new Liberal leader and freshly minted PM to navigate. But for a new leader, now Prime Minister without a seat in the House of Commons, it is beyond tricky. Carney cannot risk a single indelible memory, or much retweeted YouTube of Pierre Poilievre in his place, saying “Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister…Oh right! He is not allowed in the Chamber!” If I am right and the election is called next Sunday, that would put voting...
by Larry McCumsey | Feb 26, 2025 | News and Events
21 people attended the premier of the feature documentary Yintah at the Campbell River Community Center on February 20th, 2025. The movie was sponsored by the North Island Powell River (NIPR) Federal Green Party Riding Association and follows the Wet’suwet’en land defender’s 10 year struggle to keep gas companies from building a pipeline through their territory. Cortes Currents interviewed two of the event organizers about the film and some of the deeper issues within the local community. The event was also covered by the Campbell River...
by Larry McCumsey | Feb 3, 2025 | Environment, Featured Events, News and Events
JOIN US!!! Thursday, February 20 at the Campbell River Community Centre, Room 1, to watch and discuss YINTAH, a new riveting documentary film about Indigenous sovereignty and the push for resources by fossil fuel companies in central BC. Viewing begins at 7 PM with discussion to follow. Sponsored by the North Island Powell River Federal Greens. ** warning: threats of violence and occasional harsh language YINTAH, meaning “land” in the Wet’suwet’en language, tells the story of an Indigenous nation’s fight for sovereignty as they resist the construction of multiple oil and fracked-gas pipelines across their territory. Over the period of a decade, the film follows Tsakë ze’ Howilhkat Freda Huson, Tsakë ze’ Sleydo’ Molly Wickham, and their fellow land defenders as they reoccupy their traditional territory and galvanize their nation in a fight against several of the largest fossil fuel companies on earth. YINTAH is about an anti-colonial resurgence—a fierce and ongoing fight for Indigenous and human rights. The film reveals the hypocrisy of the Canadian government’s espousal of reconciliation, as Indigenous land is still being seized at gunpoint for the purpose of resource extraction. The Hereditary Chiefs’ claim to jurisdiction over the territory is supported by a 1997 Supreme Court of Canada decision. When a lower court effectively sidesteps this decision, granting pipeline companies access to Wet’suwet’en land, Wet’suwet’en leaders put their bodies on the line, building barricades to keep the companies out. Ultimately, YINTAH is the story of the Indigenous right to stewardship and sovereignty over their territories. Freda, Molly, and the land defenders are part of a centuries-long fight to protect their children, culture, and...
by Larry McCumsey | Feb 3, 2025 | Environment, Featured Events, News and Events
This fast-paced, interactive, action-oriented workshop focuses mainly on what we can do personally and publicly about climate change. Collaboration with other participants is part of the joy of our time together and is critical as building a community is key to dealing with climate change. We will learn from each other. Come ride with us on a light-filled journey through a dark subject. Solutions do exist! Please register through Elder College. Finding Climate Solutions with Joan Gillies Campbell River Elder College Course: CREC 5224 $35.00 Mondays Mar 1-31 1-2:20...
