I had the honour this past month of hosting The Pender Post Society’s all-candidate election forums for Islands Trust candidates on North and South Pender Island.
As our society’s president, it is one of my role’s distinct responsibilities. But as British Columbia’s municipal elections hold to a set four-year cycle, it was entirely foreseeable that I might have been run off the island long before having a chance to fulfill the responsibility.
Everyone involved – be they partner, collaborator, participant, or audience member – would have easily guessed this was my first attempt at leading an effort of this scope. I truly appreciate all of you for the genuinely positive Pender reception and support.
It takes a great team and great partners to accomplish anything – doubly on Pender but anywhere, really – and this experience emphasized that point ten times over. The board and other Pender Post volunteers did a great job preparing the forums and managing on event days (shout out to Dianne, Veronica, and Christa, specifically) and giving me the chance to meet so many long-time readers in attendance.
I want to thank Sandra Trectick (Chamber of Commerce) and Melody Pender (Everything Everywhere All at Once) for their support promoting and livestreaming the events, Pender Radio for their technical assistance, and the Pender Islands School staff for hosting and helping us set up. And every one of you who were able to attend and pose questions to our candidates.
My sincere appreciation goes out to Aaron Campbell, Michael Cowan, Kristina Evans, Dag Falck, Morgan Hayward, John Kukarchuk, Benjamin McConchie, Brenna Mongeon, and Niall Parker for participating – and for putting your hands up in the first place.
I’d also like to thank Rob Fawcett, our new CRD Electoral Area Director, who was able to attend the first event and speak to his new position, and congratulate School District representative Greg Lucas for his return to service.
By publication, we’ll know who the Penders have tasked to represent us on the Islands Trust Council, but my appreciation for their participation and commitment to public service is extended equally to every one of them.
The Pender Post Society has been entrusted for decades to provide a balanced and impartial forum for islanders to connect with their municipal candidates. And I’m looking forward to doing it again for the next municipal election in 2030.
Though it’s entirely foreseeable that I’ll have been run off the island by then.