Some Highlights of the Campaign Trail - 2011

This was my busiest campaign ever, and I was always out and about. I did so many interviews with the press, and yet there was almost no mention of me in any type of media. And there is only four of us! And I'm the only woman! They seemed to go out of their way not to even suggest there was a Green candidate running in this riding, much less my name or anything else about me. It certainly wasn't for lack of trying... The lack of coverage and acknowledgement was very disappointing, but I'm thrilled to represent the Greens in Edmonton East. Here are some of highlights, with links to more pics and info.

April 13 - BPW Women in Politics Night!

Business and Professional Women's Club of Edmonton - Women in Politics Night. Had a chance to network and chat after the Q&A, too! 20% of ticket sales donated to the YWCA's One Woman One Vote initiative.

April 18: Elizabeth May & Georges Laraque @ EcoBall!

Green Rally, Vegan Potluck, Earth Week EcoBall!  My full post on that visit is here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 21 - M.E. LaZerte Cultural Festival

Up to 1500 students and 120 staff members partake in this event. Among many groups of students, 17 countries are represented to prepare and serve ethnic food as well as cultural performances. I love Bollywood! All I can do is traditional bellydance, but I certainly felt like shakin' it...

All the candidates from Edmonton East were there, but only Goldring got to give a speech. Made up some excuse about his foreign work or something making his qualified to speak.. Then he left. Really, they were hoping to embarrass him into agreeing to a forum, which is why we all were came, but he doesn't *do* those, doncha know, and easily evaded that invitation...

April 25 - Wrecking Ball

Live theatre, with abundant use of the f-word and Harper roasting, Vote Rappers, and a forum! All packaged in a box.. I can see why Goldring only showed up for 10 min., pronounced it "disgusting" and left in a huff, though. It *was* pretty funny... I choose to think that absolutely no mention of Elizabeth means that everyone loves her and no one wants to make fun of her, especially since she was just in that very theatre the week before!

I was there all evening talking to constituents and watching the performances, and I was the only rep of Edmonton East on the forum, but the press chose not to mention the fact... It's enough to try one's patience. Though they gave Linda Duncan and Louis Cardinal lots of air time...

April 28 - Wave by on 118th. Ave

I love waving at the cars! So many wave back and honk their support. Really helps raise the spirits during a long campaign...

During a rainy, cold evening, too. Shoulda planned that a bit better...

 

 

 

April 30 - Edmonton Vote Mob



Captian Canuck!



Great energy!  About 100 ppl, even more than Calgary, I heard! We had lots of interest, and honking, and did we make some noise!

I and my campaign manager were there for the whole Vote Mob. We didn't get any press. Linda Duncan showed up to make a speech at the beginning, and got interviewed, then left. But they thanked her profusely for showing up... 

You can tell who's doing it for the Cause. Since we certainly aren't in this for the glamour and fame...   If we were, you can bet we'd be re-evaluating that strategy...

 

 

April 30 - Thrival Edmonton Festival

Organized by Make Poverty History and Dare to Care, featuring performers, bicycled-powered music (seen in the video), a clothing swap, and pay-it-forward food.  I need to get ahold of Music is a Weapon...

April 30 - Pride Centre Candidate Open House

It was originally scheduled as a forum, but Goldring wouldn't show up, through Con Laurie Hawn did... So we had an open house instead. The candidates and their people almost outnumbered the constituents! But a great time was had by all. I stayed 'til late, as usual...

"Reasonably Articulate" - My First Podcasted Speech - April 7, 2011

The above left-handed compliment, one of my personal favourites, was handed to me by the speechwriter for the Liberal candidate in my riding.  Edmonton East is a Conservative stronghold, with almost no chance of anyone else winning, and the first time Liberal candidate still merits a speechwriter!  What kind of resources does that party have, anyway?  I refuse to be envious of that kind of flagrant squandering...  He even had pocket cards!  I on the other hand know Vision Green and my topics so well that my oration was genuine and authentic, with no notes or prepared speech.  It shows a bit, in that I only had a cup of coffee in me, so I wandered a little...  I'm no Elizabeth, after all, but I get by...

So I was torn for the title for the post. My other idea was my internal response to the discovery of the very existence of speechwriters for local candidates in other Parties. "Speechwriters?! We don' need no stinkin' speechwriters!" 'Course, I hear it in Dr. Johnny Fever's voice, so it's funnier...

I hope I was able to inspire a few of the students to vote and maybe do more to empower themselves in their democracy.  I was told that I was really the only one most ppl could hear, even up on the second floor.  A few asked me for buttons, at least one volunteer contact, and one of the young women organizing the event wanted her picture with me!  I felt like such a rock star...  I warned her to take it down from her FB page if she wanted to go to another Party's rally, you know, just in case...

The other candidates did just fine.  With their notes and prepared speeches...  Heh.

PODCAST:  Concordia Speech 2011

Heard first: Shafik Ruda

My first candidate forum of this election, put together by the Student UN of Concordia University.  Participants included myself, Shafik Ruda, first time Liberal Party candidate for Edmonton East, and ARTEM MEDVEDEV , NDP candidate for Edmonton Leduc.  Self-confessed Conservative, Student UN President Brock can be heard butchering my name right at the beginning, though he did fine with the others.  Not suggesting any Freudian slips or anything... Due to his shaking, I'm going to assume that he was just a bit nervous.  Would have accepted an apology, though...
 
The Conservatives didn't even deign to send a representative.  As is usual for my riding.