Re-Elect Sonia Furstenau for Cowichan Valley

I got involved in politics to make sure the decisions made by government protect the people, communities, and ecosystems of Cowichan Valley and BC.

  • " We need Sonia's strong and compassionate voice standing up for families, human rights, indigenous rights, our environment, and supporting collaborative solutions driven by evidence-based decision making. "

    Lydia Hwitsum

    Lydia Hwitsum

    Cowichan Tribes member
  • " When I first met Sonia Furstenau, it was in a hallway on the maternity ward of Cowichan District Hospital. She was there as a witness, lending her support as our newly elected MLA in a very challenging situation where a baby was being removed from its mother.

    The courage and passion she demonstrated that day, the willingness to show up and engage in the complex and controversial conversation around child apprehension in our community is one example of why I believe she is an extraordinary leader."

    Kate Koyote

    Kate Koyote

    Registered midwife
  • " Collaborative, intelligent and genuine. Sonia has been a refreshing variation from divisive hyper-partisan politics. As the only party leader with a clear plan to end oil and gas subsidies and transform our economy into a clean, sustainable one, Sonia has my vote. "

    Jenni Capps

    Jenni Capps

    Municipal councillor, service industry worker
  • " Sonia is extremely hardworking, compassionate, intelligent, and without doubt an amazing MLA. She consistently stands up for her fellow humans, as well as our planet.

    She's the inspiration I need to push through all the negativity of politics and to stay positive. Thank you Sonia, for fighting for our community and for inspiring more people like me than you could ever realize. "

    Shelby Saulsgiver

    Shelby Saulsgiver

    Youth climate activist
  • " I am endorsing Sonia Furstenau for Cowichan MLA in this provincial election. As a front line Psychiatric Rehabilitation Worker for Island Health, I know there has never been a more urgent need for mental health support and resources, and I believe the Green Party platform is a positive step toward increasing mental health services to all British Columbians. "

    Paul Chorney

    Paul Chorney

    Psychiatric rehabilitation worker
  • " Sonia is giving me hope that my son will grow up in a safe and healthy world and watershed. No other candidate or party is putting our children first by proposing economic solutions that factor in the costs our children will bear if we don't transition away from fossil fuels.

    I am also grateful for her hard work to ensure that wild salmon continue to be the beating heart of Cowichan's culture and environment for generations to come. "

    Jill Thompson

    Jill Thompson

    Watersheds advocate and community volunteer
  • " I am supporting Sonia to help bring about a middle of the roach approach to politics in British Columbia.

    For too long, it has been left and right, Liberal or NDP. British Columbia deserves a new direction. BC Greens are the vehicle to get us there. "

    Willa Atkinson

    Willa Atkinson

    Wife, parent, LGBTQ2S+ advocate
  • " I support Sonia because of her work as a MLA and now as leader of the BC Green Party. We need a Green voice in the Legislature to keep pushing forward, towards climate change solutions.

    Time is running out! "

    Angela Davies

    Angela Davies

    Founding board member, HUB at Cowichan Station
  • " Sonia is at the vanguard of a new type of public servant. Her style of governance aims to promote cooperation as opposed to the old-style politician who is concerned with winning power.

    Sonia instinctively understands that nurturing, not competing, will enable British Columbia to tackle the problems of climate change and social inequality. "

    Rob Maclean

    Rob Maclean

    Former History teacher
  • " Sonia Furstenau and the Green Party are the only ones willing to truly stand up for our Earth. Their platforms are focused on lifting people up, not corporations.

    They are proposing to give children and families a strong start, meet the needs of small businesses, and more importantly, protect our natural environment. "

    Cammy Lockwood

    Cammy Lockwood

    Farmer, mother, small business owner
  • " My life partner was a vibrant senior who loved life and died prematurely, unnecessarily in care. Everyone I sought help from in the government passed the buck until I walked into Sonia's office. Sonia's team had begun addressing the injustice before I even left the office. I urge people who are elderly, disabled, and those who love you to cast a vote for Sonia. "

    Sharon Anderson

    Sharon Anderson

    Retired nursing instructor
  • " Sonia has been instrumental in empowering the Cowichan Green Community and other organizations to get healthy food to families in need.

    There is no other candidate in Cowichan Valley that will enable us to grow this community in a sustainable way. "

    Julia Rylands

    Julia Rylands

    Owner of Muddy Feet Farm
  • " I live in a rural area of the valley and know the benefits this brings from growing our own food to supporting and protecting wildlife. I've been a retail worker and a small business owner, and know the challenges of both.

    I am supporting Sonia Furstenau and the Green Party because they will maintain the push towards a clean green economy. The only way forward is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and build an economy based on clean tech and renewable resources. "

    Janice Smith

    Janice Smith

    Small business owner
  • " Sonia has been a tireless advocate for progressive change in BC and her positive, collaborative style has been instrumental in advancing policies that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable, and turning these policies into actions.

    We need Sonia leading a strong contingent of BC Greens in the next BC legislature to keep progressive change moving forward in this province. "

    Mark Allison

    Mark Allison

    Principal, Net Positive World
Sonia's Story

My first experience in politics wasn’t running for office, it was holding people in office accountable.

Fighting alongside my community to protect Shawnigan’s drinking water, I saw firsthand that there is a disconnect between government decision-making and how those decisions affect communities. Despite the promises made by other parties, people aren’t feeling a positive impact in their daily lives. I’m running for office to continue to bring compassion, collaboration, and evidence to the decisions and policies that affect people in Cowichan Valley, and to ensure that we focus on solutions for our communities.

Sonia's Record

Sonia is a proven leader.

I thrive on bringing people together and getting things done. We’ve accomplished a lot in the past three and a half years since I’ve been your provincial representative, but there is more work to do - we are just getting started.

B.C. Green MLA
B.C. Green MLA

In my three and a half years as MLA for Cowichan Valley, I have worked collaboratively to improve environmental and social policy, make the legislature more transparent and accountable, and model a new kind of leadership in Cowichan Valley.  I’m proud to have championed legislation to require better evidence-based decision-making in our resource development approval process; development of child care and early childhood education programs; and reforms to reduce removing Indigenous children from their families.

Area Director for the CVRD
Area Director for the CVRD

Before being elected at the provincial level for Cowichan Valley, I served as an elected Area Director for the Cowichan Valley Regional District. During my term, I successfully delivered several infrastructure and community engagement projects, and helped lead my community’s efforts to protect our drinking water.

Community advocate and Organizer
Community advocate and Organizer

I’ve helped lead many organizing efforts at the community, national and international levels. I have lobbied in Washington, DC and Ottawa for climate policy; helped lead the fight to save our community’s drinking water in Shawnigan Lake; and been involved in many different organizations fighting for poverty reduction and other social and economic justice issues.

Support Sonia

Together, we can offer a positive and collaborative alternative to old-school politics. I’m so excited for what we can achieve when we come together around the future we want.

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