Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

ADAM OLSEN -- Sonia is as strong and wise as her mother, and I am honoured to officially pass the leadership of the BC Greens to her


 

I have an interesting story about Sonia Furstenau, Jan Carroll, Emily and Adam Olsen.

In 2006 Emily and I were planning our mid-August wedding. I was given one important job - secure the person who would officiate.

Part of the reason I had such a minimal workload for the wedding was that I was also the communications manager for Aboriginal Team BC heading off to the 2006 North American Indigenous Games in Denver, CO.

While I’m proud of the job I did to gain exposure for the hundreds of Indigenous youth athletes in 15 individual and team sports from all corners of our incredible province, I am less pleased with my lack of success securing the official to officiate our marriage. (Wow! I am throwing some serious shade on myself here.) I guess I thought I could get someone for the second Saturday in August after I got back from the games in the middle of July (of the same year.)

As you likely quickly recognized all the wedding officials were officially booked. It is quite likely most of the officials were booked by mid-July of the year before.

No surprise that there were no official officials to officiate our wedding and we had 250 friends and relatives ready to celebrate. They were ready because every other part of our big day was effectively planned by Emily.

We needed an official on short notice so by mid-July even an unofficial official would suffice. That is when Emily and I turned to Jan Carroll.

We didn’t know at the time that Sonia Furstenau was Jan Carroll’s daughter, but we did quite like Jan and felt that she would do a great job convincing our family and friends on our very biggest day that they were attending a real wedding meeting the expectations of the Province of British Columbia.

Jan dispensed her job beautifully. Despite almost backing off the bluff and into the Saanich Inlet - saved by one my uncles I think - the service was perfect.

As a result of my procrastination Emily and I now have three anniversaries. The early spring day we met, the mid-August day Jan "married" us, and the late fall day we actually met the official standards of our great province.

It was from Jan that Emily and I received the powerful advice that has become a critical part of the success of our relationship.

She told us that the secret of a successful marriage is to always remember that “one cooks and the other does the dishes.” Ever since, this simple principle has played out in a variety of ways - many that have nothing to do with the kitchen.

Eleven years later I was elected to the British Columbia legislature alongside Jan's daughter, Sonia Furstenau. I have worked closely with Sonia ever since. We have stood together on the top of the mountain and at the bottom of the valley.

Sonia is as strong and wise as her mother and I am honoured to officially pass the leadership of the BC Greens to her.

One thing I know for sure from many hours sitting at the table with Sonia is that she truly has the interest of British Columbians at the heart of her work.
 

Sonia is a powerful advocate; she has a fierce determination to ensure that the legislature in Victoria is the home of governance and not a platform for partisans.

I look forward to continuing to work with Sonia on behalf of our constituents and all our province.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

GORDON F. D. WILSON: When The Trick Masquerades as The Treat

Thirty-seven years ago, Halloween 1987, I became the leader of the BC Liberal Party.   British Columbia was badly polarized. Social Credit held one side and the NDP the other. It had been twelve years, 1975, since Liberal MLAs Garde Gardom, Pat McGeer, and Alan Williams had walked away from their party to join Social Credit, one year after the lone Progressive Conservative MLA Hugh Curtis had abandoned his party to sit with Bill Bennett, the son and heir apparent to long-serving BC Premier, WAC Bennett.   An unwritten agreement by the biggest Canadian political shareholders, the federal Liberals and Conservatives, decided that if British Columbia was to remain a lucrative franchise from a revenue perspective, they couldn’t risk splitting the electoral vote and electing the real enemy, the NDP, so no resources would be used to finance either a Liberal or Conservative party provincially.   “There are two sides to every street,” I was told by a very prominent Canadian businessman who cont

FORSETH: As a BC Conservative member, and campaign worker, I will again state that the fact these errors were found -- AND brought to light BY Elections BC -- shows the system IS working

Sadly, two and a half weeks after the BC provincial election campaign, those who want to undermine our political process are still at.  PLUS, we also have one who doesn’t even live in our country, never mind our province. I speak of the buffoon running for President of the United States, who has poisoned the well when it comes to faith in the electoral process. Just today alone, comments such as the following, were being made of posts that I shared online: ... all the votes they keep finding has just favoured NDP on in all critical ridings and soon they will flip another riding in favour of NDP, Come on. ... Elections BC has ridiculed British Columbians, and I no longer have confidence or trust in their process and competence regarding the results Then there are others online, with comments like these – who are claiming fraud in the October 19th election: ... Who is the oversight for Elections BC? They should be investigated for election fraud! ... Fraudulent election ... should be red

“With the talent and dedication of this caucus we will hold David Eby to account for his government’s out of control spending and ongoing failures in healthcare, public safety and addictions" — John Rustad

Today, John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, proudly unveiled his shadow cabinet, a dynamic team of talented individuals ready to hold David Eby’s disastrous government accountable and present a strong alternative vision for British Columbia. “ Our shadow cabinet is a diverse and experienced group, committed to restoring prosperity, public safety, and affordability for every British Columbian ,” said Rustad. “ With experts in every field, we are focused on delivering real solutions for the challenges our province faces .” Rustad emphasized the historic appointment of Aaliya Warbus as House Leader. The shadow cabinet reflects the Conservative Party’s vision to build a brighter future for British Columbia. The appointments are as follows: Leadership Positions : Aaliya Warbus – House Leader Bruce Banman – Whip Sheldon Claire – Deputy Whip Portfolios : Tony Luck – Municipal Affairs and Local Government Sharon Hartwell – Rural Communities and Rural Development I

Labels

Show more