The BC Greens named their candidate today (Friday) for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain — the day after the riding incumbent was acclaimed.
This morning, the party announced Ian Soutar won the nomination in the constituency held by NDP MLA Jodie Wickens. She was officially declared that party's choice in Coquitlam last night by BC NDP Leader John Horgan, on the one-year anniversary of her byelection win.
Soutar, 26, told The Tri-City News he has lived on Burke Mountain for two years and, in 2015, worked on the federal campaign for Marcus Madsen, who ran for the Green Party of Canada in Port Moody-Coquitlam against NDP MP Fin Donnelly.
It will be the first time Soutar has run for political office.
A landscaper, Soutar is a youth representative for the Green Party of Canada, co-chair of the Young Greens of Canada and is vice-president of the Tri-Cities Rotaract Club. He is also active with Fair Vote Canada, the BC Health Coalition, Force of Nature, Amnesty International, the Audubon Society and Tri-City GreenDrinks.
Soutar said youth issues will be at the heart of his campaign.
"I am delighted to welcome Ian to our team of BC Green 2017 candidates," party leader Andrew Weaver said in a news release. "Ian’s commitment to intergenerational equity, diversity and dialogue is inspiring. He is a real community leader who will put his constituents first."
Joan Isaacs is the BC Liberals' candidate for the May 9 provincial election.
