Special Event: Chalk Up the Vote

Saturday May 9th
12:30 pm to 6 pm
meet in Grandview Park (Commercial and Charles)

This is an unfunded unofficial grassroots event for artists to help raise awareness of the upcoming referendum on BC-STV on May 12th. And yes, it's pretty last minute too.

The idea is to cover the sidewalks of Commercial Drive (as much as possible) with chalk artwork and promote BC-STV in doing so. No one is required to write slogans or draw vote-related artwork. Creativity is the watchword and those inclined to can chalk up the reminders about the upcoming vote. We want to have chalk for members of the public to join in, and again, they aren't forced to draw or write anything pro-STV, just to create as they wish. The point is personal choice, personal power, and personal expression.

We'll meet at 12:30 pm in Grandview Park and go from there. Bring chalk if you can, but I'll try to get as much as possible so it's not a requirement.

Musicians and performers can simply play and perform. We'll probably try and get volunteers with the pamphlets near you when you do.

Come down whenever you can, but the more people we have at the start, the easier it'll be to get things going. If you come later in the day and can't find us, feel free to call my cell at 778.859.0899 — I do not give out that number and that's only for the day of. If you need to contact me in the meantime, you can reach me by e-mail or at 604.451.7353.

If you can think of anything else you'd like to do that would help, please do. This is an open-ended event. If you just drop off chalk, bring food for the participants, whatever comes to mind, it's welcome. If you're coming in from a distance and can give people a ride in or back home (for this or the Friday night party), please let me know.

Anyone and everyone is welcome. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let them know.

And of course, get out and vote on May 12th!
Campaign website: www.stv.ca

Campaign office: 604-637-3551, 305-1770 W.7th Ave. in the Spence Diamonds building Volunteers and donations are of course always needed.
Presenting STV Rocks!! @ the Cambrian Hall.

Here are the details:
Friday, May 8th
Cambrian Hall: 215 17th Avenue East
8pm - 1am
$5-10 sliding scale at the door - but BC-STV volunteers get in free! Just let us know which events you've participated in (or sign up now for an hour's shift at the door or at the bar, and spend the rest of the night at the party!)

Sweet lineup of musicians and performers including:
- The incredible DJ Timothy Wisdom
- The funk rock style of Jack Fruit
- ... and the glorious voice and cords of Chelsea Johnson and the New Ones!

Stuart Parker and comedian Charlie Demers will be your hosts/MCs for the evening.

Please email me at events@stv.ca if you can volunteer for an hour or two.
Look forward to seeing you there!

Kael Deverell
British Columbians for BC-STV

Potvin Wins Green Party Seat for Vancouver-Kingsway

Back on March 16th, we reported a Green Party candidates meeting at Cafe Deux Soleils.
Well, the vote is in and our own Kevin Potvin made the grade. Read his thoughts in this article from the Vancouver Courier:

Last Sunday, I got myself nominated as the federal Green Party candidate in Vancouver-Kingsway.
My motivation is the same as when I ran for council in 2005. The interface between citizens and politicians has become opaque with layers of mystery, intrigue and gossip. We can either have elected representatives making up the rules of the game, or we can have appointed technocrats doing it for us.

Read the full story here...

Public Meeting: Meet the Green Party Candidates For Vancouver-Kingsway

Kevin Potvin, publisher of The Republic newspaper, will be seeking the Green Party nomination in Vancouver-Kingsway for the next federal election expected this spring.

The nomination meeting will take place at 2:30 on March 24 at Café Deux Soleil, 2096 Commercial Drive. Come out to show support and hear some ideas!

Vancouver-Kingsway is currently represented by Liberal-elected, but Conservative-defected, David Emerson. In the previous election, the Liberals won with 43% of the votes, running that star candidate. Ian Waddell, a long-recognized figure on the left, representing the NDP, came second with 34%. The Conservatives came third with 19%, and the Green candidate came in fourth at 3%.

This time, the Conservatives, after Emerson’s defection to them, could lose half their support; the NDP, if Waddell bows out this time, could lose 5%; and the Liberal candidate, an unknown taking the place of Emerson as a Liberal, may lose up to 14% . That would leave 31%—enough to win—for an effective Green candidate. It’s a long-shot scenario. But if it’s possible to win, that’s how the vote would break out.

Come out and talk to the candidates (other ridings in Vancouver will also conduct their nomination meetings same place, same time) March 24 at 2:30 at Café Deux Soleil, and see just what the possibilities are!

You could also volunteer to help, which would be ducky. Time could be extremely short. An election may well be called before the 24th.