. . . . June 15th, 2010
Allow me to re-introduce myself…
Dear Fellow New Democrats,
My name is Jessica Van der Veen and I am seeking the nomination to be your candidate again in Oak Bay-Gordon Head. As a member of the BCNDP and an OB-GH resident, you have a vote.
It was a great experience being your candidate in the 2009 provincial election! It was such a close contest and I am convinced that together we can close that small gap of 561 votes and win our riding for the NDP!
I am pleased to report to you on some of my activities since May 2009:
In the riding:
Since May 2009 I have worked hard to get to know, and become even better known, to the voters of Oak Bay-Gordon Head. I attend public meetings, barbeques, block parties, cultural events, and community association meetings and volunteer on several boards. I do my best to assist constituents with problems that our current MLA is either unable or unwilling to solve.
I continue to work with citizens across BC to stop the sell-off of public school lands and urban green spaces. I speak at public forums in OB-GH and places like Qualicum Beach where the community is working to save its only high school. LANDS! (Let’s Agree Not to Dispose of Schools!) is an organization I founded in 2007. We have influenced provincial policies on the sell-off of lands and held the Liberals accountable for cuts to capital funding. The rate of school lands sales has been dramatically reduced, but the problem remains unresolved despite increasing numbers of children.
In October 2009, I spearheaded a campaign to stop the sell-off of Oak Bay Lodge and Mount Tolmie Hospital, two public seniors’ care facilities in the riding. We organized a public forum on seniors’ care at Cadboro Bay United Church. Again, provincial reductions in capital funding are forcing Health Authorities to liquidate lands. This is an unsustainable and short-sighted business model.
Through building connections at the Municipal level, it appears that Oak Bay Lodge may be protected. LANDS! is still working to protect the Mount Tolmie lands, a perfect location for a larger seniors’ care facility. My work on both schools and seniors’ care is based on the belief that people do better when they are rooted in their own communities and have close contact with friends and family.
Working to protect Oak Bay Lodge and Mount Tolmie Hospital taught me about public seniors’ health care and the Liberals’ quiet exclusion of our seniors from the Canada Health Act. Seniors are being billed for basic services like wound care and rehabilitation from accidents. This must stop.
I continue to serve as Co-Chair of the Mary Manning Centre Board of Directors, Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Society. This fine organization is the primary support on the lower island for children and youth who experience sexual or physical abuse. The organization continues to progress and provide outstanding service to our community.
For a change of pace from public advocacy, I volunteer to coach the students of Oak Bay-High School for their annual musical productions. Using skills from my 25 years as an actress and director, it is delightful to participate in a creative process and have fun with some wonderful students!
For the NDP:
I continue to serve as South Island Regional Representative on the Provincial Executive. Through organizing, I have met many wonderful New Democrats across the South Island. My position on the Executive has given me the chance to both learn about and influence policy decisions and the new platform development process. It has been an invaluable education in party structure and processes which has made me even more ready to hit the ground running as your MLA.
Federally, I campaigned for both Denise Savoie and Edith Loring-Kuhanga in Saanich Gulf Islands. This enabled me to door knock from one end of the riding to the other and gain even more valuable campaign experience.
Locally, I serve as a Member-at-Large for Oak Bay-Gordon Head New Democrats Executive. I have worked hard phoning, fundraising and organizing events. This has been a real pleasure. OB-GH New Democrats are wonderful people!
I sincerely hope that this letter will illustrate my heartfelt commitment to Oak Bay-Gordon Head, to the BCNDP and to a future based on the values we share.
Thank you for your kind attention. I hope I can count on your support in the upcoming nomination.
Yours truly,
Jessica Van der Veen, MPA
Ps. Look forward to seeing you at the launch party! Friday, June 24th, 4:30-6:30 at 2634 Cranmore Road. To RSVP or speak with me, call (250) 598-9272
Pps. My website provides a one page biography, my platform and my full cv.