Candidate Spotlight - Huguette Allen
Huguette Allen is the Green Party candidate for Okanagan-Shuswap where she won 17.3% of the vote in this past election, her first as a federal candidate. She is one of the Green Party's brightest stars and a candidate to keep an eye on for many elections to come.
Born and raised in Montreal, Huguette moved to BC in 2002 in order to be closer to her two sons and their families. Her work as a systems analyst and business consultant made it possible to continue working with clients in Quebec while establishing herself locally.
Her environmental awakening occurred 30 years ago when she realized that the lake she lived near was contaminated by heavy metals from industries that she herself had once encouraged. This led her to the realization that the socio-economic world in which she lived encouraged lifestyles that were bound to be destructive in the long term. She started looking for solutions that would contribute to building a healthier world for future generations.
Huguette has made profound contributions to sustainable economic development wherever she has lived. In both Quebec and BC, Huguette has maintained an incredible commitment of both time and effort to committee work and community involvement. During her years in Quebec, she was the Vice-president of Environment Vert-Plus and the President of the Regional Environmental Council for Gaspé and Magdalen Islands. More recently she has been the Director of the Sustainable Environmental Network Society and the co-founder of both Friends Of Responsible Ecological Sustainable Timber and Sugar Lake and the Middle Shuswap Stewards. She attributes her career and life successes to a logical approach, a high level of energy, a positive attitude and a strong desire to communicate effectively.
As a proud grandmother, Huguette speaks out against destructive practices that privatize profits while socializing deficits. She believes people are tired of seeing more money thrown at problems caused by a degraded environment and now sees that the Green Party has the will, and the way, to integrate the economy and the environment. "People want a party that will enact laws and practices that make us feel good about what we are doing rather than feel guilty for mortgaging the future of our children."
Huguette ran as a first-time candidate during this past election. She received a bevy of endorsements from various influential residents of Okanagan-Shuswap. As soon as she was nominated she started a newsletter to update supporters on monthly basis. She also did a "talking and listening tour" of the riding that identified more supporters and recruited volunteers. This energy attracted others who then formed into a strong and organized team that improved the Green vote from 4.1% in the previous election to 17.3%, marking a four-fold increase in the Green vote for the riding. But perhaps, what most encapsulates Huguette's life and essence is her campaign slogan. Whether she is canvassing the doors of Okanagan Shuswap as the Green Party candidate, or working in the community, or caring for her grandchildren, Huguette's spirit and positive outlook can be seen in her constant work towards "A Future Worth Voting For".
Born and raised in Montreal, Huguette moved to BC in 2002 in order to be closer to her two sons and their families. Her work as a systems analyst and business consultant made it possible to continue working with clients in Quebec while establishing herself locally.
Her environmental awakening occurred 30 years ago when she realized that the lake she lived near was contaminated by heavy metals from industries that she herself had once encouraged. This led her to the realization that the socio-economic world in which she lived encouraged lifestyles that were bound to be destructive in the long term. She started looking for solutions that would contribute to building a healthier world for future generations.
Huguette has made profound contributions to sustainable economic development wherever she has lived. In both Quebec and BC, Huguette has maintained an incredible commitment of both time and effort to committee work and community involvement. During her years in Quebec, she was the Vice-president of Environment Vert-Plus and the President of the Regional Environmental Council for Gaspé and Magdalen Islands. More recently she has been the Director of the Sustainable Environmental Network Society and the co-founder of both Friends Of Responsible Ecological Sustainable Timber and Sugar Lake and the Middle Shuswap Stewards. She attributes her career and life successes to a logical approach, a high level of energy, a positive attitude and a strong desire to communicate effectively.
As a proud grandmother, Huguette speaks out against destructive practices that privatize profits while socializing deficits. She believes people are tired of seeing more money thrown at problems caused by a degraded environment and now sees that the Green Party has the will, and the way, to integrate the economy and the environment. "People want a party that will enact laws and practices that make us feel good about what we are doing rather than feel guilty for mortgaging the future of our children."
Huguette ran as a first-time candidate during this past election. She received a bevy of endorsements from various influential residents of Okanagan-Shuswap. As soon as she was nominated she started a newsletter to update supporters on monthly basis. She also did a "talking and listening tour" of the riding that identified more supporters and recruited volunteers. This energy attracted others who then formed into a strong and organized team that improved the Green vote from 4.1% in the previous election to 17.3%, marking a four-fold increase in the Green vote for the riding. But perhaps, what most encapsulates Huguette's life and essence is her campaign slogan. Whether she is canvassing the doors of Okanagan Shuswap as the Green Party candidate, or working in the community, or caring for her grandchildren, Huguette's spirit and positive outlook can be seen in her constant work towards "A Future Worth Voting For".
