Early start to campaigning

While the federal election campaign is not expected to officially start until September, North Island-Powell River candidates are not wasting any time getting an early start.

Liberal Party Peter Schwarzhoff, New Democratic Party Rachel Blaney and Green Party Brenda Sayers will all be participating in Saturday’s Sea Fair parade, July 25, taking the opportunity to raise their profile in the community.

Although she will not be at Sea Fair, Conservative Party candidate Laura Smith has already set up her campaign office in Powell River. It is located on Joyce Avenue next to the Powell River Visitor Information Centre, 4760 Joyce Avenue. She will be in town on Wednesday, July 22, to meet supporters. Smith’s campaign manager said Smith plans to attend Blackberry Festival and continue her door-to-door canvassing.

Blaney, who lives in Campbell River, plans on spending the weekend in Powell River, riding a float in the Sea Fair parade surrounded by “an orange wave,” supporters dressed in orange, said one of her local campaign workers. In addition to meeting people at Willingdon Beach that morning, she also plans to continue door knocking and meeting supporters at Base Camp (4548 Marine Avenue) at 6 pm on Sunday night, July 26. The local NDP committee will hire a local election coordinator in August and Blaney’s Powell River election office will open soon at 7045 Field Street.

Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Sayers are scheduled to be in town on Friday, July 31, to meet supporters. A $50-a-plate fundraising lunch at Tree Frog Bistro, 4603 Marine Avenue (call 604.485.0010 to reserve a seat), is planned, followed by a by-donation family barbecue, 5 to 6:30 pm, with speeches from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at Powell River Seniors’ Centre, 6792 Cranberry Street. Sayers will launch her campaign that evening and the public will have the chance to ask questions of both May and Sayers at the event.

Schwarzhoff, who lives in Campbell River, has been coming to Powell River once a week since January knocking on doors and introducing himself, he said. He has visited about 1,000 homes so far and plans to continue his door knocking throughout the summer. He added that the campaign is working on its Powell River office and expects it to open by the first week of September. He is also planning to attend Blackberry Festival.