Curiously, Metchosin councillor and B.C. Green Party candidate for Esquimalt-Metchosin, Andy MacKinnon doesnB次元官网网址檛 consider himself to be a political person.
B次元官网网址淚t seems strange to say, but I really think this is true B次元官网网址� in my mind, if the NDP was to embrace a whole host of progressive environmental initiatives I would be very happy to be standing up alongside the orange crowd singing their praises,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 important to me is that things get done.B次元官网网址� And given his background, itB次元官网网址檚 no surprise that MacKinnon has a particular passion for the preservation and protection of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 diverse environment, a passion that helped lead him to pursue provincial politics.
MacKinnon grew up in Vancouver, graduating with a masterB次元官网网址檚 degree in botany B次元官网网址� specifically micology B次元官网网址� from the University of British Columbia. Work with the B.C. Forest Service led him to Prince George, where he stayed until 1998, when he was offered a job in Victoria to lead the provinceB次元官网网址檚 forest ecology research program.
He and his wife decided to settle in the rural environs of Metchosin. Today their two sons are 20-somethings and the couple still lives in the family home by WittyB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon. B次元官网网址�(I enjoy) the people and the natural environment,B次元官网网址� he said when asked about his favourite aspects of the region. B次元官网网址淚 have such a terrific bunch of friends, both people my age and a lot of younger people as well B次元官网网址� (theyB次元官网网址檝e) decided this is a part of the world where they want to live and work and theyB次元官网网址檙e very interested in maintaining the natural environment.B次元官网网址�
Now (mostly) retired, MacKinnon remains an adjunct professor with Simon Fraser University and will actually be on the West Coast of Vancouver Island on election night teaching a field course.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not 100 per cent certain that IB次元官网网址檓 going to be able to find a radio or television, but I hope to so I can see how the election goes,B次元官网网址� he chuckled.
When heB次元官网网址檚 not spending his time in council chambers or teaching university courses, MacKinnon, who considers himself an energetic, positive person, can often be found at WittyB次元官网网址檚 Beach, a stoneB次元官网网址檚 throw from his front door.
B次元官网网址淚 think (itB次元官网网址檚) got it all, not just from an outdoor recreation point of view B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a place that I take visiting botanists because thereB次元官网网址檚 an incredible variety of ecosystems and plant species in the park.B次元官网网址�
MacKinnon also enjoys hiking, biking and surfing B次元官网网址� although he admits heB次元官网网址檚 terrible at the latter B次元官网网址� as well as playing the mandolin. Asked why he chose to run in the May 9 election, MacKinnon pointed to the GreensB次元官网网址� platform on economic and social issues, in addition to their environmental policy.
B次元官网网址淚 seem to have spent my entire adult voting life voting against one party or the other B次元官网网址� I honestly believe that the solid platform that the BC Greens have put forward might just give people something to vote for this time. IB次元官网网址檓 hopeful that we can bring about that kind of change. B次元官网网址�
