Chilliwack – From FVN in 2022: If at first you don’t succeed ……..
Long time Rotarian Debora Soutar made her first bid for Chilliwack City Council in 2018. She did not win but she made another run in the 2022 Municipal Election.
Soutar is very active with the annual Rotary book sales and a vocal environmentalist.
Soutar now has her sights on Federal Politics.
From her Facebook page: Debora Lynn Soutar – I have let my name stand for the Green Party of Canada in Langley Township-Fraser Heights. I will continue to support policies that address climate change, and protect the environment. We’re all doing the best we can but we need our leaders to step up! #GreenParty
Soutar still lives in Chilliwack.
Chilliwack entrepreneur and community advocate Salina Derish has been selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Chilliwack-Hope
A Federal Election is expected to be called in the spring.
The official media release is here : A long-time Fraser Valley resident with a reputation for environmental advocacy, Debora Soutar has been nominated as the Green Party of Canada candidate for the new Langley Township-Fraser Heights riding, in anticipation of a federal election this spring.
Soutar has decades of experience as a leader of a variety of conservation groups in the Fraser Valley including Save Our Sloughs, the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition, the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society, Chilliwack Urban Forest Advocates and the Chilliwack Park Society. Soutar had a rich and varied career as a Professional Forester, most recently representing the Fraser Timber Supply Area Coalition, administering its provincial funding Forest Investment Account to achieve provincial silviculture goals. Soutar is also well-known in the region for leading natural history walks and talks.
Soutar is passionate about climate action and understands that we all need to do our share. “But even if we all do our best, we still rely on government and big business to make the big decisions, like not subsidizing fossil fuels. Instead, those subsidies should be used for investment in developing sustainable energy. That is just one issue among many, that the Green Party and I will emphasize in presenting a more positive future for the residents of Langley Township-Fraser Heights and Canada.”
Soutar has a strong commitment to the Green Party, currently serving as the CEO of the Chilliwack-Hope Federal Green Party Association and previously as a Financial Agent for a BC Green Party campaign.
Soutar is a strong believer in the strength of community and is active in a variety of community groups including the Rotary Club of Chilliwack, the Chilliwack Museum & Archives Society and Cheam View United Church. Over the past 10 years Soutar has led her church’s initiative to redevelop a United Church property for affordable housing. Construction is now underway of 64 new, affordable apartments for seniors and families.
When she’s not attending conservation meetings, you can find her hiking in Fraser Valley parks or paddling on one of its many streams. Soutar has an optimistic outlook and a ready smile. With her husband of 45 years, she likes to spend time with their three grown sons and four grandchildren.
