THIS week, the B.C. Green Party is celebrating its 40th anniversary, including a decade of its members being elected to the provincial legislature.

The party noted that it has regularly defied expectations, including the implementation of a confidence and supply agreement which lasted three and a half years, and numerous policy initiatives that have since become law.

This Saturday, the party is hosting “40 and Forward: A B.C. Green Gala” to recognize the hard work of its candidates, members and supporters as it gears up for next year’s election.

“For the past decade, British Columbians have elected Green MLAs to represent them in the legislature,” said party leader Sonia Furstenau. “From the urgent battle against climate change to the struggles surrounding housing and healthcare, the B.C. Green Party has left a lasting mark on BC, and I could not be more proud to be standing here today with many of the people who have made that possible. In the face of the rising cost of living, worsening climate change, and dwindling healthcare access, we’re more determined than ever to push onward.”

“British Columbians want honest, decisive and collaborative action from their government that changes people’s lives for the better,” said Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. “From protecting old growth to free prescription contraception and banning big money, this party has taken some of the most important issues from ideas to law, while championing the value of working across party lines. That’s why people vote for us.”

“We’re not done reshaping the political landscape,” Furstenau added. “We are ready to make history again by electing the largest B.C. Green caucus ever. The candidates we have already nominated for next year’s election are all recognised leaders in their communities, fighting B.C.’s most pressing issues. They are changemakers like Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi who consistently advocates for better access to healthcare, Nicole Charlwood who is a champion of climate action and water conservation, and Ned Taylor who is a passionate advocate for intergenerational equity. I look forward to standing side by side with them in the legislature in the very near future.”

The 40 and Forward gala will be held at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria on Saturday, October 14, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.