LONG-SERVING Sooke School District Board Chair Ravi Parmar launched his campaign on Wednesday for the BC NDP nomination in Langford-Juan de Fuca. The seat became open when former premier John Horgan retired at the end of March.
“No one can replace John Horgan – those are big shoes to fill,” says Parmar. “But I’m excited to bring my energy and experience to help build on his extraordinary record of service to the people of this constituency.”
Parmar thanked the many people – including Horgan – for encouraging him to put his name forward. He said that he will work to earn the support of every person in the constituency.
“The BC NDP in Langford-Juan de Fuca has a long tradition of electing strong MLAs to fight for good jobs and better health care, education, housing and childcare,” says Parmar. “With one the youngest and fastest growing populations in the province, we can’t let up. We need to improve our transportation infrastructure, protect our environment, and promote local small businesses. As MLA, I will work hard for our constituency and for a strong BC that works for everyone.”
Born in Victoria and raised in Langford by parents who immigrated to Canada, Parmar began advocating for his community at a young age. In high school, Ravi mobilized his fellow students to put pressure on the BC Liberal government resulting in the construction of two new high schools to replace the old Belmont Secondary.
Soon after, Parmar was elected as a School Trustee to the Sooke School District — the youngest school trustee in the country. In 2017, he was acclaimed Board Chair. In that role he oversaw the largest expansion of public education in the district’s history with brand new schools, expansions and an unprecedented 2,200 new student paces.
Parmar has also been instrumental in the development of a new post-secondary university in Langford, bringing together four post-secondary institutions allowing for more higher learning opportunities for students.
In addition to his work on the school board, Parmar is a senior advisor to BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, helping the government build a more sustainable and inclusive economy. He has a BA in Political Science and a minor in Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
For Parmar, public service comes down to his fundamental belief in community and the power of government to help make life better for people. Looking forward, he says he is excited about helping the BC NDP government deliver for people, particularly in these challenging times. He passionately believes that by staying focused on what matters and standing on the side of everyday people, the BC NDP will continue to build a province that works for everyone in his community, and all British Columbians.
“Premier Eby and our BC NDP government are working every day for people, tackling the challenges our province faces head on, from the affordability and housing crises, to protecting and improving health care for patients. They have made a lot of progress, but there is more work to be done. I hope to join them as the MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca to carry out that important work,” says Parmar.
