Well over 110 people were in attendance on Saturday night for the sold out Mix and Mingle FUNraiser held at the Royal City Curling Club in support of the New West Progressives (NWP) 2018 campaign. It was a very festive atmosphere which included a special performance by a newly formed Peruvian dance troupe which brought attendees on stage to dance with them during the formal program!
Our lively emcee B.C. Lee, who also sits on the NWP Board of Directors, had the audience laughing and actively participating in the evening\’s festivities. He formally introduced President David Halkett to the stage to say a few remarks. Halkett took the opportunity to introduce Celia Marto, a public school teacher who resides in the McBride Sapperton neighbourhood, as our newest Board director. Joining them on stage were founding board directors Daniel Fontaine, Lisa Falbo and Danielle Connelly.
![\"\"](\"http://nwprogressives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_6777-1024x683.jpg\")
\”It\’s a great honour for me to be joining the Board of the New West Progressives,\” says Marto. \”I want to contribute back to my community and help make it a better place to live in the future. Actively supporting some top quality candidates is a great way to do that.\”
Midway through the program Lee asked Fontaine, Falbo and Victoria Hill resident Cyrus Sy up on stage. All three were carrying large signs that were covered from view of the audience. After a brief countdown, each revealed signage which indicated they were seeking a nomination with the NWP on May 29th.
Fontaine had made his intentions known earlier in the week by way of a news story in the Record paper. However, it was the first time that both Sy and Falbo spoke about their intentions to run for public office. The announcement garnered a huge round of applause.
\”It was great to be able to make my announcement in front of a sold out crowd of people committed to improving our public education system in New West,\” says Sy. \”What has attracted me to the New West Progressives is there are a lot of people like me who are getting involved in politics for the first time ever.\”
\”We are certainly building a great team,\” says Falbo. \”There are three of us declared so far, but I know there are many more to come. I\’m confident we\’re pulling together a great team of candidates who will commit to introducing new ideas and a more balanced approach to politics in this city. People are most certainly looking for change.\”
![\"\"](\"http://nwprogressives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_6783-1024x683.jpg\")
The municipal elections are being held on October 20th this year – a full month ahead of when they were last held in 2014. The NW Progressives intend to run a slate of candidates for the council and school board this fall. The next major milestone is the nomination meeting which is being held on May 29th at the Centennial Lodge. The public is allowed to attend the event, but must register in advance by clicking here.
\”On behalf of the fundraising committee, I want to say thank you to everyone who attended our event and also made a donation,\” says Darren Milne, Chair of the Fundraising Committee. \”We raised a lot of funds which help to make us more competitive in what appears to be shaping into a bit of a David vs Goliath contest.\”
NOMINATION DAY IS MAY 29TH. IT\’S FREE TO REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE.