Vaughn Palmer
Provincial Political Columnist at Vancouver SunVaughn Palmer has been the Vancouver Sun’s provincial political columnist, based in Victoria, since 1984. To date he has covered 11 BC premiers and counting. He also does a daily commentary on B.C. politics on radio station CKNW in Vancouver. Palmer is the recipient of the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jack Webster foundation, a co-winner of the Jack Webster award for reporting, and a recipient of the Hyman Solomon award for excellence in public policy journalism from the Canadian Public Policy Forum.
Keith Baldry
Chief Political Correspondent and Legislature Bureau Chief at Global BCKeith Baldrey is Global BC’s chief political correspondent and legislature bureau chief and one of B.C.’s best-known political commentators. He joined The Vancouver Sun in 1984, and moved to The Sun’s legislature bureau in 1986, becoming The Sun’s legislature bureau chief in 1989. He joined BCTV (now Global TV) in 1995. He has covered 10 premiers, 10 provincial elections and 12 federal elections (along with numerous federal campaigns and party leadership races). He also writes a weekly syndicated column on B.C. politics for a variety of B.C. papers and websites, including the North Shore News and the Burnaby Now, and is a daily commentator on CKNW Radio. He has written numerous magazine articles, and co-authored (with now-Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason) a book on former premier Bill Vander Zalm and his Social Credit government. In 2021, he was named Broadcast Performer of the Year by the B.C. Association of Broadcasters for his ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ariana Fotinakis
Co-founder of Reconciliation and Well-BeingAriana Fotinakis is a woman of mixed ancestry, with Anishinaabe roots and Greek roots. A daughter of a Sixties Scoop survivor, Ariana is proud to be reclaiming her heritage. As a trauma-informed decolonial facilitator, somatic coach and breathwork facilitator, Ariana brings a grounded, gentle, and compassionate approach that supports her clients as they decolonize their hearts and minds so they can share their medicine with the world.
Vanessa Lesperance
Co-founder of Reconciliation and Well-Being at The Mindful ManagersVanessa Lesperance (she/her) is a heart-centered mixed heritage Metis woman who is reclaiming her roots. The proud descendant of voyageurs and ancestors who were part of the Red River Resistance.
She founded The Mindful Managers to help people connect to themselves and others in a good way. Vanessa is a facilitator, speaker and connector. She holds a graduate degree in business from SFU and a masters degree in leadership with a focus on decolonizing business through workplace spirituality. She works with Indigenous entrepreneurs (women and youth) from across Turtle Island. Vanessa has also written on leadership and decolonizing in a few publications and co-teaches at the Justice Institute on Power & Privilege.
Sonia Furstenau
Leader at BC Green PartySonia Furstenau studied at the University of Victoria, where she completed her BA and MA in History, and her Bachelor of Education degree. She has worked as a small business operator, a bookkeeper, as the National Administrator for Results Canada, and as a high school teacher in Victoria and Shawnigan Lake.
Sonia's advocacy in protecting her community’s drinking watershed led to her election in 2014 as Area Director for Area B of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. In 2017, Sonia was elected as the first B.C. Green MLA for Cowichan Valley and in 2020 was elected as the new leader of the B.C. Green Party and re-elected as MLA for Cowichan Valley.
Honourable Brenda Bailey
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation at Government of BCSmall businessperson, tech entrepreneur, and change maker, Brenda Bailey was elected MLA for Vancouver-False Creek in 2020 and named British Columbia’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation in December 2022.
Minister Bailey brings to her role a passion for expanding opportunity and economic innovation nurtured over a lifetime building new businesses, leading economic development initiatives, and serving the community. In every role she has taken on, she has worked to create a more inclusive community and economy.
Minister Bailey blazed new trails for women in tech as co-founder of Canada’s first women-owned and operated video game studio. She helped strengthen and diversify B.C.’s creative tech industry as head of British Columbia’s interactive and creative digital marketing association, DigiBC.
Today, as Minister of Jobs Economic Development and Innovation, Minister Bailey's focus is working with business, Indigenous and community leaders to drive the government’s Stronger BC Economic Plan forward. For Minister Bailey that means growing an economy that benefits all British Columbians with support for business, expanded access to post-secondary education and skills training, meeting our climate commitments, and fostering innovation across our economy.
Peter Milobar
Shadow Minister for Finance at BC UnitedPeter was elected MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson in May 2017, and re-elected in October 2020. He is the Shadow Minister for Finance. Peter previously served as critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, critic for Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and the Official Opposition House Leader.
Before entering provincial politics, Peter was mayor of Kamloops for three terms, after previously serving two as councillor. He served as chair of the Thompson Regional Hospital District for five terms, and was a director for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District since 2005.
Peter has also worked on the BC Transit Board of Directors, at PRIMECorp, and on the Local Government Contract Management Committee.
Peter and his wife Lianne are lifelong Kamloops residents, and the proud owners and operators of a local small business. They have three grown children.
Michelle Ratcliffe
Sustainable Tourism Strategist + Storyteller at Alpenglow Strategies
John Rustad
Leader at Conservative Party of BCJohn Rustad is the MLA for Nechako Lakes and the Leader of the BC Conservative Party.
John was born and raised in Prince George, BC. In 1995, he married Kim Royle.
In 2005, John was elected to the riding of Prince George–Omineca. In 2009, after the redistribution, John was re-elected to his seat, now designated Nechako Lakes. He has served there ever since.
John has been a champion of resource development and economic reconciliation. As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, John signed more than 400 agreements with First Nations that have created economic opportunity for all British Columbians.
In Spring 2023, John became the leader of the BC Conservative Party, taking the Tories from 2% to 34% in twelve months. John looks forward to competing for government on October 19th, 2024.