Formerly the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Claire departed British Columbia politics on a high note. Her successes included introducing ride hail to the province; developing and implementing the province’s first active transportation strategy; and developing a framework for project labour agreements.

Claire spent more than 15 years as an elected MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for the large rural constituency of North Island. Her legislative career included a broad range of Shadow cabinet posts during NDP’s opposition party status.

In these roles, she addressed issues from women’s rights through childcare to social development and, of course, transportation and infrastructure. She spent time working on Legislative committees for Children and Families, Finance, and Sustainable Aquaculture. Claire also served a term as a Deputy Speaker of the BC Legislature.

Prior to entering electoral politics, Claire worked as a lead on strategic communications projects both domestically and internationally. She was a spokesperson with the UN, was the Chief Communications Officer in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo as well as in Canadian and US sponsored missions abroad. She has also worked on voter access in Iraq, corporate governance in Macedonia and projects from Guatemala to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Claire’s roots are in journalism where she was a reporter, producer and editor for the BBC, The Guardian (UK), and the CBC among other organizations. She has covered international issues from human rights to war to the environment. She holds a B.A. (Honours) from the University of Birmingham and has a background in International Studies from Jacksonville State University.

Claire lives on Quadra Island and loves camping, walking, cycling, gardening and reading.

Born and raised in Burns Lake, British Columbia, Canada, Al is a member of the Carrier/Sekani Nation and former elected Chief of the Burns Lake Band. During his term as Chief, Al focused on education, economic development, financial stability, and employment opportunities for band members.

In previous roles, Al has built strong working relationships with First Nations bands, industry, and all levels of government.  He also has deep roots (no pun intended) in forestry, from harvesting to finishing, including knowledge in nano/nano crystalline fibre research. With experience in the public, private and community sectors, Al has a unique depth of knowledge which he has drawn on throughout his varied career, including as a business owner, college instructor, economic development and elected school board trustee, and municipal councillor.

Al holds a diploma in Business Administration from the University of Victoria. He is also a certified Lead Auditor in ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, a certified Employment Counselor, and certified in Emergency Spill Response. Al graduated from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Academy in 1979, certified.

When Al in not earning new certifications, he is an accomplished artist with work showcased at the Northwestern National Exhibition Center “Ksan” Village, in Hazelton, B.C. He’s an avid outdoorsman, community volunteer within the forestry community, and enjoys spending time camping with family and friends.

In his role as Party President, Craig oversaw a rebuild of the political party’s infrastructure and two successful elections, including the most recent landslide win for John Horgan.

In his nearly 20 years as a City Councillor in North Vancouver he developed a reputation as a practical bridge builder and as someone who could get past obstacles to get things done. He carried this reputation through his time as President of the BC NDP.

Most recently, Raj served as the Executive Director of the BC NDP. She was a key architect of the 2017 and 2020 BC NDP election campaigns and served on Premier John Horgan’s Transition Teams for both of those election cycles. As the Executive Director, Raj is credited with building a modern and professional political organization that set the stage for the BC NDP’s recent wins. Before taking the helm of the BC NDP, Raj worked closely with Premier Horgan as Deputy in his leadership campaign, followed by two years as the Deputy Director/Field Director of the BC NDP.

Raj has served as a top advisor to several elected leaders, including as the Director of Outreach for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, where she led stakeholder relations for Carole James, Leader of the Official Opposition. She has served in central campaign roles in five BC election campaigns, and nationally with federal NDP leader Jack Layton. She also served as senior political advisor to Former Deputy Premier and BC NDP leader, Joy MacPhail. Raj was a senior political staffer in Municipal Affairs, Labour and Education.

Raj is deeply committed to advancing women in politics and passionate about reconciliation, having worked with the First Nations on Indigenous rights and title. As the BC NDP’s Field Director, she led two by-election wins, including electing Melanie Mark, the first, First Nations women MLA in BC history. As Executive Director, she helped elect the first majority-women government caucus in Canadian history. She has also served on the board of the non-partisan Canadian Women Voters Congress and chaired the Women’s Campaign School, bringing together organizers and elected women from all political parties to encourage and train women to run for office as well as staffing political campaigns.

Born in Kamloops BC, Raj holds a BA from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She is an enthusiastic four-season wilderness camper, happy to arrive by snowshoe or paddle, and calls Vancouver home.

Michael formed Gastown Strategy Group in 2016 and has been leading a team of expert strategists to drive lasting change in Vancouver and across Canada. Today, Michael advises clients in every major sector of the BC economy, including telecommunications, forestry, energy and mining, as well as from the innovation economy and health research and advocacy. His combination of experience in the public, private and not-for-profit worlds give Michael unique insights into the public policy environment – insights that deliver value for clients.

Michael assumed his first public leadership role as a senior advisor in the BC government’s communications agency 20 years ago. He has played a central role in five provincial election campaigns, four leadership races, and as war room director in a federal election. Michael has also worked closely with the BC NDP and now Premier John Horgan, both as Executive Director of the Party and as director of John Horgan’s successful leadership bid.

While Michael lives in Vancouver, he can often be found in the mountains chasing summits, powder, or both.

John formerly served as Speaker of the Nevada Assembly and was an elected representative in the Nevada Legislature for 12 years. He held a variety of leadership positions and chaired numerous committees, including Commerce and Labor, and Transportation. As Speaker of the Assembly in 2011, John worked with his colleagues in both houses and parties to ensure the state budget was balanced, while providing additional funding for education and other essential state services.

In addition to his legislative service, John had a 20-year career with the North Las Vegas Fire Department, working as firefighter, paramedic, engineer, captain, battalion chief and retiring as an assistant chief in 2011. As assistant chief, he developed and implemented a comprehensive emergency operations program and managed 220 personnel and a multi-million dollar budget.

John has also served on numerous boards and in many different leadership positions. He was named “Elected Official of the Year” by the American Heart Association and the National Association of Social Workers, Nevada Chapter. John received a “Top 40 Under 40” award from In Business Las Vegas and was named “Consumer Advocate of the Year” by the Nevada Trial Lawyers. John’s most cherished honor was having his name placed on the Distinguished Service Wall at the Nevada Firefighters Memorial, joining only 17 other firefighters who have been so honored. Since leaving office, John has built a successful consulting practice.

A fourth generation Nevadan, John has a busy family life with three young children, and enjoys time in the great outdoors on his ATV.

John has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Cogswell Polytechnic College, and earned a master’s in public administration and a law degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.