July 18, 2023 was a super Tuesday night Green rally at TheMuseum in downtown Kitchener as over 150 enthusiastic supporters made their way into the stage area for a round of inspiring speeches after snacks and drinks approaching 7pm. 

The crowd was starting to settle into rows of white chairs as Campaign Manager Maureen Balsillie took the stage to MC the event. Calm as a cucumber, a veteran of 10 campaigns, she confidently evaluated the team’s recent results. Over the last 6 weeks, her team had helped candidate Aislinn Clancy to canvas three shifts a day, aiming to meet by walking door to door and calling by phone the people in over 100,000 households in the riding that contain potential voters in the upcoming Kitchener-Centre MPP by-election.  

We are going to “paint the town Green”, was the message of the night, as it was announced that Clancy’s campaign is poised to have broken the record for the largest number of lawn sign signups ahead of an election announcement–over 600 requests and counting. 

The speakers included Johnathan Pedneault, co-leader of the Green Party of Canada, Mike Morrice, the only elected Green MP in Ontario, Mike Shreiner, the only elected Green MPP in Ontario, and of course, Clancy, who gave an emotional speech. 

She asked us to put our hands over our hearts and to close our eyes, to breathe deeply, encouraging mindfulness from a crowd that had just cheered her onto the stage. Morrice had earliest noted that what made Clancy really stand out is her authenticity.

The leaders explained that the way Greens get things done is by influencing the other parties to take action on key issues that are important to the community. For example, it was the Ontario Greens that tabled an increase to disabilities payments that ultimately moved the needle.

Pedneault reminded the crowd of our purpose and the historic moment that we are living through. Putting a second Green into the Ontario Parliament will be the kind of momentum that the party needs to become a contender for governance. 

While acknowledging the key problems, like new gas plants, Greenbelt development, and the lack of support for the unhoused and for low income people who can no longer afford to live where they are, the leaders reminded us to also count the wins and note that Green are punching above their weight in parliaments. The only way to get there is more feet on the ground and more lips on the phone.

As volunteers, we were reminded of how important the Green message is in these times, and we commit to increasing our efforts in the knowledge we can make a difference.

Take action to support Greens in Kitchener: support Aislinn’s campaign: or sign up to volunteer on Aislinn’s campaign. See you out there!