It’s been just over a month now that our team has been knocking on doors across Kitchener Centre, talking with our neighbours about their priorities heading into this year’s federal election.

We’re hearing from people every day about the concerns at the forefronts of their minds: from health care to affordable housing to the costs of failing to act decisively on the climate crisis.

Far and away however, the most common conversation we’re having at the door is people telling us they want to vote Green, but they just aren’t sure we can win. They don’t want to ‘waste their vote’, and they’re curious why we think we have a shot in this election.

Each time I hear this, I feel so grateful for this honesty. Because it gives us a chance to share just how different this election is going to be, and why we feel so strongly: that, yes, this is our moment.

For me, one of the highlights of our campaign so far has been what we’ve been calling “kitchen table conversations”. Though the name is somewhat misleading.

Last Tuesday night for example, Kitchener residents Byron & Ann hosted more than 25 friends, family and neighbours for a conversation about our campaign in their beautiful home in Central Frederick. In this case, it was over dinner in their living room.

While always hosted in someone’s home, both the size and format have been varied: from 4 - 40 people, either on a back porch or over pizza, with brunch, or over tea and brownies.

And each time, we’ve had candid conversations. I’ve had the opportunity to hear priorities from people across our community, and also to share about our campaign. Topics have run the gamut, from why I’m running at all, to why I chose to run with the Green Party, to how we expect to build a winnable campaign - along with a wide mix of policy questions, from criminal justice reform to health care to Indigenous reconciliation.

Last Thursday night was definitely a special evening: to have over 500 people join me, Elizabeth May, Mike Schreiner, and our whole team as we celebrated the launch of this campaign was poignant and inspiring.

In late April, Sustainable Waterloo Region hosted their 10th annual Evening of Recognition, and they couldn’t have picked a more fitting location than evolv1: Canada’s first net positive carbon multi-tenant building.

As many of you may have already heard, something special happened on Vancouver Island Monday night.

Paul Manly ran a campaign focused on bringing people together from all political stripes. On ensuring our kids inherit a clean, healthy environment. On building the green economy.

And he won.

Last Wednesday night, more people came out than ever before for a Green Party nomination meeting in Waterloo Region. The venue reached capacity before the event even began.

It was a momentous night. If you were there, I’m sure you felt it too.