Sonya Chandler has been an asset to council in her commitment to sustainability, her determination to see real change and her ability to represent those that are typically underrepresented. I think she and her co-candidate Philippe Lucas bring a unique and important perspective to the table, and they will be assets to a progressive Council in Victoria.
Densie Savoie, Victoria MP
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These days it seems, almost everyone is talking green, but what makes Sonya Chandler special is that she has long history of actually walking her talk. Long before it was trendy, Sonya was advocating urban agriculture as a powerful means to address both social and environmental issues. During her time as councillor she has worked quite effectively to empower those working toward a just and sustainable food system in Victoria .
Geoff Johnson
activist, educator, and entrepreneur
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It has been a privilege to get to know and to work with Sonya Chandler over the past three years as she sat on Victoria Council and me on Esquimalt Council. She is an incredible young woman who brings great intelligence, compassion, a wonderful sense of humour and maturity and wisdom to the political arena - not an easy feat, especially for a first term councillor. She makes sure she is informed and is willing to bring a different and unique perspective on municipal issues to the table. She is prepared to stand for her principles as well as to collaborate and find pragmatic compromise when needed. She is passionate about issues of social justice and inclusion as well as environmental stewardship. She has organized and sponsored community educational forums on sewage treatment, public private partnerships and harm reduction. Please re-elect Sonya Chandler. We need the kind of energy and astuteness that Sonya brings to Victoria Council and to her work at the regional level.
Jane Sterk Ph.D.
Esquimalt Municipal Councillor
Leader, Green Party of BC
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In my experience working with Sonya on issues of resource recovery and sustainable community planning I have seen her work extremely hard to do the right thing for the environment, in a way which also gives the best results for the people of Victoria. Sonya understands that what’s good for the environment is also good for society.
Stephen Salter PEng
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I support Sonya Chandler for re-election to Victoria City Council. Sonya is committed to transforming Victoria into a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable city, and has the energy and skill to move that vision forward.
Deborah Curran
Environmental Lawyer / Co-Founder Smart Growth BC
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I fully support Sonya Chandler being re-elected and Philippe Lucas being elected as Victoria city councillors. We face urgent issues, and we need leadership that is young, dynamic, visionary, and determined. I believe that Sonya and Philippe will give us this.
Guy Dauncey
Author, speaker, organizer. Publisher of EcoNews since 199; co-founder of the Victoria Car Share Cooperative; founder of the BC Sustainable Energy Association
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Sonya Chandler is a holistic leader that has vision and determination. She understands food security and food systems and has provided her skills and expertise on numerous occasions to the Capital Regional Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CR-FAIR). She speaks out on issues that will move her community to become more food secure and self-reliant. I am grateful to have her energy and intelligence working for Victoria’s people.
Paula Hesje
Agricultural Liaison, Conservation Partners Program
TLC The Land Conservancy of BC
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It is a great pleasure to pledge my support for Sonya Chandler’s candidacy in this upcoming 2008 November municipal elections for City Councillor. As Sonya works towards her second term in office, I am excited and feel honoured to have worked closely with her as the former City of Victoria Youth Council coordinator. Sonya’s passion and dedication over the past term has significantly impacted how our City is able to respond to the many complex realities it faces.
Sonya continues to impress me with her never-ending optimism, dedication and empathy for the many great challenges and opportunities facing our City. I know that her ongoing presence and voice on Council is necessary to lead the City of Victoria towards a more sustainable, green, livable city fit for everyone. I have witnessed firsthand the great advocacy and community facilitation Sonya has achieved. Her ability to bring people to the table to address difficult situations within our community is important and necessary. Sonya is down to earth and genuinely relates to people from all walks of life. Her ability to create authentic grassroots connections between City Hall and communities is to be commended.
I am a proud supporter and champion for Sonya Chandler’s continued role at City Hall as she represents my voice, and the voices of many underrepresented Victorians at the Council table. It continues to be a great privilege to know and work with her in a variety of community capacity building opportunities.
Katie Shaw
Regional Facilitator for Vancouver Island with BC Healthy Communities
Program Manager for LifeCycles
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