photo: Virginia McDonald

Name:

Ben Bennett

Position on the Executive:

CFO, GPO

Activist Background:

Plans for the Hanlon Overpass ($30 milion) during the Harris years of social program cuts got me started, closely followed by the Highway 7 foolishness (now estimated to be $500 milion), and various planning matters, including the Stone Road Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, the giant Zehrs planned for Clair and Gordon, and the commercial policy review. In between, I have been involved with lobbying for a pesticide bylaw and fighting GMOs.

A little personal history outside of activism:

Came to Canada from England in 1978; work in downtown Guelph as a journalist, publisher and recycling consultant.

What your position on the Executive involves:

minding the money and the paperwork and headaches that invariably go with it.

When and how you got involved in the Green Party:

Joined about 10 years ago when Bill Hulet was the Green Party in Guelph, thus doubling the membership.

Favourite Movie This Year:

Lars and the real Girl (2008)

Favourite Book:

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

Personal Hero:

Former Guelph Councillor Cathy Downer

Hobbies and Interests:

Good food, good beer and good conversation.

Name:

Patti Maurice

Position on the Executive:

Recording Secretary

Activist Background:

In London, Ontario I worked with a neighbourhood group to fight development of a California Cottage into a mutli-storey office and medical complex. I also have an interest in social justice that has been sparked by feminist studies and various volunteer jobs. I also wrote some articles on both development and equality issues for the local newspaper. A few years after I moved to Guelph I became a political activist when I volunteered for Mike Nagy’s 2004 election campaign.

A little personal history outside of activism:

I was born in Ontario and worked as a bookkeeper/accountant for a variety of companies in both Santa Barbara, California, and London, Ontario. I am now retired. My environmental work is made urgent by my own beloved son, granddaughter, and step-daughters, and all children and grandchildren of the world.

What your position on the Executive involves:

I take and transcribe the minutes from discussions at our monthly Executive meetings. I am also Volunteer Coordinator outside of election campaigns and I co-chair the Election Preparedness Committee.

When and how you got involved in the Green Party:

I volunteered for Mike Nagy’s campaign in 2004 after reading about reading about the worldwide Green Party. I came to the realization that no other political party could or would address the issues of most importance to me. In Mike’s campaign in late 2005 and early 2006 I took a more active role in helping to coordinate the campaign office. Working with folks who shared similar goals and concerns was so rewarding that I didn’t want it to end so I put my name forward that April for a position on the Executive.

Favourite Movie:

“What the Bleep do we Know?”

Favourite Book/Book with Most Impact on my Environmental Conscience:

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann

Personal Hero:

Carl Jung and Aragorn. I know, as a feminist I should have a female hero, but Dr. Jung has had the most significant impact on how I live my life and the fantasy character of Aragorn shows up in my dreams. What can I say?

Hobbies and Interests:

Gardening, cooking, tennis, crafting my own greeting cards, viewing the beautiful Northern shore of Lake Superior, walking and hiking, and, reading.

Many Guelph members may not realize that the riding executive holds monthly meetings. These meetings are a lot of work and usually take a full two hours. For example, the last one had to deal with a complex issue involving the business that processes our credit card donations, what sort of involvement the local riding association should have with the proposed

Hanlon Expressway construction, how to find help for a key volunteer who is scaling back on involvement because she’s having a baby, preparation for running a booth at the upcoming Guelph Organic Grower’s Conference, a visit by Elizabeth May, Mike Nagy’s speech at the University of Guelph Environmental Conference, another talk about the Alberta tarsands, and many other things. And that is just January!

This isn’t all grim and joyless effort, however. The people on the executive have grown to respect and trust one another. In effect, we’ve become quite good friends and have a lot of fun.

In fact, after most meetings we go to the pub to catch up on the gossip. (In fact, some ex-members of the Executive have been known to show up after the meeting just to socialize even though they no longer go to meetings!)