I want to thank you, everyone, for your trust, your confidence and your vote! And thank you for coming tonight, despite the rain. I am thrilled to be standing here!
But before we celebrate tonight, I want to recognize the devastation the rains and flooding have caused on the North Shore. Businesses have been affected, homes have been damaged, and cars have been flooded. My heart goes out to everyone affected at this time. I hope that the worst is over and that people are receiving help and support moving forward.
Just a few weeks ago, when volunteering at the Coho Festival, I got a phone call from John Rustad asking if I would like to be the candidate in this riding. I asked him if I could speak candidly about what was most important to my community – and if he would listen. John said yes, and so I said yes.
John took the oldest party in BC from 2% to the mighty one it is today. This was an election that pivoted on our values, freedoms and democracy. My father, who fought in World War 2 for those same principles, is smiling down on us this evening. And having the cenotaph next door, which my father revered, is the perfect setting for this celebration.
Tonight, I am honoured that the West Vancouver- Capilano riding voters have elected me as their newest MLA. Thank you so very much for entrusting me to advocate for you and be your voice in Victoria. I am truly grateful!
It has been a whirlwind of an election and some wonderful people worked exceptionally hard to make this happen. To my campaign manager, Ashten, and her family who did everything to ensure that nothing was left to chance. To my campaign advisor, Sharon, whose knowledge and support were invaluable. To my volunteer coordinator, Aidan, and to Ava for their organizational skills and hard work. And to David Jones and Mike Young who did the massive and sometimes quite unappreciated job, with my signage. And special thanks to John and Liz, who did so much heavy lifting!
A few weeks ago, we were all thrown in the deep end together – sink or swim! Together, we have made it! Thank you! And to my fantastic strategy team – Colin Metcalfe, Caroline Elliott, Rob Mackay Dunn, Sharon and Ashton – huge thanks! And massive gratitude to the countless volunteers and supporters, who gave of their time and energy and showed up to make sure that they always had my back. Thank you for all the support and encouragement that got us to this day.
It was good experience for me to campaign against Sara, Karin and Archie. And I offer an olive branch to Karin so that her years in this seat and her hard work in this riding, will be remembered.
Reflecting back on this election period, it was clear that divisiveness, bullying, fear tactics, and falsehoods were often used to deflect the public’s attention away from our province’s real issues. But you, the people, were not fooled – you voted your values, your hearts and your minds.
I also want to express my sincere appreciation to my fellow West Vancouver School Board Trustees for my six years of experience with them, which have given me a fuller perspective on education in our province.
As an educator, I taught my students more than just the subjects. I also taught them life skills like collaboration, cooperation and conflict resolution. And it is these and other skills which I will take to Victoria.
Last but not least, I want to thank my friends who have rallied around – and my exceptional family for their incredible patience, unwavering support, and unconditional love! Thank you!
I close with heartfelt appreciation of all the wonderful people in this riding, who are sending me to Victoria. I pledge to you that I will listen and do my best to serve this community, as my father did while serving his country. We need to work together to build a new, robust and thriving British Columbia – and we can do this together. Thank you, everyone, for this honor. Thank you !
Lynne Block is the newly-elected BC Conservative MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano.
Dear Ms Block,
Congratulations on your win. I hope you will not disappoint us by letting your boss and party put vulnerable people in danger; the vulnerable trans kids, vulnerable immigrants, vulnerable sick and immuno-comprimised, the vulnerable people with toxic substance disorders, the vulnerable with mental illness, vulnerable children, and vulnerable women .
It’s time for them to stop the ridiculous shenanigans and time for the party to become more intellectual about issues.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, use your background and skills in Education to teach some SOGI lessons to your boss and party members. It is obvious they are not very well educated on the topic and makes them sound like incompetent fools who never evolved with society and science.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE:
Educate them to stay out of people’s bedrooms and personal lives such as SOGI. Not all kids are protected by their parents, many of these kids need protection FROM their parents in their homes.
Educate them to stop the fear-mongering about boogie men that aren’t real.
Educate them to use peer-reviewed medical science evidence and best practices.
Educate them on the failures of drug rehab alone. We have moved past this idea that hasn’t worked for a hundred years.
Educate them on the benefits of multi-pronged approaches to mental health & addictions.
Educate them on kindness and compassion for the people who need it the most.
It’s not too late for your boss and party to catch up with the rest of civilized society. It’s not too late to stand for what is SMART.
Canadians are educated, understanding, and tolerant. PLEASE Act like it. SPEAK UP. Help them help themselves.