When my high school history teacher was teaching us about the Government of Canada, she told us something that stuck with me. She didn’t want us to be voters who said, “My family has always voted Conservative, so I’m voting Conservative!” or “I’d have a drink with the leader of the Liberals, so I’ll vote for him.” Instead, she wanted us to be educated voters.

So, I vote for whoever I believe is the best candidate or party at the time. I voted Conservative when I lived in Ottawa in the 1980s. I almost voted for Justin Trudeau when he promised to hold a referendum on proportional representation, but I’m jaded enough not to trust the promises politicians make during elections and wasn’t surprised when he backed out of that one. However, I care deeply about the environment, and I also believe in fairness, so I prefer to vote Green. My personal ethics also demand that I vote for who I truly support, rather than voting strategically.

Coquitlam had only three candidates in the last election—one for each of the three major parties. I was frustrated that voters in my riding didn’t have more choices. I try to resist the “Someone Else’s Problem” effect, and I actively practice doing so. When I see an object on the road, I stop and move it out of the way instead of just driving around it. If someone is in trouble or injured, I stop to help instead of leaving it for someone else. So, I thought—why don’t I run? Plus, unlike me, most politicians have a terrible background in science, yet they’re the ones deciding who gets research funding.

I’ve been teaching high school science and mathematics for the Surrey School District for over 25 years. I have a degree in biology from UBC, where I also earned my teaching degree. In addition to teaching full-time, I’m a part-time magician and an Uber driver. I’ve been environmentally conscious since I was a kid and have participated in beach clean-ups, the removal of invasive species from parks, and monitoring stream water quality. I have solar panels on my house, drive an electric car, and I also keep bees.

If elected, I’ll push for a national referendum on proportional representation, the development of more renewable energy projects, and a sustainable economy. I’d also like to see government reforms to bring our 19th-century system into the 21st century.