Vancouver mayor-elect Pete Fry travelled to Vancouver Island Tuesday and officially endorsed B.C. Greens Leader Emily Lowan—with four days to go before the provincial election. “I’m just so thrilled for what’s ahead for your mandate and for Vancouver,” Lowan said, speaking alongside Fry from her Saanich-Gulf Islands riding. Fry handily defeated incumbent Ken Sim in Saturday’s municipal election and will be the first mayor from the Vancouver Green Party—which won its first council seat in 2011. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be here with Emily Lowan in her riding and supporting her campaign. I have to give Emily some of the credit for the success of my campaign because so many people are inspired by Emily’s vision and what she’s bringing to British Columbians,” Fry said. “I’m really excited to be here and to fully support, to get out and knock on some doors as I’m endorsing Emily here and as leader of the B.C. Green Party.” Endorsing a party leader in the provincial race is something the previous three mayors of B.C.’s largest city have steered clear of. But the Vancouver Greens are affiliated with provincial and federal counterparts, unlike other municipal parties. On Monday, Fry appeared in Vancouver at a pro-Canada rally event with NDP Leader David Eby ahead of the Alberta referendum. Fry described his attendance as “a little awkward” given that he was not there to endorse Eby, the NDP, or any NDP candidate but rather to rally for a united Canada. The big-name endorsement for the provincial Green Party came on the heels of Eby calling on would-be Green voters to cast their ballots for the NDP to prevent a Conservative win. Lowan slammed that move and cited Fry’s victory as evidence that people in the province are ready to see Green leadership.
