April 4 was a special date for two related events at Comox United Church. The first event was a recital, in the sanctuary, by NIPR Federal Green Party candidate, Jessica Wegg. Soirée de l’Oiseau Rebelle (Evening of the Rebel Bird), featured twelve arias from the 17th to 20th Centuries. Jessica was accompanied by Comox Valley pianist, Sean Mooney, and joined by her voice instructor, Carol Anne Parkinson, in the lyrical duet, “Sous le dôme epais” by Delibes. Jessica’s powerful mezzo-soprano voice was a surprise to most of us in the audience, and showed us an accomplished artist as well as lawyer, mother, partner, environmentalist and politician.
The arias, love songs from well known and lesser known operas, portrayed characters passionate, scornful, and playful. The arias in first half of the recital, with music from Scarlatti to Mozart, were melodic and ornamented with delicate vocal work. The second half of the recital featured later composers. Bizet’s dramatic characters seemed to pull passion forth from the singer. The pieces by Saint-Saëns were less familiar but provided a satisfying conclusion to the concert. Jessica received a standing ovation and people stayed after the concert to talk with each other about how much they enjoyed hearing Jessica sing. Honorable mention goes to Jon Little, Jessica’s husband, who MC’d the event, and their children Macs and Clara, for greeting people at the door. The recital was attended by fifty people from Powell River, Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River, Quadra Island, and Port McNeil.
The second event was held after the concert, downstairs in the church hall. The special appearance at this event was Green Party co-leader, Elizabeth May, there to hold a Dutch Auction Fundraiser for Jessica’s campaign to be the next MP for NIPR. The reception was well attended by thirty people of all ages who enjoyed refreshments and conversations ranged from the situation with the American administration and tariffs, to gardening, to the concerns of the riding, and the next three weeks of the campaign. After visiting and eating, Jessica spoke about her election platform and introduced Elizabeth May, well known to most people there. Elizabeth’s message was that Greens need to campaign to win and this is the election to make a difference for Canada. For me, the two of them, standing together was a striking image: Jessica, young and vibrant in her flowing green gown, and Elizabeth, seasoned and solid in her lived experience as a successful member of parliament, party leader, and international player. As a person of May’s generation, it was both heartening and poignant to see a young professional woman stepping into a public role, especially at this critical moment for Canada’s sovereignty and the integrity of our planet. I wonder what Jessica’s political career will hold, and what, one day, she will pass on to the young women who will follow in her footsteps.
Elizabeth then explained the origins of the Dutch Auction from the early tulip trade in Holland when auctioning started with the most valuable bulbs, and proceeded to less valuable ones. Accordingly, May started the “bidding” off with the highest personal donation amount allowed by Elections Canada – $1750.00. People could bid in their own name or name others – they just had to be sure they would be able to collect from them! In all of 10 minutes, $11,900.00 was pledged. This may not seem like a big bank roll for a political campaign, but the Green Party does not accept donations from corporations or organizations, only from private citizens.
Mark de Brujin, Jessica Wegg’s campaign manager, (who ran as the Green candidate in 2019), remarked:
“The Green Party stands for a different kind of politics, where MPs are not “whipped” by the party brass; they are free to vote in Parliament for their constituents, and policy is developed by party members across Canada in true grassroots fashion. The co-leaders are the official spokespersons for the party but the power rests with the membership.”
It was evident from the energy and purpose of the people gathered that the force of green is vibrant and growing in North Island-Powell River.
Donations can be made at the NIPR Greens website: https://greensofnorthisland-powellriver.ca
Links of Interest:
- Articles about, or mentioning, music
- Articles about, or metioning, Jessica Wegg
- Articles about, or mentioning the Green Party of Canada
All photos courtesy Annie Smith; Full disclosure: Annie Smith is a member of the Green Party executive for North Island Powell River.
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