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Willowdale Provincial Election 2007 – How i became a candidate

by bernt & torsten

The provincial election in 2007 was my first run for a seat in the Ontario parliament. My candidacy came through turning up at a nomination meeting, there were four of us, and the elected candidate informed us that she was not going to run and that we had to find someone else. The meeting was held in a pub, and the three turned towards me and said, do you want to run, we have elected you the new candidate. Dosed by a few beers, I tried to get my brain to clear, but somehow out of my mouth came, sure I do it.

Before I knew it, I was the new candidate for the Green in Willowdale, and I was involved with the greens at the time as the CEO of the Willowdale Green Party of Canada, not the provincial party. The next day I realized what I was in for, I was going to meet the Part Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, Frank De Jong, I was thrown into the heat of things, and I was not prepared. But what I learned from the election, you need to be flexible and not be stuck in your ways because you will not gain the experience to excel in life on your terms.

In the election, I did very well, I did not win, but I tripled the voters in my riding, which I am very proud of, If I get the chance again, I will do it all over again.

Read more about the election results at Toronto Star

The Star Election Candidate Torbjorn Zetterlund