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Guelph NDP Newsletter
Spring 2015
Seagram Chosen as Federal NDP Candidate
Social Justice activist and
community organizer Andrew
Seagram will run for the Guelph
NDP in the next federal election
expected in October. In a
speech in front of a capacity
crowd at the Evergreen Seniors
Centre at the riding association's
nomination meeting on March
31st, Seagram vowed to help
"build an election machine (to)
win the next federal election for
the NDP" in Guelph.
Seagram called the upcoming
election "the most important
ever," noting that it was time to
end "the imposition of twisted
values onto Canadians" that the
Stephen Harper government has
brought about.
Seagram has lived in Guelph for
22 years and over the years has
taken on many roles as a
community builder. He?s
worked as a social worker,
poverty advocate, campaign
manager, community activist,
actor, comedian, writer,
videographer, federal worker,
food security activist, and for
the past six years he has been
the Coordinator of Community
Use of Schools with the UGDSB.
Guelph NDP Riding Association
President Jon Beharry says he is
looking forward to Seagram's
candidacy in the next federal
election. "Andrew is a dedicated
community organizer with a
track record for fighting for the
people of Guelph. At a time of
historic income inequality, he
brings a tremendous amount of
practical experience in
understanding the needs of
families to get by." Beharry also
noted that the meeting raised a
whopping $10,000 in donations
for the federal campaign. "The
membership sent a message
that the NDP intends to win in
Guelph and is ready to do the
work to make that happen."
Gajerski-Cauley says she ran to "bring
forward issues that directly impact
women." She went on to say, "I deeply
appreciate the tremendous support and
goodwill I received from our membership
during our nomination time... Andrew, with
his deep background fighting poverty on
the most practical levels, is a candidate
who will do all New Democrats proud. It is
time to roll up our sleeves, drop literature,
put up signs and bring forth a NDP
government in Ottawa."
Seagram says that he is looking forward to
making an NDP government happen. "Tom
Seagram won on the second
ballot in an exciting nomination Mulcair and the NDP will be able to make
race. Seagram was chosen as the clear, responsible legislative change that
will be an example the world over. We will
NDP's nominee over long-term
party activist Geoff Krauter and have our country back..knowing that we
will bring justice and compassion back as
United Church minister Anne
core values in Canada."
Gajerski-Cauley.
Official Notice of AGM Meeting
The Guelph NDP is set to hold its annual general meeting (AGM). A description of the positions to be elected are
listed on page 2. Here are the details:
When: Thursday, May 21st. Registration begins at 6:30 and the meeting will start at 7pm.
Where: The UNIFOR Hall at 611 Silvercreek Pkwy N, Guelph, ON. It can be reached by public transit by taking the 2B bus
from downtown to Woodlawn and Silvercreek.
Guelph NDP Newsletter
Page 2
Join the Movement: Become a Member of
the Guelph NDP Executive
The Guelph NDP will hold its Annual General Meeting on
May 21st.
Here?s a description of the Guelph NDP Executive
positions that will be chosen:
President: As President of the Guelph NDP Riding
Association, you represent the NDP in our riding. You are
the contact person for the media, other members
locally, the party (federally and provincially if you are
the president of both) and Elections Ontario/ Canada. For
a political junkie, it is a fabulous opportunity to see how
the party works at a grassroots level and develop an
understanding of political organizing.
Vice President: The Vice President coordinates riding
association items and planning in consultation with the
President and can step in for the President, if necessary.
Secretary: The Secretary is a key position on the
executive. As Secretary, in collaboration with the
president and other members of the executive, you set
the agenda for meetings and ensure proper
documentation of meetings occurs. The Secretary is the
keeper of the collective riding knowledge!
Education and Outreach Chair: The Education and
Outreach chair is responsible for distributing
information about NDP news and policies to the Guelph
NDP membership. He/ she should also conduct outreach
efforts with current members as well as various interest
groups and stakeholders. Some of the ways this can be
done are through assisting with the Guelph NDP
newsletter and website.
Provincial Council delegates attend Provincial Council
meetings meeting to represent the Guelph Riding
Association. Report on issues and matters discussed at
Provincial Council. The Election Readiness Officer is
responsible for the maintenance of election records and
is responsible for ensuring that the riding is prepared
for the next election.
NDP Executive members are pictured here at
a summer retreat.
The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for
maintaining the financial records of the Association;
reporting regularly to the Executive concerning the
state of the Association's finances; and preparing an
annual financial report for presentation at the Annual
General Meeting.
Labour Representative: The Labour representative is
chosen by the Guelph Labour Council. The Labour rep
takes any relevant information back and forth
between the GLC and the Guelph NDP.
Membership Chair: The Membership chair is a vital
position on the executive. As membership chair, you
get up to date membership lists as they become
available from provincial office. The membership chair
makes notes of changes in membership numbers and
initiates membership drives to ensure we are reaching
our community.
Communications Chair: The Communications chair is
responsible for communicating news and information
about the Guelph NDP to members, the media,
interested stakeholders, and the general electorate.
This can take the form of writing press releases for
media outlets as well as assisting with the Guelph NDP
newsletter and website.
Guelph NDP Newsletter
Page 3
Building to Win: Campaign Stories from the Grassroots
Jack of all Trades
Voter Contact
By: Cecilie Rosairus
By Andrew Pappin
I think the first campaign I volunteered for would have
been Phil Alt's. I remember my first experience as a
phone canvasser being very interesting; there were
lots of great calls and it was also eye opening in a lot
of ways. I remember meeting lots of great people at
the office and it was incredible to just be in the same
room with so many people with the same values
working towards a common goal.
It is more than difficult to pick what my favourite
campaign experiences might be, even though I have only
helped out in two. There are just too many great
memories, so I think I will go with the funniest thing I
can remember.
I've been involved in some way in every campaign in
Guelph since I moved here in 2003. I've also been
privileged to be part of teams of volunteers that go
out to work for a day or two in by-elections in other
ridings. If I had to put a number to it, I would say I've
been involved in around ten.
In this time, I have tried a little bit of everything! I
acted as Chief Financial Officer for the Tom King
campaigns and the Bobbi Stewart campaign. I've put
up signs, stuffed envelopes, canvassed on foot and
over the phone, been a scrutineer and a part of the
get-out-the-vote team on e-day. I have enjoyed every
role I have worked in; there really is a job for everyone.
It's hard for me to pinpoint one favourite moment, but
I think the highlight of all my volunteer work for the
NDP is the incredible people I've met and everything I
have learned and continue to learn from them. I think,
without question, in the NDP we have the most
incredibly talented, generous and dedicated
individuals of any political group. Also, all the
delicious food that people like Ruth Kaufman bring to
the campaign office is pretty fantastic!
My story actually takes place on two separate occasions
during James Gordon?s municipal campaign. The first
occurred at some point a few weeks before E-day. I was
doing a phone canvass and one lovely gentleman
answered on the other end of the line. I told him I was
calling from James Gordon?s campaign office; he
seemed more than happy and asked if I was James. I
politely told him, ?No, James is out knocking on doors.?
This also seemed to be good news for him. He then
asked if I was James?s son. I again said, ?No, I am just
helping out on the campaign.? We then spent twenty or
so minutes talking about how important it was to be out
knocking on doors and meeting people. The gentleman
then ended the call by stating that James had his vote
simply because we had made the effort to contact him
and listen to him. I left that night with a big smile.
On E-day, during our get-out-the-vote effort, I called this
gentleman back to see if he had voted, and if not, if he
would like a ride to the polls. As soon as I told him who I
was and where I was calling from, he asked, as if on cue,
if I was James?s wife. I struggled to not let him hear me
laugh on the phone. Fortunately, he was also laughing.
At which point, I asked him if he had voted. To which he
said he had and proudly for James because we made the
effort to call and keep in touch with this lovely man,
with a great sense of humor. I learned that nothing is
more important then engaging people. They may agree or
they may not, but if you make the effort. they will be willing
to listen.
Follow us on Twitter at: @guelphndp to receive up to date
information about riding news and events.
Guelph NDP Newsletter
Page 4
Andrew Seagram: Guelph's Next MP
NDP candidate reflects on the nomination process and his plan to become Guelph's next MP.
Q: Describe your experience with the nomination
process and reaching out to NDP member.
A: The nomination process was a great way for me to
reach out to the membership and get to know as many
NDP members as possible. Having a contested
nomination was far more stressful than I thought.
When you run against another party it is an easier
process than competing against other people who are
your friends and who?s political passions align. In that
situation you don?t want anyone to lose. During the
nomination process it dawned on me the enormity of
what I was asking from the membership of the NDP: to
represent you all and to take Guelph's voice to Ottawa.
I truly feel the weight of Canada is on the NDP?s
shoulders. We are the only party that has the policies
to steer away from the last 30 years and make Canada
a world leader in environmental stewardship,
peacemaking, social justice, economics and democracy.
Q: Describe what you envision doing between now and
the start of the federal campaign.
A: Between now and the writ dropping, I will be
getting out as much as possible and meeting and
speaking to as many people as I can. My job will be to
make sure everyone in Guelph hears the NDP message
and gets a sense of what kind of MP I would be. It is my
way to be open and all encompassing with people.
Nothing is ever done without cooperation and people
working together. The NDP finds practical and real
solutions to the issues facing all of us. I am not an
ideologue, nor is the NDP an ideological party; we are a
party that sees the need to respond and plan for the
future. I would say the NDP has great foresight; we
tend to see what is around the next curve. The NDP has
been proven right, over and over again, about where
foolish policy will take us and now we are asking for
the voters trust us to lead as we make our way through
an ever changing future.
Q: Describe what your campaign will look like.
A: The campaign will be fun and passionate. The NDP?s
goals and our vision for the future are deadly serious,
but the journey there will be living the community we
know we can have. Parliamentarians decisions are
made about people?s lives; war, environment, industry,
social policy that at times is truly life and death and
the NDP carries that truth with a heavy heart. There is
nothing flippant about going to war, the tar sands,
democracy or austerity. People fight and die for all
those things. The campaign will be a celebration of our
spirit to make a difference, it will be an organization of
people who want to find their way out of the craziness
of the last decade and be going in a direction that
Canadians can live and understand as their own: Who
we are, compassionate and visionary leaders of a new
future.
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