FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2012
NEW DEMOCRATIC YOUTH GROW, ELECT NEW EXECUTIVE
Charlottetown – The New Democratic Youth of Prince Edward Island (NDYPEI) had its first meeting since the Island’s NDP saw a growth of 93%.
The NDY has 38 members in good standing and the number is growing daily. They hope to send about half of that number to the upcoming Leadership Convention in Toronto next month.
The NDY used the meeting as an opportunity to elect an interim executive, set a month to hold an AGM and discuss plans to attend the Federal Convention next month in Toronto. Provincial Council member and recent West Royalty-Springvale candidate Andrew Want spoke to the group and was joined by Provincial and Federal Council Member Joe Byrne.
The new executive consists of Co-Chairs Chris van Ouwerkerk and Marylynn Coté, Vice-Chair: UPEI Adam St. Pierre, Vice-Chair: Communications Ryan Boulter, Vice-Chair Finance Trish Viane and Provincial Council Representative Brody Webster. Vacant executive positions remain for Vice-Chairs from Holland College and any High Schools with an NDP presence.
NDP of PEI Communications and Public Relations Chair and newly-elected NDY Co-Chair Chris van Ouwerkerk spoke highly of the group’s new executive. “We have 6 strong individuals who are prepared to further the reach of the NDP here on PEI through areas in which they all feel strong.”
As a candidate in the last Provincial Election, van Ouwerkerk drew attention for walking into the NDP office to volunteer and being asked to run in his district of Stratford-Kinlock. Since the election, the 25 year old van Ouwerkerk has spent his days organizing the party from the ground up and believes that a strong youth presence is the key to an NDP breakthrough on the Island.
“More and more everyday I’m meeting people who are interested in becoming members of the party, a majority of them are young adults and youth who are disenchanted with the way politics are done on the Island.” van Ouwerkerk continues “I’m excited to see what we are capable of when we come together with a common purpose and get directly involved with how things are done.”
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For Media Inquiries contact:
Chris van Ouwerkerk
(902) 314-0725
communications@ndppei.ca
