2023 Federal and Young Greens Council Elections

"Hello, Greens! My name is Natalie Odd and I am running for President of the Federal Council within the Green Party of Canada. I'm a four-time GPC candidate and have served for 2 years as Alberta Representative on FC.

We are in a difficult situation, but I've faced difficult challenges before. As Executive Director of the Alberta Environmental Network and Green Calgary, I rebuilt two underperforming organizations.

The President can set the tone for the organization. They can create an environment where talented staff and volunteers can thrive and feel they belong. My goal as your President will be to develop a more professional, organized, and productive FC. I will facilitate a culture where transparency is embraced, where differing viewpoints will be valued, and where diversity is respected. The Indigenous People's Advisory Circle is a source of traditional wisdom. It's critical that FC start to prioritize its relationship with this important body. 

We cannot maintain the status quo, with FC giving itself failing grades, struggling to meet its responsibilities. But I have worked through similar challenges before, building effective, thriving teams.

A successful Party needs a capable FC. If elected, I will use my two decades of experience and skills managing environmental organizations to forge a more cohesive council, and position the GPC for success in electing more Green MPs.

Questions? "Ask Me Anything" at [email protected]

Natalie Odd

Learn more about me and my contributions to the GPC on my candidates' page on WeDecide or visit natalieodd.ca."

- Candidate Message, August 26

Candidate Introduction

The Green Party of Canada is at a crossroads.

We seem to be losing touch with the grassroots culture that has been the source of our energy and strength. The Party’s crises have shaken the confidence of our members and our fellow Canadians, yet we fail to prioritize changes which would help prevent the next crisis. Our membership numbers, votes and fundraising decline accordingly.

I have personally witnessed the current governance challenges, demonstrated by a poor Council self-assessment, the Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Circle losing members, unproductive meetings, and 70% of Councillors leaving in 2022.

Change is required.

We need a President with a record of thinking strategically while leading diverse groups that achieve ambitious objectives; an experienced leader committed to providing a unifying, inclusive, and professional culture in which all Councillors thrive; a leader who will model constructive behaviours that embody the Green Party’s values.

My commitment to building effective environmental organizations began with a profound personal connection to nature, which led to an Environment & Management graduate degree. I’ve been an Executive Director since 2003, currently of the Alberta Environmental Network. Under my stewardship, it has transformed from a disparate group of environmental organizations with competing priorities into a vibrant community of collaborating organizations, harnessing collective strength to drive tangible results.

This is what we need for Federal Council.

Time is short. The Green Party needs to demonstrate competency in order to earn Canadians’ votes. We urgently need a unified Council with clear goals to prepare and position the GPC to elect Green MPs in the next federal election. We need to revitalize the Party, but in a fiscally responsible manner that empowers and motivates our volunteer base.

I have the skills and commitment necessary to move the Green Party of Canada forward. I respectfully ask for your support.

Experience & Skills

I arrived at the Alberta Environmental Network as a strategist with experience in human resources. Navigating the intricate maze of environmental policies and forging alliances among stakeholders took patience, diplomacy, and professionalism. I designed, coordinated and mobilized grassroots campaigns, achieving real progress within Alberta's difficult environmental landscape. In this role, consultative and thoughtful meeting preparation drove consistently effective meetings and created trusting relationships.

My ability to bridge perspectives and build consensus has been pivotal in driving impactful change-a critical Party governance skill. I have prudently managed tight budgets for two nonprofits and, through successful fundraising that created new revenue streams, brought one deeply indebted organization back to profitability, from zero to twelve staff members and a large volunteer corps. My fundraising skills tripled the revenue of the Alberta Environmental Network and championed its 2020 campaign, which engaged 23,000 Albertans and forced Jason Kenney to rescind the UCP's decision to close or delist 174 provincial parks.

I have run in four elections as a Green candidate in Calgary. For the past two years, I have been the Alberta Representative on Federal Council, leading critical work as Chair of committees including Human Resources, General Meeting and Leadership Contest, in addition to membership in the Election Readiness, Strategic Planning and Cultural Assessment committees. I have a comprehensive understanding of the roles, responsibilities, priorities and challenges of each GPC "unit" and how they interact, intersect, communicate, and impact each other. I have a deep understanding of what we need to do.

The candidate messages represent the views of the candidates only.

Contact Information

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: natalieodd.ca

Nominators

Lenore Morris
Michael MacLean
Jean-Charles Pelland
Stuart Hunter
Clément Badra
Bob MacKie
Lorraine Rekmans
Chad Walcott
Dana Taylor
Bruce Livingstone
Tom Niemann
Dave Charles
Linda Brown
Robyn Ross
Jocelyn Gifford
Marilyn Redivo
Karen Lindsay
Evelyn Tanaka
Maria Rodriguez
Michael Strumberger