- Words by Angela Cowan Photography by Lia Crowe

For as far back as she can remember, Sonia Furstenau has had a deep love of the West Coast and an irrepressible drive to make the world a more fair and just place, and both have been guiding stars that have led her to a life of hard work, incredible connectedness and a lot of love.

Though born and raised in Edmonton, Sonia害羞草研究所檚 family tree has expansive roots on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Her great-grandfather, Gerald Payne, was one of the original settlers on Saturna Island in the 1890s, and built a house害羞草研究所攚hich is still standing害羞草研究所攐n what is now Payne Road.

害羞草研究所淗e had four children, one of whom was my grandmother,害羞草研究所� says Sonia. 害羞草研究所淪he met my grandfather, who also grew up in Victoria. They got married, became teachers and eventually settled in Comox, and that害羞草研究所檚 where my mom was born.害羞草研究所�

Through childhood, Sonia spent practically every summer either in Campbell River with her grandmother, or later at Ravenhill Herb Farm in Saanich with her aunt.

害羞草研究所淚 always dreaded the end of summer,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚t always felt like I was leaving home when I went back to Edmonton. I felt like I belonged here.害羞草研究所�

After graduation, Sonia took herself out into the world and travelled for a year, and when she came back, she realized she didn害羞草研究所檛 want to spend any more time away from her heart害羞草研究所檚 home.

害羞草研究所淚 packed up my little car and found a new place to rent in James Bay, and I started a new life here,害羞草研究所� she says.

At 21, Sonia entered UVic where she would attain bachelor害羞草研究所檚 and master害羞草研究所檚 degrees in history, as well as an education degree. Sonia entered the teaching field while continuing to be involved with a wide variety of non-profit organizations, including Results Canada, Citizens害羞草研究所� Climate Lobby and Oikocredit, an international microcredit organization.

When she moved to the community of Shawnigan Lake in 2011 to teach, she discovered the provincial government was in the process of granting a permit to a company for a five-million-tonne contaminated landfill site close to the community害羞草研究所檚 water supply.

After working for two years with the Shawnigan Residents害羞草研究所� Association and the wider community to protest and appeal the permit, Sonia was elected as a director for the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

害羞草研究所淲hen I ran to be area director, it was so I could be an effective voice for the community,害羞草研究所� she says.

After years of tireless efforts by Sonia and countless others, the permit for the contaminated land was revoked in February 2017害羞草研究所攖he first and only time an environmental permit has been revoked, adds Sonia害羞草研究所攁nd shortly afterwards in May, she won her seat as MLA for the Cowichan Valley by a decisive win.

Now, more than halfway through her second consecutive term as the Green MLA for the Cowichan Valley and the elected leader of the BC Green Party for two and a half years, it害羞草研究所檚 a little surprising to learn that going into government was never on her radar as a younger woman.

害羞草研究所淚t had certainly never been a plan of mine to get into politics,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚t was really driven by what was happening in Shawnigan, and the need to represent the community and best serve what we were trying to achieve.害羞草研究所�

Now with an ambitious list of goals on her plate害羞草研究所攊ncluding sustainable housing, environmental protections and the ever-growing challenge of combating climate change害羞草研究所擲onia leans on her support system more than ever.

害羞草研究所淲hat害羞草研究所檚 always, perpetually and for the last 28 years, closest to my heart is my children,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭hem, my husband and my family: they害羞草研究所檙e the support that I am so dependent on for keeping going in this job, and getting up every day and fighting for what I believe in, for that sense of fairness and justice and wellbeing. They really keep me rooted in what害羞草研究所檚 real and true, and what I would want for everyone in BC is to have that same sense of connection and love and safety that comes from having a really wonderful, supportive family.害羞草研究所�

The 7 Sins

Envy:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Before I got into this job, I would have said Jacinda Ardern, because I admire her so much. But now that I害羞草研究所檝e seen what she害羞草研究所檚 gone through, and what other women leaders go through, I certainly don害羞草研究所檛 feel envy. We have a lot of work to do to make these shoes much less painful害羞草研究所攖he shoes that women in politics, and especially women in leadership roles in politics, have to wear.

Gluttony:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

The salmon that Jared Qwustenuxun Williams has smoked on the banks of the Cowichan River.

Greed:

You害羞草研究所檙e given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

A bus. I害羞草研究所檇 spend money on a really luxurious bus with an excellent espresso machine, massage seats, Wi-Fi and pastries. That bus would run between Cowichan and Victoria. It would be free, and it would mean that I害羞草研究所攁nd people in Cowichan害羞草研究所攃ould selfishly avoid having to drive over the Malahat.

Wrath:

Pet peeves?

A government saying one thing and doing another.

Sloth:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

In a giant bubble bath.

Pride:

What is the one thing you害羞草研究所檙e secretly proud of?

I害羞草研究所檓 actually funny.

Lust:

What makes your heart beat faster?

A live Corey Hart concert.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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