Local Green candidates gave quick introductions, including Calgary Centre’s Natalie Odd and Brett Spencer of Calgary South-East.

Elizabeth May then spoke on a wide variety of subjects, including the Green Party’s steady popularity, vote abandonment, and how Harper’s autocratic style of government puts Canadian democracy in danger.

The following video is an 11 minute summary of Elizabeth May’s entire speech and Q&A session. You can click here to watch extended (53 minute) coverage, or click on the summary video’s “YouTube Annotation Links” as they appear, if you’d like to hear more about one particular topic.

If you’d like to stay up-to-date on Natalie Odd’s campaign, or any other “Calgary Greens” we might feature in the future, you can subscribe to us on YouTube, or subscribe to our audio & video podcasts via iTunes.

Elizabeth May returns to Calgary on July 8th, hosted at La Joie De Vivre (7 PM).

La Joie De Vivre
1008 14 Street SE
Calgary, AB T2G 3K3

Green Party members can attend for free, non-members will be charged $10 at the door. Non-members can (of course) purchase a green party membership for $10 at the event.

We’d appreciate attendees RSVP by emailing Adrian Textor, so we can scale accordingly.

Last year (at La Joie De Vivre), Elizabeth spoke on topics including the economic recovery, Preston Manning, Green candidates and democracy. The topic of hemp production in Canada was brought up by attendee Lisa Kirkman…

…yes that Lisa Kirkman. Her son Noah was finally returned home to Lisa in Canada earlier this month.

Good to hear.

The most common question we’re asked this morning? “Aren’t you guys dead?”

We’re tabling for the morning shift here at Marda Gras (on 33rd Ave SW in Marda Loop), and it is indeed a fine day to be outside.

The “dead” party we are being asked about is the provincial green party. Natalie Odd is a Federal Green Party candidate for the riding of Calgary-Centre. The two organizations do not have anything to do with each other. It is certainly helpful for us to learn not everyone is aware of this fact. They have always been different parties, with different constitutions.

And offered up by Alvin Shier of Canmore, “Your riding offices should have phone numbers that can be found in the phone book.”

We then picked up our Natalie Odd brochure, and sure enough… no phone number. As Alvin points out, not everyone uses a computer as their primary means of communication. We’ll get on that and update our materials once we’ve got a Calgary number.

If you’re attending Marda Gras, be sure to stop by and say hello. We’re looking for feedback, and happy to talk politics.

This turned out to be an interesting example of how Elizabeth and Victoria Cate team up on communication. Victoria Cate was monitoring Elizabeth’s Twitter account, and alerted her mom to the tweets. Elizabeth says the point to communicate is that she is flipping pancakes, not watching calf roping or any of the events which would distress an animal, that Calgary Stampede has community events which are distinct from the sporting events. Those posting to Twitter were not making a distinction between the two.

Victoria Cate was able to respond to the concerned “Twitter followers” within 15 minutes of their first tweet of concern.

A tech savvy daughter. Who knew?

Elizabeth May is still very approachable, kind, and considerate. You too can see her in action and meet her in person October 2nd, 2009.
- Adrian Textor, Calgary Centre Green Party CEO

What’s that? You think it could use some music? Sounds like someone is VOLUNTEERING to write some!

(But seriously, feedback is always welcome.)