2025 Green Party of British Columbia leadership election
Party election in Canada
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From September 13 to 23, 2025, members of the Green Party of British Columbia voted to elect a leader to replace Sonia Furstenau, who announced her resignation on January 28, 2025.[3][4] Jeremy Valeriote was made interim leader following Furstenau's resignation.[5][6] It was announced that Emily Lowan had won the contest on September 24, 2025, on the first ballot.
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September 24, 2025
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| Turnout | 60.86% ( ~24.14 pp) | ||||||||||||||||
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DateSeptember 24, 2025
ConventionThe Parkside Hotel & Spa, Victoria, British Columbia[1]
Resigning leaderSonia Furstenau
WonbyEmily Lowan
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| Date | September 24, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Convention | The Parkside Hotel & Spa, Victoria, British Columbia[1] |
| Resigning leader | Sonia Furstenau |
| Won by | Emily Lowan |
| Ballots | 1 |
| Candidates | 3 |
| Entrance fee | $21,000[2] |
| Spending limit | $200,000[2] |
Timeline
2024
- October 19 – The 2024 British Columbia general election was held.[7] The Greens elected two members.[8] Sonia Furstenau was defeated in Victoria-Beacon Hill but remained party leader.[9]
- December 12 – The Greens reached a co-operation agreement with the New Democratic Party to work together on common objectives during the 43rd Parliament.[10][11]
2025
- January 28 – Furstenau resigned. Valeriote was appointed interim leader.[5][6]
- February 27 – Candidate nomination period opened.[2]
- June 14 – Candidate nomination period closed.[2][12]
- July 2 – Jonathan Kerr declared his candidacy.
- July 3 – Emily Lowan declared her candidacy.
- July 8 – Adam Bremner-Akins declared his candidacy.
- August 10 – Deadline to register to vote.[2][13]
- September 13 – A leadership debate was held in Victoria.[14][15] Online voting began.[16][17]
- September 23 – Voting closed.[2][4]
- September 24 – Election results were announced, and Lowan was named as the new leader.[18][19][20]
Candidates
Declared
Adam Bremner-Akins
- Background: BC Green Party candidate in Port Coquitlam (2024), party provincial councillor (2021–2025), party secretary (2024–2025)[4][21][22]
- Date announced: July 8, 2025[23]
- Website : Website
Endorsements of Adam Bremner-Akins
- Municipal politicians
- Samantha Agtarap, Port Moody councillor, BC Green candidate for Port Moody-Burquitlam (2024)[24]
- Stuart Mackinnon, Vancouver Park Board commissioner (2008–2011; 2014–2022), BC Green candidate (2005 Vancouver-Kingsway, 2013 Vancouver-Fraserview)[24]
Jonathan Kerr
- Background: Comox councillor (2018–present), family doctor, and Comox Valley Regional District vice-chair[4][25][26]
- Date announced: July 2, 2025[25]
- Website: Website
Endorsements of Jonathan Kerr
- Provincial politicians
- Jane Sterk, former leader of the Green Party of British Columbia (2007–2013), former Esquimalt councillor[25][27][28]
- Adriane Carr, co-founder and former leader of the Green Party of British Columbia (1983–1985; 2000–2005), former Vancouver councillor[26][29]
- Municipal politicians
- Nicole Minions, Comox mayor[29]
- Jenn Meilleur, Comox councillor[25][28]
- Lois Chan-Pedley, Green Party of Vancouver school trustee[29]
- Tanille Johnston, Campbell River councillor, 2025 federal NDP candidate in North Island—Powell River[29]
Emily Lowan
- Background: Climate justice organizer and investigative researcher[27][30]
- Date announced: July 3, 2025[31]
- Website: Website
Endorsements of Emily Lowan
- Individuals
- Bill Carroll, professor of sociology at the University of Victoria[32]
- Gabor Maté, physician and author[30][32]
- Anjali Appadurai, New Democratic Party candidate for Vancouver Granville (2021), disqualified BC NDP leadership candidate (2022)[27][33]
- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs president[34]
- Tzeporah Berman, environmental activist[32]
- Severn Cullis-Suzuki, environmental activist[32]
- Mike Hudema, activist[35]
- David Suzuki, science broadcaster and environmental activist[36]
- Municipal politicians
Declined
- Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands (2024–present)[5][40]
- Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky (2024–present)[5][40]
- Andrew Weaver, Leader of the Green Party of British Columbia (2015–2020), MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head (2013–2020)[41]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Emily Lowan | 3,189 | 60.87% |
| Jonathan Kerr | 1,908 | 36.42% |
| Adam Bremner-Akins | 128 | 2.44% |
| None of the options | 14 | 0.27% |
| Total valid votes | 5,239 | 99.62% |
| Total rejected ballots | 20 | 0.38% |
| Turnout | 5,259 | 60.86% |
| Eligible voters | 8,641 | - |
