Green Party candidate Christina Knighton has worked as a life coach and facilitator for the last 18 years.

Specializing in communications and balance, she helped countless groups and individuals achieve positive change and growth.

Knighton is now looking to help foster that same change and growth in the Nanaimo-Cowichan riding as she takes her first step into the political ring.

“I’m interested in community participation, I’ve always been involved with the community in one way or another,” she said. “Now that my children are all gone, I’m in politics.”

Knighton’s work has kept her involved in First Nations community projects, including the development, coordination and facilitation of a program to build education and awareness around recycling.

“I’ve been working in First Nations communities for the last 10 years, including treaty discussions and in community development and organizational development,” she said.

“That naturally led me to wanting to know more about Canadian politics.”

Knighton is on the board of directors of the Pacific Gardens Co-Housing Community in Nanaimo and worked with the Changes radio program on CHLY 101.7 (Radio Malaspina), focusing on environmental stewardship.

Knighton has been a member of the Green Party for two years and has served as the federal candidate for the last year.

She said the party represents some of her own values, such as environmental protection and the interconnection of all things.

“They have a long-range vision and because my children are out the home, I felt I had the time and the interest to give, and the skills to bring to the job,” she said.

The first-time candidate said the issues she is most concerned with include food sustainability and water protection.

“I know that there’s a lot of agreements in place and coming into place where corporations are having more control of the rivers,” she said.

“We don’t really have any real protection policies of our own water here in Canada, so that’s a great concern, food and water are two things we can’t do without.”

With so many opportunities to go eco-friendly and businesses bursting to come out with green products, now is the time to move forward with a greener Canada, it just needs support from the government, Knighton said.

“This is probably the best time in the history of Canada to create new jobs if we were to seriously focus on having a green economy.”

Knighton was born in Montreal and raised in Vancouver, B.C. Her three daughters were raised primarily on Vancouver Island.

Knighton has lived in Nanaimo for the last 10 years. When not working or volunteering, she can be found in the garden of her Nanaimo home, taking in a good book or strolling through the city’s many parks and waterfront walkways.