Victoria NDP | October 30, 2024
CHARLIE ANGUS RESISTANCE TOUR
“Hope is picking up the axe,” Charlie told the crowd last Saturday night, “and busting down the door to help the person screaming inside.” The hall brimmed with noise as listeners bumped elbows clapping and jeering.
His call-to-action comes at a time when apathy offers a tempting exit for anyone feeling overwhelmed by bad news. But that exit is one we can’t ever use – we can’t lose hope, the impulse to stick together, to act – because at no point has capitulation ever been the answer to fascism, nor has compromise been the route to peace when conservative opponents mark every move towards the so-called middle with another step backwards. Democractic governments around the world have tried it, pushing policies that strip taxpayer money from public services and community organizations and giving it to private corporations in the hopes of making domestic markets more attractive to investors. It hasn’t worked, except to keep ruling governments in power, and the crises we face are multiplying as a result.
The good news it that human lives can still always be improved if as long as we act together to make it happen, as long as we don’t give up the fight, no matter when we start or how long we’ve been trying. We invited Charlie Angus to Victoria to remind us of that fact, and to remind members of our community that even when the world feels hopeless, there will still always be those resisting and rebuilding. So don’t put down the axe.
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Thank you to the hundreds of NDP members, supporters and peers who showed up to the Charlie Angus speaking event on October 25th! We had a great night with a performance from musicians Elijah and Yanina, and heard a rousing speech from retired NDP MP and continuing resistance champion Charlie Angus. By the end of the night, we raised enough money to cover all costs associated with the event – a huge feat for an event with 500 attendees. Any remaining funds will help keep the Victoria and Esquimalt-Sooke-Saanich NDP Electoral District Associations with future events and operations, to keep our NDP membership bases in the south island strong! A huge THANK YOU to the organizers, to all donors, ticket purchasers and volunteers who made this night possible, and to all who came out and made this night a success! We love you, and we’ll see you again soon!
Charlie Angus speaking to the crowd, October 25, 2025.
Photographed by Tony Sprackett.
Victoria NDP | October 9, 2024
REVIEW AND RENEWAL
NDP activists and volunteers gathered on October 4th for a round-table discussion about the recent election, and the NDP’s path to recovery. The discussion was organized as part of a national series by Alison Blagden, facilitated by Emilie Taman and co-hosted by the Victoria and Esquimalt-Sooke-Saanich Electoral District Associations.
The discussion ran over 90 minutes. Recurring themes were the need for bread-and-butter economic policies, clear and concise messaging, and better relationships with the media. There was some dissent with regards to the cause of the party’s fallout during the last election, with party messaging and external factors both being highlighted culprits.
The Review and Renewal team will be presenting their findings to the party in its endeavour to get us back in top form. For now, we wait, and we do what we can on the ground level to bring the memberships together. Victoria NDP members can expect a number of events this fall, starting with Charlie Angus on the 25th. Visit the calendar page for more info!
Like King Arthur and his Knights, we gathered at a round(ish) in search of the Holy Grail – the mechanism through which the NDP may win majority power, and realize that most virtuous ideal: Proportional Representation. Circa. 1470AD.
Victoria NDP | August 15, 2025
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION SOCIAL
The Victoria NDP EDA recently held a Volunteer Appreciation Night for all of our Federal Election volunteers and key staffers. The event took place on July 30th at Swan’s Brew Pub, where attendees enjoyed food, table trivia, games, and a short speech from our own Laurel Collins. It was a sweet, fun, short event aiming to show reciprocity for all those who lent us their time and enthusiasm during the campaign. While we didn’t get the result we hoped for this year, we want all our volunteers and supporters to know — we won’t give up, and we hold you dear.
Attendees participated in Birthday Card! The game where everyone has 20 seconds to draw their neighbour, and the worst artist wins (infamy)!
Victoria NDP | July 31, 2025
PRIDE 2025
Earlier this month, NDP activists and supporters rallied together at Victoria’s Pride Parade to show our love for our LGBTQ2IA+ friends, family, supporters and leaders. We love you, Pride, and we love you, Victoria!
Victoria NDP | June 30, 2025
NDP Working Group Meeting
On June 1st, the Victoria NDP held a working group meeting to lay out a new events calendar for the coming year. A pervasive feeling that the NDP needs to engage in more discussion with its membership led to the induction of a new Town Hall Series, which will bring in NDP leaders, activists, supporters and friends to share their expert perspectives on the most pressing issues facing Canadians, and indeed, the NDP today.
Through the connections of one of our members, we were able to secure Charlie Angus as our keynote speaker for October’s event.
We also discussed the need to have a more reciprocal and less extractive relationship with our members. Too often, people are left feeling that their parties only reach out when they want something — money, volunteer labour, social media attention, — and that’s no way to win a movement. To combat the feeling of member burnout, we’ve focused in on events where community building is at the core. Amongst these are a Volunteer Appreciation Night in July, and a Family Fun Day in August.
Additionally, responding to the need to strengthen the bonds not just between the party and it’s members, but between the members themselves, the Victoria EDA will continue to explore the idea of facilitating several Kitchen Table Chats with our membership over the course of the fall, building on the momentum from our Town Hall Series. Kitchen Table Chats are an effective way to build community connection and solidarity between our members.
