“We care about the environment and want to take care of it, because that is what we’re commanded to do.”
—Natalie Cook, president of the Trinity Western Environmental Club (TWEC)
When it comes to politics and the environment, Natalie Cook wants to raise awareness for everyone, and especially for young adults.
Her vision is both relevant and timely. Provincial elections are due to take place in B.C. this month, with general voting day on October 24 and advance voting starting on October 15.
Helping others make knowledgeable decisions
“It’s important to vote, but it’s also important to be making informed decisions,” Cook said.
As a student at Trinity Western, Cook is pursuing a degree in geography, along with a minor in environmental science and a certificate in GIS. She is president of the Trinity Western Environmental Club (TWEC), and she is entering her second year of leadership.
On October 14, Cook and her team at TWEC are partnering with Climate Crisis Langley Action Partners to host an all-candidates meeting to discuss views on climate change.
“I hope that everyone who attends the event will gather the information that they need about the different parties’ plans and strategies, so that when they go to vote, they will have all that knowledge in mind,” Cook said.
Building on past success
This is the second year in a row that the two organizations have partnered to host an event like this one.
A similar event hosted last year prior to the 2019 federal election attracted over 200 attendees. Inspired by previous year’s good turnout, TWEC and Climate Crisis Langley Action Partners are hosting a meeting for local candidates running in the upcoming provincial election. Candidates from Langley, Langley-East and Aldergrove-South ridings have been invited.
This year’s meeting will be held virtually on Zoom. During the event, a panel of TWU students will ask three key questions to all the candidates. The questions are kept secret until the event starts. Each candidate gets two minutes to respond. The audience will then have the chance to submit their own questions to the candidates.
Despite COVID-19, Cook doesn’t expect the event to encounter any hurdles. As she explained, “everything can be done online.”
A mandate for creation care
TWEC is a Trinity Western student club established in 2017. Its predecessor was the long-established Trinity Western Environmental Alliance. Cook shared that the club’s mandate is inspired by Genesis 2:15, which speaks to creation care.
“We care about the environment and want to take care of it, because that is what we’re commanded to do,” Cook explained. “This may mean going out ourselves, but we also want to educate others who are interested to learn.”
The virtual all-candidates meeting to discuss views on climate change takes place Wednesday October 14, 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom. Anyone interested to attend can register online through Eventbrite.
Read this story in the Langley Advance Times.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has five campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, Ottawa, and Bellingham, WA. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.