Youth for Anita Vandenbeld for Ottawa West-Nepean

What kind of Member of Parliament would Anita be?

“I am running because I believe that the role of a Member of Parliament is to listen carefully to the voices of people in our community and to reliably represent their ideas and solutions in parliament.

I have spoken to thousands of people in Ottawa West-Nepean in the past few years. You have told me your worries and fears, and some of you have even cried with me. But you have also shared your triumphs and your ideas.” - Anita Vandenbeld

To show how Anita is reaching out to the OWN community, I wanted to recap one of her many busy weeks on the campaign trail:

- On Monday Anita attended the Ottawa West-Nepean Federal Liberal Association Politics in the Pub, discussing policy development in the Liberal Party and how the OWNFLA got THREE resolutions prioritized and passed by the Liberal party.
- Tuesday, Anita spoke about her experiences working with women in Congo at a very powerful event held at the Ottawa Public Library.
- Every Wednesday from 5-6pm you can join Anita at the Tim Horton’s on 2970 Carling Ave. This is always a good opportunity to discuss your ideas, concerns and accomplishments with Anita! Later that day, Anita attended the thought provoking ‘Open Town Hall for Millenials’, hosted by our good friends the Nepean Young Liberals.
- Thursday evening, Anita enjoyed the  OWNFLA wine and cheese with the Hon. Ralph Goodale, who spoke about the economy, democracy and Liberal values.
- On Friday, Anita spoke at the University of Ottawa Equal Voice AGM, speaking to the group about women in Canadian politics.
- Saturday night, Anita and her partner Don attended the Ottawa Muslim Association dinner, enjoying good food and great company.

So there you have it,  a recap of just some of the events that Anita takes part in during an average week!

Want to attend an event with Anita?  Check her Facebook page and website for updates. Email info@electanita.ca for any questions about events that Anita will be attending.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and to say why I'm one of the many young people supporting Anita Vandenbeld for Ottawa West-Nepean. My name is Steven Patterson and I'm  a second year Political Studies student at Queen's University. Politics is  one of the first things I think about when I wake up, and the last thing I'm thinking about when I go to sleep. So its no surprise that I have volunteered on election campaigns before, but Anita  stood out from the start as one of the most committed,  compassionate and thoughtful candidates that I've had the pleasure of meeting.

Anita Vandenbeld is seeking the Liberal Nomination in Ottawa West-Nepean, and I warmly support her candidacy. Anita has a rare blend of  impressive international credentials ,along with the ideal character for someone pursuing public office. To say she's an expert on democracy and human rights is probably an understatement, and her practical experience on the world stage speaks for itself. Beyond that, Anita is friendly, approachable and humble. I know she's in it for the right reasons, and that the people of Ottawa West-Nepean would be well served by her hard work, intelligence and local approach to politics.

Throughout the campaign I will be posting my thoughts on the nomination, political news, information on special events and also sharing the perspectives of other youth who are supporting Anita. Check back here often for updates. I encourage everyone to also check out Anita's Facebook page and official website.

Steven Patterson
Young Liberal
Vice President of External Affairs, Queen's University Liberal Association

- If you'd like to contribute to 'Youth For Anita', or to get involved in the campaign in another way, please email info@electanita.ca or fill out an online volunteer form.

Next week is a busy one for Ottawa Young Liberals, with not one but two great events scheduled!
On Wednesday March 26th, our friends the Nepean Young Liberals will be hosting ‘An Open Town Hall for Millenials’. MP’s Ted Hsu and Scott Simms will be in attendance, answering questions on important issues like post-secondary education, employment and affordable housing. If you’re around, I strongly suggest attending this event– it will be a good chance to meet other local Liberal’s who are passionate about the issues that matter most to youth. Check out the event on Facebook here.

If that’s not exciting enough, we have just received confirmation that Justin Trudeau will be at Algonquin College on Friday March 28th for a  lunchtime Q & A session!   This FREE event is being hosted by the Students Association of Algonquin College, but it is also open to the public. Come and ask Justin a question about something that matters to you.

It’s so great to have Justin in our riding again, listening to what the people of Ottawa West-Nepean, especially young people and students, have to say.  Please share the official Facebook event and spread the word!

We hope to see you at one or both events.

Great news! Anita Vandenbeld has been officially approved as a candidate for the Ottawa West-Nepean federal Liberal nomination!

"I am so proud of what our team accomplished in Ottawa West-Nepean in the last election. I received the second highest vote among non-incumbent Liberals in an election which saw the lowest number of Liberals ever elected. Since then, I have continued to listen to the citizens of Ottawa West-Nepean. I am thrilled to have the opportunity before me to seek the nomination again and to work with them to give voice to their solutions to improve our community and our society. I am greatly encouraged by the support that so many have shown for my candidacy. I am also very proud of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for working to improve our democracy by holding truly open nominations. He is also pulling out all the stops in an effort to see that more of the Liberal Party’s candidates are women in 2015. I look forward to giving voice to the interests of all of the citizens of Ottawa West-Nepean in Parliament with Justin as Prime Minister."

Help out with the campaign at http://www.electanita.ca/volunteer

Samara, a major Canadian political analysis non-profit, has ranked the Ottawa West-Nepean FLA website one of the top riding association websites in the country!

Great job to the volunteers who keep http://ownfla.ca/ looking sharp and up-to-date.

Don't forget to check out Anita's website too!