Vancouver mayor-elect Pete Fry endorses B.C. Green leader Emily Lowan

Vancouver mayor-elect Pete Fry travelled to Vancouver Island on Tuesday to officially endorse B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan, four days before the provincial election. Lowan, speaking alongside Fry from her Saanich-Gulf Islands riding, said she was thrilled about what lay ahead for Lowan’s mandate and for Vancouver.

Fry handily defeated incumbent Ken Sim in Saturday’s municipal election. He will be the first mayor from the Vancouver Green Party, which won its first council seat in 2011. Fry said he was pleased to be in Lowan’s riding to support her campaign, and credited her vision with inspiring many people in his own campaign. He said he was excited to fully support her, knock on doors and endorse her as leader of the B.C. Green Party.

The previous three mayors of B.C.’s largest city avoided endorsing a party leader in a provincial election. The Vancouver Greens are affiliated with their provincial and federal counterparts, unlike other municipal parties.

On Monday, Fry appeared at a pro-Canada rally in Vancouver alongside NDP Leader David Eby. The rally came ahead of Alberta’s referendum. Fry described his attendance as “a little awkward,” saying he was there to rally for a united Canada, not to endorse Eby, the NDP or any NDP candidate.

The high-profile endorsement for the provincial Green Party followed Eby’s call for would-be Green voters to cast ballots for the NDP to prevent a Conservative win. Lowan criticized that move and cited Fry’s victory as evidence that people in the province are ready for Green leadership.