BC Green Leader Emily Lowan clinches seat in Vancouver Island riding

Oct 25 2026, 4:50 am

BC Green Leader Emily Lowan has won the riding of Saanich North and the Islands.

Lowan, 26, was running against Kala Bryson of the NDP, Ryan Windsor of the Conservatives, and CentreBC’s Richard Smith.

According to preliminary results from Elections BC, Lowan received 3,348 votes.

Lowan, who was named the leader of the BC Greens in September 2025, succeeded former leader Sonia Furstenau. Lowan’s win made her Canada’s youngest major political party leader.

According to Lowan’s profile on the BC Green Party website, the Victoria-based organizer-turned-politician has past experience working with Climate Action Network Canada and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

The BC Greens’ platform highlighted economic fairness and climate action.

The Green Party has also held the riding in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, with incumbent Jeremy Valeriote garnering 9,448 votes at the time of publication.

The party promised to bring back vacancy control, create a provincially owned and operated grocery chain, and proposed wealth taxes on fortunes exceeding $50 million.

Lowan was among the youngest candidates running in the provincial general election. The BC Greens’ social media posts over the past year suggest the party draws inspiration from New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani and his democratic socialist policies.

With files from Kenneth Chan

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