VSHA Speaker Series
Free* And Open To All!
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 – 7:00-8:30 pm
Cook Street Activity Center
380 Cook St. (Cook St. Village), Victoria
Free Parking
Please Use The Side Entrance
Coffee/Tea nearby at The Mocha House – BYO!
Speaker: Sonia Furstenau
A Watershed Moment: How a community came together to protect their drinking water, and the lessons learned
About Sonia Furstenau
Sonia Furstenau was the Leader of the BC Green party from 2020-2025. She was MLA for Cowichan Valley from 2017-2024, and previously elected as Area Director for Shawnigan Lake in 2014. Prior to politics, Sonia was a high school and middle school teacher. Before teaching, she was the National Administrator for RESULTS Canada, a citizen-led organization committed to reducing global poverty.
From 2013-2017, Sonia worked with her community of Shawnigan Lake to protect their drinking water. In 2013, the provincial government issued a permit for a five million tonne contaminated landfill uphill from Shawnigan Lake, putting the community's drinking water at risk. The four-year battle to get the permit revoked highlighted systemic failures in BC's decision-making processes. Working to fix these systemic issues is what motivated Sonia to run for public office. Sonia now enjoys the many benefits of post-politics life, including more time with her family and new granddaughter, and the opportunity to work in and with community on issues that she is passionate about.
See you there! Bring a few friends!
* Donations gratefully accepted
www.vsha.ca