Loyal Wooldridge found some surprisingly strong support for the NDP where he least expected as he campaigned for the party in Octobersa国际传媒 provincial election.
In the Magic Estates hilltop neighbourhood, where homes average more than $1 million, Wooldridge said many residents were receptive to the NDPsa国际传媒 message.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 anticipate I would find so many friendly doors up in Magic Estates,鈥 Wooldridge said in an interview. 鈥淚 actually can鈥檛 identify why. Because we went off a few blocks from Magic, into Wilden, and that was not the case.鈥
Wooldridge, a 39-year-old two-term sa国际传媒 city councillor, is The sa国际传媒 Couriersa国际传媒 Newsmaker of the Year for 2024. He came closer than anyone ever has to winning a seat for the NDP in a sa国际传媒 riding, finishing only 40 votes behind BC Conservative victor Kristina Loewen, a margin so narrow it triggered an automatic judicial recount.
His strong performance during the campaign attests not only to his personal popularity but it reflects something of the changing political and demographic realities at play in sa国际传媒.
His reach may have slightly exceeded his grasp this year, but it wasn鈥檛 for lack of trying, and his near-miss has to give the NDP hope that sa国际传媒 may not forever remain the small-c conservative bastion it has been for decades. It also suggests Wooldridge is likely to be a dominant figure in sa国际传媒 politics for as long as he chooses to be.
This is an edited conversation with Wooldridge:
Courier: What are you going to most remember in years to come about your experience in the provincial election?
Wooldridge: What it shows me from a high level for sa国际传媒 is that anything is possible. The demographic here really is changing and what people value is really changing. From what originally looked like a barren wasteland for the NDP, the election has shown that progressive voters are wanting something different here. I actually see our campaign as an enormous success. Obviously, I鈥檇 love to be in Victoria right now, but thatsa国际传媒 not where the cards landed. But it shows the potential for sa国际传媒 for the NDP.
Courier: NDP candidates in sa国际传媒 generally get about 30 or 35 per cent of the vote. But you got 43 per cent and came within 40 votes of winning. What do you attribute that to?
Wooldridge: I think it was a combination of name recognition, my work on city council, and the campaign infrastructure we had locally. We had 105 volunteers. It was all those components that were the perfect recipe to bring us that close to the win.
What was really rewarding for me was that 70 per cent of our volunteers were young people under the age of 25 that really valued the direction the NDP government is taking. Itsa国际传媒 so fulfilling for me to see this whole swath of young people come on board with the progressive vision.
Courier: What were the most frequent criticisms you heard during the campaign about the NDP government?
Wooldridge: Overall, people are concerned about the deficit. Homelessness, addiction, and safety were also frequently mentioned. Those were the big items that I spoke about a lot on peoplesa国际传媒 doorsteps.
Courier: Are you confident the NDP government will deliver results on those particular issues?
Wooldridge: I鈥檓 cautiously optimistic that with some of the commitments that were made during the campaign that we should see some movement. I do believe that involuntary care for people that can鈥檛 make decisions for them-selves has a place. Itsa国际传媒 a number one priority for city council, as well, seeing a regional facility for people that are a detriment to themselves and the community. That alone, I think, should move the dial slightly, but the issues are super complex and we have to continue to invest in treatment services and making sure people have the right amount of care. The people who are cycling in and out of incarceration because of petty theft and that kind of thing, that makes other people feel unsafe.
Courier: Have you ever had an unpleasant encounter with somebody whose actions gave you some concern for your own personal safety?
Wooldridge: I think anyone whosa国际传媒 been in an urban area in any big city has had an experience like that. I definitely have experienced that in downtown sa国际传媒, but I鈥檓 a 39-year-old male so I don鈥檛 have the same degree of safety concerns as maybe an older person would. When behaviours are erratic, itsa国际传媒 reasonable for other people to feel unsafe. It just shows there needs to be a different degree of care, housing, and service for people who are struggling.
Courier: With such a narrow loss, 40 votes, do you ever think of anything you might have done differently during the campaign?
Wooldridge: I am so proud of our campaign. We gave it 110 per cent, and there wasn鈥檛 anything else locally that we could have done. But having a bit more presence from the NDP provincial organization itself, and extending a little bit more support to us locally, that would have gone a long way.
Courier: I don鈥檛 think NDP Leader David Eby even came to sa国际传媒 during the campaign, did he?
Wooldridge: He stopped by Vernon and then we had a quick meeting at the sa国际传媒 airport before he flew out. That was challenging, because it goes a long way for volunteers to be able to meet the leader.
Courier: Have you heard from Eby since the election?
Wooldridge: Yes. I have a great relationship with the premier and we鈥檙e going to keep that going to benefit the citi-zens of sa国际传媒 regardless of the outcome.
I think the party has definitely opened its eyes to the opportunity here in the Okanagan. They have to pay attention to that. With a loss of only 40 votes, I don鈥檛 think anyone could deny that if there had been a little bit more support, we could have got across the line.
Courier: Are you going to run for sa国际传媒 city council again in 2026? Have you given any thought to running for mayor?
Wooldridge: (Laughing) I have to give myself six months to recover from everything thatsa国际传媒 happened. Obviously, 2026 is looming and a decision will have to be made. But theresa国际传媒 a lot of really important work thatsa国际传媒 happening in terms of capital investments by the City of sa国际传媒 in the next couple of years and I definitely want to be part of that in some way.
Courier: What about running for the NDP federally in next yearsa国际传媒 election?
Wooldridge: I have no interest in running federally right now. First and foremost, I think the next federal election is not going to be pleasant in terms of the sentiments broadcast by all the parties. And secondly, I really enjoy local and provincial government because the policies touch people the most and the services are those that people value the most. I think the work that goes on in Ottawa is important, but I鈥檓 just not as passionate about it right now.
Courier: Since the election, whatsa国际传媒 the strangest question you鈥檝e been asked?
Wooldridge: Well, I鈥檝e been asked a couple times, 鈥楽ince you didn鈥檛 win with the NDP, would you consider running with the Conservatives?鈥 Philosophically, thatsa国际传媒 not going to happen.
