The British Columbia Conservative Party announced Monday its endorsement of health professional Leah McCulloch to be its candidate in the Courtenay-Comox Electoral District.
“We are thrilled that a candidate of such passion and talent is stepping forward to represent the people of the Comox Valley,” said party president Corbin Mitchell.
McCulloch and her family have been residents of Comox for almost two years after she retired from her 24-year career in several health-care positions, most recently implementing a ground-breaking program for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority in the Lower Mainland, which saved both money and lives.
“Leah is exactly the type of person needed so badly now in B.C. politics,” said Mitchell, noting how she is a strong communicator who cares deeply for people, is willing to fight for what she believes is right, and will give residents an opportunity to vote for someone who truly can deliver a new and better style of politics.
McCulloch spent her early years in Port Hardy before moving to the mainland. She has a B.Sc. from UBC and was trained as a dietitian at Vancouver General Hospital. She began her career helping pregnant women in poverty and addiction in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, which she did for 10 years, then shifted to wellness consulting for corporations, health promotion, eldercare at Peace Arch Hospital and ultimately working for seven years to make a health authority more cost-effective by decreasing patient complications due to smoking.
“I feel called and compelled to run for office at this time because B.C. so obviously needs strong people to not only be good shepherds of the land and economy, but also to stand up and fight for the best interests of all our citizens,” said McCulloch, who is also an avid outdoor enthusiast, and volunteers at the local soup kitchen and Celebrate Recovery (an addiction recovery program).
“I love the Comox Valley and I want to serve its people, which I will do as MLA by responding quickly to their needs and concerns while also advocating for good government provincially. I want to see government done differently and lean away from the divisive tactics that are unproductive, or the ‘big money’ campaigning that makes citizens question who owns their government and province. I believe that the government should serve the people with the best interests of all in mind. It’s really quite simple.
“I’m proud to be part of the B.C. Conservative Party and potentially a new chapter in B.C. politics. A good MLA is someone who is a good listener, who can understand the needs of a large variety of residents and proactively help find solutions to genuine issues – that’s something that I am highly qualified to do as I have spent my entire career serving the needs of British Columbians.”
“Leah is the ‘Right Choice – Right Now’ for Courtenay and the Comox Valley,” said her campaign manager, Ian MacDonald, a veteran party activist who will work closely with McCulloch from her new campaign office at 1599 Cliffe Ave., Unit 4. For more information, call the campaign office at 250-897-1857.