One Cowichan moving towards political party?
Just asking…
Did you know big cities often have political parties behind their politics, Vancouver for one example?
But not in the Cowichan, until this election, the superbly organized and disciplined ‘One Cowichan’, historically identified as a valley-wide advocacy organization, previously thought of as, and portrayed as an NGO (non-government organization), has metamorphosized into what can only be thought of as a political entity, a political party.
Respectfully, a powerful one at that. A path way of maturity, as sure as the pupa of grubs and caterpillars emerge as butterflies and moths. Everything is still the same, everything has changed. One Cowichan was incubated by Cowichan Station, organization guru, Matt Price a while back, roughly a decade ago now (Editor’s note: Matt Price is no longer affiliated with One Cowichan). Matt, as the author of a current book titled, Engagement Organizing, The Old Art and New Science of Winning Campaigns, it is a must read for those whose head(s) are still spinning from the recent performance of One Cowichan politically, and especially in regard to the two recent referendum questions.
As an act of growth and maturity towards the noted present political party pathway, and reality, One Cowichan has been practicing as the political force aligned behind, and aside, the CVRD hosted Cowichan Watershed Board the last few years.
One Cowichan is presently performing with a focused discipline that any political party would be proud of. That any, and all mentor(s) would strut about. They are what is now called pros, a powerful, and influential entity unto themselves, something to be reckoned with, to be respectfully measured most carefully.
For example, the “yes”, referendum(s) vote was first found, and then brought to the polls in a disciplined manner not seen since the old Cowichan NDP showed such organizational tactics, and skills.
A slew of One Cowichan friends and supporters were recently elected, but was it a slate? No, I think not, not quite, but still very close. By next election it is likely (IMHO), that One Cowichan, spreading its newfound wings as a well-polished and led political organization, will enter into slate politics. One Cowichan performed admirably, astoundingly well, and again, many heads are still spinning, still shaking, in regards.
And like I said, do read the recent book, they most certainly did. One Cowichan, is a refined, tutored, political machine, now an effective, and superbly organized political party, for all the practical purposes, even by any other name, even by any other argument, they have now changed everything in the Cowichan Valley, politically that is.
One Cowichan may well demure, seeking to preserve the cloak of an innocuous NGO, but that’s no longer a possibility, as the facts and history, the track records, the fingerprints, do plainly speak, and show so clearly otherwise. Anyway, the perception, real, or arguable, is now the reality. Party politics has arrived in Cowichan.
Not saying that’s bad, just saying…
Loren Duncan
Former candidate Area E