The Right Stuff

Gregor Robertson - MLA, Vancouver-Fairview

gregorbc.ca

photo by Jaime Kowal

When Gregor Robertson looks into the eyes of his children, he doesn’t just see the next generation gazing back, but that of seven generations beyond. It’s a guiding principle from the Iroquois that informs and inspires the father of Johanna and Jinagh, both seventeen, Satchel, 15, and Terra, 13, on decisions both personal and political.

Speaking from the Legislature in Victoria, where he sits as NDP MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, Gregor reflects on how fatherhood is core to his identity: “Ever since my kids were born, I’ve felt an immense responsibility beyond just providing for them. My responsibility became to steward everything within my reach, and to extend my reach as far as I could, to make the most difference for their future.”

Gregor recently announced his bid for the Vision nomination for mayoral candidate in Vancouver’s upcoming civic election. So what makes him different from the other hopefuls? He’s proven his political chops in Victoria, but has also demonstrated his business acumen as founder of the immensely successful Happy Planet juice company. Gregor attributes the company’s success to adhering to a triple-bottom-line approach— financial, social, and environmental responsibility—a model that Gregor feels can also be applied to politics.

For many people, sustainability is synonymous with the environment; for Gregor, it also incorporates social justice and compassion, including the eradication of homelessness. His vision for Vancouver is to make it the “greenest city in the world,” something he knows that will impact not only his children’s future, but the future of generations to come.

Now that’s a vision worth focusing on.

—Paulina Nelega