Tish Lakes‘ parents were conservatives, which gave the NDP candidate in Kelowna-Lake Country plenty of opportunity to argue politics.
“My parents were conservative from the old days – more like Diefenbaker conservatives,” says Lakes.
“I‘m running because I enjoy talking, I guess. I grew up in a family where we used to have big political arguments at the dinner table.
“My dad was a lawyer. He liked going back and forth with us so that was great. He‘d challenge us.”
Lakes is in for a challenge in this riding. In the last election, the NDP won only 17 per cent of the vote. But she likes challenges.
“At this moment, I‘m attempting the New York Times crossword puzzle,” said Lakes. “It‘s a habit I share with my mom. If I don‘t know the answer, I‘ll call her. I also confess I use a couple of reference books otherwise I wouldn‘t know who pitched in the World Series in 1976.”
Lakes was born in North Vancouver in 1955.
She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Victoria and worked her way through school planting trees.
She moved to Kelowna almost three years ago from Nelson to work at the Okanagan Advocacy and Resource Society.
When she‘s not working or campaigning, she enjoys the outdoors and a sense of humour.
“I love lake swimming,” she said. “I used to swim in Kootenay Lake. I have a substantial floating chair collection. It‘s a lot warmer swimming in Okanagan Lake.
“I also enjoy the bike trails, but haven‘t done it as much as I should. Campaigning isn‘t going to help with that.
I just like being outside when I can. I have golfed in the past, but I‘m scared to go back. I could do better for exercise, for sure.”
Her top issue is housing.
“It‘s a passion for me that we take a really serious look at what‘s needed for people,” she said. “It‘s OK to demand of people that they do the best they can do and I do that in my work. But you also have to be realistic about needs of people.
“I‘d also say the environment is my priority. As the Okanagan grows, the question of sustainable water and sustainable systems becomes very important.”
Lakes said she is in the election to raise issues and hopes that people‘s priorities have changed to those traditionally supported by the NDP.
“It‘s a challenge. but you have to get in there and dig,” she said. “My passion is to get out there and fight and never say never.”
She doesn‘t take issue with MP Ron Cannan personally, but the Conservative policies and Prime Minister Stephen Harper‘s style will be the election issues, she says.
“Ron has a long history of public service in Kelowna and I respect that,” she said. “The issue for the NDP is Stephen Harper. None of the Conservative members have the freedom to challenge him.
“All of our national issues translate into local
forums and our MPs can‘t talk like we did in the family I grew up in. With the old (Progressive) Conservatives, you didn‘t have the silence from the MPs you have now.”
Lakes belonged to the B.C. Federation of Women in the ’70s, has been active in human rights issues through the Solidarity movement and is a member of the board of Pro Bono Law B.C. that provides free legal services to those who can‘t afford them.
She begins the campaigning in earnest this week.
“We‘re going to be door knocking and setting up a campaign office,” she said. “There have been glitches, such as with fixing computers. Well, actually, I didn‘t do it. I watched the smart guy do it.”
