Quebec journalist goes Green

Jacques Rivard is the new deputy leader of the Green Party in Quebec. Here's the  announcement:

PRESS RELEASE

Novembre 24th, 2009

For Immediate Release

 

Jacques Rivard Named Deputy Leader of the Greens

 

MONTREAL -- Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May has chosen Jacques Rivard, former journalist at Radio-Canada, as her new Deputy Leader. Rivard joins Adriane Carr, also Deputy Leader of the Greens.

 

"I feel very fortunate to have someone like Jacques Rivard represent the interests of the Green Party of Canada,” said May. "For more than twenty years, Mr. Rivard has put the environment at the forefront of his career as a journalist with Radio-Canada. He cares deeply about the environment. This is why I asked Jacques to join our team."

 

Jacques Rivard considers this appointment as a natural progression of his interest and passion for the environment. "I became interested in environmental issues when I first moved to Montreal,” explains the new Deputy Leader. "Coming from Rivière-du-Loup, I noticed that pollution levels in Montreal were much higher than those I was used to in the lower Saint-Lawrence. I wanted to know why and how this affected air quality, water quality and people’s health. My inquisitive mind did the rest. For more than twenty years, as a journalist, the environment became my favourite subject. I am still as interested in environmental issues today, but I would like to work from a political angle this time."

 

Jacques Rivard has an impressive background. Besides having had a distinguished career with Radio-Canada, he also collaborated with CNN, in the United States, on environmental projects linked to the Arctic. He was a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, was a Nieman fellow and received a grant from the Rasmussen Foundation, which allows journalists who focus on the environment to study at Harvard University. For the past ten years, Mr. Rivard has been invited to Honduras, Mexico and France as a guest speaker on environmental issues.

 

"The appointment of Jacques Rivard will bring valuable experience to the Green Party of Canada,” said Adriane Carr, Deputy Leader of the Greens and candidate in Vancouver-Centre. "Quebec voters are crying out for a green option capable to truly promote their environmental interests at the House of Commons, and I believe Jacques Rivard is the right person to represent the Green Party of Canada in Quebec."

 

Jacques Rivard Bio : www.greenparty.ca/party/jacques-rivard