Remembering Rod-Paul Martin

By Adriane Carr

On Monday December 12 we lost a wonderful colleague, dedicated Green and great friend within our party: Rod-Paul Martin. Rod-Paul was my executive assistant, working with me in our Green Party office in Vancouver for the last three years.

He came to the Green Party during the 2008 federal election, incensed by Jack Layton’s opposition to the inclusion of Elizabeth May in the televised leaders’ debates. Although he’d been a staunch New Democrat, working on campaigns and serving on the executive of the NDP riding association in Vancouver Centre, Jack’s obstinacy prompted him to read Vision Green, and that changed his life. I remember him saying, “I read the whole thing and agreed with it all. That’s when I realized I’d been in the wrong party!”

Rod-Paul joined our party, my 2008 Vancouver Centre campaign team (coordinating the final GOTV door-drop of literature), and then the staff of the Green Party, replacing my former assistant who left for maternity leave in March of 2009.

You could find no more dedicated employee or Green (nor bigger Elizabeth May fan) than Rod-Paul. He was determined to help the Green Party grow, build a strong volunteer base, and elect Greens. He brought great skills in training and organizing volunteers (from the Canada Lifesaving Society) and loved to organize community outreach and events. I couldn’t have accomplished my training tours and fundraising events without him.

Rod-Paul’s battle with cancer began a year ago. Despite increasing health challenges, he continued to come into the office and take on new tasks. His work with the Green Party kept him going.

More than anything, Rod-Paul wanted to see Elizabeth and me elected. Last May, he was elated by Elizabeth’s win as Canada’s first Green MP. Last week, Rod-Paul attended my inauguration ceremonies as I became Vancouver’s first Green City Councillor. It was the last time I saw him; and he was so happy with our win. He will be sorely missed.