Larry's "Victory" Speech

(delivered at about 9:30 pm to the assembled faithful at Beaver Point Hall)

After spending the day driving seniors to and from the polls, our campaign - which started on the southend - ends tonight on the southend. Indeed, yesterday, while doorknocking in the southend on Roland Rd. off Isabella Point and in the northend on Maliview, I came upon the quintessential Salt Springer - a person who resided for many years on Roland and now lives on Maliview. Happily, this gentleman was the first person to call me this morning asking for a ride to the polls. I took this to be another positive sign, especially given that my doorknocking had ended in the dark, just ahead of the snow overnight. It would seem that my efforts truly would light the way on Election Day and that I would without a doubt be able to claim the title of "Hardest Working Candidate."

That being the case, I must also acknowledge that I have had the hardest working campaign team throughout. We started late and were always coming from behind as a result of the struggle to find a candidate, but we have proven to be strong finishers, as I had predicted. My special thanks go out to: my official and financial agent, Michael Wall; Salt Spring's only gumboot-dancing campaign manager, Jean Brouard; super volunteer and super volunteer coordinator Maxine Leichter; our website guru, Brian Smallshaw; writer/editor extraordinaire, Murray Reese; ideas man, John Rowlandson, who, along with Brenda Guiled, got me into this campaign as my nominators; the host of our first planning committee meeting, Briony Penn; my daughter and ace Facebook campaigner, Elizabeth Woods; my partner, Sue Walker, for putting up with and nurturing me throughout; the organizers of tonight's "victory" party feast, Karen Reese and Maxine; past trustees George Ehring, Christine Torgrimson, Peter Lamb and Mike Larmour for their guidance; and all other volunteers, donors, meet and greet hosts, endorsers, and supporters.

For me, this campaign has been both an education and an inspiration. At the end of the first week, I told you that I felt I was already a winner given the high level of support I had received in such a short space of time. That support has only grown throughout the campaign and my winning feeling has never wavered. Whatever the final outcome this evening, I will always be proud to have represented our side of the debate - the not always popular, nor easy to defend, Islands Trust side of the debate - a side that might otherwise not have been represented in this election campaign.

I thank you all once again from the bottom of my heart for your support and encourage you remain passionate about our island.

Cheese be with you and may you always find your whey.

Your Candidate,
Larry