Organizing for Democracy in Moncton, NB

I touched down in Moncton seven days ago. It felt like jumping out of a moving airplane with a parachute, some basic supplies, and a flashlight - and nothing else. A women sitting next to me on the flight from Toronto asked me what I was doing in New Brunswick. I told her I was hitting the ground to support and resource local CAPP organizers who were educating and engaging citizens in the lead-up to the provincial election on Monday, Sept.27th. Going back and forth in French and English she quickly discovered that I only had a place to stay, two facebook messages with people I had never spoken to before, and two clipboards. She quickly concluded that I was going in "blind." Patti Jennings, who I had met five months earlier on a cruise, was kind enough to pick me up from the Moncton airport, at 11:20pm! (The entire trip was organized in under 36hours). This was my first time in Atlantic Canada, and my first experience with the warmth, kindness, and unconditional friendliness of Maritimers. (It's kinda like Southern Hospitality in the US, minus the guns.) I spent the better part of the next three days making phone calls, sending facebook messages, and having meetings with local supporters of democratic engagement. My goal was to determine the lay of the land, listen to the strengths and weaknesses of our on-the-ground organizing capacity, and attempt to host a "CAPP Moncton Voter Outreach" event. The downtown public library became HQ. My two contacts flying into Moncton were Monique Robichaud and Kim Leaman. They were very active in organizing the Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament Day of Action rally on January 23rd, 2010. They were kind enough to show me around town, organize meetings with community leaders, and introduce me to their friends. Kim and I watched a leaders debate together - we swore a couple of times at the TV. Monique invited me over a couple of times for BBQ dinner - she even introduced me to a delicious maple curry dish. We decided that a good "voter outreach" initiative would be to print a few hundred educational leaflets and head down to the bumpin' farmer's market on Saturday to talk to people about the upcoming election. Monique was instrumental in coordinating the location and getting us buttons printed. The local paper, The Times & Transcript, caught wind of our pro-democracy organizing efforts and published a feature article. The outreach event was a resounding success. The sun was shinning, the market was buzzing, our group of volunteers talked to over 250 people, we educated dozens about the voting process, and pointed others towards local candidate discussion forums - so they could size up the candidates who wish to represent their voices in the provincial legislature. Alicia Robichaud, Monique's daughter who isn't even old enough to vote, was one of our strongest canvassers! We saw a number of people wearing our "VOTE SEPT 27th" buttons around the market later in the day. A number of people have asked me when I'm moving to Moncton. I guess it wasn't hard to tell how much I enjoyed the city, the people, their passion for community organizing, their humour, their music, the natural environment, and their open and welcoming hospitality. I'm now packing my bags and heading into Fredericton, blind.