Ted Shelegy is a man with a not-so-simple mission—saving the earth.
As the candidate for the Green Party in the
Shelegy discussed these lofty goals, among other things, on election night while gathered with friends and family at the Vegas Bar and Lounge in
“I am the mystery candidate,” he announced boldly to the small group. Then with a laugh, he adds, “No, not really.”
In some ways, however, Ted Shelegy is a mystery. The organic farmer and retired high school science teacher decided not to have his name emblazoned on the signs placed on lawns. Instead, he opted for signs which simply spelled out, "Green Party of Ontario". His reasoning for this embodied all the policies and beliefs of the Green Party.
“Without my name on there, those signs can be used again,” Shelegy explains. This example of reusability ties into the Party’s two key elements: sustainability and responsibility. According to their platform, the Green Party believes sustainability is conducted by innovation and cost efficiency, meeting needs without depleting resources, promoting tree planting and preserving biological diversity. Responsibility is reached through healthy lifestyles, building healthy communities, maintaining energy-efficient homes and vehicles, buying local and supporting farmers and using resources responsibly.
Ted Shelegy lives and breathes his Party’s policies.
“Environment is the issue,” he says. “It is the environment that sustains us in everything that we do.” He adds, “With what’s happening in our environment with dirty air and pollution and one in three people getting cancer, what consolation do you have with a wad of hundred dollar bills in your back pocket big enough to choke a horse?”
It is his mindset that helps him to motivate people into thinking about the consequences of their actions and how those actions might affect future generations. Making mention of the recent changes in temperature, Shelegy is firm in his belief that people must change their ways through immediate action, but that first, there needs to be what he calls a paradigm shift. He also wishes to see the development of new technologies that are “green and clean.” Shelegy believes all of this is possible; politicians just have to have “the nerve to do it.” It is this receptiveness to new ideas that sets Shelegy and the relatively new Green Party apart from the major political parties with their set philosophies and ways of thinking.
And Shelegy knows firsthand the ways of the opposing parties. For most of his life, he identified himself as a Liberal until he became less than impressed with their handling in government of the environment and agriculture. It was not until recently that he became a full-fledged Green—a move that has been most agreeable to Shelegy’s environmentally driven lifestyle.
However, life has in no way become easier for Shelegy since making the switch.
“He’s done well with what he’s had to work with, but he’s been suffering for manpower for most of his campaign,” says his son, Michael, who was also at the Vegas on election night. He adds, “But I don’t see any reason why he would give up.”
Shelegy insists on staying positive despite his overwhelming competition and tonight’s loss. He is determined to maintain focus on what he would like to see being done. Although the responses he has received have been generally positive, he suggests it will be quite some time before the effects of any changes are felt.
On this he admits, “You have to have a set plan and be realistic. It is not going to happen overnight.” He is confident and comfortable. He knows where he wants to be and why he feels such a strong need to get there.
“We just have to do things that are good for society and the future generations. Where the heck are the kids gonna play? The streets?”
By the end of the night, though he has lost, Shelegy appears neither dejected nor defeated. He just hopes it isn’t too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment