Despite losing the 2015 federal NDP bid for Vancouver Quadra over the weekend, retiring Vision park board commissioner Sarah Blyth is looking forward to being out of the political arena.
“I’m exhausted, you know. I congratulate Scott Andrews on winning it. He had a good campaign. I gave it a shot even though I was a little late in the game,” Blyth told the Courier.
The single mother said she decided to run after having conversations with NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Libby Davies, the NDP MP for Vancouver East. Her 11-year-old son Sebastian also had a say in the matter, telling her ‘You’ll only lose if you don’t try.” Blyth chose the riding because it’s where she grew up.
“I felt it was a good place because I know it like the back of my hand. I went to the beach there, I had my first kiss there,” she said with a chuckle.
So what’s next for Blyth, now that her second term on park board has ended?
The answer is simple — a little TLC.
“I’m going to spend a lot of time being a mom, taking my dogs for walks, going to go up to the Yukon for a visit,” she said. “I’m going to spend more time with the Vancouver street soccer league and with some other initiatives I haven’t been able to get to over the years.”
Blyth added that she’s looking forward to taking more of an activist role on certain issues.
“It’s easier to focus on one thing when you’re an activist, whether it’s pipelines or tankers. You can really put your energy into one fight.”
Blyth will continue working as a senior outreach worker at a low-income apartment building in the Downtown Eastside. At the end of the day however, it will be about spending more time with family.
“All my son has ever known is politics. It’s great because it has opened his mind and he’s learned all about the city, gone to meetings, openings and parades. But there’s also me being on the phone, reading reports. It can be stressful,” she said.
As for throwing her hat in the political ring again, this public servant is keeping an open mind.
“I mean yeah, anything could happen. I may just help other people, or on campaigns that interest me,” she said. “I’ve learned how to bring forward issues and I’d like to help other people be able to do that more effectively.”
Getting more women elected at all levels of government is also something Blyth said she supports.
Vancouver Quadra has been a Liberal stronghold since the 1980s, with current MP Joyce Murray seeking re-election next year.
While she may not be a politician by title anymore, Blyth said she’ll continue voicing concerns about issues close to home.
“You see all new residents moving to UBC, what’s that going to look like for that neighbourhood? Or what will the Jericho Land development look like? Then there’s affordable childcare.”
The new park board will be sworn in Dec. 1.
