Ryan Kahro is an empathetic and strong-willed mother elect who will be representing the Wellington and Halton Hills Green Party this June. Kahro is a down-to-earth individual who grew up on a family farm in Acton, Ontario. Kahro also attended Robert Little School where she learned how to be an independent, hardworking and dedicated person. Now, Kahro encourages the same traits in her own children on her Rockwood property.
A long-time participant and organizer of the Pony games at Acton Fall Fair, Kahro is a deeply empathetic person, who cares about all people no matter their race, gender or religion. Acton UP reached out to Ryan Kahro for an interview and she politely agreed to sit down with us and introduce herself to Acton. When asked, tell us about yourself, Kahro comments,
“I get asked this question a lot and the thing is, I am you, I am your neighbour, I am just like everybody else. I am a mom and I am a community member who has always found value in Green policy and Green initiatives. Recently, I’ve felt so moved by what's going on in the community during things like covid and the climate crisis. I don’t believe the current politicians and leaders are doing what needs to be done. I am an alternative choice if you are sick of politicians letting you down and if you are sick of false promises and if you are constantly let down by your government, I am a viable choice.”
Kahro was named the Wellington and Halton Hills candidate in early February of this year. Kahro is a University of Guelph Alumni and worked in marketing and communication for the city of Guelph for many years before settling down and becoming a stay-at-home mother to her three children. Unlike some of the other candidates for the June election Kahro does not have the same educational experience that some politicians have. However, that is one of many of Kahro’s strong assets,
“I come in this with a very grounded and free mind that is connected to the people, to our lives, to our challenges and worries. I see people and I hear people. I am in the trenches with you. Whereas I feel as our leaders and politicians are not on the same level as us anymore. They do not feel what we common people feel, nor do they care. You should be in a challenged and upset state if you are a leader right now because you should be facing the same challenges as us. I am here and I am a mama bear and I see Wellington- Halton Hills as one of my own, something I need to fight for.”
Kahro believes that not enough change has been made in the last few years within the government and that it is time for a new direction. Year after year, election after election, Kahro believes that things have not been changing for the better and that it is time for a new result. Kahro remarks, “we are in a crisis situation across the board, everything we designed has failed and we’re on the brink of a nuclear war. We are digging up Indigenous babies all over Canada and Black Lives Matter is still considered controversial; we have failed.”
The Green party and Kahro want a safer, cleaner and healthier future for Wellington and Halton Hills but also Ontario, “we are screaming and yelling over here, and Wellington and Halton I’m screaming and yelling for you,” Kahro comments, “the time to change is now, if people don’t believe four years can make a difference, I’m here to show you it can.”
When asked about Kahro and the Green party’s plan for protecting local agriculture and the environment, Kahro comments.
“In Wellington and Halton Hills, there are already so many initiatives in motion to protect the water, to protect the earth, to protect the seeds. Lentil farming, solar farming and what we have now is a really strong base to pivot from relying on fossil fuels, which we absolutely have to do, we can rely on another outlet as well. These companies and organizations have had no government support and have been doing it on their own with no awareness. So imagine what could happen if they had government support. This is why it is so important right now to bring in a Green policy, we have this 2030 deadline where there is no point of return to damage to the earth.”
So far, the Halton Hills Low Carbon strategy has been approved which includes a plan that includes bringing green jobs to Halton Hills. She believes changing the district from a reactive state to a proactive state will start to make a difference. The re-election will be happening in the middle of significant Canadian urgencies, such as the current housing crisis, home equity and the astronomical rise in gas prices. When asked about the housing crisis, Kahro suggests,
“Short term, we can build on the land we already developed, build duplexes, triplexes and condos above already established buildings like strip malls and paved land. Then you can run an electric bus to it and it becomes sustainable and progressive.”
Ultimately, Kahro believes right now is the best opportunity to vote for Green and that there is a never-before opportunity to change and give an opportunity to a new party. The Green party support in Halton Hills according to Kahro has been, “extremely special.” The campaign for the Green party starts in May and there will be an eco-exposition in April.
Kahro invites Acton to the election campaign launch, fundraiser and eco-exposition on Sunday April 10th 2022 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the
Rockmosa Community Centre. More is to come regarding the Green Party campaign in the following weeks and Kahro is feeling hopeful for the future.
More information about Ryan Kahro can be discovered on the Green Party website, here. If you have any more questions or need further information regarding Kahro’s campaign you can contact her through her government email at ryankahro@gpo.ca.
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