Rachel A. Blaney

Rachel Blaney

Rachel Blaney is a social activist and politician based in Campbell River, Canada. She is the former Executive Director of the Immigrant Welcome Centre, and former regional representative on the Conference Board of Canada. She has also worked as employment officer for the Homalco First Nation, while living on reserve. Blaney is the current candidate for the New Democratic Party in the new federal riding of North Island—Powell River.^[1]

Early life and family

Rachel Blaney with her family in Campbell River

Blaney’s was born in Terrace, BC to a psychiatric nurse mother, and an adopted father of the Stellako, from Stellat’en First Nation. She grew up in Terrace and Vanderhoof, BC. As a child, Blaney helped her dad conduct local campaigning for the NDP. Growing up, Blaney’s adopted aboriginal family welcomed her into traditional practices, such that she did not realize her non-aboriginal ancestry until later in life.

In 1994, Blaney moved to Nanaimo to complete a bachelor’s degree in Aboriginal Studies and Women’s Studies at Vancouver Island University. During university, she spent Saturday nights volunteering for patient and family care at the palliative care ward of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. She worked at Respite Care Unlimited, a local NGO linking volunteer caregivers to the families of children with severe developmental disabilities.

Blaney moved to Campbell River in 1998. She is married to the former Chief and current Council member of the Homalco First Nation. Together, they have three children and three grandchildren.

Social Activism

Under Blaney’s leadership, the Immigrant Welcome Centre in Campbell River has grown seven-fold, expanding services throughout the North Island. It has also twice won the Chamber of Commerce’s Not-for-Profit of the Year award, among other awards.^[2] In this role, Blaney concentrated on providing services for rural communities in North Vancouver Island, including hiring a staff member for remote communities.

Blaney was chosen to represent North Vancouver Island on the Conference Board of Canada’s Leadership Roundtable on Immigration. In this role, Blaney brought federal attention to immigration challenges in northern Vancouver Island.^[3] She has also taken part in multiple local initiatives, such as the Comox Valley International Welcome and Campbell River’s annual Walk Away from Racism.

Politics

Blaney at a public protest

Blaney is currently running for election as New Democratic Party candidate in the new federal riding of North Island-Powell River.^[4] Her election platform highlights the following issues:^[5]

• building nation-to-nation relationships between the federal government and Canadian aboriginal peoples
• reversing federal government cuts of $36 billion to public health care
• supporting the NDP affordable childcare plan, which would make childcare available across Canada for no more than $15 per day
• opposing the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline

References