Former Olympian Ravi Kahlon is wading into politics, throwing his hat in the ring as NDP candidate for Delta North in the upcoming provincial election.
Kahlon was born and raised in Victoria before moving to Delta more than ten years ago. A two-time Olympic field hockey player, Kahlon competed for Canada in both the Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 games. He was also a member of the Canadian field hockey team that won silver and gold medals in the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games, respectively.
The North Delta parent, whose young boy is active in soccer, field hockey and track and field, pledged to work hard for better opportunities for kids and a better future for North Delta families.
“As a parent and as a coach, I want all North Delta kids to have every opportunity to reach their goals,” Kahlon said. “I believe that hard work should be rewarded, in the value of teamwork, and that we are at our best when we help each other up when we are down.”
Kahlon took aim directly at Premier Christy Clark and BC Liberal MLA Scott Hamilton, who Kahlon said have been making the wrong choices for North Delta families, and for our province.
“Overcrowded schools, longer commute times, and the endless nickel and diming with new fees, taxes, and tolls, are just a few of the ways Christy Clark and Scott Hamilton are making life harder for North Delta families,” Kahlon said. “I’m running to change that. I know we can do better.”
Kahlon, who was inducted into the Delta Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, continued his commitment to youth athletics as a coach, on the Delta Parks and Recreation Committee, and as a Director of High Performance for Field Hockey BC.
In his professional career, Kahlon spent six years in banking where he says he gained a greater understanding and respect for working people and small business owners.
For the last six years, he has worked for elected MLAs in the NDP caucus as director of stakeholder relations, building relationships with business, environmental, labour and First Nation leaders.
Kahlon’s nomination will be confirmed at a meeting scheduled for Nov. 16, 2016. The provincial general election will be held on May 9, 2017.