Emily Lowan

Early life and education

Emily Lowan was born on September 18, 2000, and grew up on the Saanich Peninsula in British Columbia. She has spoken fondly of her youth spent crabbing with her father off the Sidney pier, camping in Ruckle Park, and snorkelling at Ardmore Beach, experiences that fostered a deep connection to the local coastline. Lowan is an alumna of Claremont Secondary School in Saanich. She pursued higher education at the University of Victoria, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a combined focus on political science and environmental studies. This academic foundation, combined with her personal experiences, shaped her early interest in environmental advocacy and social justice, setting the stage for her future career in activism and politics.

Activist career and entry into politics

Before entering electoral politics, Emily Lowan built a substantial career as a climate and social justice organizer. She served as the Fossil Fuel Supply Campaigns Lead for the Climate Action Network Canada, a role in which she led national coalitions involving labour groups, Indigenous nations, and environmental organizations to advocate for stronger federal pollution regulations. Lowan also worked as an investigative researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives on its Corporate Mapping Project, where she focused on exposing corporate influence over government policy and trained other researchers across the country. This frontline advocacy work provided her with a reputation as a coalition builder and a critic of entrenched power, which she later channeled into her political campaign for the leadership of the BC Green Party.

Leadership of the BC Green Party

Emily Lowan launched her campaign for the leadership of the Green Party of British Columbia on July 3, 2025, receiving a notable endorsement from environmentalist David Suzuki. She won the leadership election in September 2025, securing over 60 percent of the popular vote and becoming the first Generation Z leader of a major Canadian political party. Her campaign sparked a significant surge in party membership, which grew from approximately 5,500 to 10,000 members, with a tenfold increase in members under the age of 30. This growth was largely attributed to Lowan's effective use of social media and short form video platforms to communicate her platform. In a significant early move as leader, Lowan oversaw the party's decision in February 2026 to not renew its confidence and supply agreement with the BC NDP government, accusing it of failing to implement the terms of their deal.

2026 provincial election campaign

Following the announcement that incumbent Green MLA Rob Botterell would not seek re-election, Lowan was confirmed as the Green Party candidate for Saanich North and the Islands in the 2026 provincial election. She criticized Premier David Eby's decision to call a snap election in the fall of 2026, stating the timing was poor for British Columbians and framed the election as being about Eby's leadership rather than external factors. Lowan's campaign has been laser focused on the cost of living crisis, which she describes as creating anxiety levels equivalent to those during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic. She argues for a platform that simultaneously tackles affordability and the climate crisis, proposing ideas like a public green jobs program and even public grocery stores to reduce costs. The election provides Lowan her first opportunity to seek a seat in the provincial legislature since becoming party leader.

Political positions and platform

Emily Lowan's political platform is built on a progressive critique of economic and political power structures in British Columbia. A central pillar is her campaign against what she terms 'the oligarchs', individuals with assets exceeding $100 million, whom she estimates number about 650 in the province. She advocates for an 'ultra wealthy fairness tax' modelled on proposals in California, targeting extreme wealth to fund social programs. On labour issues, Lowan supports aggressively expanding unionization and implementing sectoral bargaining to cover all workers in an economic sector. She has criticized the BC NDP's handling of the 2025 BCGEU strike, the longest public service strike in Canadian history, and accuses the government of being influenced by corporate lobbying. Her climate policy includes opposition to new pipeline projects like the one proposed in an MOU between Mark Carney and Danielle Smith, and she successfully campaigned for the University of Victoria to divest $256 million from fossil fuels. Lowan is a strong supporter of fully implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and advocates for electoral reform to introduce a proportional representation system in British Columbia.

Public persona and political style

Lowan has cultivated a political style that emphasizes grassroots connection and digital outreach. Shortly after her election as leader, she began a two month 'Fight the Oligarchs Tour', travelling to small communities across B.C. to meet with residents and local leaders. She is known for leveraging social media, particularly short form video content, to explain policies and rally support, a tactic credited with driving youth engagement with the Green Party. In her campaign literature, she presents herself as a renter and a community organizer who understands the struggles of working people, often referencing her personal connection to the Saanich Peninsula. Lowan positions the Greens as the party willing to challenge a broken status quo, arguing that the social contract needs restoration to ensure people can afford to build a life and protect the planet for future generations.

Questions about Emily Lowan

Who is Emily Lowan?

Emily Lowan is the leader of the Green Party of British Columbia, a position she has held since 2025. Born in 2000, she is the first Generation Z leader of a major political party in Canada. Prior to politics, she worked as a climate activist and researcher. In 2026, she is running as the Green candidate in the riding of Saanich North and the Islands.

How did Emily Lowan become leader of the BC Greens?

Emily Lowan became leader of the BC Greens by launching her leadership campaign in July 2025 and winning the party's election in September 2025. She secured over 60 percent of the popular vote. Her campaign significantly increased party membership, doubling it to about 10,000, with a notable surge in youth membership. She received endorsements from figures like David Suzuki during her campaign.

What is Emily Lowan's stance on wealth and taxation?

Emily Lowan's major priority is raising taxes on the wealthiest people in British Columbia. She defines oligarchs as individuals with at least 100 million dollars in assets, estimating about 650 people in B.C. fall into this bracket. She advocates for an ultra wealth fairness tax similar to a proposal in California. Lowan specifically criticizes the influence of wealthy individuals like Chip Wilson and Jim Pattison on government policy.

What did Emily Lowan do regarding the University of Victoria's investments?

Emily Lowan successfully campaigned for the University of Victoria to divest its working capital fund from fossil fuel corporations. The divestment amounted to 256 million dollars. This action aligns with her background as the former Fossil Fuel Supply Campaigns Lead at Climate Action Network Canada. It demonstrates her commitment to climate action through direct financial and institutional pressure.

What was the Fight the Oligarchs Tour?

Shortly after being elected leader in September 2025, Emily Lowan held the Fight the Oligarchs Tour. This was a two month long tour that took her across British Columbia. She visited small communities to meet with community leaders, Green Party members, and the general public. The tour was a key part of her campaign to challenge the political influence of the ultra wealthy.

How did the BC Greens' membership change during Emily Lowan's leadership campaign?

During Emily Lowan's leadership campaign, membership in the BC Green Party increased from roughly 5,500 to 10,000. This growth was primarily driven by youth engagement, with membership under 30 increasing tenfold. Much of this surge is attributed to Lowan's effective use of social media and short form videos. Her campaign successfully mobilized a new, younger demographic for the party.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.