Livingstone-Macleod candidate Kevin Van Tighem with New Democrat MLA for Lethbridge West Shannon Phillips.
The New Democratic Party has chosen its candidate for Livingstone-Macleod in the next provincial election.
The NDP confirmed last week that conservationist, author, and former superintendent of Banff National Park Kevin Van Tighem will be the candidate.
“I am deeply honoured that the members of Livingstone-Macleod have trusted me with the responsibility to be their representative in the coming election,” Van Tighem said in a news release.
“This is the center of my personal universe, and I am dedicated to serve this community and help write our shared story of a better future with an NDP government.”
The NDP’s Livingstone-Macleod constituency association held its nomination meeting Wednesday at High River Library.
In the last provincial election in 2019, NDP candidate Cam Gardner received 5,125 votes, or just over 20 per cent of the ballots cast.
The United Conservative Party’s Roger Reid won the election with 17,644 votes, just over 70 per cent of the total cast.
Van Tighem was born in Calgary and graduated from the University of Calgary in plant biology.
From there, Van Tighem went on to work in Canada’s national parks for 34 years, including in Waterton Lakes National Park and as the superintendent of Banff National Park.
Van Tighem has written 14 books and regularly published columns in Alberta Views Magazine.
“Livingstone-Macleod is living proof that a healthy economy and a healthy environment are not just compatible, but mutually-dependent and essential,” Van Tighem said.
“My family has been involved with farming, municipal affairs, conservation and parks in this area ever since my great great uncle arrived here in 1886. My roots, my family, and my neighbours’ stories are all firmly planted in the ground here, and I want to make sure that we have a government that understands the things that matter to this area.”
After retiring as superintendent, Van Tighem was involved in the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s efforts to protect ranching from land use pressures in the area.
Van Tighem has served on the board of the Livingstone Landowners Group and planning committees for the Castle parks and Livingstone-Porcupine Hills recreation and land use plans.
Van Tighem and his wife Gail raised their three children in Waterton and on their property along the Oldman River near Cowley, where they continue to spend much of their time each year.
“Alberta needs good government again,” Van Tighem said. “We need health care we can rely on, schools that give our kids the best possible education, better stewardship of our Eastern Slopes, a strong economy with good-paying jobs, and an end to the UCP theatrics and chaos.”
“I know that Rachel Notley and the Alberta NDP are focused on these important issues that actually matter to Albertans, and to the people of Livingstone-Macleod. As part of this team, I am determined to work hard to ensure this area is represented, and that as a province we can get back to building what really matters.”
