New Westminster - Coquitlam BC Green Party candidate Maureen Curran describes herself as a passionate educator and dedicated community activist with a strong science and environmental advocacy background. Maureen has 25 years of teaching experience in Coquitlam first at Terry Fox Secondary and now Centennial Secondary where she’s helped build sustainable and socially diverse learning communities. Story by LJI reporter Nancy Furness.

Beyond the classroom, Maureen is active in the community, advocating for accessible playgrounds, cycling safety, and the protection of local forests and streams. She says her campaign is driven by a commitment to putting families and communities first, with a vision for BC's sustainable and inclusive future.

Currently living in New Westminster and working in Coquitlam, Maureen feels she knows both communities very well.

Maureen says she used to be a supporter of the NDP but feels that they seem to have lost their way. Particularly concerning to Maureen is the NDP's continued support for the fossil fuel industry. Maureen feels that it would be better for the environment, and better for us economically, if we invested more in alternative sources of energy and emerging technologies and move away from relying on a resource base economy.

Maureen feels that to many people think we have to decide between having a strong economy or being environmentally responsible, she feels that we can do both.

With regards to mental health, which seems to be on everybody's mind these days, Maureen feels that more effort needs to be invested in taking a preventative approach but at the say time acknowledges that we have to find way of making our streets safe to walk once again.