Introducing Breen
Hello! My name is Breen Ouellette. I am a COPE candidate for city councilor for the 2022 municipal election.
I would like to share with you some of the highlights of my life that establish why I am uniquely qualified to represent Vancouver and COPE.
During this election, my campaign has had excellent coverage by independent sources in traditional media and social media.
APTN recently featured me on their National New segment. Here is an excerpt from that broadcast.
We also have incredible people creating powerful videos in support of my campaign. Independently!
Like this one from Lance of The Serfs. He took one of my debate answers and crafted it into this powerful message about Canada’s Constitutional apartheid.
If apartheid in Canada is something you’ve never heard about, please read this article at the Georgia Straight.
I was nominated as the 2019 NDP candidate for Vancouver Centre only 12 weeks before election day.
I worked hard with our Vancouver Centre NDP election team every single day of those 12 weeks. Together, we made significant gains on the incumbent. The NDP in Vancouver Centre are building from the solid foundation of a known and experienced candidate.
While our lives have changed immensely in the last two years, the core challenges that we face as a riding and a country have remained the same. My 2019 campaign video remains relevant as we face another election.
Family History
I am a 44 year old Métis man born and raised in Saskatchewan. My European ancestors have been living on Turtle Island as far back as the 1600s, while my First Nations ancestors have been here since time immemorial.
My Métis ancestors ranged over almost the entire Métis Nation Homeland, from Red River to Peace River and down into parts of Montana and North Dakota.
Happily Married
Cammy and I have been married for nearly 20 years. Cammy was born in mainland China and lived in Hong Kong for several years before immigrating to Canada in 2001. She speaks four languages fluently.
In 2014, Cammy and I made Metro Vancouver our home together. We both live and work in Downtown Vancouver.
Pursuit of Reconciliation
I was the first Métis lawyer in BC to be granted permission to wear a Métis sash when called to the bar. It was a great honour to wear my regalia during the ceremony, as this represented a moment of reconciliation between the Courts, the Law Society, and the Métis Nation as represented by myself.
I am very grateful to the Law Society of British Columbia and to the Honourable Mr. Justice Randall S.K. Wong (retired) for accepting my request to wear my regalia during my call to the bar.
Empathetic Lawyer
I was one of the Commission Counsel lawyers for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (and Two-Spirit People). I conducted the examination of testimony for over 60 witnesses in nationally televised public hearings and in-camera private testimony.
I have advocated for immediate action to end the genocide being committed against Indigenous people, as found by the National Inquiry in its Final Report.
Selfless Activist
I had a career in IT before I became a lawyer. Over part of this career, I was a union activist with CEP 1-S while employed at SaskTel. I was an elected union steward and an elected OH&S committee member. I also took union counsellor training at the Canada Labour Congress Spring School in Saskatoon. Pictured here with my class, I am in the front row, first from the left.
As a union activist, I also engaged in a dangerous work refusal on behalf of my fellow workers. The investigating OH&S Officer came to a decision that I could not refuse the dangerous work because it was a “normal condition of employment”. I appealed this decision to the Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal of Canada.
Rounding out my work experience, I previously held the role of Director of IT for the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan. I also co-founded two computer retail businesses in Saskatoon.
Community involvement has always been a key part of my life: mentoring students interested in becoming lawyers; helping elderly neighbours with their yard work or legal matters; door knocking for the NDP in previous elections since 2004; and volunteering for eight years as the computer network administrator for CFCR 90.5 FM - Saskatoon Community Radio.
I have focused my life on demonstrating the highest integrity in the service of others. I have pursued the greater good and stood by my principles, even when it meant that I suffered a personal loss. I have made regular positive change in the communities I serve, from lending a helping hand to fighting for the rights of others. These are the qualities of honest leadership.
Please take a moment to review my election commitments to see how I transform honest leadership into innovative leadership. Also consider filling out the form below to learn more about opportunities to meet me, or come to one of my speaking events. Please allow me the opportunity to prove to you that I am the right person to lead Vancouver Centre as your Member of Parliament.