Clara Morin Dal Col Announces First Members of Team for the 2024 MNBC Election

(November 17, 2023) Leadership experience at the community level are hallmarks of the members of the Clara Morin Dal Col Team for the 2024 Metis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) General Election. As we continue building our team, this first group of candidates announced today have all been former Métis Community Presidents who served their communities tirelessly and who are still very much involved in addressing the needs of MNBC Citizens.

Joining Clara Morin Dal Col in her pursuit of the MNBC Presidency in the next MNBC Election are Melanie Allard of Kamloops running for Provincial Vice-President, Linda van Wieringen of Charlie Lake running for Provincial Métis Women’s Chair, Greg Sterling of Quesnel running for Director of Region 5, and Vince van Wieringen of Fort St. John running for Director of Region 7.

Ms. Morin Dal Col said, “I am delighted to be able to announce this first group of candidates who will be seeking positions on the MNBC Board in the next general election. It is hugely important to me that members of our team are running for the right reasons, and given the leadership and service at the community level of our first group of candidates, I am absolutely convinced of their commitment to putting the needs of the citizens first.”  

Melanie Allard served as President of Two Rivers Métis Community in Kamloops from 2010 to 2017 and is currently the Vice-President of the Métis Community. Melanie worked as the Program Coordinator for the Métis Employment and Training Program (METP) (STEPS now) for Region 3 and her career advanced to become the Senior Director for METP for the entire province.

“I am pleased to be part of Clara’s team as the candidate for MNBC Vice-President,” said Melanie, “where I can work on behalf of all citizens in this province using my experience gained at the community level and in my previous role as senior director for METP.”

Linda van Wieringen has joined Clara’s team to bring a special focus to the needs of Métis women based on her experience as the former Regional Women’s Representative in Region 3 and the former President of the Vernon & District Métis Association.

Linda, who now resides in Charlie Lake said, “Métis women in British Columbia need a strong voice at the MNBC table and being part of Clara’s team as the candidate for the Provincial Métis Women’s Chair will give me that opportunity.” Linda is passionate about advancing the rights and well-being of Métis women.

Greg Sterling was Vice President and President of the Boundary Métis Community in Grand Forks for three years before moving to the Quesnel area in 2017. Greg is seeking to become the Regional Director in Region 5 where there are many Métis people, young and older who need a regional director who will be active in all of the communities.

“I’m a good listener and I’m always looking at ways to improve life for our Métis people, and that’s a perfect fit on Clara’s team,” said Greg. “It is important for all communities in the region to be thriving and being an important a part of their region.”

Vince van Wieringen of Fort St. John is running to be the regional director in Region 7.   Vince was President of Vernon & District Métis Association for five years before he and his family moved north. He is currently vice-president of the North East Métis Association and a Board member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is deeply community-oriented with a track record of actively working to bringing people together.

Vince said, “Like Clara and the other members of our team, I have an unwavering dedication to advancing Métis rights, culture, language and heritage through community engagement and strong regional representation.” He is ready to lead his region towards a brighter and more equitable future.

Ms. Morin Dal Col, who is seeking the MNBC Presidency in the 2024 election said, “Putting the needs of our Métis people first is our number one priority. That’s the difference between our team and the current Board of Directors. Our commitment of looking after the needs of our Métis people is resolute and solid, and I know our team has the ability, experience and know-how to deliver.”

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For further information:

Contact Clara Morin Dal Col

Candidate for MNBC Presidency

Email: cmdalcol@gmail.com

In picture from left to right: Greg Sterling, Melanie Allard, Clara Morin Dal Col, Linda van Wieringen and

Vince van Wieringen