Erin Carlson, one of the Stop the Swap campaign founders, is stepping away from the group for a while to launch a different campaign.
“I have decided that running for municipal council will be an effective way of creating a lasting impact from what we have started,” she said.
Carlson said she has wanted to have a conversation with council. “When you are on council, your voice gets heard,” she said. “I would like to have a vote.”
Her partner Bart Fieten, another member of the group, is also stepping aside.
Carlson, a 26-year-old orchardist has a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and also works as an administrator for B.C. Cherries.
She said she wants to bring a new tone, new perspective and a change of energy to council.
Stop the Swap was founded in December 2013 to protest an ALR land exchange proposed by the municipal council that would see more than 80 hectares of some of the town’s best farming land removed from the ALR to be replaced with more than 90 hectares of inferior farming land farther out of town.