VICTORIA B.C. – Today, B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau formally announced that she has appointed Dr. Lisa Gunderson as deputy leader. Gunderson is an award-winning educator and small business owner focusing on issues that affect minoritized populations. She holds a PhD in clinical child psychology from the University of Southern California with a focus on racialized youth.
“I am thrilled to formally announce that I have appointed Dr. Lisa Gunderson as deputy leader of the B.C. Green Party,” Furstenau said. “I have worked closely with Lisa for many years on issues of equity and mental health. As an educator, advocate, and mental health professional, she brings a breadth of experience and demonstrates a commitment to service that is unparalleled. I look forward to continuing to work with her in this new capacity.”
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be appointed deputy leader of the B.C. Green Party,” Gunderson added. “I have long admired the work that leader Sonia Furstenau and MLA Adam Olsen have done, not only for B.C. Greens, but for all British Columbians.
“As an African-Canadian, the historic moment of this appointment does not escape me. I am grateful for the wonderful support of our communities and to my ancestors on whose shoulders I stand for the opportunity. I hope this appointment inspires British Columbians to know that we can all make a difference.
“Like many of you, I have no family doctor, I rent, I'm a racialized immigrant. I look forward to using my voice and lived experiences to assist our caucus in continuing to inspire and energize those of us who are looking for tangible solutions to the many crises that B.C. currently faces, especially in the areas of climate, access to family doctor, mental wellness, housing, and equity.”
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Lisa Gunderson bio (below)
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Dr. Lisa Gunderson
Dr. Lisa Gunderson is an award-winning educator and small business owner focusing on issues that affect minoritized populations. She holds a PhD in clinical child psychology from the University of Southern California with a focus on racialized youth.
Under One Love Consulting, Gunderson works with a variety of organizations, ministries, and educational institutions including the WLSS and ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal Schools as a clinical counselor and supervisor. She previously served as associate program director for CityU of Seattle – Victoria Campus for its Masters of Counseling program. A sought after speaker, Gunderson was most recently the mental wellness speaker at Indigenous Sports, Physical Activity, Recreation Council’s (ISPARC) Healthy Leader Trainings across British Columbia.
Gunderson is her PAC representative to the Victoria Council of Parent Advisory Councils, and co-founder of the Girls with Afro-Textured Hair group. She previously served on the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee as the community liaison for the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island, and is a former board member for the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Center Society.
A former California tenured psychology professor, Gunderson has received numerous awards for her work and teaching over the past twenty years. In March 2022, Gunderson received the Cultural Diversity Award from the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) for her contributions.
Gunderson lives in Victoria with her family and enjoys traveling, reading, baking, and movies.