Green Party Candidate Nicolas Geddert facing uphill battle in Fort Whyte by-election
The Fort Whyte by-election has its share of high-profile candidates, though one face that is not as high profile is a community organizer and avid volunteer.
Nicolas Geddert is running as the Green Party candidate in the by-election set for March 22, 2022.
"I think that community is the solution to bad government," Geddert said.
He was a candidate in the 2019 general election representing his home constituency of Elmwood.
"Elmwood itself is a really vibrant community for community organizing, so I am hopeful that I can bring some of that to Fort Whyte," he said.
The sand truck driver and youth basketball coach said he is running to give people a wide range of choices and help grow his party in preparation for the general election next year.
"I'm running to give our youth a chance to get involved in campaigns and get a little bit of political experience under their belts," he said. "I am running to give Greens in the riding an opportunity to vote Green."
Geddert is up against former football stars Obby Khan, who is running as a PC candidate, and Willard Reaves, who is the Liberal candidate. The other candidates include former WSO executive Trudy Schroeder, who is running with the NDP, and Patrick Allard who is running as an independent.
The Green Party has never won a seat provincially and garnered less than seven per cent of the vote in Fort Whyte in 2019.
Chris Adams, adjunct professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba, doesn't see that changing much in the traditional Tory stronghold.
"I don't foresee them having a large amount of support," said Adams, adding winning is not the only goal for Green candidates like Geddert.
"Nicolas Geddert I think is running more just to highlight issues of environmentalism."
The Green candidate is not dissuaded but recognizes this race is an uphill battle for him.
"I hesitate a little bit to use the word battle. I don't think we need to be fighting with each other," he said.
Geddert said he hopes this will be less of a campaign and more of a conversation between candidates.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, allowing states to ban abortions
The U.S. Supreme Court has ended the nation's constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. Friday's outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states.

'Devastating setback': Trudeau, politicians react to overturning of Roe v. Wade
Canadian politicians are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling the news 'horrific.'
Roe v. Wade abortion ruling raising alarms among Canadian advocates
Canadian advocates are cautioning against complacency regarding abortions protections in place in Canada, after the U.S. Supreme court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday.
Roe v. Wade: These U.S. states are likely to ban abortion
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end constitutional protections for abortion, 26 states are likely to ban abortions; 13 of which are expected to enact bans against the medical procedure immediately.
'It feels so good': Alberta MP celebrates overturning of Roe v. Wade
A Member of Parliament from rural Alberta went live on Facebook Friday to celebrate a United States Supreme Court vote to end constitutional protections for abortion.
Two dead, 14 wounded in Norway nightclub shooting, police say
Two people were killed and 14 wounded on Saturday in a shooting at a nightclub and in nearby streets in Norway's capital Oslo, Norwegian police said.
Mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon 'most complete' find in North America: officials
Miners working in a gold field in Yukon have uncovered what is being called the 'most complete' mummified woolly mammoth found to date in North America, officials announced on Friday.
'So scary': Flying shovel misses Mississauga driver by just centimetres
An Ontario driver is speaking out after a shovel struck her windshield while she was driving on the highway.
This is who's in and who's out of Doug Ford's cabinet
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled his cabinet for the 43rd Parliament and there are some big changes to the front bench.