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Tim Holland '97 is currently finishing his fourth year at Trent majoring in Political Studies. He lived in Ottawa before moving to Kingston at the age of ten. After finishing high school, he spent three years outside the traditional education system. The first year he spent in Poland with Canada World Youth, then a year in Montreal, and finally a year traveling in Guatemala.

Tim was drawn to Trent's small size and the intimate atmosphere its classes were able to offer. He values highly the education he has received in political studies, feels that his professors have had a strong impact on him, and that his studies have given him a great theoretical background to politics.

Mr. Holland has taken this strong foundation and built upon it very quickly. Trent offers many different venues and forums for its students to express themselves and grow politically as well as socially, and Tim has taken advantage of these opportunities for growth, by becoming a member of the Board of the Ontario Public Research Interest Group (OPIRG). This is his second year on the board which is working towards incorporation. Tim was also involved in OPIRG's Fair Trade working group, raising the awareness of coffee economics through the fair trade days held at Trent.

An outdoor enthusiast, Tim can often be seen cycling around Peterborough. Perhaps this, along with his strong political and social interests is what led him to sit in on the talk held at Trent during the 1999-2000 school year by Larry Tisley, the Green Party Candidate in the last provincial election and Frank DeJong the Provincial leader of the Green Party.

The message of the Green Party meshed well with Tim's personal philosophy, and he became involved immediately, creating the Trent Green Party Association, which now has upwards of 40 members. Events for this group have included: a Green Party Day during environmental awareness week that was sponsored by the Trent Central Student Association, and the campaign kickoff for the federal election, which brought in guest speakers, including the Green Party health critic.

The campaign kickoff was a big night because it was the beginning of the Vote for Tim Holland Campaign! Tim decided to run for federal member of parliament as a Green Party of Canada candidate and was a very passionate candidate, consistently sending out the message that the Green Party has a practical approach to trying to change things and addresses issues in a very structured way.

The campaign gave Tim a wealth of political experience; he was involved in all aspects of the campaign which included eight debates, radio and newspaper spots, and many interviews and questions. Tim could even be seen out hammering in campaign signs around town. In the end, Mr. Holland was able to spread his word throughout the community and garner a very healthy 903 votes (1.7%). This was the largest vote total for a federal Green Party candidate ever in this riding.

When I asked Tim to comment on his campaign experience he had a lot to say. He felt that his political studies professors had given him great theoretical background and that the experience had given him a very thorough understanding of the political game. He did however, find it amazing how difficult it was trying to communicate the ideas to the media and then in turn to the public. When asked if there was one issue he wished he could get across to people most, he felt it is sustainability. He feels it is essential to be able to change people's ideas and perspectives about growth economics, and that it is vital for people to be able to look more seriously at sustainability and living more simply. His hope is that in the near future these ideas become less of a 'fringe environmentalist cause' and that it becomes more about being a responsible member of the planet.

Now that the campaign is over, Tim is back to class and is completely consumed with catching up on work that was put aside during the hectic campaign time. He does however, manage to squeeze in some time for another very public activity. Tim is well known throughout Trent and Peterborough, as not only a political candidate but as a 'street' performer. He can be found at local festivals and events either on one of his unicycles (the largest is 12 feet tall), or juggling anything from apples to bowling balls to torches. He has been everywhere from the Waterloo Busker's Festival to Canada Day in Ottawa, and was even at the Anti-World Trade Organization rallies in Seattle. His performing, along with his political campaign, are his biggest personal accomplishments thus far, according to Tim. He performs at all types of events and has been able to support his academic career with what first began as a self-taught hobby.

Trent's social consciousness has produced many students who have gone on to run in political races. It is not even that uncommon that a current student be found on the ballot in Peterborough. A recent example is Jeff Ruehls' candidacy for Peterborough Mayor. What is it about Trent that creates such a spark for social justice and the need to create change? Is it the small class sizes which allow direct dialogue and questioning with the professors? My explanation is the unique and supportive atmosphere that is created when all of the elements come together to form what we all know as Trent. As alumni I think we all have our own answers as to how Trent plays a part in each of our successes.

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