[Image-1]

Thirteen years ago, Hurricane Juan was the catalyst for Lil MacPherson to open a restaurant dedicated to sustainable agriculture.

Now a different environmental crisis is inspiring the co-owner of the Wooden Monkey to once again take action, as she announces her candidacy for mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality.
“I just see all these massive opportunities and what’s coming at us, and we’re not ready as a city,” says MacPherson. “We are so far behind the ball, we’re almost at a standstill. Everyone else is running, sprinting towards all this wonderful innovation.”
It’s no coincidence that she’s declaring her campaign on Earth Day. Attending the Paris climate talks last fall, MacPherson says she was inspired by other municipalities around the world that are combating climate change while fostering eco-friendly industries.

There’s a “tsunami of green jobs” about to be created, MacPherson says, and it would be socially irresponsible of HRM not to seize those opportunities.
“I just can’t stand by and watch us flail around and miss this massive green economy that’s going to come—where people won’t come and settle here because it’s too hard to open a business.”
MacPherson previously considered a run for mayor in the months leading up to 2012’s municipal election, but she never ended up offering. Instead, she supported Mike Savage’s successful bid for city hall.
But that was then, and this is now. MacPherson calls the municipality’s current mayor a “good, funny, fun man,” but says Savage and city council can do better to lead the way on climate change.
“I don’t think they realize what’s happening, and they’re failing due to lack of education on the subject,” she says.
So, this isn’t just payback for all that convention centre construction affecting the Wooden Monkey’s sales. Though, she says, that definitely helped make the decision to run a little easier.
“The chances of me getting in are really slim, and that’s ok,” says MacPherson. “I just feel I need to be a voice. I need to be a green voice.”
While she may downplay her odds of winning, MacPherson’s announcement does make her the current top contender in a mayoral contest that has so far produced few challengers against Savage. 


Peter Kelly’s name had been bandied about for a potential run, but the disgraced former mayor instead took a job as Charlottetown’s chief administrative officer.
So far the only other declared candidate for mayor is Paul Boyd. The taxi and limousine operator previously ran for office twice federally, twice for mayor and four times for city council—most recently losing the winter by-election for District 6 with just 1.7 percent of the vote.

Self-described “underdog” MacPherson will be ramping up her campaign in coming weeks as she tries to gain momentum ahead of the October 15 election.
“I guess I’m going to build it just like I built the Monkey—on faith,” says MacPherson, about her candidacy. “Hopefully people will support me.”
Related Stories
Pamela Lovelace to challenge Matt Whitman for District 13
Lindell Smith wants his community to be heard
Brenden Sommerhalder enters the race for city council
City Council Report Card 2016
Survey says: HRM council edition
Reg Rankin won’t re-offer in October’s municipal election
The underdog Dominick Desjardins
Bruce Holland uses his community newspaper to announce campaign for city council
Economy Shoe Shop joins legal action against the Nova Centre
Updated: Paul Boyd (maybe) drops out of race for mayor with hostage video parody
Savage and MacPherson face off at public forum
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2016.
*BIG SIGH* First Fred Connors, now a wooden monkey… the commonality of the two? Narcissism.
Actually, no, they aren’t narcissistic. They are prescient and have track records of courage and innovation. That takes confidence which is often labelled as narcissism by those who aren’t,
Lil is great. She’s an innovator. I think Halifax needs a boot in the arse and she would gladly get my vote to do the booting!
She is a bright light of commitment and progressive principles… sounds like a great combination.
Too fucking true. I think Mike isn’t worrying too much.
She has my vote.
She has mine, as well
This is great news. A down to earth woman to run our cities. Wtg Lil you have my vote
Allons, can you offer an example of them being prescient? How will that help them to run a city? Explain their track records of courage and innovation. The we can have a decent conversation.
Is she a LEAPer ?
What jobs is she talking about ?
So I have nothing and less than nothing to vote for.
She sounds like a green party candidate…no thanks.
I need to move back to the HRM so I can vote. Go Lil go.
YAY! She’s finally on radar…
This is excellent. Support her against the career politicians who are in it for the benefits. Next we need a limit of two terms max per councillor. Fed up with councillors who see this as a career for life.
So, she complains that her Halifax restaurant is losing money because of the construction on the World Trade Center building. Now she turns around and she is wasting money on a campaign which will not see her elected mayor. If she has enough money to waste on a failed election, then she needs to stop complaining about the alleged loss of money to her business. As I said in my original comment, this is about narcissism.
I’m spoiling my Municipal ballots this year. First time in my life I’ll ever not vote for someone. This city is a joke. We need to split in to two (or more) cities. Rural people don’t care about urban problems and vice versa. Also anyone who’s currently on council or has been in the last 20 years should be banned from ever running again, forced to apologize to the people for Halifax and be horse whipped in Grand Parade.