Image: Teri Westerby

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Federal election

SD33 trustee, a self-described ‘former farmer’, to run in upcoming federal election for Chilliwack-Hope

Mar 25, 2025 | 9:32 AM

CHILLIWACK — Less than two and a half years into his first term on the Chilliwack Board of Education, a self-described former farmer and longtime community advocate will run in the upcoming federal election with a message that Chilliwack deserves better.

Teri Westerby says he has stepped forward as the NDP candidate for Chilliwack-Hope in the 2025 federal election, scheduled for Saturday, April 28.

“On Sunday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh launched the NDP party’s 2025 campaign for the upcoming April 28th federal election with a clear message: this election is about who will stand up for you – and who will sell you out,” Westerby wrote in a statement. “Teri Westerby is stepping forward as the NDP candidate for Chilliwack–Hope in the 2025 federal election; bringing a voice shaped by lived experience, grounded in compassion, and powered by the belief that better is possible.”

Former NDP candidate Danielle (DJ) Pohl says Westerby is the right candidate to continue the momentum derived from their 2021 showing when the Singh-led party earned nearly 27 per cent of the vote in Chilliwack-Hope.

“In 2021, we earned nearly 27% of the vote, making the NDP the clear choice to take on the Conservatives locally,” said Pohl. “Westerby is the right person to build on that momentum. In these uncertain economic and political times, we need elected leadership that truly reflects the diversity of our communities and represents the voices of all constituents.”

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Chilliwack made history in 2022 by electing Westerby as the province’s first openly transgender man to public office. As a self-described former farmer, a current small business owner and longtime community advocate, he says he’s no stranger to rolling up his sleeves and doing the work.

“Growing up in BC in the 90s, I watched my family stretch every dollar, choosing between bills and groceries more times than I can count,” says Westerby. “Struggling to find my way in a world that wasn’t built for me as a queer and neurodivergent person lit a fire in me to fight for a government that truly lifts up everyone.”

Westerby’s campaign will focus on what he calls the “relentless challenges” facing families today: skyrocketing living costs, a collapsing mental health system, crumbling trust in leadership, and the rise of fear-based politics.

“The tension with our biggest trading partner is only making things worse,” he adds.

When it comes to “fear-based” politics, however, Westerby has had a few miscues of his own. He recently called SD33 by-election winner Laurie Throness a “conservative career politician” just hours after the votes were counted on Saturday, March 1. Throness served as an MLA for a little over seven years in public office, similar to the amount of time that two of Westerby’s fellow trustees have.

In May 2024, despite assertions by Westerby and a local author that threats of violence were among the reasons for a “Queer Storytime Adventures” event being canceled at a Chilliwack school, the United Way of British Columbia said it was not aware of any threats of violence.

In July 2023, less than a year after he was elected to office, Westerby circulated a meme on social media that mocked reaction in some conservative circles around the blockbuster Barbie movie starring Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie. The meme disseminated by Westerby depicted Gosling and Robbie rejoicing in the bottom right-hand corner while a road roller moves to physically crush Christian values, those who adhere to certain traditional family views and those who hold a pro-life view around the sanctity of life. The meme resulted in a rare public apology by then SD33 board chair Willow Reichelt.

Westerby’s platform will also encompass themes around protecting Indigenous sovereignty, supporting small businesses and workers, building a sustainable local economy, and making life more affordable. “Our shared struggles feel endless,” said Westerby. “But I believe in the people of Chilliwack–Hope. I believe in our ability to connect, to rebuild, and to resist the politics of division.”