When she was 17 years old, Carey Poitras got it into her head that she needed to travel to the Carmanah Valley and tie herself to a giant tree.

As a Grade 12 student at 91原创 Secondary School, Poitras was starting to become politically aware, and a threat to the ancient spruce trees  on Vancouver Island sparked something deep within her.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been passionate. When there鈥檚 an underdog, I want to help them,鈥� Poitras said.

鈥淏ut my life鈥檚 path never put me at the forefront; I was always a supporter.鈥�

Until now, that is.

Last year, Poitras, a 35-year-old mother of two sons(10-year-old Rayne and 18-month-old Khale) decided it was time to step into the spotlight and run for office as a member of the Green Party.

鈥淚 have enough years under my belt, I can see what the issues are,鈥� Poitras said, explaining why she鈥檚 chosen now to take a more prominent political role.

Despite her own initial motivation, one of the main messages Poitras hopes to get out during her campaign is that the Greens are more than tree huggers.

鈥淲e have a full platform, but the impression is we鈥檙e just about the environment,鈥� she said.

The Green Party supports preventative health care as one means of taking pressure off the medical system and reducing wait times, she said.

鈥淧eople are not having a good experience (with the health care system) because it is understaffed.鈥�

The Greens also advocate providing more long-term care beds to free up acute care beds and introducting a federal pharmacare program to help reduce drug costs.

Finding solutions to poverty and homelessness 鈥� including the struggles faced by food banks and lack of affordable housing 鈥� are high on the Green鈥檚 priority list, Poitras said.

鈥淭here are 120,000 kids in B.C. going to school without breakfast.鈥�

Income is a problem for Canadians at both ends of the spectrum, from pension shortfalls for seniors, to high youth unemployment rates.

That鈥檚 a message Poitras would take to Ottawa, if elected.

One plank in the Green Party platform that is close to Poitras鈥� heart is addressing the disappearance of the family farm.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a value I hold dear,鈥� said the Aldergrove resident, who belonged to 4-H growing up.

She now sits on the district 4-H board as well as on an Aldergrove agriculture board.

Poitras also sits on the PAC of her son鈥檚 school as well as the district parents advisory council (DPAC)

鈥淚 keep myself busy,鈥� she chuckled.

鈥淭he reason I鈥檓 involved is to make a difference.鈥�

For her, that means helping to engage 18 to 35-year-olds in the democratic process.

Realistic about her chances in a traditionally Conservative riding, Poitras鈥� goal is to maintain or improve on her party鈥檚 showing in 91原创 on May 2.

Three-time Green Party candidate Patrick Meyer received nine and half per cent of the vote in the 2008 election; Poitras has a modest aim of improving that to 10 per cent.

Nationally, she said, the Green Party鈥檚 profile is growing.

鈥淲e got almost a million votes in 2008.鈥�