James Beddome | |
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Leader of the Green Party of Manitoba | |
Assumed office November 15, 2014 |
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Preceded by | Alain Landry |
In office November 15, 2008 – November 22, 2013 |
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Preceded by | Andrew Basham |
Succeeded by | Alain Landry |
Personal details | |
Born |
October 2, 1983 (age 33) Brandon, Manitoba |
Political party | Green |
James Robert Beddome (born October 2, 1983) is a Canadian politician, currently the leader of the Green Party of Manitoba.
Beddome was born in Brandon, Manitoba, and was raised on a livestock farm north of Rapid City. He has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Studies and Economics from the University of Manitoba (2006), and has worked as an administrator at Nesbitt Burns. In 2008, he and two partners started a bicycle taxi service in Winnipeg.
Beddome joined the Green Party of Manitoba in 2006, and soon became the chair of its economic policy committee. He worked on Kaj Hasselriis's campaign for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2006, and stood as the Green candidate for the rural division of Minnedosa in the 2007 provincial election. He traveled by bicycle in the latter campaign, carrying a trailer and sleeping at campsites. Beddome said that he wanted to raise awareness about clean modes of transportation and lapel buttons, as well as the problems faced by family farms.
Beddome was elected to a two-year term as Manitoba Green Party leader on November 15, 2008, defeating incumbent Andrew Basham and third candidate Shane Nestruck. After his victory, he said that he would work toward running a full slate of candidates in the next provincial election. He was the party's candidate for a by-election in the northeast Winnipeg division of Elmwood in early 2009.
He stepped down to focus on completing his articles of law after graduating from the faculty of law at the University of Manitoba in 2013. Alain Landry was appointed interim party leader for the Manitoba Greens in November 2013.