Evelyn Tanaka

Calgary-Hays

Evelyn Tanaka (she/her) is a second generation Canadian and environmental activist born and raised in Treaty 7 Mohkinstsis (Calgary, Alberta).  As a child she wanted to be just like Jane Goodall because of her fascination with the biodiversity of the African savannah. Her love of nature translated into a BSc in Ecology (2003) and an MA in Anthropology/Primatology (2006) from the University of Calgary. She has also spent extended periods of time in five African countries – Madagascar, Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

Evelyn is a leader in the environmental sector and has secured over $17 million in federal funding to build Canada’s environmental workforce. She is currently managing projects that help unemployed natural resources workers find work in nature-based solutions and the green economy. She previously worked in the renewable energy sector with rural communities all over Alberta. 

A relative newcomer to the political scene, Evelyn was inspired by Elizabeth May to step up and represent the federal Greens in the 2019 election. Her campaign slogan in 2019 was “Planting Seeds in Shepard”. She gave native wildflower seed and organic sunflower seed packages to residents in her riding so that she could incorporate Green values into her campaign and “do politics differently”. She has represented the Green Party of Canada in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. This is her first provincial campaign for the Green Party of Alberta in her home riding of Calgary Hays. 

Evelyn lives in McKenzie Towne in an eco-friendly solar-powered house with her husband, their two sons, and dog Molly. She enjoys knitting, reading, playing the guitar, board games with her kids, and having picnics in the park with friends