Our History
Grassroots Beginnings
The Green movement emerged in the 1960s as a rejection of consumer culture, embracing peace, justice, and environmental responsibility. While some grassroots efforts faded, the movement only grew stronger, shaping the core values of non-violence, social justice, and ecological thinking.
In 1983, the Green Party of Canada was founded at Carleton University, marking a turning point in Canada’s political landscape. Under Dr. Trevor Hancock, the party ran 60 candidates in the 1984 federal election, gaining momentum and recognition.
The very first Green Party of Canada brochure, 1984.
Breaking Through
By the early 2000s, the Greens had expanded dramatically, running in all 308 ridings by 2004 and securing 4.3% of the popular vote, thereby surpassing the 2% threshold required for party financing under new Elections Canada rules. The message was clear: the Green Party was here to stay.
With each election, more Canadians supported Green policies. In 2011, Elizabeth May shattered barriers by becoming the first elected Green MP, defeating a sitting Conservative cabinet minister. Her victory wasn’t just symbolic, it was a sign of things to come. By 2012, she was named Parliamentarian of the Year, proving that Green leadership is more than a movement, it’s a force in Canadian politics. And we’re just getting started.
Globally Green
The world’s first national Green Party, New Zealand’s Values Party, emerged in the early 1970s, sparking a global shift toward environmental politics. Soon after, Britain’s Ecology Party and Germany’s Die Grünen followed, shattering expectations by crossing the five percent vote threshold, securing seats in the legislature in the late 1970s. With that breakthrough, Green politics was no longer a fringe idea, it was a growing political force.
Today, that movement has gone global. Over 100 Green parties now exist worldwide, with elected representatives in countries including Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, France, Germany, and Finland. What started as a collection of small, grassroots movements has become a powerful, international political force, one that continues to shape the future.
Led by Woman
The history of Green Parties worldwide has been shaped and led by women from the very beginning. Petra Kelly co-founded Germany’s Die Grünen, the first Green Party to gain national prominence. In Kenya, Wangari Maathai launched the Green Belt Movement, empowering women through environmental activism and earning the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.
Women have also broken barriers in first-past-the-post systems. Caroline Lucas became the first elected Green MP in the UK in 2010. In Canada, Elizabeth May made history in 2011 as the first Green MP and remains the country’s only female party leader. Adriane Carr became the first Green elected to Vancouver City Council, while Sonia Furstenau and Naomi Hunter have led provincial Green parties.
From grassroots activism to national leadership, women continue to be the driving force behind the Green movement, shaping a more just and sustainable future.
40 Years of Bold Change
What started as a small movement has grown into a national political force. We’ve led the way on some of Canada’s most significant advancements, being the first to propose same-sex marriage, electoral reform, and groundbreaking environmental protections. We’ve fought corporate greed, defended Indigenous rights, and championed clean energy, fair wages, and affordable housing, long before the other parties caught up.
Despite an unfair electoral system, we’ve made history. Over a million Canadians voted Green in 2019. With elected MPs across several provinces, we’re not just growing, we’re shaping the future. Elizabeth May has accomplished what few MPs ever have, passing three bills into law. Read her full bio here.
For 40 years, we’ve shown that politics can be about more than power, it can be about people and the planet. The challenges ahead are big, but so is our vision for the future. The next chapter of Green history is being written right now.
