Media expert and former journalist Kathryn-Jane Hazel has been officially named the Green party candidate who will run in the Nanaimo-Cowichan riding during the next federal election.

A first-time political candidate, 62-year-old Hazel grew up in Victoria and has lived in Nanaimo for the past six years.

She has a PhD in media studies and taught media courses at Vancouver Island University before retiring last year.

A self described life-long community activist, Hazel said her platform will focus on developing alternative-energy sources, improving Nanaimo’s transit system and stopping the export of raw logs to the United States.

“What I’m trying to do, as a Green party candidate, is I want to raise issues and new ideas that perhaps haven’t been thought of before,” Hazel said. She’d also like to dispel the myth that Canada can’t focus on both the economy and the environment at the same time.

“People should understand that you can’t have a healthy economy without a healthy environment.”

Hazel has worked on all the election campaigns since she became a provincial and federal Green party member in 2001.

The riding has been held by Jean Crowder of the NDP since 2004. In the 2008 federal election, the Greens received less than 10 per cent of the vote.

Hazel is aware of that and admits she doesn’t expect to beat Crowder. She said her goal is to raise awareness on environmental issues.

kderosa@tc.canwest.com