Liberal candidate John Aldag will circumnavigate the boundaries of Cloverdale-Langley City on foot this Sunday in a 50-km journey to highlight his election bid – and draw attention to the new federal riding.
The Langley father of three is hoping to become the first Member of Parliament to represent Cloverdale-Langley City, created through a boundary redistribution that comes into effect for the fall election.
Aldag said he wants to raise awareness of the new riding boundaries – and encourage a strong voter turnout in October.
On June 21, his route won't precisely follow the technical boundaries of the riding as set out by Elections Canada, but he'll do his best.
Aldag plans to follow major roads and streets, avoiding private property and the section of the new riding that follows the Serpentine River between 176 Street and 68 Avenue.
He will set out at 5 a.m., taking advantage of the longest day of the year to run the approximate boundaries of the riding – and still have time to spend part of Father's Day with his three young kids and wife.
Describing himself as a casual runner, he's hoping to complete the run/walk in seven hours.
"I run 10 km events but nothing longer, so will treat this as a series of five to 10 km events, with some walking breaks in between," he said. He knows the route well, and will take breaks for coffee and refreshments at various stops along the way.
"There's a National Aboriginal Day event in Langley City that I'd like to catch in the afternoon, so that will help push me along," he told The Reporter.
Since earning the party's nomination one year ago, he's visited more than 20,000 homes in the electoral district, and says he still encounters many people who are unaware that new federal riding boundaries in place.
Concern about the high cost of living and housing in the Lower Mainland is one of the top local issues for local voters, heading into the federal election he said. He's also hearing concerns about the treatment of veterans, seniors issues, crime and safety, investment in infrastructure, and the need for responsible and transparent government, he said.
Aldag will be posting updates of his progress throughout the day on Facebook (JohnAldagLPC) and on Twitter (@jwaldag).