Lana Popham was elected as MLA for Saanich South on May 12, 2009.

Lana serves as opposition critic for Agriculture.

Some know her as an environmental and community activist; others as a businesswoman and organic farmer; still others as a neighbour, parent and community volunteer.

Born in Regina in 1968, Lana was raised on Quadra Island where her understanding of sustainability has its roots.

Studying geography and urban planning at university led her to realize that sustainable cities link neighbourhoods to jobs and services with high-quality walking, cycling and transit networks. She also believes cities should connect people to nature with parks and trails, and support a local farm economy to help supply food.

In 1996, Lana made her home in Saanich South where she lives with her husband Jon, a firefighter, and their son Kye. The family owns and operates Barking Dog Vineyard, the first certified organic vineyard on Vancouver Island.

As a volunteer, she offers farm tours for school children so they can see where and how food grows, and she has partnered with her son's school by running a composting program and holding an annual tomato plant sale fundraiser.

Lana is well-known for her successful advocacy campaigns, including her campaign to replace disposable plastic bags with reusable ones.

She is persistent in speaking up when she sees inequity. When the economic viability of over ninety food producers in Saanich was threatened by increased property taxes, Lana gave voice to the wave of public reaction that forced the Campbell Liberals to back away from their misguided farm-tax policies.

Lana has always been an ardent advocate for local businesses and the recent economic downturn has magnified the importance of her focus on buying local and keeping money circulating within the local economy.

Lana currently sits on Saanich's Planning, Transportation and Economic Development Committee. She is past-president the Vancouver Island Grape Growers Association, chair of the Certification Committee for the Islands Organic Producers Association, a commissioner on the Peninsula Agricultural Commission and a voting member of the Agri-Food Initiative Advisory Committee.

Lana is a high-energy individual with a demonstrated commitment to enhancing the quality of life of our community.