Jessica Wegg

Jessica Wegg is deeply rooted in the values of justice, equality, and standing up for what is right — values that have been passed down through generations. With a family history of service to Canada, Jessica has been raised with a sense of duty to defend the rights of all people, and to fight for the best future for everyone.

Her journey is marked by years of legal practice, which has only strengthened the conviction that we require leadership rooted in community and the need for action in the face of growing crises.

Jessica’s roots run deep in Canada. Her ancestors served their country in times of war but also stood up for justice in times of peace.

At just 21 years old and a farmer from a small village in Ontario, her paternal great-grandfather enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force during World War I. He went on to fight in France, where he was wounded and captured at Vimy Ridge. He spent more than a year in a prisoner-of-war camp and years later passed away in his early 40s.

On her maternal side, Jessica’s family members also answered the call to serve during both World Wars. Originally from Scotland, her great-grandfather joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in 1916 and later was appointed to a commission in the Imperial Army. His service was intertwined with his faith, and he assigned his pay from the CEF to Robertson College in Edmonton where he would later attend seminary. Another of her great-grandfathers served in the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II, Jessica’s granduncle flew a Spitfire over France and Belgium, and her grandfather embellished his age so that he could enlist in the British Army. During his service, he earned two medals for his service.

Their stories are a testament to the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who have served Canada throughout history. Still, Jessica’s family has not only fought in wars but has also been a constant force in standing for the rights of others. Despite being partially paralyzed from polio at a young age, Jessica’s grandmother taught college and also was a tireless advocate for better wheelchair accessibility in Calgary. Outside the country, her great uncle served as a Canadian ambassador to South Africa in the time of Apartheid. During that service, his wife was hit with a water cannon while protesting against Apartheid.

That family legacy of standing up for others has profoundly shaped Jessica’s career. She has been a lawyer for more than a dozen years, and has spent her career as a passionate advocate for civil rights and social justice.

She has fought for athletes who were the victims of physical and sexual abuse, and helped to expose widespread abuse within organizations like USA Gymnastics. She has worked to protect the rights of those who are denied adequate legal representation or basic medical care while incarcerated. She has supported First Nations communities in Canada, helping with various stages of the treaty process and working to ensure the laws will be enforced once enacted to protect Indigenous rights.

Jessica’s efforts have been instrumental in giving a voice to those often silenced and bringing attention to systemic issues.

After the election of President Trump in 2016, Jessica and her family began taking steps to return to Canada. Originally born in Calgary, Jessica’s mother is a trained nurse and her father a physician that served countless families, delivered hundreds of babies and also provided care to the First Nations. But when Jessica was 12, her family moved to the United States for a new adventure. Finding a home in Indiana, she was the second-oldest of five children and grew up in a loving and supportive family. After graduating, she stayed close to her family to continue to attend family events.

But life in Indianapolis soon started to stray far from the environment and community she wanted for her family. The local public school system failed to adequately respond to the pandemic and provide a strong education for their children. She, her husband, and their son witnessed gun violence firsthand. And when her husband’s law firm in which she practiced offered pro bono representation for those arrested during peaceful protests for the Black Lives Matter movement, they received multiple death threats and their home address was posted online. Jessica and her husband felt their family was at risk, solidifying their decision to return to Canada.

Now back in Canada, Jessica Wegg is carrying the mantle of her family’s legacy and continues to fight for the values they have upheld for the generations to come. As a mother, she is deeply concerned about the future that is being shaped and left for the children of today.

She believes that many of the challenges facing the country, particularly the climate crisis, require immediate and strong action. She sees her role as a defender of the next generation’s right to a livable world, and believes that the Green Party is the only political party with a comprehensive and actionable plan to address the environmental emergency.

Climate change is already impacting communities across Canada — the stakes could not be higher and there is not a moment to waste. Jessica is committed to standing up for Canadians and the planet, taking up the torch of her ancestors and striving for a better future for all.