VICTORIA — Stuart Parker was 21 when he became the leader of the B.C. Greens in 1993 after campaigning against McDonald's use of ozone-damaging foam packaging.

He said youth alone won't be enough to sustain the next leader of the Greens, in a race where the average age of the contenders is just 30.

"So yes, I got in as the young, radical urbanite, but I maintained my leadership of that party for seven years by spending my time on the road," said Parker, who has also run for the New Democrats and more recently has worked for the B.C. Conservatives.

Parker said he campaigned not on his age, but by shaking as many hands as possible, and meeting and listening to people.

The Greens' leadership contest, with a voting period from Sept. 13 to 23, features 24 year-old Emily Lowan, who is an org

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