FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Disruptors

Beer Pong with Edmonton's Lone Rhinoceros Candidate

"Disrupters" follows a handful of independents, weirdos, and activists are trying to screw with Canada's election campaign in clever ways. Among them is Donovan Eckstrom, a university graduate living in a frat house.
Justin Ling
Montreal, CA

This Canadian election is a dogfight between three political parties and their highly controlled, tightly-messaged, and carefully planned campaigns. Not everybody is happy about it. A handful of independents, weirdos, and activists are trying to screw with Canada's most predictable election campaign in clever ways. This is the first episode of our new series "Disrupters."

Led by an actual rhinoceros, Canada's Rhino Party began contesting federal elections in 1965. In 1984, the political satirists actually became Canada's fourth-most popular political party, campaigning on a promise to nationalize Tim Hortons, repealing the laws of gravity, and abolishing the environment (because it's too hard to keep clean). After laying dormant for years, possibly due to real political parties making satire too easy, the Rhino Party is back with a new generation of disillusioned clowns. Among them is Donovan Eckstrom, a university graduate living in a frat house in Edmonton's student ghetto. We sent Justin Ling, VICE's parliamentary correspondent, to investigate Eckstrom's bold electoral plan, which they discussed over beer pong.