International Women’s Day provides all of us with a chance to reflect on the women and girls in our lives and show appreciation for those who have supported and inspired us.
As a City Council, we embrace diversity as one of our community’s greatest strengths, and it’s also one of Council’s greatest strengths. Elected office in Canada, at all levels, is a mostly male-dominated field, which is why we are proud to have three accomplished and dedicated women on our team to help make our Council and community better.
In this blog post, Councillors Kelly Chahal, Patricia Driessen and Patricia Ross answer three questions on the topic of women in leadership.
Abbotsford City Council
Q: What inspired you to become involved with community leadership as a woman?
A: As a social justice advocate, I soon realized making changes to processes can only go so far, and real, lasting changes happen at the policy level. I enrolled in political science and criminal justice programs to understand systems and affect meaningful change. Through my work and experiences, I was approached by community leaders to consider a political role. I was hesitant initially, only because I did not see many women who looked like me in politics, and knowing I would be the first South Asian female in this role in the City of Abbotsford, I struggled to find any reference point. Therefore, I am grateful for the village I eventually developed, which is comprised of many wonderful, genuine, compassionate women who make my visions and dreams reachable. In turn, I am happy to say that I pass this collaboration of strength and wisdom forward, by mentoring and assisting younger women to reach their goals, no matter how big their visions are.
As a grandmother of three grandsons and one granddaughter, I want to be involved in developing and fostering an inclusive, safe and happy environment for them and other families.
Q: Have you faced any hurdles being a woman in leadership or in the workplace and if yes, how did you go about tackling them?
A: Challenges are opportunities for me, because I know where I come from and how far I’ve driven myself, and no one can stop my determination. As the first in many arenas, I became used to uncomfortable feelings and looks and often being dismissed. Even today I am told, “Oh, you are too nice for that,” and I am not entirely sure what this references, but it can allude to a lack of strength, confidence, or other attributes that take away. However, I don’t get distracted but look for opportunities to educate, share and collaborate. I’ve raised two children as a single mother, put myself through school, hold terrific jobs at all three levels of government, and have the love and respect of my community supporting me, and this to me intrinsically keeps me going.
Q: What advice do you have for young women considering getting into local government or who are considering becoming an elected leader?
A: I encourage young women to dream, set goals, and accomplish them. I want younger women to start showing up at the table, to get uncomfortable and to learn. Often, I step aside or bring on a shadow when I am part of a project or event, to provide exposure to the art of governance, processes and the unique practices of government. I am a gate “opener” and often allocate time and energy to speak, advocate and be a reference and friend to women who are making their way in this world.
Q: Anything additional you would like to include?
A: Many women walk beside me, capturing me when I need it, lifting me when it counts and acknowledging me when I am not in the room. Thank you, because you have taught me what matters and I share these practices daily to see others achieve success.
Q: What inspired you to become involved with community leadership as a woman?
A: Wanting to create a thriving and supportive environment for my children.
Q: Have you faced any hurdles being a woman in leadership or in the workplace and if yes, how did you go about tackling them?
A: I find it helpful to surround myself with like-minded individuals and build a support network. By connecting with women in similar roles or with shared experiences, I feel better equipped to handle challenges.
Q: What advice do you have for young women considering getting into local government or who are considering becoming an elected leader?
A: Engage locally! Participate in community activities, attend meetings, and connect with existing leaders. Build a network and understand what is important to your community.
Q: What inspired you to become involved with community leadership as a woman?
A: I’ve always been motivated to try to give a voice to underrepresented people and issues. My main motivator was to bring a voice to environmental issues, which was largely ignored when I was first elected 29 years ago. No one in politics was talking about climate change. It was all about the economy back then. That is important, but environmental and social issues needed to be given equal consideration in the decision-making process. I wanted to ensure it was part of the conversation. Women were also drastically underrepresented, so I wanted to bring more gender equality to politics.
Q: Have you faced any hurdles being a woman in leadership or in the workplace and if yes, how did you go about tackling them?
A: Oh my goodness yes! In the beginning, I had a double whammy of being a voice for the environment and for women in politics at a time when neither voice was particularly welcome. I felt the weight of not wanting to make a fool of myself because it would reflect badly not just on me, but people’s impression of women in politics in general. I’ve been threatened and told to “sit down and shut up” too often to count. But the answer to that is not to get angry or resort to personal attacks, especially not publicly (no one wants to see that nastiness). It’s better to rise above it and take the high road and most importantly, keep your sense of humour. It’s also hard to argue with well-researched scientific and factual arguments, so I work hard at that.
Q: What advice do you have for young women considering getting into local government or who are considering becoming an elected leader?
A: Don’t be afraid to have the courage of your convictions. People won’t always agree with you, but they respond to someone who is obviously genuine. They will respect someone who has clearly done their homework and can articulate their point of view with facts and science. They like the certainty of knowing where you stand and will choose you, even if sometimes they might disagree on a particular issue, over someone who rides the fence and obviously tells people what they want to hear and lacks conviction.
In regards to getting involved in local government as opposed to a political position at the provincial or federal level, I far prefer local government! It’s truly where all the action is! We are the front lines of change and the most accessible, accountable and efficient level of government.
Q: Anything additional you would like to include?
A: If you want to run for politics the most important thing you can do is get involved in volunteer work. People rarely vote for someone they don’t know or trust. You should have an established reputation as someone who’s proven their commitment to community already.