Growing up, I was fortunate to have strong women as role models. One of the greatest influences in my life was my grandmother, who built a career as both a probation and parole officer and later as a communications professor. She showed me that women belong in every corner of public life – not because they have to follow a particular path, but because they deserve the opportunity to choose their own.
I may never have wanted to become a probation or parole officer myself, but seeing a woman serve her community in a profession that wasn’t always welcoming to women left a lasting impression on me. She taught me that leadership isn’t about fitting a mold – it’s about having the courage to step forward, serve others, and make a difference.
Representation matters. When young people see someone who looks like them breaking barriers, it expands their sense of what’s possible. A role model doesn’t have to tell you what to become; sometimes simply showing you that you can belong is enough to change the course of your life.
As I campaign to become the @CityofHamilton‘s next Mayor, I think often about the women who came before me and made space for others through their dedication and perseverance. Their example reminds me that public service is about opening doors, lifting others up, and leaving our community stronger than we found it.
You never know who is watching, who is drawing strength from your example, or whose future you’re helping to shape. Being a role model can make all the difference in the life of another.
Source: The Brandon Sun, Fri, Mar 25, 1977, Page 7.