Simone Samuels is in her first year of studies at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. She is the recipient of numerous local, national, and international scholarships and awards, including the Harry Jerome Award for Leadership (2006). Simone has also been listed in the Canadian Who’s Who since 2008. Among her many activities, she is an ordained elder, an active member of the Pathfinder club at her church, a French tutor, and the founder and program coordinator of the Girls in Transition Initiative – a life skills and self esteem development program for black teenage girls. She was also a charter member and founding president of the Golden Key International Honour Society at York University, a research assistant, a member of the Glendon College Faculty Council, and an assistant coordinator of the Glendon Women and Trans Centre, as well as other councils and committees. In 2010, Simone graduated from York University (Glendon College) with a bilingual Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree, a Certificate in Law and Social Thought, a Certificate in Practical Ethics, a Certificate of Bilingualism and a Certificate of Bilingual Excellence. In her spare time, Simone likes to read, write and blog.

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In Grade 6, while signing my year book, my computer teacher wrote, “To a future Prime Minister.” Six years later, at the end of Grade 12, I was voted “Most Likely to be Prime Minister.” Even now, in conversation, people often hint at the prospect of being in political office. Despite the confidence of many in my abilities, I have never felt that I had a place in politics, especially as a woman - and as a woman of colour, at that.  The Toronto Regional Champion Campaign, therefore, not only served as an eye-opener but as much needed encouragement.

During the experience, I was able to truly watch my Councillor-mentor at work.  It was interesting to be in a meeting with her and the Integrity Commissioner, Janet Leiper, especially since I had just recently completed a course entitled “Ethical Politics” and had learned about her position.  I enjoyed witnessing meetings with land development lawyers and other stakeholders as they discussed legal zoning and development, community planning and urban design.  I witnessed Councillor McConnell’s assertiveness in meetings with stakeholders, as well as her sensitivity when dealing with her constituents and their concerns.

In my meeting with the Integrity Commissioner, Janet Leiper mentioned that Councillors should not be lobbyists but advocates, and I can’t imagine how much better advocacy can be if the advocates reflect the diversity of their constituents.  However, many barriers still exist.  While being at City Hall, I learned that Council meetings and many other meetings often extend long into the evening, and such an environment is not conducive to those politically-involved women who have children at home.  When I worked at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, they changed the hours of the sitting of the House and moved it to earlier in the day, so that they could end earlier, and indirectly, to facilitate and encourage the involvement and recruitment of female members of provincial parliament.

After witnessing the day to day busyness of my own Councillor-mentor, I wondered about her own work/life balance.  When I asked her about this, she said it was “horrible.”  She noted that the divide between home and work was tentative and tenuous, and that while trying to be available to her constituents, the challenge was also to be available to her family – a challenge that a female Councillor is undoubtedly more likely to face.  Add this to the fact that constituents often conceive of a claim to their Councillor or Member of Parliament at all times of the day (at their office, in the grocery store…), and one can only imagine the compromises that people in public office, and especially women, must make.  This is yet another hurdle that must be overcome, or at least a problem that must be resolved if women are to be encouraged to run for public office.

In May, I attended an evening session on the budgeting and financing processes of the City of Toronto with Councillor Shelly Carroll, who is the current Budget Chief.  One of the main goals of the seminar was to increase the participation of women in the finances and governance of the City.  Attendees tried to balance a simulated city budget, and found out what a challenge it was, but many questions circulated around the budget process itself.  A question was posed regarding gender equity within the budget process, and Councillor Carroll admitted that the “gender equity” lens was not purposely or consciously included in the budget process of the City.  She said that mostly or only women Councillors alluded to gender equity on the budget process.

Even in committee meetings, I found that the men’s questions generally centred around clarification and understanding, whereas the inquiries coming from the female Councillors focused on how a policy or restriction would affect others or how the municipality or community would cope.  Even here, it can be said that men and women often look at the same issue in a variety of different ways, and such a healthy variety of perspectives could only inform a decision making process in a positive way.

Differences in conceiving situations could also have positive practical implications.  When sitting in on a Community Council meeting, I noticed that it was a female Councillor who suggested that women with very young children should give their deputations first.  This is not to say that a male Councillor may or may not have made the same suggestion, but I found it interesting that a female Councillor made the suggestion nonetheless.

There are four women on the Executive Committee of the City of Toronto, and these women are not shrinking-violets – on the contrary, they are assertive and engaged; one may argue that it could not be otherwise.  It is also laudable that women Councillors occupy pivotal and significant leadership roles in the governance of the city.  For instance, the Budget Chief, the Vice Chair of the Toronto Police Service Board, the Chair of the Toronto and East York Community Council, and the Speaker for Council are all women.  I have also noticed that Council is women-friendly.  Even as a witness in a Community Council meeting chaired by a woman, her authority as chair was never undermined.  Admittedly, Toronto has made very many steps in the right direction, but there is still much to be done.  I saw very few visible minorities, save members of staff for Councillors.

During my experience, I was able to see my Councillor at work in a meeting with representatives from Redpath Sugar.  It was neat seeing the deputations and decisions of our Community Council Meetings reflected in the newspaper the next day.  An example would be the issue of parking and driveways, as well as the installation of wind turbines in the Scarborough Bluff.  I had the joy of getting the first hand information in the meeting, and then subsequently reading about it in the Scarborough Mirror.  One of the highlights of my experiences though is when Councillor McConnell took me on a tour of Old Town Toronto and of the St. Lawrence Market, detailing the rich history of the beginnings of Toronto.

I consider the Toronto Regional Champion Campaign a life changing experience.  It opened my eyes to the challenges and joys of politics, and has sparked an ever-burgeoning desire to one day run for political office.

I am inspired – now more than ever – to make my mark on the public scene and I am encouraged that I can have a place in politics. Admittedly, I may have to create a space for myself, but it is a battle that I am willing to fight. Who knows? In a few years, you may see me on Parliament Hill after all. And no – I won’t be a part of secretarial staff; in fact, I’ll have my own.

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Read about Mafaza’s experiences HERE.