Welcome to Between the Threads, a podcast exploring the threads that connect us, story, memory, identity, and meaning, and how they weave the fabric of peace in our lives and communities. Between the Threads is a joint initiative between Kahanee and Narratives. Kahanee is a nonprofit organization that amplifies storytelling for peace building, and Narratives is an award-winning planning and design firm based in Winnipeg, Canada. On today's episode, we have Nellie Kennedy. Nellie was elected as the MLA for Assiniboia in 2023 and appointed as the Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism in 2024. Since being elected as an MLA, she passed the Islamic Heritage Month Act, and as a minister, she passed the Protecting Youth in Sport Act and the Combat of Sports Amendment Act. Nellie is dedicated to providing assistance to families and seniors, previously working as a community service worker within the Community Living Disability Services Program. She played a pivotal role as a co-founder and volunteer director for the Postpartum Depression Association of Manitoba. advocating for mental health. Nellie takes great pride in her ties with our community where she and her husband, along with their two children reside. Welcome to today's episode, Nellie. Aw, thanks so much, Somia. Thanks so much for having me here. Of course. So we like to, on this podcast, go right to the beginning. We can't account for our lives before we enter this world. So we're going to start with what was Nellie like growing up? Oh, wow. So what was I like growing up? I was a pretty shy kid. I'll tell you my story of where I grew up. I grew up in the Interlake, so about two hours north of Winnipeg, very close to Peguis Reserve actually, outside of a town called Hodgson, Manitoba on a farm. I grew up with my mom and my dad, my brother and my sister and my Sitto my dad's grandmother, Ali Irhamma. She lived with us until she was, I was eight and she passed away. And it was really lovely having her there. It was wonderful actually. A lot of my aunts and uncles would always come to visit and we were the meeting place for all of the family gatherings. Was that because your parents were the oldest siblings? It was because my dad was the last to marry. Interesting. I I like branch into all other aspect of the story of mine. So my dad was actually 50 when he got married. He had never been married. And in my culture, like I'm Middle Eastern, the... your mother will live with one of her sons usually. And so um my dad wasn't married, but it was the homestead place that my grandparents, when they moved to Canada, that's where the homestead kind of was as a farming for them. And so of course, my grandmother wanted to stay in her home, right? And my dad lived there with her. So she was getting older and my dad had decided that he was going to get married. um So my mom who lived in Lebanon, he had chose her from a picture. Wow. And um his sister-in-law both knew my mom because it was from the village that they lived in and grew up in. And so my mom was asked if she wanted to move to Canada and marry my dad. And she said yes. Like it wasn't, you know, forced upon her or anything like that. So... My mom hops on a plane with a couple of relatives who are already coming back to Canada to visit and is in the middle of nowhere with my dad and my grandmother and my two uncles. One lives really close by, like in the same yard and the other three miles away with their families. And my mom married my dad and the rest is history. That's amazing. You know, that reminded me of my parents' story of when they got married. So similarly, like my dad was in the Middle East at the time. Mama was in Pakistan. And my dad had been there for a few years working uh as a laborer. And so my grandma, my nanno showed my mom photos of this boy. And when I asked my mom, you know, her first thoughts for when she saw this photo, she was like, I don't know. And of course, she wouldn't say that in front of my dad. then, so sure enough, you know, they ended up getting married and to this day, my dad says, I didn't just choose your mother from the photo. I saw her standing on this like bus stop or something at this roundabout. And he'll say that, puttar to this day, I go and like offer honey. to that bus stop because this is where I saw your mother. That's so sweet. It's so sweet. And I have no idea what parts of that story are actually true or not. mean, growing up, um you know, when I would tell that story to friends, like where I grew up, there were no other Arabs or Muslims that lived there except one other family and my extended family. Right. So, um you know, I was surrounded by you know, Indigenous, a lot of Indigenous people, right? Peguis Reserve was really close by. And then Fisher Branch, where I went to school, there was a lot of French and Ukrainian folks, and then, know, Gimli and Arberg were around, and that was more Icelandic. So was kind of this mosaic of cultures. But there were no other Muslims except people in my family. So this idea of this... quote unquote, arranged marriage. my parents never having met before they agreed to marry each other was just my little buddies in grade two and three and four were like, what are you talking about? How is that even possible? is not what? So, you know, it's very unique. But then, of course, I meet people from variety of cultures as I've grown and the story is not that unique. Right. So it gives me that sense of, you know, uh that there are other people who share that same story. Absolutely. And also, like lot of the times, and I've had so many conversations with him, particularly with my dad about this. you know, one of the, I remember this one particular conversation where I asked him, like, how does he actually feel about this concept of arranged marriage? And he reflects on that very honestly. And he says, you know, one, there's no relationship that's perfect. So let's start there. And he said, and over time, even if you met out of and back home, it's like either love marriage or arranged marriage. So those are the two terms. And he says, you know, even if you have a love marriage, you still have to invest in the relationship. You still have to invest in getting to know each other and work through some dips in your relationship to get to know each other. He's like, so in an arranged marriage, you look at a lot of other variables and also it's a coming together of two families. So there's lots to unpack there and it's nice to see that more. Absolutely. I mean, you know, that was a part of it with my parents, right? Like their families knew each other well, right? Like um my grandfather, like my dad's uh father, he was from the same area in Lebanon, right? So like it wasn't by surprise or by accident and any of that. So it's very similar, right? Families are coming together. And you and I, both married. We know, like if you're in a long-term relationship, you know, regardless of how you met or how you come to be, there are compromises and hills and valleys and every day you got to choose each other. You know, sometimes you love the person, but you don't want to hear them breathe. Right? Like everybody goes through that. That's not an exception for anyone. Right? And if you're together for 20, 30, 40 years. That's a lot of days together. And some days you go, tomorrow's a new day. Right. And you're like, oh, I don't think I was very successful as a partner today. I'm going to try again tomorrow. Tomorrow's reset. Oh, that's amazing. So Nellie, did your parents share stories of their early days in Manitoba with you when you growing up? Yeah. So my dad was born and raised on the homestead. So he was born in Canada. But he shared, because there are two generations between my father, right? Like I'm 49 and he passed away seven years ago when he was 94. So he got married and started having children at 50. Right. So, you know, growing up for me, my dad was the age of my little friend's grandfather's, right? So was very unique in that sense. So he shared a lot of stories about what it was like growing up in, you he's born in 1925. So... He went through the whole rural part of the horse and buggy and plowing fields in a very different way and farming throughout the whole of the industrial revolution from using horses and plows to using more machinery and what that looked like. um He was someone who really loved nature, being outside. He was very appreciative of all of... what Mother Nature has to offer us. And he would talk about the differences that he saw as a child. You know, they hunted a lot, right? For meat and for elk or moose or um deer or whatever the case, fishing, all of those things. um And he would talk about the change in the patterns of, you know, we don't see as many deer anymore or all of these things. was super interesting to me. um And so, you when you talk about the neighbors in the area and how they all kind of like support each other and band together to help each other survive like really, you know, terrible times in the 20s and the 30s and, you know, hard years on the farm and crops not coming in and trying to make it through the winter and all of these things. Like my grandparents were literally pioneers. They pioneered the land. um And so just all of what went into that. he shared a lot of those stories. My mom shared a lot about, you know, coming to this whole new land, right? She spoke a bit of English, but I remember her telling me she would learn English um on... She would watch Sesame Street. no. And so she would learn English that way. And then of course, everyone spoke Arabic, right? So like that was good for a bit. Of course, she wanted to learn to speak English for everyone else that wasn't in our family to communicate. But my mom in Lebanon, she didn't go past grade four. So that was a whole other world in that regard. And so she's still to this day, like she's functionally illiterate in English. Like she can speak it. But I remember going to the store with her when we were kids and she would ask me to read the labels off of things or if she went by herself, she just got used to what things look like in packages and whatever else. But there were times where she would pull something out of the pantry. She's like, okay, go get me a can of whatever carrots or something. And I would do it. And I'm like looking around, we don't have any carrots, mom. She's like, yes, that one. And I'm like, that's, that's pears. You know, like if it was just the writing and not the pictures. like, you know, there was, it was, it was pretty interesting. But she figured it out and just, you know, made the best she could with what she had. And she raised us and was like, worked really hard on the farm and just very humble life that my parents have always had. Oh, that's beautiful. I love that. Yeah, thank you for sharing that. It reminded me of how my mom also didn't speak any English. I remember her, at one point they contemplated moving to the US. And this was when we were in the Middle East, they contemplated moving to the US. And as a part of the application process, or I forget what it was, like to apply for a green card, oh you had to... meet certain requirements and they between my parents, realized that, know, mama needed to learn English. And so she started going to these classes. She absolutely hated taking those classes. So we grew up with this impression that mama does not speak English. Well, fast forward to a couple of years ago, they were visiting us here in Winnipeg and I had said to my friends that, you know, mama will She's very interactive, but she doesn't speak English. you know, you know, manage how you're to interact with her. I walk away. This was a family barbecue. And next thing you know, all my friends are like, your mom speaks perfect English. Oh, my gosh. It was like, mama, who are you? That is the funniest thing. How do we not know this about you? And she just looks at me and smirks as if she's been like, she's proud of the secret that she's held for so long. And she goes, Hollywood. So all those movies you've watched over the years. It's very true though, right? when you're immersed in something, you learn, right? She didn't enjoy the classes, but there are other ways to learn the language. Things we learn about our parents as years go by. That's such a great story. So yeah, I love that. So why politics? What inspired? Why politics? So I mean, I was 47 when I was elected, right? So I've had a whole life before that. So maybe I'll start with, you know, I went to university, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and was certified to teach English as a second language as an adult facilitator. And I love doing that. But... I'd always considered politics in a way of being a part of uh making policy, like actually being at the decision-makers table of uh policy-making and guiding what the government's priorities are. And I think we can see that, and I'm not going to get super partisan in this conversation, but just different parties generally have different... priorities and know, flagship things that they, that you can really tell that they're a part of a certain party. And so for me, I've always been very interested in the welfare of people um and have worked in social services for my whole entire career. So for me, the welfare of people is very important and that's just like intrinsically a part of who I am. I think you get to know yourself and I'm a pretty reflective person. So for me, anything that I've always done has been a part of how does this help someone? How does this uh make things better for someone? How does it empower someone? How can we provide experiences or education or assistance in a way that empowers someone? um So for me, I worked with disability services for very long time. I was a registered social worker and um most of my career was in Point Douglas. and downtown. So for me, you know, we would see a lot of issues with regards to people having other they're they're struggling with addictions. You know, there's homelessness, food insecurity, lack of medical care, you know, where people don't don't have a certain level of education. uh A lot of the people that I supported were Indigenous First Nations um people. so a lot of uh intergenerational trauma and residential school survivor trauma, was really, you know, really added to a lot of the layers of what people were living with. um And so I would assist people with finding housing. with linking with agencies who could provide support because the people I was supporting lived with disabilities as well, right? A lot of folks who might be in conflict with the law. So working with a lot of different systems, probation services, psychiatry, psychology, um the list goes on. And so for me, was about how do I help this person get connected with the supports they need to live the best life and just meeting people where they were at, right? someone's definition of success could be very different than what my definition for myself was of success. And so just knowing that, you know, maybe today someone, um you know, following their probation conditions and not returning into custody, like that's the goal. Sure. Right. Yeah. And so how can we support someone to do that? And if they achieve that, that will be a significant achievement for them. Right. So for me, I saw during my time, because I worked for the Department of Families, so I worked for government for about 16 years. uh And when the previous government was in power for seven years, I saw how these programs weren't being funded, where there were cuts to these programs, resources, supports. These are people that need it the most. And so for me, that was really difficult for me to swallow. to see that things were getting worse and not better. And I was very committed to helping people in this regard. em And so I had always kind of thought about politics, but that wasn't the path my life took. I wouldn't have been someone who could do it without any life experience. I felt for me that was important. em And work experience and just reflection on knowing myself, I think it's really important to know yourself. grounded that way, right? Yeah, and I think when you're in politics, you get pulled in a lot of different directions. And if you don't know yourself and what's important to you and why you're there, and the reason behind why you're there, you can go a lot of different ways. And so for me, that was important. But the opportunity actually just presented itself. At the right time that I was thinking about it, there wasn't a candidate in a Assiniboia. My friend had been encouraging me for a couple years and one night we were just sitting and talking and he started Googling how to apply, like how to run an election as an MLA. And then it kind of just started from there. So I realized after the fact, a lot of people get approached and a lot of people have a lot of experience within party politics or have been a part of uh a political party for a long time, but I couldn't because I worked for the government. So you're not. Really, you need to be nonpartisan, right? But I mean, being a part of the NDP was super easy. I'd always been NDP. I don't know a social worker who isn't. I'd like to meet them. But that is very important, right? And I grew up with my dad always saying the NDP was the only party that cared about the everyday person. And so he really, without realizing it, had set the stage for that. Interesting. In that regard, because our home was a part, like my parents always voted for the NDP. Right. that's so interesting. speaking of getting pulled in many directions. your portfolio is Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. So that's four things. Help us understand what is a day in the life of Nelly look like managing these four pillars? Well, number one, being a minister is incredible, such an opportunity. I was just blown away when the Premier called me into his office. I think it's been about 14 months ago. So it was just about a year into being in MLA, first time MLA. And it was just, it's been an incredible opportunity. So to represent our government, our priorities in this way is, it's exciting because the portfolio really is to do with some pretty incredible parts of Manitoba, right? Number one, I love Manitoba. I won't live anywhere else. I was born and raised here. So being a part of marketing and um just... amplifying Manitoba to Canada and the rest of the world and people right here at home in tourism. It's incredible. So I love being able to support that growth for our province to highlight what an incredible province we have, all that we have to offer. So that is just pretty great. Sports, I love sports. And I think it provides such an opportunity for our youth and for children, uh you know, as being healthy, being a part of something, being a part of teams, and just providing that opportunity that I think, you know, a lot of kids... uh may not have the opportunity doing other things, but sport may be accessible to them for whatever reason or that's where their interest lies. And they learn, you know, so many things about life and themselves taking part in sport. It's not just elite sports, although that's amazing too, right? But it's the opportunity that it provides, uh can really shift and change the way a child sees themselves. And I love that. So there's so much that we do within that area within our province. So that's tourism, that's sport, culture and heritage. uh So my friends would jokingly call me the UN because I have always loved different cultures, religions, uh different food, parts of the world. When I taught English as a second language, I was in my early 20s and... uh all my students were adults. So I was teaching like doctors and lawyers from different parts of the world. then my mom could have been in your class. Yeah, absolutely. But like these really professional people. Yeah. And then there's there's me like I'm 21 and they had such reverence and respect for me. So it's just the most remarkable opportunity. And I was exposed to so many different cultures and customs and traditions from around the world because I would utilize that in my lessons. So, and I mean, I had people from all corners of the world in my classes. So it was a great opportunity for me to learn and to um just really understand uh what people hold dear and important to them. And um a part of it was also recognizing, you know, I think you can celebrate diversity, you can celebrate people... being a part of a community and a culture and who they are. But I think it's important that we remind ourselves at the start of all of the layers of our identity that we add, we're all human beings first. And I think like for me, I've always seen people as just people. I don't like I love to learn about them and understand where they come from and who they are. um But I don't I don't pick up on those differences first. I see us all as just human beings who want to be validated and listened to and heard and loved and cared for. Like at the crux of who we are as people, everybody, no matter who you are and where you come from, we all want that. Yeah. So I try and remind my kids of that sometimes because I think unless you're like really pointed about understanding or learning it, you may not. realize that and then we're always just prone to seeing the differences and how different we are and I can't relate to that person they're so different than me but it's not really the case. I on a bit of a tangent there. No I love that tangent because it's like I love I love paying attention to the differences. Because they're beautiful. Because they're beautiful right and and yes absolutely like There are people who I sometimes will meet and conclude that we're so far apart and I don't even know how we could talk. yeah, we could share a meal and you know, it might be an awkward one. know, but, and I'm getting anxious thinking about it now. It might be an awkward one, but at least we can share food together. At least we can have a conversation. At least we can say, met that person. And then maybe if we met a few more times, there would be more connections. And I think that's sort of the beauty of trying to bring people together. You know, what's really interesting, you just made me think of this is when I was um campaigning, right? I was door knocking. I spent like 12 hours a day for, I don't even know how many weeks in weeks, just knocking and talking to people, knocking on doors, saying hello. an introvert, that makes me so anxious. that would need to do that. So what's really funny is that I'm actually an introvert. I'm an introverted extrovert. So I get my energy from people, but then after a certain amount of time, I'm like, please, please don't talk to me. Yeah. But what I really got to know people and just chat with them, tell them a bit about me, learn a bit about them. What was really interesting is that You know, I would say I'm with I'm the NDP candidate, right? And automatically, if someone wasn't like interested in that party, they'd be like, no, I don't vote for the NDP. And I was like, that's OK. But like, I still want to hear about what your priorities are, like, what are your concerns? You know, and then we'd start conversations and then you wouldn't believe how many people after the end of it were like, wow, I really like talking to you. really like your points. And there are a lot of people who were like, I'm going to vote for you. Wow. But it's because you need to be able, I think, to hold space, even though you differ on certain things, there is usually a place you can meet in the middle about a lot of things. And I think if you just give someone a chance, and I try to do that, um and not just kind of cut someone off, you know, because I think that we're not going to be able to come to some sort of middle ground, you'd be surprised how many times you do. That's amazing. And I think it's really, really important. And I carry that in my job every day when I'm meeting with stakeholders and different groups of people and, um you know, times where I'm like, I don't know, right? I try not to have that reaction to anything. Yeah. Because I just want to go in, have a conversation and hear what someone has to say. And they surprise you almost all the time. that's a great segue into one of the questions I wanted to ask you was about how you balance representation. So your community obviously has so much. pride and love and celebration about you being the first Muslim woman elected, the first uh Muslim woman in cabinet, and those are such important labels and sources of pride. How do you balance that with the need as an elected official to represent the interests of those who are not from that community? Well, I would say that, and you're right, my community, I have felt that love and that pride from my community when I'm out at events or, you know, just being a part of the community. um People come up to me and they say, like, how excited they are, how proud they are to have me representing our community. uh Muslim women come up to me and say, you know, this is incredible. We love... uh seeing you do this and younger women as they're coming up and going through school, seeing themselves as maybe following in my footsteps. And that is, oh my goodness, that means so much to me. I can't even really express it into words because representation does matter. Seeing yourself in someone else is important. But at the end of the day, I'm a Manitoban. Right? And so I have respect and love for all people and everyone in Manitoba. And so I see what it means for my community to see me. And so I think what's really important is just making sure that all communities and cultural backgrounds um feel celebrated and feel welcomed to know that they are important. You know, the Premier who's just a remarkable ambassador for our province and leader in our province, you know, he always says to people, the legislature is the people's building. uh And he means it. You know, he really genuinely means that. To be, you know, a part of a team where we have our first First Nations Premier in our province's history, like he really was... um someone who inspired me to run. Like I've thought about running, but it was when I said the stars aligned, that was a big piece for me. I was really inspired by our premiere. wanted to be a part of this team. You know, we have our Minister of Health, Minister Asagwara, who's a great friend, and just seeing the representation that they have and they provide to such... you know, a huge community of people, right? Being the first uh Black deputy premier and being the first non-binary person elected in as a cabinet minister. That's incredible. Absolutely. You know, and we can go through our whole cabinet. I could talk for five minutes about all the firsts within our cabinet and our caucus team. You know, First First Nations and Metis cabinet ministers, Minister Fontaine and Minister Smith. You know, we've got the first trans, openly trans person as an elected MLA, Logan Oxenham. Incredible. So I think it's very easy for me to hold up everyone else within our province because I have, you know, I have such respect for the people who have built this province and make it what it is. I think I've got a pretty great job. That's really awesome. I love the acknowledgement of that too. you know, what came up for me as I was listening to you, Nelly, was how important that team, that support network, that peer circle, and that your community as a whole is so important because it's harder to walk against the tide alone. Absolutely. when you're surrounded with so many people who represent those firsts, then it's kind of a little bit easier. It's, you know what, and I don't know, I don't feel like it's been hard. And maybe it's because, um like you're saying, our team is incredible. We have truly outstanding people who I get to... call colleagues and call friends now. I've known a lot of them for a few years now. And we inspire each other. We encourage each other. We have our premier who we all think is just a remarkable leader. We're encouraged to be just ourselves. And I haven't always had that because for the sheer virtue of where I grew up. Like I said, I was one of only you know, people in my family. So going to school, you know, my brother is only a year older than me and my older cousin, he's two years older than me. And another cousin was there actually. So we, you know, in elementary school, there would be hot dog day. Well, they, it was pork hot dogs. No one ever thought that they should make all the hot dogs for us. Right? Like we were just so different. There was religion class. Yeah. What? Yes, that happened. I'm not that old. Religion class and there was Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic. then there was just my cousins and my brother and I, the four of us would just sit in the hallway. Because they didn't know what to do with us because we were Muslim. Like it was very strange and now I think I was just speaking with someone about this the other day how that would never happen now. No. But it was just commonplace when we were kids growing up that we were just other and different and we just didn't fit. So we just were removed from the situation every once in a while. It's so strange to think about it now because I see my kids going to school. And it's so much more diverse. It's so... It's just completely different. Right. But there's still obviously so much more work to do, but there's such diversity. work, I think the work is never done. It will never be done. if I reflect on just the last little while, the first, I still get goosebumps thinking of that moment where I'm trying to remember that kid's name, Talha, who recited the Qur'an in the legislature. Talha. Taha, yes. Oh, wow. like, oh my goodness, like his, and I think it was actually in a sheet that he sang. It was, was, yeah. And, oh, like his voice, one, he's just like, he's just has this beautiful voice. Incredible. But also to, to appreciate that this is the first time these walls, these stones, this, this area, this is the first time this land. is hearing those sounds felt so incredibly special. And that was just a few months ago. So that was the second Islamic Heritage Month celebration. year before that in 2024 was the first time. But same thing. That was only the second time that that has happened in the legislature. And that's what I mean by being like within my... um within our NDP team, right? We get to just be ourselves and celebrate who we are and celebrate each other and all the diversity that's within our team. And when I was able to pass the Islamic Heritage Month Act and October being, you know, proclaimed as Islamic Heritage Month and throw that first celebration within the legislature, I can't tell you how many worlds of mine came together. um My grandparents, like I said, my dad's parents were one of the first 10 Muslim families in Manitoba. They moved here in 1914. And so to be able to celebrate that and pay tribute to them as founding members of this province um and all of the Muslims who've come before us and who are here now. that have built this province and been such incredible contributors to life and the economy and all different parts and aspects of our life here as Manitobans. And here, and Nasheed and the Qur'an being recited in the legislature. It was truly... I had goosebumps. Yeah, it was very, very special. It very, very special. So one of the things that I wanted to ask you tonight was what role do you see stories playing in our day-to-day life, in your life as a minister? Just being able to relate to people, to understand people, to understand what's important to them. Stories are always the way that I think we can really put ourselves in another person's shoes. I think it's a way that we can sympathize, empathize, understand another person's perspective. But at end of the day, there's a story that will make you feel the same thing as someone else who could absolutely be on the opposite side of something. the villain in the story may be different for different people, but I think the ability to bring those stories to life is just such an important pathway. Absolutely. I think to be able to connect with someone, you you really need to know where they're coming from. And I've always loved that about learning about someone. It's like, what experiences have you have in your life to make you the person that you are today? Right? And I think, you know, in social work, you really do that, right? You look at someone, their social history, what has happened in their world, in their life, how were they raised, what did their family life look like, who are they as people? Like, we all have a story. And I think that's the beautiful part of... people is that if you really give someone time, you can really validate and hear someone and let them know that they're important. And I think in politics, I do that in a way because I'm constantly meeting with people. I do a lot of outreach in my constituency of Assiniboia. And I like to listen way more than I like to talk. I know it seems bizarre me saying this right now. But I do. think it's I really do like to listen more than I like to talk because people will tell you everything you need to know. You just need to listen. You just need to listen. that's a beautiful invitation. What's it like to be a woman in politics? Well, I'll tell you, politics is not made for women. uh I was just sharing this with a leadership class uh at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate last week. went to speak to some students. They were great. And uh I said, you know, if you look at the legislature, you walk down the halls, you're going to see pictures and they're not going to be of a lot of women. And, you know, it's really a lot of men. like this arena wasn't built for women. It wasn't built for a Muslim woman, that's for sure. It wasn't built for a lot of, you know, visible minorities or people. Like it just, it wasn't. being a woman in politics is exciting because I feel like I'm making space for more people to follow in these footsteps. And we should. In politics, you have the perspectives of the people, the decision makers who are around the table. So if everyone looks like each other and everyone is the same gender and the same age and whatever the case, right? That's probably the only perspectives you're getting. And so we have a very diverse province. so representation and diversity is incredibly important because the voice that I bring around the table, you know, I was a mental health advocate, so I always see things through that lens. I was a social worker. I see things in that. social justice piece. I'm a mom, I'm a woman. So like there's a lot of different perspectives that I bring. And my other colleagues have a great variety of experiences and their backgrounds and their work experience and things that they find that are important to them. So when we talk, we share all those perspectives. And you can only be better because of it. It's never going to make things worse. Wow, I love that. And women in politics, I mean, there's a balancing act, Somia. Mom guilt is real. Just gonna put that out there. But I mean, I don't have to tell that to any woman who uh has children. It's tough. um I think my kids are... They're proud of me. um But I just have to make sure that when I am home with them, I make it count. Right? So it's not so much the quantity of time, it's the quality of time that we have. We just have to become more intentional. Yeah, and I'm like, they're so important. I love being a mom. uh And they're always on my mind. And I just want them to have the very best life and be good people. And you have to show up as a mom to do that and help them. So that's It's a balancing act. Yeah. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah, I would love to see more women in politics. think it's just so important to hear that voice, hear that perspective. And I loved how you talked about, when you were talking about the table that might have similar people, I just thought that would be a really boring space to be in. Absolutely. Because everybody's essentially agreeing with each other. And that's not... very interesting or exciting in any way. as politicians, as people who are in government in places of power and decision making, you're making decisions for the whole of the province. So it's not just one group of people or whatever the case, right? So you should have a way and have diversity and representation around the table so that it is all encompassing, that you do reach lots of people, that the policies that you're making um And the direction you're going in is really actually representative of the people it's supposed to be helping. and that's a responsible way to hold power. Absolutely. Yeah. And I think, well, exactly, you can get into a whole conversation about, you know, different kinds of politicians and whatever else. And I think that's the important part is you need to know why you want to be in politics or a politician. Yeah. And, you know, there's a variety of different reasons people enter this arena. Right. So. That's all I'll say. uh love it. So what message would you like to leave our listeners with? Oh, geez. That's a hard one. That's so open-ended. um World peace. Yeah. It's like, I'm always thinking about solving world hunger and world peace and everyone getting medical care and everyone having a home. Oh, those are good. That's a great list. These are big things. So I think what I would leave listeners with, just from the perspective of me as a person, right? um You know, if there are young girls listening, I would say you can do whatever you want. You can be whatever you want. And even if you don't see someone doing something that you want to do, you can still do it. Because I was the first of someone And I didn't let that stop me. I think it's important that um I've always asked the question. Some people are always like, why me? And I'll say, why not me? Why not me? And I think, you know, I was a kid, didn't have like a ton of self-confidence or self-esteem. But eventually, as I grew and tried to like, you know, encourage myself and love myself, eventually it shifted for me. And I remember being very specific about, why not me? If like that person can do it, I can do it. And it slowly shifted and changed for me. And so I would say to just be your own biggest cheerleader. Don't wait for someone else to validate you. Don't wait for someone else to give you permission. That may never come. And you got to just... believe in what it is that you want to do, what you want to accomplish, know why you want to accomplish it and what your motivation is. I love it. And just do it. I love it. Thank you so much. There's such a beautiful message in there that I took out of the words that you were sharing, Nelly, about how that's the way to also take ownership, take responsibility. So if we don't like the world that we're in, Let's identify parts of that that we don't like and let's do something to change those. And I think we can all make those changes. We just have to start somewhere. World peace is... I've realized, you know, in my life that yes, I've always wanted it and yes, there will never be a state of world peace. And yet there's so many beautiful things that we can do to make the world a little bit kinder, a little bit more compassionate. Absolutely. And I think what's really important is that I love when you say that, that, you know, world peace, are we going to get there? But you know what? We control our actions. And sometimes it's only, I mean, really the only thing we can control is our own behavior. In the whole world and all the things that we tell ourselves we can control, we cannot. Things happen. But we can control the way we behave, the way we respond to people, what we put out into the world. And I think what's really important is to know that, I said this to the leadership class that I met with last week, I'm 49, I didn't start here. Like we all start when we're, you know, young kids and students and graduating and having dreams. And I mean, I was a disaster in university. I didn't know what I wanted to do. Right? Like it's okay. It's okay. you shouldn't look to someone and say, man, that person's got it together. I'm never going to be them. my gosh. Yeah. It's not at all accurate. It's not together at all. Whatever someone is, what image they are trying to project, it's not real. Very chaotic. Yeah. So I just think it's important for people to understand that and that you do start small. You start with what's around you and your community or your family. And if you have an idea, talk to other people who think the same way you do. Maybe you can come up with a way to do something together. It doesn't need to be these big, huge things where you think, how did that person do that? They didn't start there. Yeah. I love that. That's so practical. Thank you so much for making time for us today. Really appreciate it. Honestly, this has been my pleasure. Thank you so much