It’s been a wild ride – but after a year of campaigns, Q and A’s, and a long day at the polls, Calgary has officially elected a new mayor. With 45% of the vote, Jyoti Gondek will succeed Naheed Nenshi’s 11-year commitment to Alberta’s most populated city, promising a fairer, more comprehensive tomorrow.
“My heart is full at the thought of how much love and support I have received, not only from the day I announced but all the way up to today,” she said in her first speech in her new role.
“Please know all of your sacrifices did not go unnoticed, thank you for taking this journey with me, for caring about me and believing in me.”
Gondek, who beat her rival Jeromy Farkas, did so by nearly 33,000 votes – but who is she?
For those who may not have closely followed this election’s candidates, here are 8 things that we’ve learned about Calgary’s new mayor, Jyoti Gondek.
SHE’S ALREADY MADE YYC HISTORY
…Or should we say….. herstory. As Calgary’s 37th mayor, Jyoti is actually the very first female to have ever been elected, and it’s worth noting that it was by a pretty significant margin.
SHE WAS BORN OVERSEAS
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At the age of four, Jyoti actually emigrated from the United Kingdom, settling with her parents in Manitoba. This is where she would spend her childhood, earn her undergraduate degree and meet her husband – described on her website as a guitar-playing engineer named Todd.
After getting married the couple moved to Alberta, living in Wainwright at first and then finally beginning the rest of their lives in Calgary.
HER RESUME IS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE
With an undergraduate degree in sociology and criminology, an M.A. in organizational sociology (with a focus on corporate social responsibility), and even a freaking Ph.D. in urban sociology – which explored urban-rural struggles in hybrid areas like Alberta’s Rocky View County – to say that Gondek is a qualified professional is an understatement.
SHE WAS MAKING MOVES LONG BEFORE THE ELECTION
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Following in the footsteps of her father, who trained to be a lawyer in India before moving to the UK, Gondek’s political career started back in the early 2000s after getting heavily involved with community groups. One of these groups successfully got Punjabi instituted as a second language option for students in the CBE, opened up a dialogue about the role that culture and religion play in public education, and addressed domestic violence.
SHE’S VERY FAMILIAR WITH CITY HALL
Though this particular experience will be a first for Jyoti, occupying a chair in Calgary’s city hall will not. Gondek actually served one term as Ward 3’s councillor before running for mayor.
SHE SUPPORTS LOCAL
In an interview with the Calgary Journal, Gondek mentioned that if and when she has time to hit the town, YYC’s Citizen Brewing Company is her go-to place. “They have an amazing outdoor space, which has been such a blessing during the pandemic. They’ve got great food, great beers, and ciders on tap,” she told the CJ. Her fave inner-city spot? The Palamino on 7th Avenue.
AND HAS A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR
In the same interview with CJ, she also mentioned that, while she doesn’t have a whole lot of time to watch TV these days, the local government comedy Parks and Rec really keeps her going. How fitting!
SHE’S AN ANIMAL LOVER AND IS INCREDIBLY CLOSE WITH HER FAMILY
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A quick scroll through her Instagram and you’ll likely agree – we simply could not do an article on Jyoti without mentioning (and sharing photos of) her sweet pup, Smokey or without talking about just how family-oriented she is. Surrounded and supported by her mother, teenaged daughter, and husband, not only is Gondek qualified, respected, and involved with the community, she’s also a mother and a wife.
So there you have it, Calgary – 8 things more things you now know about our new mayor Jyoti Gondek and here’s to the next 4 years! We can’t wait to see what she does.
