A Class Act

By Doreen Marion Gee

Who is Carole James? We are all familiar with her public persona when she was NDP Opposition Leader and in her continuing role as MLA. But what about the driving force behind the politician - the inner workings of a strong advocate for social justice? A recent 'exclusive' with James provided a fascinating glimpse into the character of this interesting and complex woman. It turns out that the values she espouses under her political hat are simply a mirror of those things that she holds dear as an individual.

A treasured portrait graced the wall of James' legislature office when she was NDP Leader. It was a picture of Tim, her foster brother who has special needs and addiction challenges. She confides that every day she would look at that picture to remind herself of why she was there: to champion those with no power. As she talked, James revealed an upbringing in James Bay that was the fodder for her social sensibilities now. Her childhood home environment was a wonderfully chaotic mix of people with differing abilities. Being raised around foster siblings with special needs gave James an early appreciation of the huge contributions to society from people with unique challenges. Her voice trembling with emotion, James says her family "always gained more than they gave" and that "she learned so much" from her special childhood pals. These early experiences forged her zeal for social justice in her adult political career. Equality and inclusion for everyone were in her blood from the start.

It was moving to hear James talk about those specially challenged people who add their wonderful flavour to this community. Because of her background, she is attuned to how much these gifted individuals contribute to society. In a poignant moment, James expresses the practical value of honouring those people with special needs, whether a mental illness or other disability: "Every person we leave behind, we lose out as a society because we have lost that person's strength - we have lost the gift that they could offer us in the community."

Seven years ago when she entered the political front lines, the James wrote herself a note that she still carries: "Politics will come and go, but your integrity is always with you." Those kind of guiding principles seem to be an inherent part of her personal make up, whether she is a teacher, politician or candlestick maker. Many would argue that the former NDP leader resigned with her integrity intact.

During our interview, we shared some laughs. I joked that everything started when she led a strike at age 10 to pressure the South Park School brass into allowing girls to wear pants. But James is quite serious about her activist roots: she saw her parents protesting the Vietnam War. The seeds of her distaste for injustice were sown very young. James Bay has a history of citizen rebellion against inequity, and James and her family were there beating the drum.

It was those values about 'helping our brother' that brought James into the political arena. Those rules for living remain with her, after the limelight has faded. That is who she is - whatever her future path.