Dec. 6, 2022

Mayor Jyoti Gondek: Because It Matters

It’s easy to get cynical about politics. But Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek says to heck with that. She’s going all in.

And it’s not just the hats. She has 5 cowboy hats and 5 pairs of boots. Calgary is now the 3rd most diverse city in Canada. How does she keep everyone happy? Particularly with some controversial comments from premier Danielle Smith and a horse head dumped in Jyoti’s  driveway. We talk about being the first woman and the second POC as Calgary mayor. There may be a focus on her “necklace”. 

Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek was born to Punjabi parents who taught her to care for others and stand up for herself. They immigrated to Canada when she was 4. She got her Phd in sociology from the University of Calgary and later became a city councillor in Calgary. In 2021 she became the first woman mayor in the city’s history. We talk to her about  being a politician, running a city in transition and the impossibility of being a “super mom”.

We love writing and would love for you to read what we write. Sign Up for our Substack Newsletter.