In Episode 12 of Ellected, host Sarah Elder-Chamanara talks to Sarah Kalnay-Watson about being on the front lines of politics in her role as a constituency assistant to two Northwest Territories MLAs. Sarah and Sarah (it's a double Sarah episode) discuss the overlooked but crucial nature of constituency work, balancing working for two MLAs, the differences when your MLA is also in cabinet, and more.
Sarah Kalnay-Watson serves as the constituency assistant to Caroline Wawzonek, the MLA for Yellowknife South, the Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and Rylund Johnson, MLA for Yellowknife North.
Sarah Elder-Chamanara is the founder, creative director and owner of Madame Premier, a feminist and political clothing company based in Calgary, Alberta. With the underlying principle of seeing more women and diversity in politics, elected and in backrooms, at every level, Madame Premier creates the opportunity for conversations about why politics needs to change. Madame Premier has been featured in the National Post, CBC, Forbes and Toronto Star. Sarah is currently planning on opening Madame Premier’s first retail location in summer 2021 in Calgary.
SWIM ON:
- In Ellected 11, host Sarah Elder-Chamanara and Conservative political strategist and consultant Melissa Caouette share their thoughts the morning after Canada’s 44th federal election.
- Usually when Constituency Assistants are in the news...it's because someone has done something wrong.
- Last week on UnSpun, Jody Vance and George Affleck played Oprah: you get a Vancouver municipal party. You, and you, and you.