Finding our voices

Bridgwater Forest

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/03/2025 (196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Like many, I was born gifted with a voice. Not a voice of song but a voice of experience and what I mean by that, is that it is voice of wonder, of exploration, of understanding, of questioning and, at times, a voice of opinion.

If I had a regret, it would be that I did not use my voice sooner. Sure, I may have used it throughout my career, but it has only been in the last few years, that I have found myself using it more and more to voice my position on issues in the public domain as well. And not in an anonymous voice, either (which seems to have become the norm in our virtual world).

Taking a moment to look back, I cannot say that the reason I rarely let my inside voice (which we all have) out was due to a lack of confidence, a desire to be agreeable or not be disagreeable, depending on one’s perspective, or some other reason.

Regardless of the reasons for that reticence, what is important now is that I am finally using my voice. Sure, I still have work to do when it comes to being authentic and refining it – yes, even at my age. But we all have something that we can develop or improve, and age is irrelevant.

We are lucky today, in that there is an impressive array of resources and support, both formal and informal, available to those looking to find and/or leverage their voices.

Whether you opt to join an organization, take a course or simply challenge yourself by joining a conversation online or by writing a letter to the editor of your preferred paper, the key is to take the first step. Every step thereafter gets easier.

If it is a question of inspiration, a series called Empowering Winnipeg Women in Political Leadership was launched on Feb. 22. The first session was a panel discussion featuring the five women who sit on Winnipeg city council — Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre); Janice Lukes (Waverley West), Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge – East Fort Garry); Vivian Santos (Point Douglas), and Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan). It was moderated by Mary Agnes Welch of Probe Research before an audience made up primarily of women at the RBC Convention Centre.

Based on its success, future sessions are being planned. Coffee, Chai, and Conversations with Councillors is next on the calendar, with the date yet to be confirmed. Consider following your local councillor for further updates, as you may find yourself inspired to use your voice in municipal politics or in life in general.