So I've Finally Decided to get Involved

The following blog is written on behalf of myself, Nigel Kirk, as a private citizen. It does not represent the views of any organization or entity I have worked with.

I've never talked about myself personally here yet, so here's a few things about me you might want to know:

My name is Nigel. I'm a freelance social activist. I've been in and out of homeless shelters for several years, and I currently have an apartment in South-West Calgary. I've devoted most of my personal life to activism in Poverty and Human Rights. I don't advocate socialist style policies like wealth redistribution. I'm not for or against the Labour movement. What I do support though is a certain degree of dignity among everyone, regardless of social standing.

My experiences in homelessness taught me several things: employers discriminate against people who live in shelters. The general consensus is that the poor need to just work in warehouses or in construction or on the oil patch. Poor people aren't allowed to work in jobs of their choosing - even if they are low paying. Personally, I would rather have a job that pays a little less, but I know I'd enjoy and be good at. It would offer much more opportunities for advancement and I could go home at the end of the day and tell myself "I did a good job."

We have laws that target the homeless. We have plans to end homelessness that are failing because the people who created the plan don't even know what the challenges people who are homeless face.

Essentially, I learned the hard way that Charter Rights do not apply to people who do not have a permanent address.

So five years ago, I began lecturing and speaking to schools, businesses and policy makers. I joined organizations. I became involved. I still do, and will always be available to talk to anyone who wishes to learn.

Now, five years later, I'm becoming involved again.

For the first time since becoming an adult, I've sought party membership. I purchased a membership to the Alberta Party.

Now, part of it was process of elimination. I don't have a like for Dr. Sherman or Justin Trudeau. My memories of high school involve Textbooks that still mentioned USSR as a country. They were published shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Teachers were almost constantly on either "work to rule" campaigns or striking. So the PC's are out. I don't consider myself part of the Labour Movement, so NDP is a little out of touch to me. Wild Rose was never even an afterthought to me.

I like the Alberta Party and what I'm seeing in Greg Clark and all the other candidates. It has been a pleasure to volunteer with them. Greg has an energy that I haven't seen in a while. They have a progressive approach to governing, But they also support strong and successful businesses. I truly believe the Alberta Party has the platform that supports both people and the drivers of our economy.

While that statement is not on behalf of any organization I have worked with and is a statement of my own, as a private citizen, I have been pleased to work with poverty reduction and homeless human rights for the past five years. I believe the Alberta Party is the best party to help gather the interests of all areas of the community to come together to build solutions that work best for the greatest number of Albertans, even the marginalized, but also the successful. Greg's commitment to consensus building as well as that I've seen among many other members of the Party has been an utmost inspiration. I am honored to have been spending the past week door-knocking and putting together signs. I am proud to support the Alberta Party.

The game has already changed, my friends. Now let's change it in the legislature.

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Statement Regarding Today's Attacks

Today, a great tragedy has occurred in our nation. I fully denounce the actions of the shooter, and my thoughts and prayers are with the leaders, their staff, the soldiers, civilians, and everyone's family in Ottawa. I am very glad that our nation's leaders are safe, that those who choose to serve the public do so in spite of these risks, all because they care about people like you and me. I send my condolences to everyone across the nation, but most of all, to those in Ottawa and those affected by these attacks.

At the time of this writing, very little information has come in regarding who would attack Parliament and why. As such, I shall not presume to make assumptions. But regardless of who or why, the actions taken were an attack on democracy.

Today is not a day for partisan politics. But today is a day for democracy. Democracy was attacked today, and regardless of who you support, it is important that democracy thrive. The best way to respond to an attack on democracy is by responding with more democracy.

Today is not a day for partisanship, but I am eager to return to volunteering tomorrow. To me, it is my way of saying "You cannot scare me from the freedoms I enjoy. You cannot stop democracy with violence." No longer is democracy something to be taken for granted, but something to appreciate and value. I believe all volunteers of all parties feel the same way. You too are volunteering because you believe in democracy. I believe the leaders and candidates share these values, as well.

That is something no one can ever take away from us.


Update: It has been confirmed that one Canadian soldier lost his life in the attacks. My heartfelt condolences go to the family of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.

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