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Kelsie Van Belleghem
Kelsie Van Belleghem is a councillor in Kenora.
In our ongoing effort to spotlight the experiences of women in municipal politics, we reached out to those elected in the 2022 municipal elections in Northern Ontario. We asked these newly elected councillors and trustees to share their insights and reflections on the transition from candidate to council. Here are their candid and firsthand accounts of the challenges, surprises, and lessons learned along the way.
Kelsie Van Belleghem is a councillor in Kenora.
What initially inspired or motivated you to run for council, and how did you envision your role before being elected?
My original motivation for running was based on two concepts: privilege and diversity. Based on my understanding of how City Council roles were created (aka for retired white men), and as a person who has the privilege(almost) of a retired white man in so much as financial resources and family/community support, I knew I was someone who could do the job while mitigating the risks to my family/financial needs, and because I firmly believe that it is of the utmost importance to have diverse leadership. I have a background in finance, and everyone knows that you "shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket," and I believe that to be true of leadership. Boards of corporations that have and meet DEI minimum standards for leadership are more profitable because they do a better job of mitigating risks. This is because, at the end of the day, we all only know what we know — and if the group of people at a decision-making table know more things collectively because there is a myriad of lived experiences at that table, then it’s going to do a better job of charting a sustainable, or even thriving course for its organization. My vision, once elected, was to make well-informed decisions based on best practices and evidence-supported outcomes and to offer my perspective and voice to the table.
How did your expectations or perceptions change once you took office?
My expectations are still the same as those I envisioned for the role, but I have been disappointed in the barriers I still see as a (younger) woman in this role. I have watched myself and my female council colleagues be talked over, or silenced, and even shouted or shushed outright. I have watched the power dynamics play out amongst the gender roles in a way that I find disheartening, and I have noticed as a younger member on council how there is a lack of appreciation of my "experience" held by the community and even colleagues, at times. As noted in the last question, I am a person of privilege. I am white, able-bodied, cis, heterosexual, and so I don't often allow myself too much grace of discrimination in places because, frankly, my experiences are minimal. However, what has made me worry since being elected is that I have struggled so much, even with so many things "going for me" (I mean that facetiously), and since one of my major goals for this term is to make council more accessible to more diversity, I feel really worried about asking anyone else to step into this role knowing the challenges they will face. It's made me incredibly sad because I want everyone to be involved and get to participate in shaping their community from the top down, so to speak.
Were there any surprises or unexpected aspects of the role?
The procedural formalities of the role caught me off guard more than I anticipated. I am by no means a governance expert, but I did/continue to do my best to learn and show up properly. This is a barrier that I didn't anticipate.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from a candidate to an elected official?
Getting to create interpersonal relationships with council colleagues that do not contravene the Municipal Act. It is very difficult to create positive working relationships with people when there are so many restrictions around meeting together.
What do you wish people knew about running for office, based on your own experience?
Your voice matters, your experience matters, and you are needed in leadership. Please do not wait for someone to ask you to step up. Know that the requirements to be elected to City Council are minimum age restrictions and being a resident of that community—THAT IS IT!
Looking back at your first year in office, what were the most rewarding aspects of serving in your municipal role?
I have connected with so many incredible people who I probably wouldn't have if I had not run. These connections have been hyper-local and countrywide, and I am so grateful for everyone who shows up to create community and support community, however, wherever they can. It brings me so much hope and strength in my role.
What were the significant milestones or accomplishments you achieved during your tenure?
I have had a number of motions passed last year, including TRC reporting and advocacy to create community spaces 24/7 all year. But the most significant milestone a year is the whole year. The amount of knowledge I was able to consume and digest in the last year has helped sharpen my focus and increased my determination to show up better this next year and the rest of the term.
On the other hand, what challenges did you face during your first year, and how did you navigate or address them?
There have been a lot of interpersonal conflicts that I am still working through. We are all new to each other as a group, and at times, it's been painful to work together.
Were there specific instances or experiences that significantly impacted your approach to governance or leadership?
I think a general understanding of the society we currently live in is based on the policies enacted by the few and that it is important to create a society in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive in their chosen society however they can or want to. I try and keep that lens on everything I do, although I have many blind spots so I also rely on lived experience and experts for the knowledge I don't have.
What valuable lessons have you learned or insights gained that you'd like to share with others considering a similar path in politics?
It's okay to cry; you probably will. It's okay to want to quit, but please don't. I believe this job is hardest on the people who deserve to be, and are needed to be, in it the most, so please stay in and make it easier for someone else to do it.
What do you wish people knew about working as a politician, based on your experience?
It's cool to care about politics because politicians decide how we live in the community. Be engaged and make sure they care about the right things.
Where can people find you?
These profiles are part of our ongoing series featuring women councillors and trustees elected through the ElectNOW initiative. Surveys were sent to all woman councillors and trustees who participated in the 2022 ElectNOW series. While some answers have been edited for clarity and spelling, the responses provided are the candidates' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PoliticsNOW. If you are a woman councillor, mayor, or trustee residing in Northern Ontario and would like to be featured in this series, please fill out our survey.
Kelsie Van Belleghem
Kelsie (she/her) is a personal financial advisor, currently on maternity leave with her second child. She and her husband have two children under two and have been married for almost four years. Her husband was born and raised in Kenora, and she has lived there permanently since the spring of 2017. She is currently the treasurer for the Women’s Shelter Saakate House, and has been a volunteer board member for the Festival of Trees. She has spent the bulk of her career, prior to living in Kenora, in Sales and Merchandising. She is a registered investment fund advisor, and has a visual merchandising diploma from Sheridan College and Business Administration from Red River College.
Kelsie Van Belleghem is running for Council in Kenora.
Kelsie (she/her) is a personal financial advisor, currently on maternity leave with her second child. She and her husband have two children under two and have been married for almost four years. Her husband was born and raised in Kenora, and she has lived there permanently since the spring of 2017. She is currently the treasurer for the Women’s Shelter Saakate House, and has been a volunteer board member for the Festival of Trees. She has spent the bulk of her career, prior to living in Kenora, in Sales and Merchandising. She is a registered investment fund advisor, has a visual merchandising diploma from Sheridan College and Business Administration from Red River College.
Why are you running for this position?
I am acutely aware of the privilege a person has to hold in order to run for politics, especially at the local level. Candidates usually self-fund their campaigns and do all the work and organization of their campaigns to become elected. Then, if elected, being a member of the council is a huge time commitment, that is paid, but not at a rate equal to the time put in; therefore, people at different life stages are often unable to offer themselves as candidates. As a financial advisor, I talk about risks and risk mitigation with my members, and when it comes to financial investments the key to mitigating risk is to hold a diverse asset portfolio, we always say, “You don’t want all your eggs in one basket.” This is especially true when it comes to representation. I believe everyone that offers themself as a candidate for local office does so with the best intentions, but everyone is coming at it from their own lived experiences and if you have a council that is only representative of one group of the population, you are leaving yourself open to a lot of risk. At the end of the day, we all only know what we know, and if the group representing your municipality is all homogeneous then the pool of information being drawn from is smaller, which usually leads to less creativity and more missed opportunities.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your municipality?
We, like everywhere in Canada, are facing a major housing deficit. We do not have a lack of land to build on, we do, however, have very restrictive zoning laws that don’t make building attractive to private developers. I would like to re-evaluate our zoning laws in order to allow developers, investors, and individuals to be able to build creative, sustainable housing options. The single-family unit home is not the only option for everyone, and we have “the missing middle” problem when it comes to our housing options. I would like to see more flex house units, multi-generational condo and/or apartment buildings, and also take advantage of our existing real estate by retrofitting solar panels and/or micro gardens on our downtown buildings.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
Food insecurity is a growing problem everywhere, but food waste is also a huge problem. I grew up in Kimberley BC, and they have set up a food bank program that works in conjunction with the local grocery stores to take any food that the stores are going to throw out but is still useable and give it to anyone who can use it. They also have volunteers come in periodically and take any produce, meats, etc. that are going to go bad soon and cook them into stews, baked goods, etc. to extend the life of the food and offer prepared food options to everyone. I have also seen very successful city-wide composting programs in southern Manitoba, and I would like to see this work in conjunction with a good food bank program so that we are mitigating our waste, extending landfill lifespans and, most importantly, addressing the burgeoning costs of inflation leading to higher food insecurities.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your municipality faces?
Our biggest challenge in Kenora is one of “Us or Them”. We struggle to act like a community instead of a place where a bunch of individuals reside beside each other. A lot of the things that I hear people are upset about are problems that can be addressed if we choose to all agree that we all live here and that if we work to pull everyone up, we will all benefit, all be raised up, and all be able to live as Us instead.
Other than the official communication methods (minutes, municipal notes), how else will you reach out to your constituents to involve them in the decision making process?
We have an aging population in Kenora, and we are “trying” to attract younger generations, so it is important to meet everyone where they are at. Social media has a lot of benefits from a cost/reach perspective, but local newspapers are so important still (and I personally hope forever) for community reach and engagement. I also still believe there is a need for regular door knocking or door-to-door notices. Paper is a very profitable recyclable material, and I think the onus is on the city to make sure the residents are receiving the message, not for the residents to have to go and look for the message.
What is your favourite thing to do in your municipality?
I love walking. I live in a central part of town, which is intentional. I walk to work; the kids and I walk to the parks and rec center; we walk to get groceries; and we are so lucky to live within walking distance of grandparents, great-grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in civic leadership, including on committees, boards and municipal councils?
Women represent half of the population and going back to my answer about we only know what we know. There is a difference in living in this world in a woman's body, and if that voice isn’t represented there will be things missed. Also, again, women represent half the population so if you want representative representation then that should be considered. There are also two other women in their thirties with families, and full-time careers, offering themselves as candidates in this city council election, and I am so impressed by them.
What does a ‘feminist city’ mean to you?
Feminism means that all genders have equal rights and opportunities, so a feminist city is one where all genders can thrive.
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Where can people find you?
I will be hosting a meet-a-greet at 235 2nd St. S on Wednesday, Sept. 7th. Follow my social media for more upcoming events.