Carole James is approaching Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 with a similar attitude that香蕉视频直播檚 gotten her through many difficult situations in life.

香蕉视频直播淵ou can take charge of it and work hard at what you香蕉视频直播檙e able to do, not what you can香蕉视频直播檛 do anymore,香蕉视频直播� James said.

James, whose accomplishments include being the first woman to serve as Leader of the Official Opposition and the first woman of M茅tis descent elected to the Legislative Assembly (in 2005), was diagnosed with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 in 2020, bringing aspects of her political career to a close. But since going public with her diagnosis, she香蕉视频直播檚 been kept busy, including becoming an advocate for Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 disease.

Early on, she made the decision to talk about her diagnosis in a public way to combat the shame and isolation that some people with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 experience. She香蕉视频直播檚 become actively involved on the Parkinson Wellness Projects Board, which she describes as 香蕉视频直播渆xtraordinary.香蕉视频直播� Simultaneously, she is taking four exercise classes, including boxing, which is good for managing the symptoms.

The best part for her is the opportunity to meet others with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 who can share experiences and humour. And she香蕉视频直播檚 also learning a new pace of life.

香蕉视频直播淏eing proactive and learning how to live well with Parkinson香蕉视频直播檚 as long as you can is critical because it香蕉视频直播檚 certainly not a diagnosis that anybody would want,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 learning to be more patient with myself 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 used to going 100 miles an hour, so having to pull back on that is tough.香蕉视频直播�

Despite all these changes, it香蕉视频直播檚 no surprise that James continues to lean into the values she香蕉视频直播檚 held dearly throughout her career: family and making a difference through civic action.

James recently took her granddaughter on a fun girl香蕉视频直播檚 trip to Paris for her graduation. She also serves on the Royal BC Museum Board, sits on crown corporation InBC Investment, and teaches not-for-profits how to pitch their proposal to government through United Way香蕉视频直播檚 Public Policy Institute, and more.

Looking back, she was propelled into this lifestyle almost effortlessly, born into a family where activism and community engagement were ingrained into daily life.

香蕉视频直播淸In our house], the family was the broader community,香蕉视频直播� James said. 香蕉视频直播淚 was never lectured and told you had to get involved in your community, but you didn香蕉视频直播檛 fit in our family if you didn香蕉视频直播檛 get involved.香蕉视频直播�

During the Vietnam War years, James香蕉视频直播� single mother was active in the peace movement and a special education teacher. They lived at James香蕉视频直播� grandparents香蕉视频直播� house, along with her sister, for most of her childhood. Her grandparents were also foster parents, who always had at least four other kids in the house.

It propelled James to later be a foster parent herself, mainly with adults with developmental disabilities, for almost 20 years.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an incredible experience. And those families became our families,香蕉视频直播� James said.

香蕉视频直播楽tay true to your values香蕉视频直播�

James never set out to get involved in politics; it just happened. After becoming president of the Parents Association, a pivotal moment came when friends encouraged her to run for the school board. James, admittedly, at first said, 香蕉视频直播淣ot in your life, I香蕉视频直播檓 not a politician.香蕉视频直播� But friends and people with common values offering support eventually convinced her. The rest, as they say, was history.

Perhaps no one was as surprised as her when she ended up running for NDP leadership in 2005 and rebuilding the party from three seats to 33 seats. The party didn香蕉视频直播檛 win, but it felt like a huge win in a different kind of way, James recalls.

香蕉视频直播淚t was such an extraordinary thing to see the party grow. And that香蕉视频直播檚 really part of why I ran,香蕉视频直播� James said.

Back in 2003, James had admittedly 香蕉视频直播渞un away from politics香蕉视频直播� for a while to see whether it was really something she wanted to do. She worked in child welfare for an Indigenous organization until she started getting asked to come back to politics and run for leader.

香蕉视频直播淚 was having a very hard time making a decision about the work because I loved it so much. But I think in the end, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know I香蕉视频直播檇 win 香蕉视频直播� But I knew I香蕉视频直播檇 regret it if I hadn香蕉视频直播檛 taken a chance because it was a chance to rebuild the party,香蕉视频直播� said James. 香蕉视频直播淲hen times are challenging, that香蕉视频直播檚 when you really need people to step up.香蕉视频直播�

Despite the big wins that can come in politics, there can also be equally big lows. Notably, in 2010, James faced a leadership challenge that resulted in her subsequent resignation.

香蕉视频直播淚 tell people I香蕉视频直播檝e seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in politics,香蕉视频直播� James stated. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I香蕉视频直播檝e thought a lot about how people get through those kinds of difficulties and challenges. And I think one is to stay true to your values 香蕉视频直播�. And I don香蕉视频直播檛 hang on to things. That香蕉视频直播檚 one of the biggest skills that I香蕉视频直播檝e learned. And why I am able to do that, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know. Being raised in a family that faced lots of challenges, perhaps.香蕉视频直播�

Despite that challenging time, James says she ran to rebuild the party and move things ahead for those who were struggling and that香蕉视频直播檚 what she continued to focus on.

She香蕉视频直播檚 particularly proud of moments that resonated with her family香蕉视频直播檚 values, like when the NDP waived tuition fees for children in care who decided to pursue post-secondary education.

香蕉视频直播淜ids in care don香蕉视频直播檛 have families in many cases 香蕉视频直播� The system is their family. And to think of those kids going out, trying to make it and the kinds of affordability challenges that all of us face right now is so challenging. And so to be able to know that you香蕉视频直播檝e opened a door 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 such a gift to have been involved in that decision.香蕉视频直播�

James reflects on 香蕉视频直播榬etirement香蕉视频直播�

Now in 香蕉视频直播榬etirement香蕉视频直播� (James thinks we need a new word for it), her resilience continues while she stays engaged in organizations that matter to her while also practicing self-care. In moments for herself, she loves spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren, walking along Dallas Road and something that she thinks might surprise some people: baking.

香蕉视频直播淚 joke in politics, your job is endless; it never stops. With baking, you can create something and it香蕉视频直播檚 done. You have a recipe. And in most cases people are happy with it,香蕉视频直播� she said with a laugh.

She expresses that the retirement years can be a perfect time to get involved in politics or causes that matter to someone.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a perfect time to reach out to those groups and organizations and start small,香蕉视频直播� James said.

And her words of wisdom?: 香蕉视频直播淵ou will always get back more than you give.香蕉视频直播�

Sitting in her James Bay home, which once belonged to her mother, and is close to the oceanside that she loves, James also expresses gratitude.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel incredibly fortunate, but I香蕉视频直播檝e just 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檝e followed paths that have appeared in front of me. And, you know, that means taking a deep breath lots of times where you don香蕉视频直播檛 think you can do it. But taking those opportunities is a gift.香蕉视频直播�