Well, I’ve survived the first trek down this slippery slope — thank you for the safety-harness recommendations and the map. They have been very much appreciated.
I thought I would take a break here on this little flat spot for a minute and enjoy the last few sunsets before the summer sun floats away yet again. It’s peaceful here, watching the sun disappear behind the horizon, with the sound of crickets and loons for company.
So, I thought I might share a little more about the girl behind the keyboard.
Some of you seem a little taken aback when we first shake hands — and Lord knows, there will be plenty of hands to shake once I make it down this beast of a beautiful mountain.
Now, where do I start without making this sound like a living memoir?
I suppose I’ll start with the first misconception: it’s Kari, like the name Carrie from the scary movie, the verb “carry,” but definitely not Karl. Female, by the way. I suppose I’ll have to add my photo eventually!
I’m 30 and often have two kids in tow. They’re my interns, my best friends and, of course, my children. Although most of my professional experience has been in healthcare — and many people professionally know me from my eight years working at a local long-term care facility — journalism has always been something I’ve been drawn to.
My formal education began at Carleton University in Ottawa, where I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. Ultimately, I chose not to continue in those fields because of the employment opportunities available at the time, but I’ve never lost my passion for either.
Now for the question some of you really want to know:
Where do I politically stand?
Well, my Grandma taught me that it is rude to speak about church and state.
But I can’t preach transparency without practicing it.
I believe politics are largely emotionally driven. I believe narratives can play as big a role as facts. I believe political discourse can sometimes become so divided that it creates fractures within the system itself.
Personally, I tend to agree with a more moderate approach to most things, which is one of the reasons I find the Nordic political model interesting. The facts and statistics surrounding those systems are certainly worth looking at.
So, you wanted to know so badly?
I believe in the Nordic political model. Just a waitress serving both sides of the aisle for great results.
As for municipal politics, I don’t pay taxes to any municipality, so I don’t have a personal municipal political position to declare. My role here is not to tell you what to think, but to make sure you have access to information and, hopefully, enough of it to make up your own mind.
And, in regard to the All Candidates Meeting, the detailed schedule, moderator and additional event details will be announced closer to the event. There are good reasons for that, and I hope that answers some of the questions I’ve been receiving.
If you have any more personal questions, well, you’ll just have to wait for the memoir — whenever I finally get around to writing it.
Until then, I’ll keep navigating this mountain, one edition at a time.