Carole James is approaching Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 with a similar attitude that91裸聊视频檚 gotten her through many difficult situations in life.

91裸聊视频淵ou can take charge of it and work hard at what you91裸聊视频檙e able to do, not what you can91裸聊视频檛 do anymore,91裸聊视频� 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 Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 in 2020, bringing aspects of her political career to a close. But since going public with her diagnosis, she91裸聊视频檚 been kept busy, including becoming an advocate for Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 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 Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 experience. She91裸聊视频檚 become actively involved on the Parkinson Wellness Projects Board, which she describes as 91裸聊视频渆xtraordinary.91裸聊视频� 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 Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 who can share experiences and humour. And she91裸聊视频檚 also learning a new pace of life.

91裸聊视频淏eing proactive and learning how to live well with Parkinson91裸聊视频檚 as long as you can is critical because it91裸聊视频檚 certainly not a diagnosis that anybody would want,91裸聊视频� James said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 learning to be more patient with myself 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 used to going 100 miles an hour, so having to pull back on that is tough.91裸聊视频�

Despite all these changes, it91裸聊视频檚 no surprise that James continues to lean into the values she91裸聊视频檚 held dearly throughout her career: family and making a difference through civic action.

James recently took her granddaughter on a fun girl91裸聊视频檚 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 Way91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淸In our house], the family was the broader community,91裸聊视频� James said. 91裸聊视频淚 was never lectured and told you had to get involved in your community, but you didn91裸聊视频檛 fit in our family if you didn91裸聊视频檛 get involved.91裸聊视频�

During the Vietnam War years, James91裸聊视频� single mother was active in the peace movement and a special education teacher. They lived at James91裸聊视频� grandparents91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an incredible experience. And those families became our families,91裸聊视频� James said.

91裸聊视频楽tay true to your values91裸聊视频�

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, 91裸聊视频淣ot in your life, I91裸聊视频檓 not a politician.91裸聊视频� 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 win, but it felt like a huge win in a different kind of way, James recalls.

91裸聊视频淚t was such an extraordinary thing to see the party grow. And that91裸聊视频檚 really part of why I ran,91裸聊视频� James said.

Back in 2003, James had admittedly 91裸聊视频渞un away from politics91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 know I91裸聊视频檇 win 91裸聊视频� But I knew I91裸聊视频檇 regret it if I hadn91裸聊视频檛 taken a chance because it was a chance to rebuild the party,91裸聊视频� said James. 91裸聊视频淲hen times are challenging, that91裸聊视频檚 when you really need people to step up.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 tell people I91裸聊视频檝e seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in politics,91裸聊视频� James stated. 91裸聊视频淎nd I91裸聊视频檝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 91裸聊视频�. And I don91裸聊视频檛 hang on to things. That91裸聊视频檚 one of the biggest skills that I91裸聊视频檝e learned. And why I am able to do that, I don91裸聊视频檛 know. Being raised in a family that faced lots of challenges, perhaps.91裸聊视频�

Despite that challenging time, James says she ran to rebuild the party and move things ahead for those who were struggling and that91裸聊视频檚 what she continued to focus on.

She91裸聊视频檚 particularly proud of moments that resonated with her family91裸聊视频檚 values, like when the NDP waived tuition fees for children in care who decided to pursue post-secondary education.

91裸聊视频淜ids in care don91裸聊视频檛 have families in many cases 91裸聊视频� 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 you91裸聊视频檝e opened a door 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 such a gift to have been involved in that decision.91裸聊视频�

James reflects on 91裸聊视频榬etirement91裸聊视频�

Now in 91裸聊视频榬etirement91裸聊视频� (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.

91裸聊视频淚 joke in politics, your job is endless; it never stops. With baking, you can create something and it91裸聊视频檚 done. You have a recipe. And in most cases people are happy with it,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a perfect time to reach out to those groups and organizations and start small,91裸聊视频� James said.

And her words of wisdom?: 91裸聊视频淵ou will always get back more than you give.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 feel incredibly fortunate, but I91裸聊视频檝e just 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檝e followed paths that have appeared in front of me. And, you know, that means taking a deep breath lots of times where you don91裸聊视频檛 think you can do it. But taking those opportunities is a gift.91裸聊视频�