Take it from Rebecca Alty SA国际影视传媒� the apple doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 fall far from her family tree.

YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 mayor explained her two sisters, like her, are public servants: one is a teacher, the other a federal employee.

SA国际影视传媒淲e grew up with that culture,SA国际影视传媒� she Alty, who credited her mother, Vivian Hansen, for it.

On International WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Day, Alty reflected on some of the inspiring women and moments that have helped shape her career. Top of that list is her mother, who also works in the federal public service.

Alty described her as a powerful force, saying that seeing her mom organize and contribute to her community was a huge inspiration.

SA国际影视传媒淔or me, it was how she just steps up and says SA国际影视传媒榶esSA国际影视传媒� to helping out,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 probably have a similar curiosity SA国际影视传媒� desire to help, say SA国际影视传媒榶esSA国际影视传媒� even before you know what youSA国际影视传媒檙e really jumping into, but working hard once youSA国际影视传媒檙e in there.SA国际影视传媒�

But when it came to joining the political sphere, Alty explained she got her kicks from the soccer pitch, having been a past coach at multiple Arctic Winter Games.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like soccer gave me the start of a lot of leadership with the public speaking and organizing,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She added her background in communications also lent a helping hand in her career.

But what gave her that needed push, she explained, was a lack of visibility, especially when it came to women in politics.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was in 2012 that a friend asked me to be a campaign manager for the upcoming municipal election,SA国际影视传媒� said Alty, who agreed, despite not knowing what a campaign manager did.

Alty said she went to a campaign school for women, hosted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was at that session that the facilitator went around and was like SA国际影视传媒榃hoSA国际影视传媒檚 running?SA国际影视传媒� and there were about 10 of us. We were all working to help somebody but none of us were running and she was like SA国际影视传媒榃ell, if no women run, then weSA国际影视传媒檙e never going to see more female leadersSA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Alty added that she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 seeing enough people sheSA国际影视传媒檇 want to vote for, so she put her own name forward.

And so commenced a 12-year career in politics so far.

Alty said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 lived in Yellowknife her whole life, barring a brief stint in Alberta where she attended the University of Calgary.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been quite the roller coaster so far, she explained, highlighting the wildfires last summer and a global pandemic as two noteworthy challenges.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if ISA国际影视传媒檒l ever be like SA国际影视传媒榊es, I know everything about this roleSA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓very year I have to learn something new and have to work on a different skill. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think ISA国际影视传媒檒l ever be done learning.SA国际影视传媒�

The mayorSA国际影视传媒檚 chair can be a hot seat so to cool down, Alty said she likes her exercise.

SA国际影视传媒淚 like to go for my daily walks, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 with friends or with a podcast, but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 my release at the end of the day,SA国际影视传媒� Alty said. Some of her favorite podcasts include Hidden Brain, The Happiness Lab and The Globe and Mail.

It takes a whole community to keep someone healthy and going, Alty explained, noting how sheSA国际影视传媒檚 fortunate for the men and women in her life who have supported her over the past decade or so.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been blessed with a good community,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

For this International WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Day, she said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 looking for more of that for others.

SA国际影视传媒淗ow can we lift each other up? How can we have more grace and understanding with each other, recognizing that weSA国际影视传媒檙e all humans?,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Alty pointed out the mayor of Gatineau, Quebec recently resigning, along with the near 10 per cent of Quebec officials leaving office as a sign of needing more support.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important to have accountability, but the attacks just means weSA国际影视传媒檙e not going to get more good people running for these roles, so watch out for that vicious cycle you could be creating,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Alty said a little grace can go a long way, and helping one another could mean that more good people would come in and want to help out, especially for smaller cities like Yellowknife.

Apart from that, getting women into politics is also a matter of recognizing how transferable their skills are, even if it comes from organizing a soccer team to being on an advisory committee.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need more and different voices at the table,SA国际影视传媒� Alty said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know any woman in elected office that wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 take some time to chat with somebody who was interested and talk about steps that would help in their career path.SA国际影视传媒�

Alty has plenty of meetings on her plate for now, but as for the future of Yellowknife, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 hoping to see her community keep up its resilience.

Because even here, the smallest ideas can snowball into much bigger things.

Pun intended.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think of the Snow Castle that started as a dad doing a fort for a kid, and now itSA国际影视传媒檚 one of our main tourist attractions,SA国际影视传媒� said Alty. SA国际影视传媒淚 just hope that (sense of) community, that vibrancy, continues.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Devon Tredinnick