Carole James is approaching Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 with a similar attitude that含羞草研究社檚 gotten her through many difficult situations in life.

含羞草研究社淵ou can take charge of it and work hard at what you含羞草研究社檙e able to do, not what you can含羞草研究社檛 do anymore,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 in 2020, bringing aspects of her political career to a close. But since going public with her diagnosis, she含羞草研究社檚 been kept busy, including becoming an advocate for Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 experience. She含羞草研究社檚 become actively involved on the Parkinson Wellness Projects Board, which she describes as 含羞草研究社渆xtraordinary.含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 who can share experiences and humour. And she含羞草研究社檚 also learning a new pace of life.

含羞草研究社淏eing proactive and learning how to live well with Parkinson含羞草研究社檚 as long as you can is critical because it含羞草研究社檚 certainly not a diagnosis that anybody would want,含羞草研究社� James said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 learning to be more patient with myself 含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檓 used to going 100 miles an hour, so having to pull back on that is tough.含羞草研究社�

Despite all these changes, it含羞草研究社檚 no surprise that James continues to lean into the values she含羞草研究社檚 held dearly throughout her career: family and making a difference through civic action.

James recently took her granddaughter on a fun girl含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淸In our house], the family was the broader community,含羞草研究社� James said. 含羞草研究社淚 was never lectured and told you had to get involved in your community, but you didn含羞草研究社檛 fit in our family if you didn含羞草研究社檛 get involved.含羞草研究社�

During the Vietnam War years, James含羞草研究社� single mother was active in the peace movement and a special education teacher. They lived at James含羞草研究社� grandparents含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 an incredible experience. And those families became our families,含羞草研究社� James said.

含羞草研究社楽tay true to your values含羞草研究社�

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, 含羞草研究社淣ot in your life, I含羞草研究社檓 not a politician.含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檛 win, but it felt like a huge win in a different kind of way, James recalls.

含羞草研究社淚t was such an extraordinary thing to see the party grow. And that含羞草研究社檚 really part of why I ran,含羞草研究社� James said.

Back in 2003, James had admittedly 含羞草研究社渞un away from politics含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚 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含羞草研究社檛 know I含羞草研究社檇 win 含羞草研究社� But I knew I含羞草研究社檇 regret it if I hadn含羞草研究社檛 taken a chance because it was a chance to rebuild the party,含羞草研究社� said James. 含羞草研究社淲hen times are challenging, that含羞草研究社檚 when you really need people to step up.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚 tell people I含羞草研究社檝e seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in politics,含羞草研究社� James stated. 含羞草研究社淎nd I含羞草研究社檝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 含羞草研究社�. And I don含羞草研究社檛 hang on to things. That含羞草研究社檚 one of the biggest skills that I含羞草研究社檝e learned. And why I am able to do that, I don含羞草研究社檛 know. Being raised in a family that faced lots of challenges, perhaps.含羞草研究社�

Despite that challenging time, James says she ran to rebuild the party and move things ahead for those who were struggling and that含羞草研究社檚 what she continued to focus on.

She含羞草研究社檚 particularly proud of moments that resonated with her family含羞草研究社檚 values, like when the NDP waived tuition fees for children in care who decided to pursue post-secondary education.

含羞草研究社淜ids in care don含羞草研究社檛 have families in many cases 含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檝e opened a door 含羞草研究社� that含羞草研究社檚 such a gift to have been involved in that decision.含羞草研究社�

James reflects on 含羞草研究社榬etirement含羞草研究社�

Now in 含羞草研究社榬etirement含羞草研究社� (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.

含羞草研究社淚 joke in politics, your job is endless; it never stops. With baking, you can create something and it含羞草研究社檚 done. You have a recipe. And in most cases people are happy with it,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a perfect time to reach out to those groups and organizations and start small,含羞草研究社� James said.

And her words of wisdom?: 含羞草研究社淵ou will always get back more than you give.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚 feel incredibly fortunate, but I含羞草研究社檝e just 含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檝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含羞草研究社檛 think you can do it. But taking those opportunities is a gift.含羞草研究社�