As someone fairly new to the political world, I find myself navigating a variety of challenges and opportunities that I’ve never encountered before, but am more than willing to take on. When I look back on the journey thus far, one struggle in particular stands out as having profoundly defined my experience, and that concerns the political party with which I am aligned.

My interest in political involvement developed over the course of my time living and studying in Ottawa. At that time, I really was just getting my feet wet and trying to learn as much as possible, with a curiosity that can only come from growing up in the middle of nowhere. I’m grateful to have spent some time with Members of Parliament from all sides, hearing their perspectives and watching things develop under the new Trudeau government. I think it was important to have seen things objectively from the beginning in this way with the idea in mind that I would someday discern the one party that was the most in line with my own values and opinions. The trouble was that there are so many other factors at play in making that decision, and so many biases interfering in the process.

Coming from a rural area that is traditionally Conservative, I grew up within a dialogue centered on “taxpayer dollars” and the value of self-reliance. Arriving at university, especially the University of Ottawa, was like landing on a completely different planet for me and I was equally fascinated and disillusioned to suddenly be in such a dramatically dissimilar ideological climate. It was enlightening to encounter such a diverse range of perspectives and meet people from backgrounds different than mine, but I often felt as though there was not much room for my own views among those of my professors and peers. While it was unfortunate that I never really did find my community of like-minded colleagues there, where I felt comfortable sharing my ideas, I do think my exposure to the Left-leaning end of the political spectrum was a crucial element in developing the tolerance and open-mindedness that often didn’t accompany the politics of my hometown.

Officially choosing my party was something that was always at the back of my mind, but I did not feel any real pressure until I was selected as the Elgin-Middlesex-London delegate for Equal Voice’s Daughters of the Vote initiative. During our time at Queen’s Park for the provincial component of the event, we were addressed by members of the EV board regarding the importance of lifetime loyalty in partisanship and the lifetime commitment that is political allegiance. I remember standing there on the grand staircase and realizing that I was justified in taking my decision as seriously as I was, but that I was becoming less of an outside observer and more of an active participant who needed to pick a side.

Heading to Ottawa for the federal portion of DOV, these thoughts were at the forefront of my mind. I had such strong foundations in Conservatism but worried about alienating myself from people my own age and finding the strength to face the stigma being attributed to right wing beliefs. Swinging left was equally daunting in that I was concerned about my reception at home and ability to be trusted and taken seriously by the demographic in the riding that could someday be entrusted with electing me. I made it my goal to discuss partisanship with as many of my fellow delegates and speakers as possible, and try to advance towards a decision.

The DOV federal experience ultimately changed everything for me. I quickly made friends with girls from all parties and ridings, but for the first time, I started meeting young women who were proud to call themselves Conservatives, and we almost instantly formed a strong bond based first and foremost on friendship. When I told one of our greatest influences during the week about my struggles with partisanship, I was reassured to hear that no one was expected to “hitch their cart” to every single aspect of one party; that there is still room for diversity among all sides and it is best to choose the one that is closest to your own core values.

After the week wound down, I was approached for my first interview by a local reporter regarding my experience representing EML. He asked me point blank what my political affiliation was, and my immediate response was that it was a decision that I was still in the process of working through because it was something that I took incredibly seriously. While this was true, I did not mention that for the first time in my life I felt like I was making progress towards an answer with the support and input from the network I made at DOV. Never once did I feel pressured to share their views or that it even mattered whether mine were different. I came to realize that partisanship was not something that had to do with what anyone else thought or believed, but with a feeling of validation within myself.

As time went on and politics evolved, I felt as though I was ready to take the plunge. With all of the information, resources, and connections available to me, and after so much deliberation, I purchased a membership to the Conservative party and felt just like I was coming home. Sometimes my cart is securely attached and barreling down the crowded streets of political discourse, and sometimes I walk alone on my own two feet. I am proud of the fact that I support compassionate and accepting policies that are also fiscally responsible, and don’t feel like I need to hide that from anyone of any background. I am lucky to be surrounded by mentors and colleagues who also uphold these beliefs, but I also don’t want to lose the curiosity for all sides of the discussion that helped me get to this point. Going forward, my plan is to keep listening as much as I speak, and work on losing any lingering anxieties about alienating myself from people with different beliefs. I’ve been told repeatedly that politics will never love you back, and that I need to accept that there will be people who don’t agree and who aren’t also willing to listen. This is all part of the journey, and I am so grateful to those who support me along the way every day. Onward and upward!

Delany