For a long time, I thought success meant following the path that was already laid out in front of you. Work harder than everyone else. Stay later. Become indispensable. Climb properly. Eventually, someone notices. But truthfully, this story starts long before any of that.

This year has been one of challenges and quiet glimmers of hope. It’s been a year where I dared to aim higher, putting my name forward for public service, fueled by a belief that change is possible when thousands of people in my riding, and beyond, were sickened by the lack of empathy, humanity, and leadership from their MP. Though I lost, it’s not the end of that journey. It’s a chapter in a story still being written. Read more…

I have always been politically inclined, as far back as I can remember. Growing up in Smoky Lake shaped me into a pragmatic person, or at least as pragmatic as I like to think I am. Like everyone, I have made mistakes, learned, and grown, and for many of us, that includes our politics.

In my debut book, “You’re Already Dead,” I take the experience and lessons from my dad’s life, and passing, and delve into some of the themes that come to define our lives. Or I should say, how we live, all intertwined with the transient nature of life. Based on his beliefs, I could have titled the book: “You Only Live Forever.”

As we mark the 162nd day of the ongoing onslaught in Gaza, the heavy weight of sadness has settled over the world, the community around me, and my own shoulders. The barrage of unending horrors, massacre after massacre, and the inaction of our Canadian Prime Minister, along with his Conservative Party counterpart, have led to a profound sense of powerlessness and despair.

The videos I’ve been sharing on Instagram from Beirut and South Lebanon, inspired by the themes in my book “You’re Already Dead,” focus on the beauty of everyday life. My father captured not every detail, but those ordinary moments between family and friends. It’s these scenes that now strike a chord with me…

For years, I often said, “When I finish my book…” or “One day when I write a book…” Now, that moment has extended just over 30 days, and it’s been over three months since I first announced the book’s impending release on Instagram. The world has witnessed significant changes during this time…

I decided to create a simple, 100-page blank journal with quotes from my debut book. Why? Because writing is important. It helps us process our feelings, reminds us of significant moments, and aids in reconciling our emotions with the world—whether it’s beautiful or devastating. It allows us to genuinely feel…