International Women’s Day has come and gone for 2020. So far this year two women who feature prominently in British Columbia have provided all of us with examples of grace under pressure.
I’ve admired Carole James for many years. I like the fact that she’s no quitter regardless of the dung flung her way. Several years ago when her colleagues, the then opposition NDP, decided to oust her as head of the party, James didn’t ease on out the back door. Instead she stayed on as MLA and as a staunch member of the caucus.
For many women such a betrayal would have marked the abrupt end of their political career. Not to point fingers or name names, one only has to look at recent history to find females who have done just that. I was very happy when Premier John Horgan astutely appointed James as finance minister and, essentially, his second in command. It was a well-deserved post for a talented woman.
Last week’s disclosure from James that she’s one of the many who deal with Parkinson’s disease in B.C. was heart-breaking on many counts, for her personally, for her family and for our province. This illness will ultimately curtail her movement on the public stage, and we will be the lesser for it. I wish her all the best.
Dr. Bonnie Henry is someone with whom I was not familiar until the last few weeks. Suddenly COVID-19 has thrust the provincial health officer into our lives on a daily basis. She’s been magnificent in the role. Day after day delivering (for some of us) earth-shaking news, Henry is the voice of calm, compassion and reason in a demanding job.
It’s never easy to be the face of bad news no matter what the subject, but when it comes to health issues it’s even more difficult to be the messenger. Through it all Henry has conducted herself with dignity. She’s imparted knowledge in a way we can understand and appreciate. Last Saturday’s announcement of the spread of the disease to a care home in North Vancouver was particularly profound. Henry’s tears showed a human side rarely seen in public figures. I think her speaking skills and empathy for all us regular folks is without parallel in our province. We are fortunate to have her.
Young people today are lucky to have these two fine women as role models. I certainly feel blessed to have them speak to and for me.
