Black on the Ballot

Episode 3. TIffany Ford: From the Community and For the Community

Black on the Ballot

Tiffany Ford entered politics to make change in her own neighbourhood. Tired of the way local politicians and the media depicted the community of Jane and Finch, she began knocking on doors to become a school board trustee. Can you do politics without parties? What does political success look like if you don’t want to pick a team? And how do you...

Episode 2. Kaycee Madu: No One Saw Me Coming

Black on the Ballot

To tell the story of his journey into politics, Kaycee Madu starts at the beginning, with his childhood in Nigeria and arrival in Canada. When he joined the United Conservative Party in Alberta, he had plans. But they were waylaid by one phone call. Listen in on his candid conversation with host Nana aba Duncan where she asks: How does a life story shape one's appro...

Episode 1. Angela Simmonds: A Time for Change, But At What Cost?

Black on the Ballot

Angela Simmonds made history as the first Black deputy speaker in Nova Scotia’s House of Assembly. But after just two years in elected office and a run at her party’s leadership, she resigned. Why? What challenges did she face during her time in politics? What is she most proud of? And what are the hidden pitfalls of entering the political arena?...

This four-part podcast unpacks the experiences of Black politicians in Canada through a combination of groundbreaking new research and very real conversations. Each week, host Nana aba Duncan sits down with Black politicians to ask: What role does identity play when you run for elected office? What role should it play once you get there? Do Black politicians face a set of unique obstacles? And is Canadian politics actually all that...