Jyoti Gondek, Calgary's 1st female mayor, has firm roots in Manitoba

Jyoti Gondek's feet may be planted in Calgary, but a piece of her heart will always belong to Manitoba.

Gondekmade history on Monday night, when she was elected as the first female mayor of the city.

But the road she followed toCalgary city council has taken hermany places including formative years in southern Manitoba.

Gondek's family immigrated to Canada from the United Kingdom in the 1970s, when she was just four years old. Her parents had moved to the U.K. from the Punjab region in India.

"It's funny my parents, when we were living in England, felt that we had more opportunity in Canada, so they looked a map and said, 'You know, Winnipeg looks really central,'and it is," Gondek said in an interview with CBCManitoba following her election victory this week.

"It was really cold, so when we moved there it was a bit of a shock to the system, but let me tell you, it was great times."

The Calgary city councillor turned mayor-elect says she had a typical upbringing in the Prairies, living in and attending schools in Winnipeg, Neepawa, Portage La Prairie and Brandon. Her first job aftercompleting her university studies was as a policy analyst for women's shelters with the Manitoba government.

Gondek moved to Calgary from Manitoba in 1997, after her husband, Todd, accepted a job offer in the Alberta city. Sheand her husband still have family in Manitobaand have travelled back east to visit.

Loved ones in Manitoba cheered her from afar on election night, she says.

"I have cousins there [in Winnipeg]. They have been texting with my mom and phoning her and cheering me on from the sidelines," she said.

"My husband's parents are there.It's just a lot of family that is still back in Manitoba. It's an incredibly supportive bunch."

WATCH| Jyoti Gondek on her Manitoba roots:

Manitoban will make history as Calgary's first female mayor

3 years ago

Duration 4:30

Former Manitoban Jyoti Gondek made headlines this week. Gondek was elected Calgary's new mayor on Monday night and in the process making history. She will become Calgary's first female mayor. But before she moved out west, Gondek grew up in Manitoba, living in Winnipeg, Neepawa, Portage La Prairie and Brandon after her family emigrated here from the U.K via India. CBC's Marjorie Dowhos speaks with Jyoti Gondek.

Proud moment for South Asian community

Winnipeg realtor Gurpreet Kaur says Gondek's election win in Calgary is a big step not only for women, but also forthe Sikh and Punjab communities.

Kaur says she's proud to see someone who represents her community becomethe leader of a major Canadian city.

"It's gonna be a big, huge step for other women as well. They can also see themselves in her shoes one day, and it's giving themanother boost."

Jasmine Brar, who has political aspirations of her ownwhich included a run for theProgressive Conservatives in Burrows during the 2019 provincial election says this is a proud moment for manyimmigrants who came to Canada for new opportunities.

"I also truly feel like we are more than capable to take a seat at the leadership level," Brarsaid. "We are very proud of her. A woman like Jyoti is an inspiration."

Gondek says her win, and the mayoral win in Edmonton forAmarjeet Sohi a Sikh immigrant from India have been a long time coming, and that Canada can build from the momentum of the historic victories.

"We have normalized now the idea of women and people of colour being in senior leadership positions," she said.

"I am happy that the population sees itself reflected in its local government."