Angela Simmonds: A Time for Change But at What Cost?
01/15/25 • 29 min
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?
In this episode, Angela Simmonds tells host Nana aba Duncan her story of running for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and ultimately leaving politics altogether.
This episode features:
Angela Simmonds, Deputy Speaker and Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly (2021-2023)
Wisdom Tettey, a political scientist and President of Carleton University
Erin Tolley, a political scientist and Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race & Inclusive Politics at Carleton University
This episode includes audio clips from CTV News Atlantic.
Resources for this episode:
Read the research that supports this podcast:
New report on being Black in Canadian politics
Election rules in Nova Scotia:
On the link between money and politics in Canada:
Gender and donations in Canadian politics
Ethnicity and donations in Canadian politics
On the politics of appearance:
Hair, skin and Black women political elites
Follow us on Instagram @black.on.the.ballot
This podcast is part of Black Canadians in Electoral Politics, a research partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. To learn more, visit our website. To support the important work being done by Operation Black Vote Canada, consider making a donation.
Funding for the podcast comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. In-kind support was provided to Carleton University by the Samara Centre for Democracy.
The podcast was produced by Media Girlfriends.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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?
In this episode, Angela Simmonds tells host Nana aba Duncan her story of running for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and ultimately leaving politics altogether.
This episode features:
Angela Simmonds, Deputy Speaker and Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly (2021-2023)
Wisdom Tettey, a political scientist and President of Carleton University
Erin Tolley, a political scientist and Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race & Inclusive Politics at Carleton University
This episode includes audio clips from CTV News Atlantic.
Resources for this episode:
Read the research that supports this podcast:
New report on being Black in Canadian politics
Election rules in Nova Scotia:
On the link between money and politics in Canada:
Gender and donations in Canadian politics
Ethnicity and donations in Canadian politics
On the politics of appearance:
Hair, skin and Black women political elites
Follow us on Instagram @black.on.the.ballot
This podcast is part of Black Canadians in Electoral Politics, a research partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. To learn more, visit our website. To support the important work being done by Operation Black Vote Canada, consider making a donation.
Funding for the podcast comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. In-kind support was provided to Carleton University by the Samara Centre for Democracy.
The podcast was produced by Media Girlfriends.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Trailer
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 open to diversity?
Brought to you by Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada, episodes launch in January 2025. Follow this podcast if you want to know what it’s really like to be Black on the Ballot.
Hosted on Acast. Find the latest episodes here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Kaycee Madu: They Didn't See Me Coming
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 approach to politics? What role do the media play in the making and unmaking of a political career? And what are the risks and rewards of being the voice of your community?
Kaycee Madu was a member of Alberta's Legislative Assembly 2019 to 2023 and served in various Cabinet positions, including as the country’s first Black Minister of Justice.
This episode features:
Kaycee Madu, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (2019-2023), Minister of Municipal Affairs (2019-2020), Minister of Justice and Solicitor General (2020-2022), Minister of Labour and Immigration (2022-2023), and Deputy Premier of Alberta (2022-2023)
Velma Morgan, Chair of Operation Black Vote Canada
This episode includes audio clips from CTV News and CBC News.
Resources for this episode:
Read the research that supports this podcast:
New report on being Black in Canadian politics
On Black Canadians’ interactions with police:
Summary of research on anti-Black racism in Canada’s criminal justice system
On the role of the media:
Framed: Media and the Coverage of Race in Canadian Politics
Follow us on Instagram @black.on.the.ballot
This podcast is part of Black Canadians in Electoral Politics, a research partnership between Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada. To learn more, visit our website. To support the important work being done by Operation Black Vote Canada, consider making a donation.
Funding for the podcast comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Carleton University, the Canada Research Chairs Program, and the University of Toronto Scarborough. In-kind support was provided to Carleton University by the Samara Centre for Democracy. The podcast was produced by Media Girlfriends.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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