Student Reflections on Right Hon. Kim Campbell Visit

How hard would it be to navigate though a forest packed with plants? Wouldn't it be easier to follow a path someone has already paved? Well, Kim Campbell was the trailblazer for many women and girls in Canada by becoming the first and only female Prime Minister. It was such a privilege for us students to meet the Right Honourable Kim Campbell on Tuesday morning. She taught us that shattering stereotypes is crucial to become the best version of ourselves. In fact, during Ms. Campbell’s time as Prime Minister, she enforced the Rape Shield Law, which helped to protect women in Canada against sexual harrasment. However, simply getting rid of the barrier for now doesn't solve the problem: we must make sure that the stereotypes remain broken. She also emphasized the point that just because women haven’t doesn't mean that they can’t. Additionally, she implied that we must be inclusive by not discriminating against anyone based on race or gender and that many perspectives should be involved to make decisions that benefit plenty of people. 

One of the questions asked from a student at the visit by Ms. Campbell was about the changes she made as the first female student council president of her high school (Prince of Wales). To answer this question, she explained how she decided to run for president. She decided to run for president because when she was in high school there was a very lovely girl who ran for student council president, Unfortunately she lost the election. As a result, a boy who also attended the school mentioned that she lost because she was a girl. This was the main reason why Ms. Campbell decided to run. Following a strong campaign, she won! The same year, another girl became the first female student council president of Lord Byng. Years later, as Ms. Campbell visited high schools in this area, she was pleasantly surprised by how it was not unusual for a female to be elected president. As grade 6 students, this relates to us because of the work we are doing for our Grade 6 Passion Project, the goal of which is to raise awareness for women all around the world and to make an impact in society. 

    

Even in the present day, Ms. Campbell continues to support women and young girls around the world. She is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, which uses the experiences of female leaders to mentor and empower the next generation of female politicians. They also challenge age-old political norms, destroy bias, and raise global awareness about female heads of state and government. She also told us about her plans to feature the stories of female trailblazers on her website (kimcampbell.com) this summer.

In conclusion, Ms. Campbell has empowered generations of females, through powerful speeches and organizations. She proceeds to inspire women all around the world. In the words of Ms. Campbell “There are many ways to make a contribution—and you can, and you will.”