Mayor’s Office Team Spotlight: Strategy & Communications Intern Nadia Hansen

Note from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: Mentoring young people and youth in our community who have an interest in politics is a priority for me as an elected official. Female representation across all levels of government -- municipal, provincial and federal -- is still far below parity. For this reason, I look to support those looking for opportunities to gain real-world experience and expand their horizons with an internship in the Mayor's Office. While the internship is open to anyone who applies with the qualifications we're looking for, it is additionally important to me to help encourage more women to enter this field. I am happy to announce that for the fourth time since becoming Mayor, my office has welcomed yet another bright and engaged Strategy and Communications Intern to our team. I’ll let our latest intern, Nadia Hansen, introduce herself and speak to her experience below. We are already impressed by the background, skills and experience she brings to the table and look forward to seeing her excel in the Mayor's Office. 

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By: Nadia HansenHello all! My name is Nadia Hansen, and I am the City of Burlington Mayor’s Office Strategy and Communications Intern. I am currently completing a Master of Arts in Political Science from the Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador. Prior to this, I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights and Philosophy at Carleton University.If you had told me six years ago that I would currently be in this position today, I would have been in disbelief. I never particularly had a particular interest in politics growing up. As a young person who is Black, I often felt like it was a realm where I was not be heard or valued. I witnessed first-hand the difficulties that newcomers face -- being a first-generation Canadian with two parents who emigrated from Ghana, West Africa.In recent years, systemic social issues have risen with regards to visibility and that sparked my interest into the world of politics. In my undergraduate studies, I changed my major three times before settling into an area I felt passionate about. My education has helped me to understand the world from a social perspective and I believe this lens could be better integrated into policy at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government in Canada.In 2020, I was voted Vice-Chair of the Anti-Black Racism Task Force in the Town of Newmarket, and this was where I got my first glimpse of how municipal politics operated. I have seen how crucial it is for collaboration between constituents and policy-makers to take place and this made me realize I wanted to represent and amplify the voices of those who may feel silenced -- starting in my own community.I feel extremely fortunate to be in this position with the City of Burlington because I have already come to learn so much about municipal government from an exemplary and hard-working team who truly care about Burlington’s residents, led by a passionate Mayor.I look forward to continuing to learn from this inspiring team in the Mayor’s Office because I can see the positive and tangible difference being made in this city. This position has opened my eyes to the diligent and tireless work that happens behind the scenes by all departments in City Hall. And finally, I hope to follow in the path that Mayor Meed Ward has carved and become a leader in my own community.