Mayoral candidate Jan Damery is back and ready to attack the elections, listen as she shares her experiences on leadership as well as speaking up on what you believe in.
Connect with Jan Damery :
Website: jandamery.com
Twitter: jandameryyyc
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www.thehowardteam.net
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardteamcalgary
https://www.instagram.com/calgary_living/
Email: bryon@thehoeardteam.net Phone: 403-589-0004
Hey everyone. My name is Brian Howard. I'm a Calgary realtor who has sold an average of a house a week since moving to this great city in 2003. And this is Calgary living real estate and lifestyle. I'm interviewing Calgary's top performers as it relates to living and lifestyle in our great. Some of the podcasts will be real estate decisions specific, but most will be about life in Calgary and why we choose to live here or at least why.
Thanks for tuning it.
Hey folks, neighbors Calgarians. It's Brian Howard. And today on the podcast, living in Calgary, real estate and lifestyle. I have my now friend Jan Demery on the, on the show. Janet. Welcome back. How has it been your, your just a week or two away from becoming our new. I am saying that more and more. I am the next mayor.
It is an amazing adventure. The power of the mindset. [00:01:00] Jen, what have you learned since our last conversation? I think that we spoke, I might've been may or June and and Interviewing various mural candidates and stuff. And you were my very, very first I was blessed. I mean, and, and, and we live about 10 blocks away.
So it all, it was only fitting that you were my first in terms of this. And tell us some of the things that you've learned you've seen. Were there any surprises along the trail and what are we we're about, I think 12 days away from election day when Calgarian say yes to Jan. Yeah. It's been an amazing experience.
And I think. Has been so just energizing for me is meeting new people. I love to meet new people, really listen, what's on their minds. And, and we know many of our neighbors and friends, Brian have really struggled these last four years. And they need hope and they're, and they're looking just kind of for just optimism and they want to feel safer.
That's actually been the most surprising. But then when I reflect and think about what we've endured with, COVID how unsettled all of us. And there [00:02:00] needs to be a real commitment. I think, to leadership going forward a plan that can actually move us out. So we can be this amazing city regain our confidence.
That's the leadership I'm offering. And every time I talk with people, I have, I want to have one of the most profound conversations with a young Asian woman who she was very quiet on the call. And, and then she said, you know what jam. And then we talked more about that. And we talked more about my vision for this city.
And she said at the end of that conversation, Brian, Jan, I feel less afraid talking to you. That's the power of leaders. Wow. Fantastic. Cool. And so as you, as you've gone down, I mean, how long has it been since you started thinking about like becoming the leader of our city? Was it years or months? It's been a year.
It's been a year. So that first fateful conversation happened about a year ago. And then you throw your name into the [00:03:00] hat six months ago or there May 4th was the day fourth. Okay. And has there been any surprises along the way, countless? The big surprise is the rollercoaster ride. This is, and, and it often happens the dips.
Ryan, you're constantly getting fed with data. You're constantly getting fed with what people like about you. Don't like about you. I have an amazing team around me. This too right. Is about leadership. It's not never about me. It's about how can I build an amazing team that we can accomplish things and how they buffer me, you know, particularly through the ugly, ugly social media comments.
As you have gotten to know me I speak my mind, you know, where I stand up. Apparently a lot of people don't like that. Yeah. I couldn't even imagine like what it would take to like put yourself out in public office like this, these days with, with the, you know, like, [00:04:00] oh, okay. Got it. Have you seen our mean tweets?
So I don't know if you don't know, we've taken a parody of. It is vital, really like, so you're being teased. What you mean? Are you having fun with that? Or like having fun with it, right. But you expose it. This is what I've learned. Taught me. A lot of this stuff lives in the shadows and we have to expose it.
I mean, I'm tough and I'm very committed to the people of our community, making sure that we build a city where everyone sees opportunity. So that's what fuels me. So I say, bring it on. Wow. And how has the, I mean, I, in terms of conversation and where we may go with this, how, like, do you have any, I have some thoughts or ideas on where let's go.
Where would you like to go? In terms of we've got another five or 10 minutes? What, what would you like to share with our listeners and primarily our neighbors here in Altadore. Is there anything that you'd like to share what you're seeing? Why, I guess why a slant on why we should be voting for you, Jan?[00:05:00]
So this is a critical election because we really are talking about the future of our city, about recovery and what that recovery is going to look at. Like, and, you know, because of the work that I've done in the not-for-profit sector, married with my corporate sector and I'm a leader and I'm a doer and it's really critical that people do and get out and vote, but I'm going to encourage them not to be lazy.
Don't just go on name recognition. Do your research. And I know it's overwhelming with 28 candidates, but there essentially are two counselors and me in this race. And I'm about fresh perspective. I'm not about bickering politicians. I'm not the politician. I am doing this to serve and get us back on track.
So that we can actually create a city where there's opportunity. I think we talked about the first time Brian, one of my key motivators. I've got a step son, 24 who left this city because he doesn't see [00:06:00] opportunity here. I think the Calgary foundation just came out with a survey to date. 30% of people surveyed are thinking about leaving the.
If that is not a crisis or an emergency and a reflection a on the times that we're dealing with, but also leadership at city council. I don't know what it is. We need to change. We need a leader and I'm that leader. No one else can bring us. Wow. I'm kind of happy to hear you say you don't get out on vote, but along with that, and I hear that over and over again, since I always, you know, 18 years old, I suppose, and to me it's like a little bit overwhelming to like, he'll get over.
Well, I good at and vote in, oh, here I am at the polls. Who the hell do I vote for? So I've kind of, I've missed some elections. Don't tell anybody, but I'm like, you know, you say get informed as, so at this point with 12 days left to the race, and you mentioned that there's you and two other candidates would it be appropriate to bring those names up?
Probably not. I don't know, but how would you do that? I was [00:07:00] pulling out coming and so you'll see that the leads are, and they're, they're kind of neck and neck, but less than 30% of them. With a lot of undecided thinking, at least that undecided and I've been door knocking, many people still undecided. And again, just going with name recognition, right?
So that's Jeremy Farkis and that's Jody conduct. These are divisive politicians. They have not shown any leadership in the last four years at a time when we have been in crisis, we need leadership to come out of this to create opportunity. I've led all my career across. I'm a doer. I bring people together.
I'm inspiring. Look at my enthusiasm. I still believe in this, right? I'm not blowing smoke. On a more personal note. My real estate coach is telling me, Brian. He wants me reading more books on leadership, like in terms of the focus of my business. What does leadership mean? What is good leadership?
Good leadership is enabling others to do amazing things. And what I know to be true. [00:08:00] Is people support what they create. So the leadership that we need in the mayor, it's not about my ideas. I've got opinions and I've certainly done the research and the homework. Cause that's something I do buy it. Right.
I show up and I do the work and you'll see that in my detailed platforms, when people do research, go on the website, Jan Dan reed.com and you'll see the plan that gets us. I know what to do. But leadership is enabling others, bringing people onto that, being willing to change your mind because you learn something new that you didn't know.
We have not seen any of this indication of leadership by existing city counselors, particularly those two that are in. We deserve better and I'm offering my leadership. I don't have to do this. I have a great job, but I so believe in the city and it's going to take leadership, not politicians to get us to where we need.
As a, as you've gone down this road last month and gone to a, you know, many, I think debates and such things I [00:09:00] heard you at the Calgary real estate board debate. I tuned into that. Fantastic. I enjoyed it. It was fantastic. And you know, I learned some new things and that was really worthwhile.
Oh, I thought how, what, what are some of the things that you're seeing over and over again? Or is there something that maybe you didn't. Wasn't that maybe important to you when you started into this race and you know, is now like, what are you, what did you learn over this, this, these months? You know, it's always amazing when you go into a new arena, right?
And you learn what's on people's minds. I was struck by the complexity of a sprawl versus density and how both of those terms are traps and actually pit inner city against outer city. And the answer is always yes. We need choices in real estate. And you, you know, this better than I Bryant what people are looking for.
We need amenity. We need to ensure that we're resourcing our neighborhoods equally equitably around our city. So I hadn't appreciated the [00:10:00] deficits that have existed. I mean, we have neighborhoods that were created, you know, in the sixties and seventies that we still haven't resourced. And we've got schools closing, I think in scenic acres that are closing after 20 years because we're not regenerating these neighborhoods yet.
We still go out and build more. We can do that. We have land, but there's an affordability question. And because people have been struggling financially, we're worried about taxes. We're worried about quality of services. And some of these services are under extreme stress as we try to recover this economy.
So we've got a balance, but we've got to make sure people have. And we've got to understand and have transparency in our leaderships. It's not one or the other and consult meaningfully with the people who live in neighborhoods. Our homes are personal to us and to have something imposed at a larger regional area, I'm talking about the guide book of course, way offside.
We need to do that over. We need to start with [00:11:00] neighborhoods. We need to talk about the challenge. What would density look like in Altidore? And I know this is a hot topic in our neighborhood because people don't like how the density is high. It seems to people that are you know, in our own neighborhood as well, like Altadore Myrtle loop.
There seems to be a fair amount of, I don't know, like some people is completely against maybe what's happening and others that are completely forest. Like, what's your stance on, on maybe, you know, 33rd and 34th avenue sort of motor loop Altadore and then maybe some of the, you know, the fourplexes that we're seeing more.
You know, in the inner neighborhoods, I'm tending to be on corner lots right across the street from me recently, there's a bungalow that was sold and there was a development permit plan put in place of the builder would like to tear down the bungalow, put in two detached homes with grad suites on top of with grad suites.
So it'd be four families living on that 50 foot loss. What are your thoughts on, on that in, in our neighborhood? I think if it's done well, 'cause I think sometimes it's even [00:12:00] hard to know if a duplex actually is a single home or not. And many of what I find people care about, what things look like and want to feel that they're being heard, what they don't like as being have large towers overlooking them.
Right. There's a privacy component. We want yards we want. Right. And we want to have access to amenities. We've got to look at the balance of that in the entire region. I've been talking more about putting the, the towers. If you will, you know, four stories or higher you know, on transit oriented development, you look at Westbrook very close to us.
You have a vacant field, but why aren't we building a lot of density there? You look at mission, there's already tremendous density. So why are we looking to force neighbors? And they're afraid, they're afraid that we're actually gonna do these big towers that just sort of impose an increment. And so we can do density smartly.
We can do density where it looks smart and, and is cool and keeps the character of a neighborhood. So these, you know, so for me, it's always an and in a [00:13:00] balance and let's sit down and talk about not either or, but what would density look like and where would you want to put it? Where does it make sense?
Because my reflection in COVID one of the reasons I love Altidore, I can walk almost for anything. Walk or bike 15 minutes city it's healthier, which also means we have to make sure that we've got walkable neighborhoods, that there is amenities and how we're sort of developing. But we've also got even a mid to mid ring of developments.
They don't have any of these amenities. You have to get in your car. I don't know about you, but my kids are saying, I don't want to have a car. I want options to be able to actually take public transit and get anywhere I want something to do with this. So these are the things that I'm hearing, you know, I want to be safe cause we, we started out.
So how do we engage people and engage in collectively solving the challenge rather than pitting each other against each other? The city has to get out of the way of. Wonderful. Well, Dan, [00:14:00] love it. Loving to hear your, your vision loving, to hear your experience over the last month. I want to take your time into consideration and their viewers time.
How else you got? We got 12 days. I want to share with you a couple of things. Jan, I've shared recently on social media, the power of mindset. And so I wish I knew the strongest mindset as you forge into the next 12 days of. Oh campaign that I don't envy you on. But I want to thank you again for your standing up and agreeing to be your next leader.
And I wish you all the best in that, Jen, what's the best way for people to, you know, maybe say vote yes. Or help Jane and the next 12 days. Yes. Jan damery.com. But also there is a debate tonight, but the chamber of commerce is hosting five 30. I think it's broadcast on global tune in. You can get the. If you go on my website, Jan damery.com/events donate, get a lawn sign.
The election is not over despite what you're reading in the polls and what I always say about [00:15:00] polling. There's only one poll that matters and that's vote date, Google we're wishing you all the best. And thanks again, Jeff, for taking time out of this busy time for yourself, we really appreciate it.
Take care. Bye bye bye now.