Only Indigenous councillor ever elected to Terrace council quits, says systemic racism has forced her to resign

The only Indigenous councillor ever elected to Terrace council says systemic racism has forced her to resign.

Jessica McCallum-Miller, who is also the youngest person ever elected to council in that northwestern BC city, made the comment in a social media post announcing her departure.

McCallum-Miller was just 25 when she won a council seat in 2018 and says, since then, she has felt "unheard or unsupported" due to her ethnicity, age and gender.

Terrace Mayor Carol Leclerc says council has become "better" for McCallum-Miller's "honesty, dedication and thoughtfulness," and more details will be released in the coming weeks about a byelection to fill the vacant seat.

Jessica McCallum-Miller on Facebook:

I hope that one day, a voice not unlike my own becomes a commonality amongst Leadership rather than a rarity in this Community and in our World. Until such time, I plan to fully extend my help to those who wish to change that. This has been a very eye opening few years and has taught me much about Life, about Leadership and about myself-- for that I am grateful and would like to wish everyone well.

All my Relations-

Jessica McCallum-Miller