A Life in Politics, from Community Organizing to the Premier's Office — Kathleen Wynne

The Honourable Kathleen Wynne is a Canadian educator, community organizer, and former politician best known as Ontario’s 25th Premier—the first woman and openly gay person to hold the office. Long before entering electoral politics, Wynne was deeply engaged in grassroots organizing in her North Toronto community. She advocated for public education, equitable urban planning, and inclusive policy through school councils, neighbourhood associations, and parent advocacy groups. Notably, she helped co-found the Metro Parent Network, which mobilized parents to resist education funding cuts in the 1990s.

Wynne’s early activism translated into a political career grounded in community values. First elected as MPP for Don Valley West in 2003, she went on to serve in several cabinet roles before becoming Premier in 2013. Throughout her tenure and beyond, Wynne has remained committed to social justice, equity, and civic engagement—mentoring young leaders, teaching, and continuing to advocate for affordable housing, education, and democratic reform. Her trajectory reflects a lifelong dedication to organizing from the ground up.

Links:

The Protocol Podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/podcasts/trans-gender-care-protocol.html 

Would I Lie To You?: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007r3n8

Seeking Social Democracy: https://broadbentinstitute.ca/events/seeking-social-democracy-book-launch/