From the classroom to the city council chambers
Elected at 21, Jordan Graham is the youngest city councillor in
Fredericton's history.
Surrounded by professionals a dozen or more years his senior, he brings a fresh perspective to the municipal council.
He's also a full time student at the University of New Brunswick.
Jordan's interest in municipal politics spawned from his involvement in the UNB Student Union - he sat on city council's University-Community relations committee while he was the Vice-President External in 2007-08.
"There was a lot of tension between students and long-term residents. It really gave me perspective on how the city was being perceived by university students, and how students were being received in the city," he says.
"I thought that a little bit of different perspective could change things, so things could be improved upon for the long-term and the short-term residents."
Campaigning on the promise of an integrated community and fair tax reforms, Jordan won the city councillor position for the city's most student-populated ward - earning more than double the votes earned by the incumbent.
Jordan is originally from Woodstock, N.B., but now calls Fredericton home. He will graduate from UNB this month.
"Every time my mother refers to me ‘coming home,' I have to remind her that I'm already home - but that I like to come visit her sometimes. Fredericton certainly is home and I absolutely love it."
From theoretical to practical
Jordan uses the knowledge he's gained in his political science and economics classes every day.
"It's only because I've learned what I've learned at UNB that I'm able to be an active and professional city councillor. The lessons that I've learned at UNB have been crucial to me in knowing what's going on."
Studying economics while being an active participant in economic development and governance makes classroom lessons hit home for the councillor.
"The decisions that we make are very real. If we're going to impact people, we need to make sure we're as informed as possible in making decisions."
As an economics student, he's often asked by colleagues and city residents what his professors are saying about current issues in the economic world.
"It's really great seeing that sort of respect for professors, because I come from the UNB economics program too."
Like no other
"You can't get an experience like UNB anywhere else," says Jordan.
He's proud of his education at UNB - and the relationships he's fostered while at the school.
"I remember one experience this year when I was running all over the place trying to get a lot of things done. I was pulled aside after class by a professor, who asked me ‘Jordan, are you getting any sleep? Are you eating right? What are you doing right now?'
"It really shows that professors at UNB genuinely care about you."
Faculty and staff at UNB have a vested interest in their students' successes, says Jordan, even outside of the classroom.
"I can walk down the hall and have a conversation with the president of the university, and I can go for a coffee with one of my economics professors who's a director of the bank of Canada, and talk about what it's like to work with directors during a financial crisis.
"UNB truly offers a unique ideal when it comes to university life."
