Driven by a deep commitment to service and representation, Jan Gillet entered public life to help make her city “the best it could be, for everyone.” She believes that leadership should reflect the community it serves: “Representation matters. When people see themselves in leadership, they know their voices and lived experiences are valued.” Inspired by the resilience and compassion modeled by her grandmother and aunties, she views public service as both a calling and an homage. Her service is a message to young Black women and girls that they can speak their dreams and live their purpose.
As a City Councillor, her approach is grounded in service, action, and accountability. Colleagues and constituents describe her as direct, solutions‑focused, and unwavering in her commitment to getting things done. Municipal government, she notes, is uniquely close to the people: “The decisions we make today directly affect how our neighbours live tomorrow. That responsibility is both significant and humbling.” She brings the lived experience of a Black woman in Alberta into policy conversations where that perspective is often underrepresented, ensuring decisions are shaped by real community realities. The role gives her the opportunity to listen, act with integrity, and build a city where people feel seen, heard, and supported.
Her business acumen informs her governance. Having run her own company, she learned to stretch a dollar, prioritize wisely, and treat budgets as instruments for tangible impact. “Budgets aren’t just numbers,” she emphasizes. “I see families, community well‑being, public safety, and long‑term sustainability.”
The campaign trail presented challenges, including online hostility and misinformation, some of it racially charged. Rather than engage in negativity, she stayed anchored in purpose. She chose to rise above it by focusing on respectful dialogue and standing as a model of resilience for the next generation. “Leadership is about staying grounded in what truly matters.”
Among her proudest achievements is championing initiatives that improve the lives of vulnerable residents, particularly those who are unsheltered or experiencing housing insecurity. Long before holding office, she helped create programs addressing the immediate needs of low‑income families and individuals experiencing homelessness. As a Councillor, she has amplified that work through policy and partnerships. She has also demonstrated courage in moments that required standing firm on fairness and common sense: “Leadership is not only about saying ‘yes’; it is also about having the courage to say, ‘this isn’t right.’”
Her vision is clear: a city where opportunity, dignity, and belonging are more than aspirations. They are lived, shared, and sustained by all.
