PORT HAWKESBURY - Facing an uphill battle against a longtime PC incumbent and a focused Liberal challenger, Joanna Clark is approaching the 2021 election campaign in the riding of Inverness with optimism, determination, and an eye on the future.

A recent graduate from the Petit de Grat campus of the francophone Universitie Sainte-Anne, Clark is fluently bilingual and was also heavily involved in student government, earning an executive position on the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) during her studies.

As a substitute teacher since her graduation, the 24-year-old Clark has gotten to know many children and young families at school sites such as Tamarac Education Centre in Port Hawkesbury, which is now part of the Inverness riding after eight years as part of the neighbouring constituency of Cape Breton-Richmond. 

These experiences, and her time as a young mother to a four-year-old daughter, had her feeling a strong allegiance to the provincial NDP's focus on assisting underprivileged families and attempting to make daily life more liveable for Nova Scotia residents.

"Child care is important to me, and as a single mom going to university, I really struggled with it," Clark pointed out. "So you see, in the NDP platform, that they're looking to have licensed childcare here and make it affordable for families, which is extremely important."

Even if the August 17 vote count doesn't go her way, Clark describes this electoral run as "getting my feet wet" for a future campaign for the NDP in the riding.

"Win or lose, it's been a great experience," she beamed. 

Clark is also hoping to see the Acadian community of Cheticamp get its own constituency in the future. Even though La Federation Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse (LaFANE) was successful in its court challenge of previously-realigned ridings, leading to the restoration of protected Acadian seats, the Francophone lobby group is also trying to get Cheticamp established as a separate constituency. 

"I've reached out to the lawyer on that project," she noted. "I don't want to go out and say that it's going to happen, but I think it's extremely important...I've lived in Clare for a bit and I've studied in other parts where Acadian culture is prevalent, so I'm totally committed to having that conversation and seeing what's possible on this side, and I hope that can be a possibility in the future."