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16 Days of Activism: Theresa Kingston

Kingston was the city’s director of community services until her retirement this year
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Theresa Kingston worked for the City of Port Alberni for 40 years. SUBMITTED PHOTO

This feature highlights one of many women who make a difference in the community, put on by ACAWS and the Alberni Valley News as part of the 16 Days of Activism. Read our other features here.

Theresa Kingston

I am a daughter, sister, aunt and great-aunt. I have lived in Port Alberni for most of my life and recently retired after 40 years working for the City of Port Alberni in a number of roles. I have had my own business for the past 20 years and have worked with organizations throughout Western Canada and internationally. I am continuing to work in my business post-retirement.

I am passionate about our community and the power and influence of individuals and groups working to make a better community and world.

Throughout my career as a public servant, I supported many important initiatives in the community and worked collaboratively with many organizations and groups.

I am a member of the Arrowsmith Rotary Club and have been instrumental in providing the vision for the Rotary Arts District and continuing to work to make it a reality.

I have volunteered with many different organizations, especially in the area of facilitating organization processes, including strategic planning, good governance and volunteer management.

I have always based my work and daily living on the principles of collaboration, respect and integrity. I hope that I have modelled these behaviours in all my interactions.

I have always believed in the dignity and respect of all individuals. In respect to gender equality in my role as Human Resources Manager, I have always worked to ensure that my employer and employees understood the importance of gender equality and constantly reinforcing that equality does not mean equal treatment, especially in ensuring a diverse workforce.

Through my business I have facilitated many respectful workplace workshops and worked with organizations to ensure that their workplace culture is one of inclusion and respect.

I have delivered workshops and presentations on the Rights Based Approach and strongly believe in my responsibility for gender equality as a ‘duty-bearer.’

As a volunteer, I was involved in a four-year project in China entitled the Migrant Labourer Rights project through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The overriding objective of the project was to build capacity in local governments to ensure gender equality, especially in the enforcement of labour rights, citizen participation and service delivery to vulnerable populations. The purpose of the project was to enshrine the essence of two international conventions (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights).

Following this project, I continued to volunteer in China on projects related to rights for youth, especially around the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.

I believe that individual rights are fundamental whether they be based on gender, ethnicity, age, etc.

Over the past month I have done a few things to help people in the community (nothing momentous). 😊

  • Had coffee with an acquaintance to support her in looking at lifestyle/career changes
  • Made a donation to a project to bring culturally appropriate children’s books to school libraries in our community
  • Helped out a stranger in front of me at the grocery store who was short of money (under $5.00)
  • Participated and contributed to an event to raise funds to End Polio
  • Donated some household items to an individual
  • Supported an individual in her health/wellness practice by giving her any books I had that were relevant (large box full)