What does it take to be recognized as one of Vancouver’s 50 most powerful people? Focus, confidence, optimism, tenacity. These qualities coupled with Barinder Rasode’s deep desire to help create a just society and improve the lives of others put her on Vancouver Magazine’s list of the city’s most influential people in 2014.
That year, after serving two terms as an elected City Councillor for the City of Surrey, Barinder ran for mayor. “It was high, high risk, but at the same time, I knew that all of the things that compelled me to want different for Surrey, especially around the whole crime and justice portfolio at the time, that I really needed to put my money where my mouth was.” During her six year tenure at Surrey City Council, Barinder pushed for greater RCMP presence and improved transit and transportation infrastructure, created awareness and prevention programs to try to end domestic abuse, and worked with senior levels of government and service providers to increase support for people dealing with mental health challenges, addiction, and homelessness.
She was the only candidate in the running who was also raising a family, and campaigned using the motto “One Tough Mother” to represent her vision to make Surrey one of the safest cities in Canada through a community-based policing model, delivering rapid transit and improved transportation, developing a sustainable economy, and committing to transparency and accountability in city spending.
While Barinder did not win the election, she certainly didn’t lose, either. “It wasn’t a loss for me at all, because I think I raised important issues and engaged many residents,” she says.
“Our assessment of what success is needs to change sometimes. For me, success is determined by the number of different things I get to do and the people that I meet, versus the outcome of what I was doing,” explains Barinder. “My goal, really, is to make the most out of each opportunity, and if you’re doing what you do really really well, opportunities will come to you. And then you decide which ones you want to take and which ones you don’t.”
Doors continued to open for Barinder after she ran for mayor. Today, she is the Director of Social Responsibility at Resource Works, a non-profit that educates people on the value of the resource sector. Barinder also sits on the Board of Directors for Fraser Health, providing governance and vision for the largest health authority in B.C., and is the Co-Founder and Advisory Committee Chair for SheTalks, a unique series of conferences featuring stories of leadership and innovation by inspirational women.
“All the roles I have, whether it’s the conversation on jobs with Resource Works, whether it’s hard conversations about mental illness, drug addiction, and proper health care, or conversations that we do through SheTalks, the number one thing I’m driven by is my commitment to making this world a better place for my kids,” says Barinder. A devoted single mother of three, Barinder feels strongly that her work has helped her be a better parent to her children. “Because of the experience I have outside the home, I’m able to bring so much more to my kids in terms of what they’re exposed to and what they’re learning.”
Barinder joined Terminal City Club to be a part of Vancouver’s business community. “I joined TCC because I needed a home away from home,” says Barinder. “The facilities are fabulous. There’s a real network here, and the opportunity to meet people has been really great.”
Last year, Terminal City Club hosted She Talks Technology. “The Club was such an incredible sponsor. The event was a huge success – it was amazing to see that lots of dads were bringing their daughters,” Barinder says. “We also don’t believe that there are any issues that are ‘women’s issues.’ To one day have equality in all ways, it’s about having men and women standing shoulder to shoulder. If a woman gets breast cancer, her husband, son, father, everybody’s affected by it, too. So we do feel it’s more about bringing people together than just saying we’re different.”
For Barinder, community voices and stories are integral to bringing people together, and for that reason, she is an ardent social media user. “I believe social media has given everybody a platform. A simple tweet or Facebook post can help advance an issue. It gives you voice, and it’s connected communities in a big way,” she says. “I also believe that how people engage on social media is a personal choice, so people shouldn’t be criticized for what they post or how they post. Because if you don’t like it, unfollow them.” One thing is for certain, Barinder certainly is one tough mom.
