The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50809
a membership of 40 in 2010 to more than 2,000. Nkemdirim and Nenshi are part of a generation of Calgarians born in the '70s to new Canadians. The Nkemdirims are from West Africa, and arrived here two years before their son was born in 1971. The city no longer resembles the cowtown in which he grew up. It's sur- passed one million in population and is creeping toward the Rocky Mountains in a way that upsets long-time residents, who are now suffering from heavier traffic and rising taxes. The Alberta Party's approach resem- bles Nkemdirim and Nenshi's approach to the campaign. Nenshi offered spe- cific ideas to solving Calgary's prob- lems, like improving transit and cre- ating affordable housing through the legalization of basement suites, without stopping to worry about ruffling feath- ers. "We're trying to create a political party that is focused on solving prob- lems without this ideological filter," says Nkemdirim. "We have people who are Conservatives, people who are Liberal, and we have NDPers, all in the party, who are working together who are solu- tion-oriented. There's a real disconnect in Alberta between the citizenship and the government. I think you saw that at the Calgary election." Nkemdirim has even had some involvement in the Liberal party. He was the campaign manager for Kent Hehr when the long-time activist, who was left quadriplegic after being shot as a bystander during a 1991 drive-by shooting, was elected to the Alberta legislature in 2008. Hehr also made a run for mayor of Calgary in 2010, but withdrew before the vote. Prior to the 2010 election, Nkemdirim and Nenshi were also both active in a group called Better Calgary, which, as the name suggests, was created to find solutions to the strain brought on by Calgary's growth. Nkemdirim was also director for six years of the Sage Theatre, resigning two years ago from the board of the small-budget, small- venue group that specializes in avant- garde productions. He remains chair- ntitled-6 1 man of the Calgary Foundation's Arts & Culture grant advisory committee, and handles all the arts-related matters for Nenshi's office — save for the original placement of wall art. "Chima got into politics for the right reasons," says friend and former FMC colleague John Reynolds. "He is not motivated by special interests. He and Naheed are all about the community. They simply wanted to make this city better. That was their goal." Nkemdirim joined Fraser Milner Casgrain in 1997. Reynolds arrived a year later and both became partners in the firm's corporate securities group. Nkemdirim gives some of the credit for his activism to FMC, saying the firm encourages its staff to become involved outside of the office. "I know a lot of places aren't like that," he says. "You could work in an environment where it's just bill, bill, bill, bill, bill. I had a great experience working there. They were really supportive of my career. This is a big change, though. When we came in here there was no staff. We had one person left over [from the previous administration]. When you're elected a week later, you're in power and you have no staff. You have to find people to hire your staff. That turned out to be me. It was crazy. "There is no instruction manual to do this job." Reynolds shakes his head at Nkemdirim's pace. "He took a 50-per- cent pay cut for 20-per-cent more work," says the mayor. It could just be that Nkemdirim's sojourn into politics lasts only for as long as his friend is the mayor. He can't, or won't, say. "Who knows what the future will bring?" says Nkemdirim. "I love politics and I like public policy. So, one day may be I'll run, I don't know. Right now I'm happy with what I'm doing." Do you have clients with family business succession issues? The Succession Fund™ buys shares in private companies to support share- holder realignments and succession transactions. If you have a client who wants to buy out one or more shareholders, contact Larry Klar at (416) 867-8090 or klar@argosypartners.com www.successionfund.com "Someday, son, 50% of this will belong to your ex-wife." ™Trademark of Argosy Partners Ltd. www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A U GUST 2011 257/11/11 10:39:14 AM