The first female leader of the provincial New Democrats gives hope to future generations that anything is possible no matter where you’re from.

The small quiet town of Milestone is where Carla Beck, the first female NDP leader to be elected in Saskatchewan, went to high school.

The successful candidate who started out as an NDP education critic was respected and known by many in the town. Even 41 years later she is still remembered by past classmates.

When asked if Beck showed any evidence of being political in the past, Theresa Shindelka, an administrative assistant at the Milestone high school who knew Beck said, “she was definitely a leader, she was the one you would listen to. She was very well-liked and a very nice person.”

Beck had been travelling to Milestone from her hometown Lang from Junior High to high school. “She probably went to school here around five years,” said Krista Simmons, a worker at the Canada post office in Milestone. She went to the same high school as Beck and was two grades below her.

Simmons also shared how Beck and her entire family were well-liked within the community. “She was very well respected, her family is well known, the Becks are a very well-respected family, we are also very proud of her.”

Prior to being a political figure, Beck was a registered social worker for over 20 years. She was the assistant executive director at a Regina women’s shelter, along with being an active volunteer in the community working with organizations such as SaskAbilities Council, Autism Resource Centre, Regina Sexual Assault Centre, MS Centre and many more.

In 2009, Beck was elected as the Trustee for Sector 5 for Regina Public Schools. She was re-elected in 2012 and was vice chair of the audit and policy committee. It was in 2015 when Beck rose in the political world and won the NDP nomination race in an election in Regina Lakeview. She was then elected to the legislative assembly in 2016. She won with 56.5 per cent of the vote.

During the NDP convention in Saskatoon over an October weekend Beck was given a 94 per cent approval rating for the first leadership review.

According to the Toronto Star, the theme of the convention was “Building to Win,” she explained that the goal is to keep doctors, increase the development of the industry while reducing carbon emissions and continue with reconciliation. Beck displayed her disappointment with the lack of action on behalf of the health care system in Saskatchewan.

On March 3, 2022, Beck announced her leadership campaign. The election was held on June 26, 2022, in Regina, where Carla Beck won the election with 3,244 votes.

At the convention, Beck made it clear the goal was to hear about what could be improved in the province: “I’m listening to the concerns and the hopes of Saskatchewan people,” she said.

The main topics that were discussed were healthcare, affordability, and the economy. “We can’t wait to get into the legislature and highlight not only the concerns that we’ve heard but the solutions that we’ve put forth as well,” said Beck, who will now be travelling around the province to hear people’s opinions on what can be improved.

In a recent interview during the convention, Beck had a lot to say about being the first female leader in the province’s NDP.

“I think about being the first elected female leader of the Saskatchewan NDP and that means a lot to my family, and to a number of people. I also think of the people who have helped and supported me to get here, I am so honoured and can’t wait to take on the work that is going to come in the next busy weeks,” she told CTV News Saskatoon.

She encouraged young women who have goals to always go forward with them.

“Find your passion and do that work I was lucky enough to do, I was lucky enough to do work as a social worker and been in the community for 20 years that I felt was important, and I was mentored by so many strong and courageous women that came before me and some of them were there on Sunday.

“Find someone who will support you, and mentor you, there are all sorts of people out there that will help build your career, and your skills, and we are better when we lift each other up,” said Beck.

Beck mentioned at the convention that the main goal is to listen to people’s issues to be able to resolve them in the future. “It really is important to us to get out there and listen to people, to connect with them, where they’re at, and to bring those concerns, those hopes back to the work we do to the legislature and to build to 2024 to our party.”

The provincial electoral district Indian Head Milestone had doubled in votes for the Saskatchewan party in 2020. Milestone had not elected an NDP representative since 1995.

Beck has proved that hard work pays off, and her successful run has made a permanent impact in history for women in politics across Canada.

Carla Beck did not return repeated messages left with her representatives when asked for an interview.