EDITORIAL: When the Good Ones Resign, You Know Trouble is Ahead
I honestly can’t believe I’m writing this.
Just last week, I penned a column about the wave of resignations sweeping through Alberta politics, and here I am again, reflecting on yet another departure. On Monday, November 15th, another public servant decided to call it a career.
This isn’t just about another name leaving the political arena, though. It’s about who has stepped down. After three years into her term, Clearwater County Councillor and current Deputy Reeve Sydney Graham announced her resignation. Her decision, shared in a heartfelt letter posted on social media, was not made lightly. Graham cited health concerns and a desire to find resolve in the face of ongoing medical issues as the catalyst for stepping away.
However, she also revealed an uglier truth: community backlash over her inability to attend certain council events due to medical appointments contributed to her decision.
"It weighs heavily on me that I will not be completing my term serving it," Graham wrote in her resignation letter to the CAO. "For that, I’m sorry."
Frankly, I find this deeply troubling—not her resignation itself, but the circumstances surrounding it. I know Sydney Graham. I’ve met her. I’ve discussed politics with her. What I saw with Councillor Graham was someone wholly dedicated to her community. She didn’t run for office to pad her resume or as a stepping stone for higher political aspirations. She wasn’t there for personal gain. She was there because she genuinely cared. And now, Clearwater County is losing one of its strongest advocates—not because she failed the community for missing events due to medical appointments, but because - in my opinion - we failed her.
Being a municipal councillor is no easy task. It’s a job filled with long hours, endless meetings, and a constant barrage of complaints from constituents. Councillors are often the first point of contact for local issues, from potholes to zoning disputes. They are the unsung heroes of our political system, working tirelessly to address problems that directly impact our daily lives.
Yet, we seem to forget that councillors are human beings.
They have families, health issues, and personal struggles just like the rest of us. The unrealistic expectation that they should be flawless paragons of virtue and availability is not just unfair—it’s harmful.
The pressures of public life are immense, and the scrutiny is relentless. Over the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in public aggression towards politicians at all levels. The term "Karen" has been tossed around to describe entitled or overly demanding individuals, but the underlying behaviour it represents has become disturbingly common. Many people approach politicians with an attitude of entitlement, expecting immediate solutions to problems that are often complex or unsolvable. And when those expectations aren’t met? The backlash is swift and vicious.
Sydney Graham’s resignation underscores this troubling dynamic. Here was a councillor who, while grappling with her own health challenges, was still trying to fulfill her duties. But instead of compassion or understanding, she faced criticism for being “unavailable.” This is where we, as a society, need to - to quote former Premier Jim Prentice - take a look in the mirror.
If you or I fall ill, we take time off work. We reschedule appointments, miss events, and lean on others for support. No one questions our dedication or commitment to our jobs because of it. So why do we hold politicians to a different standard?
Imagine for a moment that a municipal leader has a family emergency. Should they attend to their loved ones, or should they prioritize attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony? The answer should be obvious, yet we continue to demand the impossible from our leaders. This double standard is not only unreasonable—it’s dehumanizing.
Councillors, MLAs, MPs—they’re people, not machines. They experience loss, illness, and exhaustion. They have every right—no, they have an obligation—to prioritize their health and family when needed. And when they do, they shouldn’t have to apologize for it.
When we push dedicated public servants like Sydney Graham out of office, the consequences are far-reaching. Clearwater County isn’t just losing a councillor—it’s losing a leader who understood the community’s needs and worked tirelessly to address them.
Alberta, too, suffers when capable, community-focused politicians step away from the table.
We often lament the lack of “good people” in politics, yet we create an environment that drives them away. The constant demand for perfection, combined with the vitriol of public criticism, makes politics an increasingly unattractive career choice. Why would anyone want to endure the stress, scrutiny, and personal sacrifice when the rewards are so minimal?
It’s time to acknowledge the toxic culture we’ve fostered around public service. If we want competent, compassionate leaders, we need to start treating them with the respect and empathy they deserve. That begins with recognizing their humanity and supporting them when they face personal challenges.
Graham’s resignation is a wake-up call.
It’s a reminder that our expectations of politicians are often wildly out of touch with reality. If we continue to demand perfection, we’ll be left with a political landscape filled only with those who are willing to sacrifice their humanity—or those who never cared about it in the first place.
To Councillor Graham, I want to say this: You have nothing to apologize for. Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion were evident to anyone who worked with you or observed your service.
The loss is ours, not yours.
You made the right decision for your health and well-being, and that takes courage.
But as a society, we owe you an apology. We failed to create an environment where you could thrive, where your contributions were valued over your availability.
For that, we should all feel ashamed.
If there’s one thing we should take from this, it’s the urgent need for cultural change. We need to stop treating politicians as punching bags for our frustrations and start recognizing the immense challenges they face.
This doesn’t mean we should never criticize our leaders. Constructive criticism is essential in a democracy. But there’s a difference between holding someone accountable and tearing them down. We need to find that balance.
We also need to normalize the idea that politicians, like all of us, have limits. They will face challenges that sometimes take precedence over their work. When that happens, our response should be one of understanding, not outrage.
Empathy and respect should be the foundation of our interactions with municipal leaders—not entitlement or hostility.
If we want better leaders, we need to be better citizens. That starts with treating politicians like the humans they are—with compassion, understanding, and respect.
This article hits the nail on the head! Instead of supporting the good people it seems our society focuses on negativity. We will miss Sydney's common sense.
In my campaign speech at RMA I briefly touched on this. The misinformation by a certain electrol group and their constant bangers unfortunately makes the decision easy for some elected members that face challenges in life. This does not take away from their zest and passion for the community but it is easy to align their energy into things that help them out in a positive way.
We will definitely miss Sydney at the table at Clearwater County.
Excellent article Chris. I agree whole heartedly with what you’ve said. Thank you for this!