Interview with Damien Kurek Part 2

NHOP.ca This is the second of two videos in which Chris interviews MP Damien Kurek. Damien discusses how his early involvement with his Electoral District Association and his MP, Kevin Sorenson, influenced his journey to becoming a Member of Parliament. Chris emphasizes that everyone can get involved, regardless of their party affiliation, as they all need our support and Godly...

Transcript

hi everybody on this week's edition we are going to continue with our interview with MP Damen KK on an event and some of the things that actually transformed his life and projected him into a place where he moved in the call to be a A Member of Parliament I really hope you enjoy this Edition thank you yeah well you were a young person when you started to think about becoming an MP like really young how young were you when you started to to that that seed was planted yeah so so I I uh uh I think my my grade six teacher remind reminds me that I told her that I wanted to be prime minister when I was inade six so so that's it's always been an interest yeah but then to see some the

opportunities that that uh that our democratic system in Canada offers where a young person you know my family isn't overly political you know we talked about political issues but you know I come from a farming family um my parents operated a small business we didn't have a lot of money growing up uh so so so so not in many countries um those things would disqualify you from public service whereas in Canada uh it was simply a passion for seeing change in in in the community unities that I grew up in care deeply about the province of of Alberta and our nation of Canada and then that my faith could be a part of that at the same time that that uh and and to know

that that in our democratic system that's something that is is is okay that faith can help inform whether it's values or or or or the decision-making or the care and love that I try to have for for everybody that I represent whether they voted for me or not um but but it's it's it's one of those things that we've that that from from a very early age I I knew I was interested I didn't necessarily know what that looked like but um and this is one of the things too that I hope uh the the young Christian leader Summit can can can do I I did a youth exchange lion Lions Club sponsored youth exchange when I was I think I was I was 15 and uh came to Ottawa for a week it was a onewe youth

exchange and uh uh I was a young political person so I actually called the prime minister's office at the time and I requested a meeting yes and uh and people thought that it was kind of ridiculous that I would do that well I got to call back yes and organized a meeting so so in in it was um uh 200 S I believe was the year and I had a chance to meet with then newly elected Prime Minister Steven Harper and uh uh had a good meeting it was you know what you would expect as a young person that was interested in politics it was super cool first time I traveled anywhere on my own and and all these things it was exciting but what was really interesting and and very impactful was uh not just

the meeting with the Prime Minister which was great yeah but having the chance to uh uh in addition to meeting the Prime Minister my local Member of Parliament was invited to come along that's and and as we were walking out of the prime minister's office he said Damian I can tell that you're passion about politics if you're interested we'd love to have you involved yes so I started showing up to Eda meetings Eda meetings started uh you know being involved in the campaigning side of things started doing the policy process within the conservative party and and as a result it really became something of a mentorship uh where I got to see uh a strong local representative had a strong

faith and be able to see that it's possible in our country to get involved he he he came from a farming background as well um so so so as I got to see Kevin senson um was a was was a former MP's name he's still a good friend of mine uh to see that that that just simply taking an interest and sharing with with a young person at the time that it's important for you to get involved uh set set me again it's one of those moments where you can say okay that's something that was significant on the journey so attending the prayer breakfast and the young Christian leader Summit having an MP say hey it'd be great for you to get involved and I know there's been another uh series of

moments but you see how a interest and a passion that kind of starts as a spark at a young age yes can grow into something that uh where you can actually make a difference and in my case having having the opportunity to uh to serve as a member of parliament that's wonderful I love this story so it's really simple you can be involved you can make a difference it's easy as a young boy young man he was engaging at the Eda many people don't know what that means that means electoral District Association you know if you have young people that want to engage or even you you could be engaging with that with the Eda pick a party wherever God's calling you go there and bring salt and light in

those places because my goodness those places need it they need your voice they need your stand they need your salt they need your light anyway I'm Chris bber this is Damen Krick I'm with the national House of Prayer and we will see you next time bye for now thanks very much