In Conversation with Doly Begum
This short interview is part of a video series where The Toronto Citizen team members will meet and have a conversation with individuals who’s names come up in our conversations in recent times for various reasons. They can be political, business or social/cultural leaders etc. This is the second video of this series. This time, we went to the campaign office of Doly Begum, MPP candidate for Scarborough Southwest in the 2018 Ontario provincial election.
Doly came to Canada when she was 11 years old. She has lived in Scarborough ever since. She lives in Scarborough Southwest with her parents and younger brother. Doly went to Gordon A Brown M.S and then SATEC at W A Porter CI. She has a honors degree in Political Science from University of Toronto (St. George). As part of her research work titled Education and Development – Backbone of a Nation, she spent time in Bangladesh working with Shahjalal University, Sylhet. Doly earned her masters from University College London, London, UK in Development Administration and Planning. She has also done extensive research work in remote places in Ethiopia.
A lifelong social activist and dedicated volunteer, Doly has been (or currently is) the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Warden Woods Community Centre, President and later Director of Government and Community Relations of Power Unit Youth Organization, Co-Chair of Scarborough Health Coalition (part of Ontario Health Coalition), Executive Member of Muslim Youth Fellowship, Crisis Counselor of Victim Services Toronto, Faculty Representative of Bartlett School of Planning of University College London, Associate Vice President of University of Toronto Students Union AND Vice-President of Scarborough Southwest Riding Association of Ontario NDP.
On a professional capacity, Doly works (currently on leave for election) as Research Officer at the Society of Energy Professionals. She was the Provincial Campaign Coordinator of the entire Keep Hydro Public Campaign. She worked at the City Hall as Advisor (Constituency and Outreach) for Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. She also worked for Councillor Janet Davis as Special Project Liaison. Doly worked as an Intern at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, UK in 2014-15 and was the Policy Analyst at University of Toronto in 2013-14.
Among the numerous awards Doly has received so far for academic achievements, research work and volunteering, she considers receiving the Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 2013 as one of the most significant achievements.
