Arishya Aggarwal

About Arishya Aggarwal

When were you born?

Between 1997 and 2004 (Generation Z)

Tell our readers a bit about your professional life. What do you do for a living? If you're an incumbent candidate, what did you do before you entered politics?

I have a variety of experience in business, politics, media, philanthropy, public speaking, music, and community engagement.

At 20 years old, I am currently the director of Olina Group of Companies which includes various companies such as Olina Jewels, Olina Fashions, Olina Development and Leasing Corporation, Olina Supercentre, Olina Cannabis and more. At the age of 19, I co-created, and am currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Taste of Spice, Manitoba's largest luxury Indian restaurant, sports bar, and grill.

‌I have served on several boards such as the Portage Active Transportation Committee where I discussed various transportation designs and advancements for the city. I also served on the Portage Chamber of Commerce where I gave speeches at AGMs, provided financial and entrepreneurial resources, and encouraged youth engagement in local and provincial chambers. I served on the board of Portage Community Revitalization Corporation where I led teams of youth to develop plans to re-urbanize the city and organized events to provide resources for the underprivileged within the community. I was also appointed as the Chairman of Communities In Bloom after raising the city’s tourism bloom rating from two to four, with five being the highest recognized by Canada.

‌Working with renowned community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Portage Literacy and Learning Centre, and partnering with local schools, I have been a strong advocate for community engagement since I was fourteen years old.

I was also the City Youth Councillor serving on City Council of Portage la Prairie working on many projects. I initiated projects like identifying root causes for youth crime and community engagement. I organized many events such as the “Meet Your Council” event that allowed schools to meet their councillors and understand what work they do, as well as ask them questions to create transparency between the council and the people. Having the largest record of attendance by students, and recording over 250 questions being asked, Mayor Ferris at the time noted it was the most successful forum ever held.

I was selected from thousands of candidates in Canada as one of the few Canadian Ambassadors for the National Youth (Individuals under 30) Ambassador Caucus internationally discussing issues like economic empowerment, global development, creating jobs, growing cities, ensuring transparency between governments and the people.

‌One of my biggest passions is my community, which led me to create a city-wide committee called Empathy at the age of 15, which raised funds for underprivileged children to receive Christmas gifts every year. I also hosted events where children would visit various senior homes to sing and play music for them to bridge the generational gap. I organized other events where youth were given the opportunity to meet the Mayor and other City Councillors to encourage voting and youth participation in politics.

I have also advocated for Métis history education and was invited to give a speech at the Manitoba Métis Federation’s AGM. ‌I have created, organized and hosted many successful city wide events which can be read more about on the news at PortageOnline.com.

‌‌At the age of 18, I was awarded and placed as a National Finalist at my first pageant, Miss World Canada, where I represented Manitoba, and was the youngest competitor. I used my platform to advocate for my beliefs on the importance of community engagement and youth empowerment. I also created projects like PROJECT YES, the Youth Engagement Stance, to encourage more individuals under the age of 30 to participate in their community and contribute to their homes.

‌I served on the founding board of the Canadian Young Investors Society as the Chief of External Affairs, a national organization designed to provide resources and opportunities for young Canadians to gain exposure and build competitive knowledge in the industry.

I was hired by the Canadian Institute of Intergovernmental Relations where I managed communications between IIGR representatives and established rapport with political leaders from various provinces across Canada. During the pandemic, I dedicated my time to working at the Portage General Hospital as a frontline worker being promoted in just a month from Medical Patient Screener to Communications In-take Coordinator for my impactful work.

I have spent years honing my skills as a provincial competitive swimmer, while also working up the ranks as a Flight Corporal in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron where I continuously won the RCAC Effective Speaking Competition year by year, and competed nationally. ‌I am known as an accomplished public speaker, debater, pianist and singer at the national and international level, after being awarded first place at the World’s Scholars Cup, Concour D’art Oratoire and various other Canadian Speech and Debate tournaments.‌

I am a professionally trained and internationally recognized gold medalist at the Royal Conservatory of Music for my talents in Voice, and Piano.

‌I am also a radio host on the side, having experience working at Mix 96.5 FM, Country 91 FM, CFRY, CFRC 101.9 FM and GoldenWest Radio, the largest independent radio broadcasting company in Canada.

‌Graduating early from Portage Collegiate Institute with honours and distinction, and receiving my offer of admission from the prestigious Queen’s University, and other top universities in Canada at the age of 16, I am currently a final year student at Queen's University, and have decided to continue my career in business upon graduation.

What's the highest level of education you've attained?

Bachelor's degree

How long have you lived in the constituency? If you don't currently live there, what led you to run there instead of where you live?

Growing up in my hometown of Portage la Prairie, I have lived here my whole life since I was 6 years old. I went to each local school here, from elementary school at Ecole Crescent View, to middle school at Ecole Arthur Meighen, and then high school at Portage Collegiate Institute. I graduated from Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) early with honours and distinction, and was offered admission to all the top schools in Canada, where I accepted my offer from the prestigious Queen's University and started attending university at the age of 16.

I am grateful for all the love, guidance and opportunities our community has given me to learn, grow and express myself. To every teacher I had, to every doctor I went to, to every classmate I had, to every mentor who showed me the way, to every boss and coworker, to every person who believed in me, YOU are the reason I am who I am today, and I owe it all to you. I have always felt like Portage is my family. I have felt a strong sense of loyalty for Portage, for as long as I can remember.

Whether it be representing us internationally at debate competitions, representing us on the national stage of Miss World Canada, being on all kinds of different boards in our community, or bringing home some of Portage’s first time ever medals in different fields, I have ALWAYS been PROUD to be from Portage. I have always believed in Portage, and I have vowed to myself to take Portage to the highest heights as best as I can.

I have fought for Portage, and been proud to be from Portage for as long as I can remember. When I brought home Portage's many first medals in debate and public speaking, I was the first and only person from Portage to even compete. I was known as "the portage girl" with no debate coach and no debate team because Portage la Prairie had no resources for debate. We still don't. I was even offered free admission from top schools in Winnipeg on the condition that I move to Winnipeg, and that I compete representing them.

However, I didn't let any of that stop me. I refused to leave my hometown. I worked tirelessly, day and night, practicing, learning and improving on my own, and with the help of my dad. When I won multiple provincial, national and even international debate tournaments beating not only the top schools from Manitoba, but the top schools in Canada - people went from calling me "the portage girl" to "the portage powerhouse", and I was able to take Portage la Prairie's name to national and international heights in public speaking and debate. My accomplishments in this field can be read about more on my website, LinkedIn, and PortageOnline.com.

When I was little, I volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters here in Portage to support and mentor young individuals in need. As a mentor, my role was to provide guidance, friendship, and positive role modeling to children facing various challenges in their lives. Spending time with my mentee allowed me to understand their unique circumstances and challenges. It helped me develop a deep sense of empathy towards their struggles and appreciate the importance of active listening and being understanding towards new perspectives.

At the Portage Learning and Literacy Centre, I spent one day each week helping teach English to newcomers in Portage la Prairie, and helping them develop strategies to ease their transition into life in Portage.

I worked my way up the ranks at the Royal Canadian Air Cadets here in Southport, and won their Public Speaking competitions continuously, bringing home gold and pride to our Portage la Prairie Squadron. From here, I developed a strong sense of discipline, teamwork, and leadership, all of which have been invaluable in preparing me to become a better candidate for MLA.

As MLA, these qualities will be fundamental in my approach to public service. I understand that effective leadership requires discipline in setting priorities, staying focused on the needs of our community, and working diligently to achieve our shared goals. MOST importantly, my Royal Canadian Air Cadet experience here in Portage, taught me the value of integrity and accountability. In a leadership position, I learned to take responsibility for my actions and decisions, and to always act with honesty and transparency. These values will be at the core of my tenure as an MLA, ensuring that I serve our community with utmost integrity and a deep sense of responsibility.

I am the type of person to actively seek feedback from our community and work tirelessly to bridge gaps and build a more united and compassionate society. I am the type of person who reads every question, remembers each person’s struggles and feedback, and faithfully respond to every one I can. All these achievements, experiences and skills have prepared me to effectively represent our community as MLA.

What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?

Crime. Cost of living. Access to basic healthcare and long waitlists. Lack of advocacy for our seniors. Lack of support for our health care workers. The brazen illegal drug peddlers selling and using illegal drugs on our streets. Lack of support for our school divisions. Lack of support for our local businesses. Our youth leaving Portage the moment they get the chance. There are a lot of challenges that Portage is facing.

For example, let's look at crime. We need a stronger justice system. Our laws are not working. Right now, our RCMP officers work so hard to catch criminals, only for the justice system to let them go the next day without any consequences. Our community members and businesses don't feel safe. I don't feel safe. I had someone walk into my workplace, hold a machete to my stomach, and rob me. I have heard so many stories of people being robbed at knife-point, mugged on the streets, have their cars and homes broken into, have their bikes stolen, have things stolen from their backyards, and more. This is not the future for Portage I see. I hear everyone saying they'll work to fix this, but I have never seen anyone mention HOW they plan to fix this.

I believe in doing research, identifying root causes of the issue, and coming up with concrete, measurable plans to address them. So here's HOW I plan to address this:

1. Strengthening Law Enforcement: I will ensure that our local RCMP officers have the resources and manpower needed to effectively combat crime. I will collaborate with law enforcement agencies to improve intelligence sharing and coordination, especially in targeting known criminal hotspots and repeat offenders.

2. Judicial Accountability: I will advocate for increased transparency and accountability in the justice system. We need to ensure that judges take community safety into account when making decisions about bail and sentencing. Enough of the "catch and release" game we're playing. People's lives and safety are on the line. I will push for regular audits and reviews of the justice system's performance to identify areas where improvements are needed.

3. Community Engagement: I will promote initiatives that encourage RCMP officers to build strong relationships with residents, business owners, and community organizations. I will personally work to establish regular town hall meetings and open forums where citizens can freely express their concerns about crime, the progress and need for improvements, and collaborate with law enforcement to develop crime prevention strategies.

4. Legislative Reforms: I will work to reform laws related to bail and sentencing to ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are not released without appropriate safeguards in place. I will collaborate with legal experts to identify areas of the Criminal Code and sentencing guidelines that may need revision to better reflect the severity of certain crimes.

and more. There are many research based models, solutions, and case studies I have worked on to build a safer, and livable Portage la Prairie.

Whether it be for crime, cost of living, healthcare, education, or any issues or challenges we're facing in Portage, I have a plan. The most important thing to me, is to be transparent about my plans, my progress and my work, while ensuring that I continue to include Portage in these decisions. If you have ideas, solutions or concerns you would like to express, please feel free to contact me and I will respond within the same day.

If elected, what will be your first priority?

My first priority would be to give the power back to the people of Portage. For far too long, our voices have been ignored, neglected and dismissed. New ideas and solutions have been imposed on us without our participation or involvement.

Let's take a look at the "Manitoba Senior's Strategy" recently presented in February 2023. On page 38, you'll see a list of every organization that got to have a say in this plan. Cities like Winnipeg, Thompson, Carberry, Charleswood, Brandon, and more are listed, and yet Portage la Prairie is NOT on that list.

Let's look at another example with the "Building Capacity and Promoting Sustainability in Manitoba’s Non-profit Sector" Strategy. Again, on page 5, you can see it state that "consultations will be held in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson with leaders from the non-profit, philanthropic, public and private sectors", yet not ONE mention of Portage la Prairie.

It is important that Portage's voice is heard, and that the people of Portage get to have a say in all of these plans and strategies published by the Government of Manitoba.

My first priority will be to get Portage on all of these lists. My first priority will be to have Portage's voice present in all discussions, decisions, and strategies. Currently, we are treated as a rural town with little to no say in the plans that are implemented in our city.

I see a different future for Portage. I see Portage as a thriving community, that excels in every facet, including economics, sustainability, healthcare, education, diversity, tourism, business, and overall quality of life, transforming it from this traditional rural characterization, into a role model city that that serves as a shining example and a source of inspiration and achievement for others.

Simultaneously, my priority has always been and will always be the people of Portage. This means maintaining utmost transparency in my work, progress and plans, and making time to meet with citizens, businesses, community organizations, and different sectors of the community to understand what our priorities are, where we need improvement, and what we can do better with their expert knowledge and experience.

I will make sure that every person in Portage has the opportunity to not only be heard, but get a faithful response from their MLA.

Who are your role models in politics, and why?

My role model in politics is a role model to many. When I was only 16 years old, being sworn in as the Youth City Councillor of Portage la Prairie, working alongside the other City Councillors on important challenges faced by our community, I always looked up to Mayor Irvine Ferris. His leadership style and unwavering commitment to the betterment of our community left an indelible impression on me and countless others.

Mayor Ferris's dedication to our city's well-being was evident in everything he did. From attending community events with genuine passion and excitement to collaborating with City Councillors on vital issues, he consistently demonstrated his deep love for Portage la Prairie. This genuine enthusiasm for his role as a public servant is a quality I deeply admired. It reflected a sincere desire to make our city a better place for all its residents.

Mayor Ferris's emphasis on empowering youth and encouraging their involvement in politics was truly inspirational. As a young person myself when I first started my journey in local politics, his mentorship and support were invaluable. He recognized that the future of our community lies in the hands of the next generation, and his efforts to nurture young leaders like me highlighted his commitment to a proud future for Portage la Prairie. His belief in the potential of youth in politics has had a lasting impact on my own aspirations.

Perhaps one of the most impressive qualities of Mayor Ferris was his willingness to listen attentively to the concerns and needs of the people he served. In a world where politicians often seem disconnected from their constituents, Mayor Ferris stood out as someone who genuinely cared about the issues faced by our everyday citizens. He took the time to sit down, hear their stories, and offer practical solutions. This empathetic approach to governance sets a high standard for how elected officials should interact with their communities, and is something I intend to follow through every step of the way.

Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.

When I was 12 years old, I competed in my first national public speaking and debate competition in downtown Vancouver. This was my first flight alone, my first national competition, and my first time away from home.

During the competition, I was invited by all the head debate coaches of Canada to attend a dinner with a select few older, high school students. It is important to note, that at this age, I did not have much experience with any cuisines other than Indian food. When I looked at the menu of this fine dining, high end restaurant, and understood not a single item - I felt a feeling I cannot describe till date. Do you know what I ended up ordering?

Chicken wings.

Seriously.

From then on, I made it a personal goal to become extremely proficient in every cuisine so that I do not feel the way I felt then, when I was 12 years old at that dinner, ever again.

Now, I am well experienced in a variety of cuisines including French, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Cambodian, Thai, Mexican, Greek, Spanish, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Indian, and many more cuisines. I am also always down to try something new!

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