About Saima Aziz
When were you born?
Between 1966 and 1980 (Generation X)
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 immigrated from Pakistan more than two decades ago, where I was a university lecturer.
I hold a BSc., MBA, OCP DBA, Professional Certificate in Data Analysis, Agile Project Management (Professional Scrum Master – PSM-II), and possess various certifications, including Google Project Management Certificate, Python Programing Language, R Programming Language, and certifications from Microsoft Corporation, IBM, John Hopkins University & UC Berkeley.
I have taught courses at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, and Brandon University through IUS North. In addition, I worked in project management at a mining company and was Finance Manager at YWCA, Thompson, MB. I have over 20 years of teaching, accounting, finance, and project management experience. She is a well-rounded professional with knowledge and expertise in governance, education, finance, project management and corporate training.
I served as a school board trustee for the School District of Mystery Lake, where I also served as the chair of the education committee and on the finance committee.
As a volunteer, I served on the Board of Thompson Recycle Center and Thompson Boys & Girls Club. In addition, I am active in the Muslim community in Winnipeg.
I am also helping students worldwide in their learning through my YouTube channels, "Saima Academy" and "Saima Data Science;" my IT courses are also available on Udemy.
I believe Manitobans need a good economy, and PC Manitoba is the best option!
What's the highest level of education you've attained?
Master'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?
I am currently living in the neighboring constituency of Fort Richmond. Sarah Guillemard is the MLA from my riding, and at the time of my nomination for St. Vital, she was also running as a PC candidate for the 43rd provincial election, so I decided to run in the neighboring constituency of St. Vital. I am connected with the riding through my several personal connections.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
Parental rights, education, healthcare, panhandling, public safety, over speeding, river erosion issues came up from the residents during my door knocking. I will be strong advocate for my riding on these issues.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
We will work as a team for St. Vital, and we will also do our best to make Manitoba, a Silicon Valley of Canada, this is my commitment to you.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
Heather Stephenson, Pierre Poilievre, and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper are my role models in Canadian politics.
I admire Heather because I know how hard it is to run as a female in elections. She has the capacity to make the tough decisions.
I think, Harper left Canada in better shape, and I believe, Pierre can reverse the damage caused by Liberal-NDP coalition government in the center.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
I was elected as School Board Trustee in 2018. At that time, I was the first female of South Asian origin elected ever in the history of Manitoba.
I have a passion for teaching. I have two free educational YouTube channels where I have more then 25,000 subscribers, and more then 1,500 educational videos about computer programming, mathematics, statistics, accounting, and other areas.
Apart from teaching, I also worked in Project Management, Finance, and Corporate training.
Yes, and with all that, I am also a mother who has raised two daughters.