I was first given this book in 2018, when I was being convinced to run for City Council. I was genuinely considering it, but it seemed like such a huge risk (not to mention a lot of work). With the next municipal elections coming up in October for BC, I figured it was time to finally read it. 

Surviving City Hall is about a woman who was a city councillor in Nelson, BC for 16 years. The book was written to be broadly applicable to any local government, and I think it does that very well. Donna talks about her experiences working with different councillors and mayors, and all the trials faced by local governments, from animal control to development and everything in between. I found I appreciated stories as I could draw the connection to my own community, but I believe anybody else interested in learning more about how municipalities work would learn a lot.

(Before going farther: I’m not running for council. It's too much to explain in the character limit but DM me if you want details. That being said, I’m happy to throw my labour behind another campaign! DM me :) )

Back to the book: The book, apart from giving an overview of how things work, and the interpersonal and political skills to work on a council, had pretty interesting details about the politics of a lockout the city enacted against its union, and, most shockingly to me, the details of a Human Rights case against the City from the first (and at the time, only) female works crewmember, who after 15 years, revealed all the sexism and harassment she had dealt with. As one of three women in my civic works building, this broke my heart. I don’t have to deal with p0rn on the walls as she did, but for how far we have come, there is still so far to go for true inclusion of women in trades and technology workspaces. 

I’d absolutely recommend this book to anybody familiar with Nelson as they’d appreciate the local history, but I’d also say it is essential reading for any women looking at local government. Its an educational, and inspirational read.