From Trent to Parliament Hill: Christopher Evelyn ’04 Paves a Path for Diversity in Canadian Politics
Trent alumnus and political Chief of Staff brings his sense of community to Ottawa
July 20, 2023
As the only Black chief of staff for the federal government, Trent University alumnus Christopher Evelyn '04 (Lady Eaton College) is part of a slowly changing, more inclusive community of public servants on Parliament Hill.
As a former international student from Barbados, Evelyn says his position in government is beyond his “wildest dreams.” Evelyn believes that the responsibility of representing his community is a fundamental part of his career growth and aspirations, and one that continues to inform his work.
“The importance of being Black in these mostly white spaces and being an advocate for Black communities is not lost on me,” he explains. “And it helps ensure that I'm lifting as I'm climbing, so that hopefully there'll be many more Black chiefs of staff in the years to come.”
Working for only the fourth Black cabinet member, and the second Black female minister, Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (formerly Status of Women), Evelyn sees how representation is helping to shape the politics and policies in Ottawa.
“Most ministers' offices now have multiple staff who come from diverse perspectives. In my office, for example, half of our staff are racialized and working in everything from policy to parliamentary affairs. They have the ability to speak up from a position of a new Canadian or a first generation Canadian on policy issues, on how to phrase things.”
Evelyn’s career and passion for politics began when he first arrived at Trent. As a student, he took on campaign roles for Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) candidates and programs, volunteered with Trent instructor Betsy McGregor’s campaign for MP of Peterborough, and finally worked to help Trent alumna Maryam Monsef '03 (Lady Eaton College) get elected as MP. Evelyn’s close-knit and politically active Trent community fostered his skills, experience, and belief that he could find a place in federal politics. He then went on to work with Monsef in Ottawa.
“Trent was a foundational part of my life. I got a full scholarship to attend Trent as an international student. And the work of the Trent International Program in grounding me as a student and giving me a sense of community was huge. Trent was the first place that got me involved on the political side of my career.”
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