'I definitely regret a lot': Jeromy Farkas takes a hike, talks politics and doing good
He was a former city councillor and was the runner-up in Calgary's 2021 mayoral election, but now Jeromy Farkas has peaked.
He's more than halfway through his latest charitable endeavour; hiking 25 peaks in 25 days in support of The Alex. Farkas hopes to raise at least $25,000 for the organization, which provides services and support for vulnerable and low income Calgarians.
Between his current challenge and last year's five month, 2,300 kilometre trek across the Pacific Crest Trail for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary, Farkas has had a lot of time to think. He says he spent some of the days on the trails reflecting on his time in politics — and what's next.
"I definitely regret a lot of what I did in my time in public life, but that's absolutely everybody as they walk through life," Farkas said during a hike up Prairie Mountain in Kananaskis.
"I've had to come face-to-face with some really challenging situations and even tackle some things around my own cockiness and ego. So it's been a journey, one where I've been able to grow and to challenge myself," he said.
Jeromy Farkas is hoping to raise $125,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area as he finishes his self-supported trek along the Pacific Crest Trail. (Facebook/Jeromy Farkas)
DOOR NOT CLOSED ON POLITICAL LIFE
Farkas isn't completely closing the door on entering politics again in the future, though he says it certainly won't be in the upcoming provincial election. He says he now believes he may be able to do more good in the community without being a politician.
"It's been a really good personal lesson to me, to know that life is not just politics," Farkas said.
"I think it's really opened my eyes to the fact that you don't necessarily have to agree on the city council vote or politics of the day to be able to help each other out."
The failed bid to become Calgary's mayor "was probably one of the best things that could have happened to me," Farkas confesses.
He admits to sometimes grandstanding while on council and he has votes he wishes he could take back, including being the lone voice against a parental leave policy for councillors.
During the seven kilometre hike up the Kananaskis trail, Farkas reflected on his political loss and accepts that it has shaped how he now views politics — and will shape his decision on whether to return to public office at some point.
"After the election, there was a lot of people that I thought would have been my friends, people I could rely on, and all of a sudden they wouldn't pick up the phone now that I wasn't any use to them," he said.
"It was surprising to see that it was people like former mayor Naheed Nenshi who was the first — not just one of the first, the first — to reach out to me and to try to encourage me to get out, go for coffee, go for a movie, things like that.
"For me it really flipped on its head my view of the world, when I was so wrapped up in that image of myself as a politician, when I realized that, you know, beyond politics there's a lot more to life," Farkas said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.