Nadine Nakagawa is a change-maker, a community organizer, Canadian Certified Counsellor, and author. She was elected to New Westminster City Council in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Before being elected to council, Nadine worked on issues relating to housing, public spaces, Reconciliation, public engagement, and childcare. For her work in the community, Nadine was named the 2017 Citizen of the Year and was in 2020 was a finalist for the Breaking Barriers Award at BC’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism awards.
She co-owns a consulting workers co-op called Ablaze Services, is a co-founder of The Feminist Campaign School, has a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. She also works as a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and was part of a research team that produced the Barriers Project and the follow-up report Barriers Remain.
When not working on community projects, Nadine prances with delight towards patches of wildflowers, is fond of skirts and dresses that encourage twirling, and can be found hugging trees and embracing whimsy—and her two cats Mitsie and Moo.
Her book moss, molt murmur: Contemplations on Nature was released in November 2026.
Values
Indigenous sovereignty, Reconciliation, and Decolonization – many of us are uninvited guests on unceded, unsurrendered, and stolen territory. I respect Indigenous wisdom and sovereignty on this land. I commit to being a co-conspirator in dismantling colonization.
Joy & fun – I aim to have my work aligned with the outcomes I seek. I make space for rest, joy, fun, and celebration. I recognize rest as an act of resistance.
Consent – I believe we must mutually and explicitly agree on how people participate, as well as how we share our ideas, knowledge, and energy.
Intentionality – I make decisions with adequate information and awareness of impacts. I strive to be aware of how I show up and how that impacts how people perceive me and how it may contribute to or against the liberation of others in this group.
Valuing our whole selves – I appreciate the diversity of skills, experience, time, and energy that people bring to the table. I recognize that we are all whole and complex people and try not to make assumptions about one another. I respect the knowledge each of us holds including our lived experience, our ancestry, our reflections and so much more.
Growth, exploration & learning out loud – I know that we all mistakes and work to grow our understanding of policies and how they impact people in our everyday lives. I work to provide space for people to explore what they want to learn and improve. I work to make these processes visible. I openly acknowledge mistakes and share learnings publicly.
Disability justice – I recognize the inherent worth of people and am committed to leaving no body or mind behind. I actively work to combat ableism in my beliefs and practices, as I learn to understand how disability intersects with other parts of people’s identities.
Anti-racism including radical kindness and radical empathy – I recognize the diversity of cultures and experiences people bring and strive to not make assumptions, but to understand and respect people’s boundaries and needs. I ask questions when appropriate and take responsibility for my own learning and growth. I actively oppose racism, especially anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism in my individual actions and in the policies I support.
Radical honesty – I work to recognize and express my needs and boundaries from a place of love and non-judgement. I create space for difficult conversations, for emotions, and for self-reflection. I am honest about what I need and want.
Anti-oppression – I strive to use inclusive language and practices and to break down systems of oppression – including but not limited to patriarchy, colonialism, ableism, classism homophobia, and transphobia. I am aware of the space I take up and work to avoid talking for or over people.
