Key Influencer Profile - Rajan Sawhney
A first generation Canadian born and raised in northeast Calgary, Minister Rajan Sawhney is the daughter of Sikh parents who immigrated from India in the 1960s. As a passionate member of the Sikh community, she has played a key role in leadership with several Sikh organizations and has worked actively as a volunteer. In recognition of her community engagement work, Sawhney was named a Community Builder by the YWCA for Canada 150. She also is bilingual, speaking both English and Punjabi.
Sawhney got her first taste of politics in 2007 while helping campaign for her cousin, Calgary’s Ward 5 City Councillor George Chahal. Provincial politics got its hooks in Sawhney after decades of working in the energy sector as an economist and business strategist. Sawhney worked for 23 years as an economist and business analyst in the petroleum industry. While working for Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) on methane emissions abatement regulations as the file’s economist, she saw firsthand as investment left the province due to poor government policy.
In 2019, Rajan Sawhney left her career in the oil and gas sector as VP Business Development for FRACMOD as she was elected as MLA for Calgary – North East. Shortly after her election, she was appointed to cabinet as the Minister of Community and Social Services. As part of Premier Jason Kenney’s July 2021 cabinet shuffle, she was promoted to the Ministry of Transportation.
While Sawhney has made an impressive career for herself, she is also a passionate mother and a strong advocate for her four children. Her oldest daughter, Raman, was Miss Universe Canada 2019 and made headlines after being the victim of a prejudiced attack. The Minister spoke out publicly against race-based violence following the latter.
Sawhney has faced many systemic barriers while growing her career as a relatively young woman of color and mother of four. Whether it’s articulating herself while sitting on her Gurdwara committee, speaking up against injustices faced by marginalized communities, or holding her leaders accountable, Sawhney is breaking through the glass ceiling and has a bright future ahead of her.
