The politicians and social activists who are changing the world.
Sarah Chan is the first lady of Edmonton.
Before her partner, Don Iveson, became mayor of Edmonton, Sarah Chan was already a fierce social advocate. She founded and led the United Way Alberta Capital Region youth initiative to end poverty and has been a longtime proponent of active transport. (She wrote her master’s thesis on European and North American cycling culture.) It’s her personal life that’s disarmingly accessible, and she documents it through her blog and selfies on Instagram (@misssarahchan). With a J.Law kind of charm, Chan, 36, is the city’s dream BFF: stylish, funny and sure to let loose on the dance floor at the many fundraising galas she attends (often adorned in Canadian labels). She’s also mom to kids Dexter and Alice and a full-time piano teacher. (She trains 36 students from her home studio.) For Chan, the sense of civic duty goes beyond the call. — Caroline Gault