Co-op Community Champion: Amanda Trotter

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – May’s Community Champion is working to help women and their children as the executive director of the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society.

Amanda Trotter explained she calls on her South African roots and ubuntu, a South African philosophy rooted in supporting collectivism over individualism, to guide her.

“I like to see social change, and [for] people to be in better circumstances themselves, I also am absolutely passionate about developing myself and people around me,” Trotter said. 

Trotter moved to Fort St. John in 2015, bringing a background rooted in Indigenous and women’s rights advocacy in Canada and South Africa. 

In South Africa, Trotter opened a local newspaper before opening a gender-based non-profit organization and a consultation business for factories.

Upon immigrating to Canada, Trotter transitioned to working with First Nations in Kamloops, reigniting her enthusiasm for human rights. 

Moving to Fort St. John to work with the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society was a natural transition for Trotter, allowing her the opportunity to get to the root of women’s support, rights, and advocacy. 

“I think actually being able to have a more concrete and positive and hands-on approach to the work was really, really beneficial,” Trotter said. 

The resource society works with low-income individuals in Fort St. John, offering services for domestic violence support, poverty and family law advocacy, and the Outreach Store, the only free store in Fort. St. John. 

“We try to put the work in the most critical places,” Trotter said. 

As the executive director, Trotter prides herself on the growth of the organization and staff in the past ten years, describing her role as a ‘dance.’

“It’s definitely being able to nurture other people, seeing them grow and support them, mentor them through that process. And sometimes as a manager you just need to get out of the way,” Trotter said. 

Trotter received three nominations to be the Co-op Community Champion, each highlighting her hands-on approach to advocacy in Fort St. John. Trotter was impressed to be nominated and get the award. 

“I just like to work in the background and make it about the work. Even this becomes another example that people do understand the work you do,” Trotter said. 

Trotter hopes the society continues to grow and thrive, with the support of the community and her incredible staff. 

“We all get a little despondent every now and again and then we think no, [the community is] behind us, look, here it is. And that makes a world of difference, it gives you the impetus to keep going,” Trotter said.  

Congratulations to Amanda Trotter on being named April’s Co-op Community Champion. Anyone looking to nominate a community-minded person who deserves recognition can go to Energeticcity.ca.