Melissa Wardrop and her dad Barry Morishita are both involved in politics. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Teagan Rasche

Like father, like daughter: love for the Brooks community runs through the Morishita blood

Nov 5, 2021 | 3:47 PM

BROOKS, AB – On a morning break from her high school teaching job, Marissa Wardrop holds a warm cup of coffee in front of her second workplace.

Just a few weeks ago, she was elected to Brooks City Council.

“I’ve always been interested in politics even from a really young age,” the new councillor said. “As I started to learn more about the world around me, I kind of developed a sense of justice.”

Wardrop is the only woman and youngest member of the new city council. The 33-year-old mother of two thought this year was the right time to run, while being strongly encouraged by her dad, former Brooks mayor Barry Morishita.

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“When I knew I was no longer running, I said somebody female, somebody your age should really think about being on council and putting your name in,” he said.

Morishita was involved in municipal politics for 16 years and served as mayor in the previous term.

He’s now moved on to provincial politics and is the leader of the Alberta Party. But one of his proudest moments was on Oct. 25 when he swore-in his daughter to council.

“Seen some amazing things, been part of some amazing moments but they weren’t even close to the single most incredible moment of my career for sure,” Morishita said.

Wardrop is born and raised in Brooks.

She moved to Calgary and Lethbridge for post-secondary education, before returning to her hometown with her husband eight years ago. Growing up, her dad served as a role model.

“I was definitely raised to believe that serving your community is an honour to do,” Wardrop said.

Wardrop feels strongly about young people and women seeing themselves in government. Morishita beams as he talks about the woman his daughter has become.

“She’s independent, smart, compassionate, very committed, very loyal,” Morishita said.

While the two won’t be working together, they do share the same vision: to serve the community and leave their hometown better than they found it.

“He kind of paved the way for me,” Wardrop said. “Not in the sense that I was elected because of my relationship to him but because he taught me, he’s taught me a lot.”