Pleased with ‘elect more women’ program

We want to acknowledge and thank the women who participated in the series of “Elect More Women” workshops held in March and April, as well as the many who expressed support for the concept either through Facebook or in person. This initiative was developed to move towards a council that more closely reflects the demographic (age and gender) of the citizens it serves.
The goals of the workshops were to:
* Provide information, advice and encouragement to potential candidates
* Identify challenges to women candidates and potential solutions
* Raise awareness of the importance of gender balance in positions of political power
* Elect more women to Council to PEC Council in the 2014 election
Municipal governments make far-reaching decisions which affect our lives, every day and into the future. Effective decision-making is a product of input from across all sectors of society. Women bring a unique perspective, attitude, and experience to municipal decision-making. While we are over 50% of the electorate we represent very much less than 50% of the elected politicians. We encourage women to join the discussion because all voices need to be heard.
To the current and pending women candidates, congratulations. To all those who came out to learn and support, you are an inspiration. To all the candidates, men or women, in the upcoming election, thank you for stepping forward and good luck to you all.

Bev Campbell
Heather Campbell
Victoria Leskie
Lyndsay Richmond