With women making up just 22 per cent of elected municipal officials in Grey-Bruce, a new organization wants to help get women elected to to all 17 municipal councils in the October 24, 2022 election. ElectHER is a community volunteer group with a planning team made up of 19 women from across the region.
Laura Wood, Community Volunteer and electHER Co-Founder, says women make up 50.8 per cent of the region's population.
“Having worked on federal, provincial and municipal elections, I’d have to say I see a more immediate impact on having women at the political table at the municipal level. Here, partisan issues are typically set aside and the decisions made make a real difference to the lives of everyday people. Women represent more than 50 per cent of the population, so it’s imperative that they have equal representation at the political table,” added Wood.
Wood says electHER’s many community volunteers will be there help provide training and support.
"Networking opportunities and mentoring opportunities in the future, so that women who are interested in running will be able to connect with other women who have gone before," she explained.
“Women bring a different perspective based on their life experience. The lens they use to reflect on their understanding of their community is an important asset and brings value to the decision making that occurs in politics,” says Carol Merton, Owen Sound City Councillor and electHER Co-Founder.
More information about electHER can be found online at electhernow.ca
The first electHER Learning Session will take place on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. with the theme of “How To Decide To Run For Office.” Participation will be limited to encourage interaction, so interested parties should register soon online or send an email to electhernow@gmail.com. All electHER events are offered on a Pay What You Can basis. You can also find the group on social media.
“With more than 150 new followers within 24 hours of launching, we have confidence that many in the community are behind this important effort,” continued Wood.