Across Ontario, fewer than 20% of mayors and 30% of councillors are women. There are no statistics on the diversity of elected Council officials. Ontario is the most diverse province in Canada, yet we are represented by municipal councils that are primarily white and male. We want to change that.
Representation Matters
Are you running, thinking about running, or wanting to support a candidate in the next general municipal election? The Guelph Women’s Municipal Campaign School helps identify and support women from all communities with the courage and skills to run for office as mayor, city councillor, or school board trustee. Learn more about running for election at Deciding to run.
The skills and support I gained from the school directly shaped my campaign. I was able to connect with our community by knocking on nearly 10,000 doors, sharing my message clearly and authentically. Ultimately, this led to my successful election, making me the first person of colour elected as a school board trustee, where I proudly served our community for four years. I truly credit the Guelph Women’s Municipal Campaign School for enabling and empowering me to take this step and make a real impact.
Jolly Bedi, School Board Trustee
Start Planning Now: Join us for the launch
Please join us for an evening dedicated to inspiring everyone to get involved in local politics. Find out what it takes to run — or support someone who is running — for an elected position at the municipal level. Engage with our community and learn from our fantastic speakers, including Kathleen Wynne, former Premier of Ontario. A free event, the launch is on Thursday, November 13. Doors open at 6:30 pm at Harcourt Memorial United Church.
Full-Day Workshop
Early next year (2026) we will hold a day of workshops to help candidates and their teams learn what it takes to run a powerful political campaign, with information on topics such as:
- Building your team
- Raising money
- Timing
- Social platforms and self-care
- Messaging, speaking, and debating
- Campaign tools
- GOTV (Getting Out the Vote)
Are you or someone you know interested in running for elected office in Guelph? Get in touch now!
Support Us
Would you like to support the Guelph Women’s Municipal Campaign School? Please contact us to find out how you can help!
The program equipped me with valuable tools, strategies, and the confidence I needed to step into public life. It gave me a strong sense of empowerment and belonging — knowing I wasn’t alone on this journey made a huge difference.
Kate Leatherbarrow, Woodstock City Councillor, 2022-2026
Learn more. Visit Deciding to run to find out how you can run for election.