Ontario is the most diverse province in Canada, and more than half our population are women. Yet, as of 2022, only 23% of mayors and 32% of councillors in the province are women and reports consistently find that Ontario’s municipal councils are not representative of the diverse populations they serve. 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/gender-diverse people from all communities who may be interested in local government and have 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
Thanks to everyone who participated in our workshop
On February 7, 2026, the Guelph Women’s Municipal Campaign School welcomed a group of 30 women from Guelph and surrounding areas to City Hall for a sold-out, full day workshop. Participants learned about:
- The legalities and timelines for navigating the nomination process, with City Clerk Dylan McMahon and staff
- Building your campaign, with political strategist and campaign manager Maureen Balsillie
- Communications strategies, with Curt Hammond, Service Champion, President of Four Simple Words, and founder of the Wellington County Campaign School
Following a networking lunch participants attended an open mic session on the theme of “Why are you running? Developing your message” with insights from two more speakers:
- Kate Leatherbarrow, former campaign school participant and current councillor in Woodstock
- Alethia O’Hara Stephenson, community leader, school board trustee and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, from Orangeville
Participants and speakers filled the room with curiosity and energy and reflected different backgrounds, experiences and communities. Congratulations to all our attendees for taking the first step on a journey towards political leadership and thank you to those women who came before them and made the path easier.
As a next step, if you’re not running yourself, be sure to support the women who are running for office in your community.
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.