Come out to an evening dedicated to inspiring everyone in our community to get involved in local politics.
Who should come?
Whether you’re interested in running for Mayor, City Councillor or School Board Trustee — or want to support someone else with their campaign — this event is for you.
- Learn from women who have been in the arena
- Connect with community builders and change makers
- Kickstart your own path — whether running for office or supporting a candidate in a campaign role
What’s the event about?
The goal of the launch is to:
- Strengthen community engagement in the upcoming 2026 municipal election
- Inspire people identifying as women to consider running for office
- Help participants learn how to get involved as a candidate or in a supporting role
- Encourage everyone to support potential candidates
Be inspired and emboldened by our powerhouse speakers
Featuring:
- Kathleen Wynne — Former Premier of Ontario
- Dominique O’Rourke — MP for Guelph
- Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson — Upper Grand District School Board Trustee in Orangeville
- Maureen Balsillie — Political strategist, campaign manager & community builder
Come, connect, learn, and kickstart your own journey in municipal politics.
The event is free but please register by November 10 as space is limited.
Donations are welcome at the door.
Launch event details
Hosted by: The Guelph Women’s Municipal Campaign School team in partnership with Get Involved! Guelph
Event hosts: Rachel Thorn & Jen Ottenhof
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Doors open at 6:30 | Event at 7:00
Place: Harcourt Memorial United Church | 87 Dean Avenue
This event is scent-free
Register now to join us for the event
The Guelph Women’s Municipal Campaign School Launch is coming soon. Be sure to get your spot!
Speaker Bios
Kathleen Wynne
“I believe that it is worth getting involved. I encourage people to ask themselves if they are going to regret it if your voice is not part of the discussion? And if you are going to regret it, then go for it, because that means you’ve got something to offer, and you’re going to change the chemistry of the conversation.”
Kathleen Wynne, a longtime Torontonian, earned degrees at Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She co-founded Citizens for Local Democracy in opposition to the amalgamation of Metro Toronto, and founded the Toronto Parent Network to improve public education.
In 2003, Wynne defeated an incumbent cabinet minister to become an MPP for Don Valley West; in 2004, she was appointed as the parliamentary assistant to the minister of education and in 2006, she herself held the post. She led several ministries, and ran for leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in 2013. She led the provincial Liberals to an election victory in 2014 – a vote that resulted in the highest number of women to be elected as MPPs in the province’s history – 38 of 107 – and in her becoming Ontario’s first woman Premier.
Alethia O’Hara Stephenson
“At the heart of everything I do is a simple yet powerful belief that great leadership is about empowering others. We need to create connections that help individuals and teams unlock their full potential. We have to explore how we can work together to create impact.”
Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson moved to Shelburne in 2014, and is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in her community. She holds a degree in political science and an MBA in leadership and innovation. On top of a full-time job with the Royal Bank as director of continuity and third-party disaster readiness, she is president and founder of the Dufferin County Canadian Black Association, an Upper Grand District School Board trustee, and has hosted three seasons of In Conversation with Alethia, on Rogers TV. Alethia is the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal and is recognized as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women.
Dominique O’Rourke
“Campaigns are hard and they require sacrifice and stamina. It takes real courage to put your name on the ballot. But it is worth it if you can represent the voice of your community and help get the important things done.”
Dominique O’Rourke has spent over 27 years working to make Guelph a better place. She has volunteered with many community organizations and represented Ward 6 as City Councillor since 2018. As a twice-elected city councillor, entrepreneur and volunteer, Dominique is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people in Guelph.
Maureen Balsillie
“I have a passion for people and figuring out how to bring out the best in everyone. Building successful teams, whether they are comprised of staff or volunteers, requires focusing on the motivations of individuals and creating unity by empowering team members to take on strategic work.”
Maureen Balsillie is a political strategist, a winning campaign manager and a community builder. Whether working for a business, not-for-profit, or government agency, she believes the public good should always be at the center. In 2023, she became the first campaign manager in Ontario history to elect a Green on their first try, securing more votes than 2nd and 3rd place combined. Maureen was the Provincial Campaign Director for the BC Greens, supporting local campaigns to elect two new Green Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) including Canada’s first Green Hold, as well as Canada’s first elected Green provincially or nationally on the BC Mainland.