womenscampaignschool.org

WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN SCHOOL CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF GRADUATES
November 16, 2008

The Canadian Women Voters Congress applauds all of the women candidates who ran in Saturday’s province-wide civic elections, and is very pleased to see so many of its graduates amongst those who ran and won.

This year, the CWVC celebrated the 10th annual Women’s Campaign School. The pan-partisan Women’s Campaign School is a 3-day crash course in campaigning, designed to help women of all political stripes to participate and succeed in political life. The school trains women in the ABC’s of campaigning: everything from getting the nomination and fund-raising to media relations and ethics. About 400 women have participated in the annual Campaign School over the past decade.

Campaign School lecturers include former federal MP Mary Collins, former federal MP Penny Priddy, current MLA Linda Reid, former MLA Christy Clark, and many other former and current politicians… women of all political persuasions who come together to help other women get involved in civic life.

Judging by the results of the 2008 Civic Elections, Women’s Campaign School graduates are certainly succeeding.

In the City of Vancouver, past-president and school instructor, Andrea Reimer along with graduates Suzanne Anton, and Ellen Woodsworth have won seats on city council. Sarah Blyth, a graduate of the 2008 WCS, and Constance Barnes, a graduate of the 2007 WCS, will be taking up positions on the city’s Park Board; and Carol Gibson, class of 2008, has been re-elected to the School Board.

Elsewhere in the province, graduates won election in Delta, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Kamloops, Prince George, Fort St. John, Ashcroft, Esquimalt and Oak Bay.

While Canadian women make up more than half of the population, the number of women in elected positions across Canada remains fewer than 25 per cent.

“There is so much more work to do to meet the goal of all parties to increase women’s participation”, says Jennifer Sweeney, president of the Board of the Canadian Women’s Voters Congress, “but the results on the weekend are very encouraging, and we celebrate the success of all our graduates… those who worked in support of campaigns, all those who ran as candidates, as well as those who ran and won election.”

“Campaign schools like the one run by the Canadian Women Voters Congress are a key part to boosting women’s involvement”, says new Vancouver councillor and former CWVC president Andrea Reimer.

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