Ottawa women attend campaign 'school'
Last Updated: Sunday, February 28, 2010 | 11:38 AM ET
CBC News
Two veteran Ottawa city councillors are trying to help more women break into local politics by coaching them on how to run an election campaign.
Coun. Marianne Wilkinson and Coun. Jan Harder hosted “Women in Politics Campaign School” on Saturday at city hall for women interested in making a bid for a city council or school board position.
Wilkinson, a municipal politician for 17 years, said the one-day seminar was to provide “basic information” for women looking to launch political careers.
Tanya Jenka attended the seminar to learn about running for council. She said she tried to volunteer for several city councillors in the past, but none took her on.
“With no political background, running a campaign is pretty intimidating,” Jenka said. “So I was hoping that I’d learn something here today, and it looks like I’m going to.”
The seminar focused on how to run a campaign, manage a budget and come up with a platform.
Wilkinson said stereotypes about women, lack of money and concerns about an “adversarial” system of politics keep many women from getting involved in politics.
According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, only 23 per cent of city councillors across Canada in 2008 were women.
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