New Project for Women in Politics Announced
Media Release
Three organizations team up for the project titled "Engaging Island Women for Political Action"
April 7, 2017, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – Three organizations, two working to advance women’s equality and the third a company providing leadership and professional development training and opportunities, marked the start of a new project, called “Engaging Island Women for Political Action,” which aims to increase the number of women engaging as elected representatives and organizers in PEI.
The PEI Coalition for Women in Government, Winding Path Inc., and Women’s Network PEI received funding from Status of Women Canada for a three-year project with a focus to facilitate pathways for women to secure and advance in various political leadership roles. “Over the course of the project 100 women, 20 from each political party and 20 non-partisan women, will take part in a year-long leadership training program, designed to enhance and increase personal leadership capacity and provide opportunities for participants to identify and realize personal goals within the democratic process,” notes Kirstin Lund, co-owner, with Karolyn Godfrey, of Winding Path Inc. “There is a high level of support and positive anticipation from parties and from women about the potential for impact this program will have.”
Jillian Kilfoil, Executive Director of Women’s PEI, says “We look forward to engaging each of the leadership training groups, political parties and all Islanders who wish to increase their understanding of gender and diversity in the political process.” Leadership training for 2017 begins as early as next week for the first cohorts; another round will take place in 2018. In addition to the leadership training, a provincial symposium in the spring of 2018 will be open to the public. The provincial symposium will focus on workshops to build participants’ leadership skills and to transform conditions for women in political domains.
“This project comes at a crucial time, with municipal and provincial elections just around the corner,” notes Dawn Wilson, Executive Director of the PEI Coalition for Women in Government. “The percentage of women in government has steadily declined over the past two provincial elections, with PEI currently ranking 11th out of 13 provinces and territories in regard to women in elected office.” Wilson concludes, “We want to see more women running and elected in municipal elections in 2018 and the provincial election in 2019 and this project will be an important boost.”
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For more information contact:
Kirstin Lund
Winding Path Inc.
(902) 388-1186
(902) 566-9220
Or
Dawn Wilson
PEI Coalition for Women in Government