Local organization helping prepare women to run in municipal elections

With a municipal election coming, Ask Her wants to help women run for office, hosting weekly workshops to prepare women on topics related to campaigning.

Five months before municipal elections across Alberta, including one in Calgary, a local non-profit organization called “Ask Her” wants to encourage and prepare women considering leadership roles in municipal politics.

Since 2021, the organization has offered a virtual bootcamp series called “Prepare Her,” with several speakers offering insight on topics like campaigning, fundraising and communicating.

“We know that government is more effective when it reflects the community that it serves,” said Karan Vanthuyne, president of Ask Her.

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She says women face unique challenges and barriers when running for office, but they are not limited to balancing family or domestic obligations.

Vanthuyne says fundraising is a hurdle, as women may not have as many potential donors in their networks, or may feel it’s impolite to ask for money.

“(We help by) reframing it, that it’s not about asking for a handout or a favour, it’s about an investment in you as a leader, and you’re worth that investment,” she said.

One of the keynote speakers is Sabrina Grover, a former federal Liberal candidate and a senior advisor at Spark Advocacy.

Grover says participants often don’t know where to start when building a campaign team.

“It’s not just about having the right people in place. It’s about making sure that you have the right talent, the right mix of skills and people who are there to support you because ultimately, they need to see you want to win as much as you want to win,” she said.

She adds that women are needed in municipal politics, as often women take care of bills and finances that are governed at the city level.

“Women often pay the bills in their homes. So, understanding property taxes is something that a lot of women know about. So, with things like that, it is really important to ensure that you have an equal balance of folks represented at the decision-making tables,” Grover said.

Political science professor Lori Williams says that on average, women make up just 30 per cent of elected positions at the various levels and agrees better representation is beneficial to communities.

But in her research, she says the extra scrutiny women face often deters others from running for or remaining in office.

“(Public criticism over) things like appearance, mannerisms and tone of voice can make it just more difficult for women to convey their policies, their principles, or their character,” said Williams.

She added, “Training can make a difference. It can prepare people who aren’t used to that environment to function more effectively in it.”

Mayor Jyoti Gondek isn’t connected to “Ask Her” but told CTV News she knows the pressure of balancing family obligations and recommends building up a support system.

“Is it a juggling act? It absolutely is. But I will tell you this: best thing you can do is surround yourself with good, supportive people who can take on all of the roles that you can’t do at once,” said Gondek, who is running for re-election in October.

The organization has expanded to Edmonton, and leaders say its programming is open to anyone who is interested.

The final session with Grover as the guest speaker runs on June 4.

More information can be found here on the Ask Her website.