Winnipeg still lacks female mayoral candidates as election registration closes

Susan Thompson, Winnipeg’s first female mayor, lamented that she remains the sole woman to have held the office in the city’s 150-year history and called for a second woman to break the barrier before the upcoming October election. As of Saturday morning, none of the 11 individuals who have registered for the mayoral race are women, and the registration deadline is Sept. 22. Thompson highlighted that women occupy only 37 % of council seats, reflecting broader under-representation in municipal politics.

Political science professor Kelly Saunders explained that harassment, threats and structural obstacles make many women reluctant to run. The gender imbalance is echoed in Brandon, where women hold fewer than 10 % of council positions and no female mayoral candidates have filed. Advocates such as Tracy Baker and Kathy Valentino stress the need for more diverse candidates, while the Association of Manitoba Municipalities offers resources to encourage participation.