Achievements & Gender Equity

Where to begin celebrating the women I work with in the Waverley West ward, and throughout the City of Winnipeg? It certainly would to take more than one day, and include pages and pages and pages of text to celebrate the incredible women I have the privilege of meeting, and working with.

Women from around the world make Winnipeg home. We work hard to balance families, jobs, households, as we learn language and customs, and navigate education systems, health systems and more – and – some even manage to fit in moments of personal time!
I’m so done with COVID and the challenging ability to gather. We’ve had some great parties over the years celebrating women’s achievements, and for sure we will have more in the future. Bravo, bouquets of flowers, hugs and great respect to these many women, who share their insight, knowledge, compassion and leadership skills in our community!

As I look far around the world, I see some outstanding women leading towns, cities and countries, but – to be frank, they are few and far between. Not at all to be disrespectful – just factual, the world would be a completely different place if we had gender equity in political leadership roles. And as I complete my second term experiencing the political world at Winnipeg City Hall, I can say this with a bit of authority.

The City of Winnipeg is making great strides towards gender equity, but we still have a long long way to go.

• December 31, 2020, a total of 10,244 employees were employed by the City of Winnipeg, and of those 10,244 employees, only 29.35% were women.
• In 1921, Winnipeg’s first woman Councillor, Jessie Kirk, was inaugurated. Since Ms. Kirk’s time on Council, there have been 33 women – and over 400 men, serving in the same role.

Winnipeg would be a different City with gender equity in leadership roles at City Hall. Decisions would be made through a more balanced lens where equity and inclusion would enable a City unlike anything we’ve seen.

I’m an optimist – I hold eternal hope – perhaps I’m a fool. 2022 is an election year. The upcoming Municipal Council and School Boards Election will be held on October 26, 2022. (See details here.) If you are even thinking of running to hold a leadership position, and would like to talk more, contact me anytime at jlukes@winnipeg.ca

I love this verse from the International Women’s Day website:
Imagine a gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women’s equality.

Enjoy your day, and continue being compassionate and strong in these incredibly challenging times we are living through!