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- calendar_today November 1, 2026
Historic Gains for Women in Manitoba Municipal Elections
Manitoba made history on Wednesday as a record number of women were elected to municipal office across the province. Out of 339 female candidates, 213 secured positions, which is nearly 25 per cent of all elected municipal officials—an increase from 20 per cent in 2022, according to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM).
Leadership Reactions to the Milestone
Kathy Valentino, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and a Thompson city councillor, expressed her enthusiasm for the results. "The highest number of women elected in Manitoba history. I'm very, very proud of all the women who put their names forward and got elected," Valentino said. She credited the AMM’s ongoing support for women candidates and highlighted the organization’s role in fostering this increase.
Winnipeg Council Welcomes More Women
In Winnipeg, women will occupy seven out of fifteen councillor positions—the most since the city's Unicity amalgamation in 1972. This reflects the overall trend of increased female representation within Manitoba’s municipalities, and signifies progress toward greater gender parity in local government.
Community Initiatives Encouraging Women Candidates
Much of this progress is attributed to initiatives like Her Seat at the Table, co-founded by Brandon-based certified financial planner Tracy Baker. The group organized information sessions and panel discussions to demystify the requirements and expectations of running for office. Up to 50 women attended these events, and four went on to run for Brandon city council this year, though only one was elected. Baker described the outcome as a partial success and emphasized her commitment to mentoring future candidates over the next four years.
Baker noted challenges remain for women considering a run, including time commitments and feeling underprepared about the intricacies of municipal politics—barriers she and her team aim to address in future cycles.
Changes and Challenges in Mayor’s Races
This election also saw incumbent women mayors lose their seats, including Debbie Fiebelkorn in St. Clement, Carla Devlin in East St. Paul, Tina Williams in Virden, Colleen Smook in Thompson, and Sandra Clark in the Municipality of Two Borders. At the same time, new women mayors emerged, with Rosalie Drysdale elected in St. Clement and Melinda Warren in Springfield, which includes Oakbank. In Portage la Prairie, Sharilyn Knox retained her mayoral seat, while Janice Smith kept her role as mayor of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, winning by 788 votes against former MP and MLA Merv Tweed. Smith credited her community’s progressive attitude and noted that significant turnover this election suggests many Manitoba communities sought change.
Voter Turnout and Candidate Participation Reach New Highs
Data from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities shows increased participation in this election, with over 827,000 Manitobans casting ballots—up from about 731,000 in 2022. The number of candidates also rose, with 1,419 individuals running compared to 1,380 in the previous cycle.
Looking Ahead for Female Representation
The record number of women elected in Manitoba’s municipal elections is seen as a step forward, but advocates like Baker and Valentino emphasize ongoing work to ensure even greater female representation in future elections. The momentum built in 2026 lays the groundwork for further progress over the coming years.
Source: cbc.ca.
