Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg hosted two Alberta Government ministers and a Canadian Senator on October 26 to discuss women in politics on a zoom call.
Mayor Colberg took the initiative to host the forum to discuss issues that face women who enter politics and share experiences. Among the callers were Leela Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women, Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services, and Alberta Senator Patti Laboucane –Benson, as well as mayors and councillors from throughout Alberta. There were about 36 on the Zoom meeting call.
“I feel that it is really important to engage women, and we are going into a municipal election a year from now, and I thought it would keep us all inspired and keep us working together and keep the lines of communication open, and encourage younger women to get involved in politics,” said Colberg. “I believe we need a mix of communication, ideas, and suggestions… I thought it was important to get different viewpoints.
Colberg says she has not experienced challenges in her political career because she is a woman, but others have.
“We should all be chosen for positions based on our strengths not whether we are a woman, especially in different levels of politics and different communities,” she said.
“It was exciting to get input from other mayors that have been there for years, the support they give to all of us first-timers was incredible from them,” she said.
She says they are looking at doing it again in the spring, whether it is in person or online, closer to the coming election.
“There are some that are going to continue on, and others are like me and still making those decisions,” said Colberg.