Equal Voice Alberta North Chapter (EVAN)
New members welcomed in communities from Red Deer to Alberta's northern boundary!
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
Activities and Events from July to October 31, 2009
Equal Voice discussion with Alberta Liberal Senators
EVAS chapter chair Janice Kinch, Lana Cuthbertson representing Equal Voice – U of A chapter and Janet Buckmaster accepted an invitation to meet for discussion in August with Alberta Liberal Senators Grant Mitchell and Tommy Banks about the multi-partisan approach of Equal Voice. EV representatives used the opportunity to discuss EV’s goals of promoting the election of more women in government through our on-line campaign school, our Experiences mentorship program of young women, our Canada Challenges initiatives, and working collaboratively with others.
Strategic discussion day for EVAN
In September EVAN members led by seasoned facilitator Shelley Williams revisited the mission and purpose of Equal Voice, with a thoughtful view of the future to balancing the activities of Equal Voice that educate and raise awareness, with chapter sustainability and local volunteer passion and engagement.
Women in Municipal Government
Former EVAN Chair Tania Kajner and Equal Voice Alberta South Chair Janice Kinch presented on September 17th to the Women in Municipal Government committee of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. The members of the Committee were keenly interested in the work of Equal Voice, and expressed an interest to explore ways in which the WIMG Committee and Equal Voice Alberta North & South can work together in future.
Dinner with Sylvia Bashevkin, author of Women, Power and Politics
U of T Professor Dr. Sylvia Bashevkin, in Edmonton October 6-7, 2009 to speak on her latest work on women’s political representation, “Women, Power, Politics: The Hidden Story of Canada’s Unfinished Democracy” was the guest at a “Dinner and Discussion” organized by Kirsten Snell, chair of Equal Voice’s University of Alberta chapter. Bringing together women from a variety of backgrounds, including students, professors, EVUA and EV Alberta North members, and elected officials to discuss the issues and solutions proposed in Bashevkin’s book, the well-attended informal discussion provided the opportunity to give feedback to Bashevkin on how they perceive the “Women+Power=Discomfort” equation noted in the book and to debate the impact solutions like electoral reform would have on women’s representation in Canada.
ChangeCamp Edmonton
The theme of the October 17 event “How do we re-imagine government and citizenship in the age of participation?" stimulated dialogue with engaged citizens, policy experts, academics, new-media users, political organizers, elected decision-makers and others. EVAN member Ashley Casovan proposed on behalf of Equal Voice: 'How can we use technology to support female candidates and elect more women?" About 35 people attended Ashley’s session - great attendance since there were 5 other sessions happening at the same time. Brava! Informal notes taken during the session can be viewed by following this link.
Aboriginal module: Getting to the Gate - EV’s on-line campaign school
Special thanks to EVAN member Debbie Coulter for contributing valuable suggestions and constructive feedback on sections of the early draft for the aboriginal module. EVAN Chair Janet Buckmaster has been on the review team for this new module being developed by Equal Voice with the input of Aboriginal women for Getting to the Gate – EV’s on-line campaign school for women.
EV’s Experiences program
Exciting new developments! Video vignettes have been filmed with three Alberta elected women, capturing some insightful and compelling material that will be posted as soon as ready on the Experiences website. More elected women have signed on as mentors, as have young women wishing to be mentored. Equal Voice’s official launch of the Experiences program in Alberta will take place later in November at the Alberta Legislature. Watch the Experiences website for more details.
Chapter member as Parliamentary Intern in Ottawa
EVAN member Anna Hopkins, currently an intern with the Parliamentary Internship Programme was featured on CPAC program “On the Bright Side” on October 25, 2009. Anna’s first placement is with Bloc Quebecois MP Johanne Deschamps. Way to go Anna! View the show using this link.
Activities and Events from April to June 30th 2009
EV’s Experiences Program
EVAN chapter members and members from University of Alberta EV Youth Chapter worked together to facilitate EV’s Experiences youth consultations with Western Youth Coordinator Amanda Rheaume during the Alberta Girl Guides’ ‘mock Parliament’ weekend. This event followed EVAN chapter’s successful youth consultations for EV’s Experiences program in March, with Nellie McClung all girls school at Avonmore site, and the EV University of Alberta chapter consultations on campus.
BC Women’s Campaign School
Recognizing the value of BC’s Women’s Campaign School run by the Canadian Women Voter’s Congress, and with 2 EVAN members having attended in 2003 and the other in 2007, one current EVAN chapter member attended the March 2009 School and reported back to the chapter. This has prompted further discussion amongst EVAN chapter members to think longer term to sponsoring a woman in future who is interested in running for office.
Chapter chair interviewed by U of A student
EVAN chapter Chair Janet Buckmaster was interviewed by political science student from University of Alberta’s rural Augustana campus in Camrose, SE of Edmonton, as part of her university research project on women in politics in Alberta.
Women in municipal government
Equal Voice Alberta North, through one of its members, is working to create a relationship with the sub-committee of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) to increase women in municipal government. Discussion of this strategy resulted in excellent discourse on the difficulties of balancing political life and professional entrepreneurial dilemmas, including conflict of interest, in small communities when one is both a business woman and a (part-time) elected representative.
North and south chapters hold joint meeting
As a prelude to EVAN chapter’s fall 2009 strategic planning process, EV Alberta North and EV Alberta South chapters met together May 23rd for the first time, in Red Deer (central Alberta), to discuss areas of commonalities, strategies to increase Equal Voice’s profile in Alberta, strategies for increasing public awareness of EV’s goals and opportunities to work together during provincial and federal elections.
YWCA Edmonton’s Tribute to Women of Distinction Award
EVAN member and Ophelia’s Voice founder Joanne Cave was honoured as the Youth (under 18) recipient of YWCA Edmonton’s Tribute to Women of Distinction award, with EVAN members cheering her on at the event.
Ophelia’s Voice’s 5th anniversary celebrations
EV Alberta North chapter was represented at Ophelia’s Voice’s 5th anniversary celebrations on June 30th, with a display table and distributing Experiences booklets to girls under 18 and their parents, encouraging the girls to consider the Experiences program. EVAN also seized the opportunity to speak to the two local Members of Parliament in attendance about the program and encourage each to get involved with either the Equal Voice chapter and/or be a mentor with the Experiences program.
September 2008
Women in Politics - Issues and Inspiration
McDougall United Church Women's Luncheon May 31, 2008
Guest speaker: Laurie Blakeman, MLA Edmonton-Centre
Laurie Blakeman is in her fourth term as a Liberal member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly and is currently House Leader for Alberta's Official Opposition. EVAN members Shirley Barg and Janet Buckmaster attended and promoted Equal Voice. As a result, new member from the Town of Beaumont (outside Edmonton) joined EVAN. Welcome!
Re-invigorating Democracy in Alberta
Town hall meeting on Monday, July 14 hosted by David Swann, MLA for Calgary-Mountain View and Laurie Blakeman, MLA for Edmonton-Centre. EVAN members Tania Kajner and Janet Buckmaster attended, distributed EV brochures, wore EV buttons, and spoke at the microphone. Through this event a new member joined EVAN. Welcome!
Janet Buckmaster, 2008 Chair for Equal Voice Alberta North participates as a task force member on Public Interest Alberta's (PIA) Democracy Task Force, which has proposed the creation of a high-profile Alberta Commission on Gender and Democracy to develop a comprehensive approach to achieving gender balance in Alberta's political system
Public Interest Alberta Democracy Task Force
April 2008
Equal Voice Salutes Pam Barrett, Former Party Leader Alberta New Democrats
Equal Voice salutes the contributions of Pam Barrett, former party leader of the Alberta New Democrats. Ms. Barrett passed away in January 2008.
Pam Barrett was a high profile woman in official opposition leadership in Alberta politics. She was a role model and left a legacy of fighting for public policy inclusive of all Albertians(click here to view news release).
Alberta provincial elections
The Alberta chapters provided congratulatory letters to all Edmonton-region female candidates. To increase visibility of Equal Voice and the need for more women in politics, the Alberta North Chapter created signs and conducted "Waves for Women" event on busy street corners the last Saturday prior to the election. Volunteers included EV members and local Girl Scout members waving our new EV signs. The Chapter also generated a news release regarding increase in number of women elected to Alberta Legislature from 14.4% to 19%.
Community Visibility
Alberta North is continuously conducting one-on-one meetings with women encouraging them to join Equal Voice Alberta North.
EVAN Chair Janet Buckmaster participated as panelist for session "Women in Politics" at Alberta Association of Municipal Districts & Counties (AAMDC) Spring 2008 Conference with other panelists: former MP & former Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, former MLA & former Alberta Deputy Premier Shirley McClellan, Reeve Municipal District of Peace Veronica Bliska, City of Edmonton Councillor Karen Leibovici, Gail Surkan former mayor of Red Deer, and moderator Carolyn Kolebaba, AAMDC Vice-President.
Photo above:
Karen Leibovici, Councillor, City of Edmonton
Hon. Shirley McClellan, former Deputy Premier and former MLA Drumheller-Stettler
Veronica Bliska, Reeve Municipal District of Peace Country
Janet Buckmaster, 2008 Chair, Equal Voice - Alberta North Chapter
Gail Surkan, former Mayor of Red Deer
Hon. Anne McLellan, P.C. former Deputy Prime Minister and former M.P. for Edmonton-Centre
Carolyn Kolebaba, AAMDC Vice-President
Thank you to Ann Wicks, Outgoing Executive Director!
I'd like to say thank you to all our volunteers and supporters for all their guidance to me as new Chair of Equal Voice North. But most especially, thank you so much to our outgoing National Executive Director Ann Wicks, for her dedication and accomplishments for Equal Voice.
Thank you,
Janet Buckmaster
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