Is Windsor ready for more women at the council table? These candidates hope so

Only one woman has ever been the mayor of Windsor and that was 41 years ago. In 2003, the city had three female councillors which dwindled to two between 2006 and 2010. Since then, only one woman has served on the council and she is not running again. Women running this election are hoping to change that. Of the 54 candidates running in Windsor, only 13 are women. Those we spoke with called for better representation. Women experience municipal services differently. Of course, we just want our elected bodies to be representative of the population, and our population is 50% women. Candidates say other conversations like adequate funding to the women's shelter and intimate partner violence are also missing on campaign trail. This candidate says many women in her ward are unhappy with the city hall, and want safer streets, parking infrastructure upgrades and more. With the naturalization of the parks and how you know there could be a lot of garbage and debris and needles and things left behind and their kids are playing there so they'd like to see a little bit of change around that and so it's a myriad of issues cracked sidewalks so many different things that affect women differently than men. Mayoral candidate Kat Pasquash says many municipal issues that disproportionately affect women, like gaps in childcare and after-school programming, are not being discussed. And why so many mothers are frustrated that garbage pickup doesn't happen on a regular basis anymore, and the shift in terms of how do you dispose of diapers. I haven't heard that conversation come up anywhere in the municipal, the mayoral conversations that I've had, but it is a real concern for women in our community. As a hijab-wearing racialized woman this election, this candidate has received many Islamophobic and racist comments. She says the only way to change that is to vote for women. When I attend actual meetings in positions because of what I'm running for, at times I'm the only woman existing in the room. And honestly, at times it makes me uncomfortable. This political scientist notes the lack of female representation on council, but says the number of wards without incumbents running might change things this year. Municipal elections have tended to favour and see the dominance of white men being elected to council to put the positions of authority. We are seeing the possibility, the expectation that that's going to change in 26, partly because you have a large number of open wards in Windsor. Candidates tell me they are done being represented by men and want to break that glass ceiling and see true equitable representation in council chambers. But experts say that will take some time. Election is October 26th. Pratish Tyal, CBC News, Windsor.