Nova Scotia women who want to make a positive difference in society through politics can learn more by attending the 2014 Campaign School for Women.
Registration opens next week for the event, which is June 13-15 at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.
Campaign school is open to women with an interest in learning how to run an election campaign, or becoming a candidate for political office at the municipal, provincial or federal level.
This year’s theme is Democracy Starts With You. There is no fee to attend, however space is limited and people must register by May 30. For more information and to register, visit http://www.women.gov.ns.ca/NSvoteswomen .
“Training opportunities like this are invaluable in providing women with the information and skills they need to enter and succeed in politics,” said Joanne Bernard, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. “I attended campaign school in 2011, and can confirm that what I learned helped prepare me to get to where I am today.”
Speakers include past and present women politicians, community leaders, communications experts and election campaigners. Some of the topics will include insights from the three levels of government, fundraising, developing a campaign team and effective social media communications.
Campaign School is hosted by the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women and is a non-partisan event.
One of Status of Women’s priority areas is women in leadership, including increasing the inclusion and diversity of women in public life.
Women continue to be under-represented in all levels of politics across the country: provincial, municipal, federal and on First Nations Band Councils. In most provinces and territories, less than one-third of MLAs are women. A record 27.5 per cent of the Nova Scotia’s MLAs are now women, including five cabinet ministers.
“We support more Nova Scotia women becoming engaged in politics,” said Stephanie MacInnis-Langley, executive director of the Status of Women. “Increased engagement by women will help them influence the decisions that impact their lives and their communities. Campaign school gives women an opportunity to learn how to achieve this political leadership and influence.”
“While there are still significant barriers for equal gender representation in government, initiatives like this provide an opportunity for more women to prepare for leadership roles in politics,” said Ms. Bernard.
Media who want to attend must pre-register by e-mailing Elizabeth MacDonald at macdoea@gov.ns.ca .
Source: Release
