Winnipeg: Female candidates achieved a historic victory in the municipal elections held across Manitoba, with 213 out of 339 women who contested securing seats on local governing bodies. Women now make up nearly 25 percent of all elected representatives, up from 20 percent in 2022. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) confirmed that this represents the highest female representation in the province’s history. Notably, women won 7 out of the 15 city council seats in the capital city of Winnipeg, marking the highest female council representation since the 1972 Unicity amalgamation.
Initiatives by the AMM and organizations like Her Seat at the Table played a key role in encouraging female political participation. Founded by Brandon-based financial planner Tracy Baker, the organization provides mentorship and resources for women running for office. Out of four candidates supported by the group in Brandon, one secured a council seat. Organizers remain optimistic that continued awareness and training will further boost female representation in future elections.
The election also saw significant leadership shifts, with several new female leaders taking over mayoral posts while some incumbents lost their seats. Rosalie Drysdale in St. Clements and Melinda Warren in Springfield (including Oakbank) won mayoral offices in their maiden attempts. Meanwhile, Shari Decter Hirst in Portage la Prairie and Janice Smith in Killarney-Turtle Mountain retained their positions. Conversely, former mayors including Debbie Fiebelkorn (St. Clements), Karla Devlin (East St. Paul), Tina Williams (Virden), Colleen Smook (Thompson), and Sandra Cloch (Two Borders) suffered defeats.
Overall voter turnout across Manitoba saw a notable increase compared to previous years. Over 827,000 voters exercised their franchise this year, up from 731,000 in 2022. Candidate participation also grew, with 1,419 candidates contesting compared to 1,380 in 2022. Re-elected Mayor Janice Smith attributed the influx of new faces in local governance to voters’ readiness for fresh leadership and change.
