Calgary swore in a new city council on Oct. 29, a moment that should have represented progress and purpose.
Instead, it laid bare just how uneven gender representation is in Calgary’s municipal government. Of the 72 candidates who ran in the municipal election this fall, only 28 per cent were women. Of the fifteen newly elected city council members, just two are women, with the election of Kim Tyers in Ward 1 and the return of Jennifer Wyness in Ward 2.
That’s 14 per cent, the lowest level in more than a decade.
It’s a troubling setback and a stark contrast to our previous council, where one-third of seats were held by women, including Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Calgary’s first woman mayor.
While a far cry from gender parity, our last council at least signalled momentum in the right direction. Momentum we’ve now lost.
Gender equity in politics isn’t symbolic — it’s essential. When more women serve in government, the results ripple outward.
Research shows that greater representation of women in public office is associated with stronger public trust in government and greater public satisfaction with key government services. A 2018 Canadian study found that provinces with more women in government saw lower mortality rates and higher spending on public health, demonstrating that representation directly shapes outcomes.
The gender gap in politics isn’t just a Calgary problem. Canada’s international ranking on gender parity in politics has plummeted over the past 25 years.
Federally, women hold less than a third of seats in Parliament. The Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global organization representing nearly 200 national parliaments, ranks Canada 70th in the world for the percentage of women in its legislature, a sharp decline from our 28th place in 2000.
It’s not because Canadians don’t want change. According to Equal Voice’s 2025 data, 79 per cent of Canadians say we need more women as elected representatives, and 74 per cent believe it leads to better government policies and decisions.
Yet progress is fragile. Support for women political leaders is declining, especially among young men. While 86 per cent of Canadians still agree that women should be in elected office, that’s down from 91 per cent in 2022.
Disinformation campaigns, targeted violence are barriers
Barriers to election are real – and deeply gendered. Women in politics are disproportionately affected by gendered disinformation campaigns. From city councillors to federal ministers, women in politics across Canada are also facing a rise in targeted violence.
The result isn’t just personal harm – it’s a chilling effect on our democracy itself, deterring other women from putting their name on the ballot. In 2025, 76 per cent of women considering a political career cited concern about family impacts, 72 per cent about online harassment, and 67 per cent about physical safety.
The challenges are real and significant. Tackling them is essential if we want a government that works for everyone.
While representation is far from the endgame when it comes to gender justice, getting more women elected is in everyone’s best interests. Women bring lived experiences to the table that strengthen the capacity of these bodies to make holistic decisions, ensuring that decisions reflect the realities of the people they affect. That’s not just fairness; it’s effective governance.
We need council chambers, legislatures, and institutions that truly reflect the diversity of the people they serve. Democracy is strongest when it represents all of us.
That work begins with each of us. Encourage a woman you know to run. Donate to organizations that train and support future women candidates. Volunteer on a campaign for a woman you believe in. Every action, no matter how small, helps build a more inclusive democracy.
Last week’s swearing-in should be a wake-up call for Calgary.
A city that leads in innovation, livability, and problem-solving should also lead in gender representation. Women deserve an equal seat at the table in shaping Calgary’s future.
- Ziyana Kotadia is a violence-prevention advocate and holds a master’s in gender studies from the University of Cambridge. She is the Chair of Equal Voice Calgary.
