Women Can Gain Election Skills at Campaign School

STATUS OF WOMEN--Women Can Gain Election Skills at Campaign School

Women are greatly outnumbered in every elected decision-making body in Nova Scotia, but change begins this fall.

Atlantic Canada's first campaign school for women will be held Nov. 19-21 in Halifax. It will give women who are thinking of running for elected office an opportunity to learn more about the process and to gain the skills they need to campaign.

The non-partisan school is co-sponsored by the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women and Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU). It follows a series of political involvement workshops hosted by the council over the past two years.

"Far too few women are involved in political life in Nova Scotia. We're half the population, one-fifth of municipal councillors, one-fifth of Atlantic region MPs and one-tenth of MLAs," said Doreen Paris, advisory council chair. "We need more women, and women from all walks of life."

"Political candidates need many skills for an election campaign. They need to know how to build a team, raise funds, work with the media, and build rapport with voters," said Carolyn Bolivar- Getson, Status of Women Minister. "This program develops those skills."

Women are often excluded from participating in politics right at the start, by candidate recruitment and selection processes. When candidates are invited to offer through informal networks, the pool of potential candidates is limited, and often limited to men. The school will help overcome this barrier by giving women information on how to secure a nomination in the first place.

Participants will explore their motivations for getting into politics, plan a campaign, campaign door to door, practice working with the media, and learn about fundraising and budgeting during the two-and-a-half day program. They will work with experienced journalists, politicians and campaign planners.

"MSVU is strongly committed to women's education, so this campaign school is a natural fit for us. I believe this weekend will help new women leaders emerge on the political scene," said Sheila Brown, president and vice-chancellor of MSVU.

Participants can apply the skills and knowledge they gain to municipal, provincial, federal or First Nations elections.

The school will accept 30 applications from women. The sponsors will work to make sure that participants represent rural and urban communities and diverse backgrounds.

Tuition will be $395 per person, with a limited number of bursaries available for applicants who demonstrate financial need. Fees include campaign school sessions, training materials, snacks and meals. Transportation and accommodation are the responsibility of participants.

The school will take place on the Mount Saint Vincent University campus.

Applications are due Friday, Oct. 22 by 4 p.m. They are available from the Advisory Council on the Status of Women office and on the website at www.gov.ns.ca/staw .

The advisory council is located at Suite 202, 6169 Quinpool Rd., Halifax. The council can also be reached by telephone at 902-424- 8662, or toll-free at 1-800-565-8662. Completed applications can be faxed to the office at 902-424-0573.