The only woman on Huron County council says more women need to be encouraged to run for municipal councils.
Maureen Cole is the mayor of South Huron and was recently elected to the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She says the issue was discussed at the recent FCM meeting and it was found that 20% of the mayors across Canada are women and 30% to 35% of the councilors are women. Cole says she feels she personally has an obligation to encourage more women to run but the men have to be supportive as well.
Cole also points out many men are supportive and look at a women's qualifications and leadership style rather than her gender. Cole says diversity is important is municipal councils and she believes attitudes are changing slowly and more councils, including her own, are seeing the value in that diversity.