Calgary marks Gender Equality Week by honouring 1st woman on council, promising change

The City of Calgary marked itsfirst Gender Equality Week by honouring its first woman on council, Annie Gale,and promising change.

Gale's election in 1917 made her the first female municipal politician in Canada, and one of the first in the British Empire.

Gale became known for accomplishing her goals, including improving conditions for jailed Calgarians. She also remained an optimist, stating she believed women's involvement in government would improve.

"The time will come, I honestly and firmly believe, when women will be equally represented with men on all government boards and councils," Gale said. "The viewpoint of women in essential."

Gale, elected the year after gaining the right to vote, saw the slow progress of women's rights. Mostwomen of colour would be barred from voting for decades longer than she was, as a white woman.

On Calgary's council in 2018, three of 14councillorsare women.

"Those were Annie Gale's words and they are no less significant today,"Coun.JyotiGondektold council on Monday.

Gender policy coming

In speeches Monday, Calgary's female councillors promised the city would take stepsto ensure improvements in gender equality. Administration, for example, isdeveloping a dedicated strategy to support diverse people of all genders, Coun. Druh Farrell said. That should be ready in 2019.

"We know when we feel safe at work, both mentally and physically, we can focus on our common purpose: making life better every day for Calgarians," Farrell said.

The policy will apply to all city staff and councillorsin the various services, boards, committees, commissions and departments, "so we can achieve Annie's goal 100 years later," she said.

Gender Equality Week is a federal designationthat came into effect this year. The city has planned a series of events to mark Gale's legacy, from afeminist walk Monday evening togender resource fair and panel discussion on Wednesday.

An archival display titledA Woman's Placewill be shown in the Calgary Municipal Building until Oct. 19.

"It's incredibly important that we celebrate the symbolism of the contributions that [Gale] made while also recognizing the work that we have to do, that we continue to do, to create true gender equality in our community and in our institutions," Ward 13Coun. DianeColley-Urquhartsaid.

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