WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Manitoba has elected a record number of women to municipal office following elections held across the province on October 28, 2026, marking a significant increase in women’s representation in local government.
According to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), 213 of the 339 women who ran for municipal office were elected. Women now account for almost 25 per cent of elected municipal officials across Manitoba, compared with 20 per cent following the 2022 municipal elections.
The results represent progress in efforts to improve gender representation in municipal leadership, although women remain underrepresented in local government.
Women Make Gains Across Manitoba Municipalities
The October 28 election saw voters choose mayors, reeves and councillors across most of Manitoba’s 137 municipalities.
Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox welcomed the increase in women’s representation, noting that greater visibility of women in leadership positions can encourage others to participate in municipal politics.
Knox, who secured another term by acclamation, said more work is needed to ensure municipal government is welcoming and accessible to people from different backgrounds.
She emphasized that representation matters because seeing women serving on councils and leading meetings can encourage other women to consider public office.
Melinda Warren also made history in the Rural Municipality of Springfield, where she won a four-candidate mayoral race. She previously served as a municipal councillor.
Warren described the growing number of women elected across Manitoba as encouraging news and said she was grateful to residents for trusting her with the responsibility of leading the municipality.
Winnipeg City Council Records More Women
Winnipeg also recorded an increase in women’s representation following the municipal election.
Seven of the 16 elected members of the new city council are women, compared with six following the previous election.
Among the women elected were Jasmine Brar in Waverley West, Sara MacArthur in River Heights–Fort Garry, Lora Meseman in Transcona, Kelly Ryback in St. James and Natalie Smith in Mynarski.
Returning councillors Emma Durand-Wood and Vivian Santos also secured their seats.
The new council includes several first-time councillors, reflecting changes in both the composition and representation of Winnipeg’s municipal leadership.
Association Highlights Progress Towards Gender Parity
AMM president Kathy Valentino said the results reflected ongoing efforts to make gender parity a priority in municipal leadership.
Organizations including the AMM and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities have continued working to encourage more women to run for office and remain involved in local government.
However, women entering municipal politics continue to face several barriers.
These include limited support for family responsibilities, intimidation and harassment, difficulties securing financial and political support, and challenges associated with balancing public service with other professional commitments.
The election results suggest that participation is increasing, but the figures also show that women still occupy only about one-quarter of elected municipal positions across the province.
Election Records Strong Voter Participation
The 2026 municipal elections also recorded increased voter participation and a higher number of candidates.
The AMM reported that more than 825,000 votes were cast across Manitoba, compared with approximately 730,000 in 2022.
A total of 1,419 candidates contested municipal positions, up from 1,380 in the previous election.
The association also reported that 48.3 per cent of elected officials were newly elected, representing 416 people. Meanwhile, 30.7 per cent of elected officials were acclaimed, down from 37.4 per cent in 2022.
Representation Remains a Work in Progress
Despite the record number of women elected, the results varied across individual municipalities.
In Brandon, for example, Norah Woychyshyn was the only woman elected to the 11-member city council, highlighting differences in women’s representation between communities.
The overall provincial figures nevertheless mark an increase in women’s participation in municipal leadership.
As newly elected officials prepare to take office, attention will turn to how the incoming councils address community priorities, including housing, infrastructure, public services and economic development.
The record election result provides a milestone for women in Manitoba politics while highlighting the continued need to address barriers that discourage women from seeking and holding municipal office.
Swifteradio.com
