Campaign school for women: sharing political knowledge across the north.

• Author: Bisaro, Wendy

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)--Canadian Region has been engaged in a number of outreach projects to foster interest among women in the political process, including campaign schools for women. The authors outline their participation in a recent Northwest Territories' campaign school and note that despite differing styles of government (consensus versus party system) across Canada's territories and northern areas of provinces, there are many similarities in the kinds of relationships parliamentarians create with constituents in largely rural northern communities.

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As members of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians' Canadian Region steering committee, we were delighted to take part in a recent campaign school for aspiring women parliamentarians in the Northwest Territories.

In February, 2015, 45 very interested and engaged women from all over the vast territory (though especially from the Yellowknife area) took part in the third campaign school organized by the Northwest Territories' Status of Women Council. The event was held in preparation for the territory's general election in November 2015.

Representing the CWP, we joined Jane Groenewegen on a panel to discuss the role of MLAs, managing people's expectations and maintaining a work/life balance in public service. (Bisaro and Groenewegen were the only two women elected in the NWT at the time). The panel was followed by a lively question and answer period.

In another session, we were able to have a discussion about how to set up and effectively run a campaign. Fundraising appeared to be a particular concern among attendees, but we also explored varied topics, including working in male dominated environments, the challenges of public life and understanding basic campaigning information.

Bisaro: As an NWT MLA, I was thrilled to welcome Lisa Dempster to our territory. Her expenses were covered by CWP--Canadian Region as part of its ongoing outreach commitment. As noted in the CWP Canada's Outreach Program Framework document: "The importance of creating awareness and sharing information with women and girls about the role of parliamentarians, the parliamentary system and the political process is key to increasing engagement of women in politics. Outreach programs provide an invaluable opportunity to encourage involvement and to de-mystify the political world.

The CWP-Canadian Region also participates in many campaign schools across the country--sharing insights and...