Data Snapshots: What We Heard from Alberta’s 2025 Municipal Election Candidates
The Ask Her 2025 Municipal Election Candidate Surveys conducted in both Edmonton (YEG) and Calgary (YYC) invited candidates to share how they’re building inclusive campaigns and advancing equity in city leadership.
Across both cities, candidates described how representation, affordability, and safety intersect in shaping who gets to participate in civic and community life (and feel safe doing so). While each local context is distinct, many of the same priorities and challenges are shaping the political landscape in Alberta.
Campaign Teams & Representation
Across both cities, candidates reported notable gender diversity within their campaign teams.
In Edmonton, about half of respondents said 50–75 per cent of their team members were women or gender-diverse. Roughly one in five reported either higher or lower representation.
In Calgary, 40 per cent of candidates reported that their campaign teams were more than 75 per cent women or gender-diverse, 20 per cent fell in the 50–75 per cent range, and another 40 per cent reported 25–50 per cent.
Many candidates described intentionally recruiting women, racialized people, Indigenous people, and newcomers into key roles such as campaign manager, communications lead, or strategist. Mentorship, flexibility, and accessible volunteer opportunities were cited as ways to make campaigns more inclusive and reflective of the communities they aim to serve.
“It’s not enough to invite people to the table. We must build relationships that support their presence and influence.”
“You can’t be what you can’t see. That’s why I’m running for council—visibility matters.”
Housing & Affordability
Affordable housing surfaced as one of the strongest shared priorities across both cities.
Candidates consistently described safe, stable, and affordable housing as the foundation for security, independence, and opportunity, particularly for women, gender-diverse people, and families with lower incomes.
In both Edmonton and Calgary, affordability was linked to access to transit, childcare, and public services, framing housing as part of a wider system that supports participation and belonging.
“We know that when women succeed, an entire society benefits.”
Safety & Transit
Safety, especially on transit and in public spaces, was among the most frequently discussed issues. Candidates in both cities highlighted how safety concerns limit women's and gender-diverse people’s mobility after dark, affecting everything from employment to community engagement.
Proposed solutions included improved lighting, better station design, greater peace officer presence, community partnerships, and, in Calgary, the expansion of Police and Crisis (PACT) teams combining police and clinicians.
“If women don’t feel safe walking alone downtown, with their families at our city parks, or on Calgary Transit, then families won’t stay here.”
Several also reflected on personal safety while campaigning, noting that women candidates often take additional precautions, such as avoiding certain areas or not canvassing alone, that male counterparts may not need to consider.
“There are also safety concerns that need to be considered—such as not door-knocking alone.”
Childcare & Family Supports
Childcare access emerged as a central barrier to full participation in civic and economic life. Candidates across both cities described childcare as essential infrastructure, a public investment that enables parents, especially women, to work, study, and lead.
Suggestions included affordable childcare partnerships, childcare spaces in recreation centres and libraries, and more flexible city programming that accommodates caregivers. Some also pointed to parental leave policies and workplace accommodations within city administration as opportunities to model inclusion.
“Childcare is not a luxury—it’s the backbone of participation. When families have access to it, the whole city benefits.”
Representation & Leadership
Mentorship, visibility, and intentional recruitment were recurring themes across responses from both cities. Candidates spoke about the need to build leadership pipelines that bring more women and gender-diverse people into public life, from community boards and advisory committees to council chambers and senior city administration.
Several respondents noted that representation must go beyond numbers to include meaningful participation and influence, where diverse perspectives shape decisions rather than simply being present at the table. Others highlighted the importance of early mentorship and civic education, helping younger generations see themselves as future leaders.
Many described representation as a democratic strength, a way to ensure that city-building decisions reflect the lived experiences of the people most affected by them. They emphasized that inclusive leadership fosters stronger, more responsive governments and communities that reflect the diversity of the province itself.
“Leadership should be shared, not concentrated. Representation builds trust, strengthens democracy, and ensures our cities grow for everyone.”
“Inclusion isn’t about being present—it’s about being empowered.”
Candidate Experiences
Women candidates across both Edmonton and Calgary described encountering bias, scrutiny, and unequal expectations during their campaigns. Many reflected on being judged more harshly for their tone, appearance, or family responsibilities, noting that these standards often differ from those applied to men.
Many described the campaign trail as both rewarding and challenging, a space where moments of genuine connection often exist alongside bias and dismissal. These experiences have shaped how they think about leadership, community, and the need to uplift others following similar paths.
Additionally, equity-focused candidates linked their own lived experiences, as Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, or racialized individuals, to their motivation for advancing inclusion in civic leadership.
“I’ve had incredible moments of connection and I’ve faced moments of bias and dismissal that I know are rooted in gendered assumptions.”
“Too often, women and gender-diverse people have been excluded from leadership, leaving our communities without the full benefit of their perspectives.”
Conclusions
Taken together, the Edmonton and Calgary survey results offer a glimpse into how municipal candidates across Alberta are approaching inclusion, safety, and representation in 2025. While their perspectives and priorities differ, many are rethinking what equity looks like in local leadership, from who builds campaigns to who feels safe participating in city life.
The responses reflect an emerging understanding that accessibility, representation, and belonging are all connected, and that inclusive leadership begins with creating space for everyone to take part.