110 Years Later: A Letter to the Next Generation of Women Leaders

April 19th, 2026, marks 110 years since women in Alberta won the right to vote in 1916.

It was the result of years of organizing, advocacy, and persistence by women who pushed against deeply entrenched barriers to political participation. Their efforts reshaped the political landscape and expanded who could have a say in the province’s future. Anniversaries like this offer an opportunity to reflect on both progress and its limits. 

While 1916 marked an important expansion of democratic rights in Alberta, that progress was not shared equally. Indigenous women, for example, were excluded from provincial voting rights for decades longer; Status First Nations people in Alberta did not gain the unrestricted right to vote in provincial elections until 1965. These timelines remind us that suffrage in 1916 was a meaningful but partial step forward, one that expanded democracy for some women while leaving many others on the sidelines.

That broader understanding of history makes the contributions of women in leadership today especially meaningful. Across Alberta, women continue to step forward in municipal politics and public life, bringing experience, perspective, and commitment to the decisions that shape their communities. In 2023, 33 women were elected as MLAs, making up nearly 38 per cent of Alberta’s 87-seat Legislative Assembly, an increase from roughly 31 per cent in the previous term. 

At the municipal level, Alberta’s 2025 elections saw women hold an average of approximately 39 per cent of city council seats across small, medium, and large cities. In some municipalities, that progress has gone even further, with cities like Edmonton surpassing parity at 53.8 per cent women councillors.

Running for office can carry significant financial costs, and campaigning often requires unpaid time, flexibility at work, and personal resources that are not equally available to everyone.

Caregiving responsibilities, still disproportionately borne by women, can make political engagement difficult to balance: in Canada, 52 per cent of women provide care to children or dependent adults, compared with 42 per cent of men. Limited access to networks, mentorship, and political pathways can make leadership feel out of reach for many. These barriers are reflected in outcomes: although women make up roughly half the population, they hold only about 30 per cent of elected positions across Canada.

These challenges are not simply personal obstacles; they are systemic realities that continue to shape who is able to participate, whose voices are heard, and who feels welcomed into public leadership.

Progress has always depended on women who stay engaged, bring their voices forward, and help shape the future of their communities, and that remains just as true today. Ask Her’s Prepare Her program assists women and gender-diverse people in taking the next step into political leadership through practical training, mentorship, and campaign support. By building the skills and confidence needed to run for office, we can help turn civic participation into representation in elected leadership.

Anniversaries like this are not only a chance to honour the progress that has been made, but also a reminder that meaningful change requires ongoing participation, investment, and collective commitment. By continuing to strengthen pathways into elected office, Alberta can build on this legacy and move closer to a future where its leadership fully reflects the communities it serves.