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Barbara Manson
Barbara Manson is a councillor in Kenora.
In our ongoing effort to spotlight the experiences of women in municipal politics, we reached out to those elected in the 2022 municipal elections in Northern Ontario. We asked these newly elected councillors and trustees to share their insights and reflections on the transition from candidate to council. Here are their candid and firsthand accounts of the challenges, surprises, and lessons learned along the way.
Barbara Manson is a councillor in Kenora.
What initially inspired or motivated you to run for council, and how did you envision your role before being elected?
I was motivated and inspired as I did not like the direction Kenora was headed. I envisioned a productive and get-things-done attitude.
How did your expectations or perceptions change once you took office?
Frustration following the governance model and the slowness of government actions.
Were there any surprises or unexpected aspects of the role?
The diversity of council—both a good and bad aspect. The time it takes to accomplish goals. The lack of proper funding from the provincial and federal government in regard to infrastructure projects ([for example, bridges — which were downloaded to the Municipality) and policing costs in Kenora.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from a candidate to an elected official?
Finding the time to attend all meetings, being prepared and trying to find solutions.
What do you wish people knew about running for office, based on your own experience?
Time commitment is huge. Know how to research and defend your decisions within a diversified group of peers.
Looking back at your first year in office, what were the most rewarding aspects of serving in your municipal role?
Bringing in a budget our taxpayers could swallow, seeing the growth in housing [and] starting to solve our community and safety well-being issues.
What were the significant milestones or accomplishments you achieved during your tenure?
Hiring a Community & Safety Well-being Supervisor [and] lobbying the Provincial government to help with policing costs (which they did 2 years in a row).
On the flip side, what were the challenges you faced during your first year, and how did you navigate or address them?
Changing the mandate of our police force to more “walking the beat” hours. ([which is] still a work in progress). Starting to find solutions regarding our social issues—community formed and working on a 5-year plan.
Were there specific instances or experiences that significantly impacted your approach to governance or leadership?
Coming prepared to Council meetings, [and] rephrasing how to bring your ideas forward in regards to the personalities on Council.
What valuable lessons have you learned or insights gained that you'd like to share with others considering a similar path in politics?
Be prepared and be prepared to defend your decisions.
What do you wish people knew about working as a politician, based on your experience?
It’s harder than it seems. It is more time-consuming than you can imagine. Solutions sometimes take time, longer than you would like [and] not everyone thinks the way you do.
Where can people find you?
These profiles are part of our ongoing series featuring women councillors and trustees elected through the ElectNOW initiative. Surveys were sent to all woman councillors and trustees who participated in the 2022 ElectNOW series. While some answers have been edited for clarity and spelling, the responses provided are the candidates' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PoliticsNOW. If you are a woman councillor, mayor, or trustee residing in Northern Ontario and would like to be featured in this series, please fill out our survey.
Barbara Ann Manson
Barbara (she/her) was born in Keewatin, happily married to a Norman boy for 32 years and raised two sons in Kenora. She worked for the Town of Keewatin for 5 years and the City of Kenora for 25 years, retiring as Parks Supervisor. Her experience within the City (almost all departments), has given her a wealth of knowledge of the inside workings of the City. In any department she worked, she left it in a better position. She has volunteered on Committees, including as the Director, of the Kenora Community Foundation, Common Ground - A Sharing of Stories, Lake of the Woods Historical Society, Kenora Heritage Committee, Business Incentive Commiittee etc. She won Employee of the Year for the City of Kenora (the only year the Chamber presented the award). Her crowning achievement working for the City was co-ordinating the Festival of Lights at the Cemetery — the year she retired, there were 8,000 candles lit on Xmas Eve. She also brought a successful air show to Kenora in 2013, with an attendance of over 8,000 people. She takes pride in all she does.
Barbara Ann Manson is running for Council in Kenora.
Barbara (she/her) was born in Keewatin, happily married to a Norman boy for 32 years and raised two sons in Kenora. She worked for the Town of Keewatin for 5 years and the City of Kenora for 25 years, retiring as Parks Supervisor. Her experience within the City (almost all departments), has given her a wealth of knowledge of the inside workings of the City. In any department she worked, she left it in a better position. She has volunteered on Committees, including as the Director, of the Kenora Community Foundation, Common Ground - A Sharing of Stories, Lake of the Woods Historical Society, Kenora Heritage Committee, Business Incentive Commiittee etc. She won Employee of the Year for the City of Kenora (the only year the Chamber presented the award). Her crowning achievement working for the City was co-ordinating the Festival of Lights at the Cemetery — the year she retired, there were 8,000 candles lit on Xmas Eve. She also brought a successful air show to Kenora in 2013, with an attendance of over 8,000 people. She takes pride in all she does.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for Council to be a valuable voice at the table, to promote a strategic and fiscally responsible direction for Kenora. To work together as a team to make wise, informed and responsible decisions for the benefit of all residents. I want to play an active role in making Kenora prosper into a place our children and grandchildren can proudly call Kenora home. I will listen and learn with a desire to understand your concerns, ideas and perspectives. I have the knowledge, the talent, the skill and ability to make a difference. I have the willingness to overcome obstacles and make Kenora a place known for its progressiveness to move forward, its compassion, diversity and hospitality. Home is where your heart is and mine is here. I want us all to be proud to live, work and play in Kenora, on beautiful Lake of the Woods. I vote for improvement. A common sense vote at the table.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your municipality?
A consorted effort by the City of Kenora, the police, indigenous communities, mental health services, northwestern health unit and anyone else who would like to be a the table to devise a plan to address our social issues within the City.
I would like to streamline and make the process easier for developers to build new projects within the City without too much red tape, which will help with the housing shortages.
Increase our tax base by enticing businesses to Kenora. Make it easy for these businesses to invest here. It will then take some of the burdens off the residents.
Pride in Kenora starts at home; spruce up your yard, the City will do their properties, which will entice people to come here, stay here, work here. I will start the process to bring pride back to our fair City.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
I would suggest to Council to build a tiny house village for the homeless, with mental addictions office and staff on site. It would give them self pride back and offer an alternative to the lifestyle they now only know. It would in turn, help to clean up our downtown area. Have bus service available to and from the village. They would be responsible for their own tiny house and yard and have a central building to meet, eat and socialize. A start in the fight against homelessness.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your municipality faces?
The biggest issues facing the City of Kenora (like most other Cities) is housing shortage, social issues, shortage in all health professionals and economic development. All areas need to be worked on at the same time for Kenora to thrive.
Other than the official communication methods (minutes, municipal notes), how else will you reach out to your constituents to involve them in the decision making process?
I believe in making yourself available to all citizens of Kenora. I also say if you come to me with a complaint, then come to me with a solution as well. I have and will continue to meet with smaller interest groups, individuals by email, phone or in person. To know what the constituents (residents) of Kenora are thinking and wanting done, you have to talk to them. On important issues maybe even a referendum may be needed (eg. selling the Keewatin Medical Centre). I also believe in coming to them - door to door. I value their input, they live and work here and want a better Kenora too.
What is your favourite thing to do in your municipality?
My most favourite thing to do in Kenora, is to pretend I am a tourist for a day. Do all the things a tourist would do. M.S. Kenora Cruise around Lake of the Woods, visit Husky the Muskie, walk on one of our great trails, visit a beach or Hoopla Island or the water park. I would try 3 different restaurants (breakfast, lunch and supper). Then for dessert it would be the Dairy Queen. Our little museum has won a multitude of awards, so it would be worth a visit and end my day with a Cemetery night tour and sit at our Harbourfront to watch the famous Lake of the Woods sunsets. Truly a wonderful place, our Kenora is.
Why do you think it’s important for women to be represented in civic leadership, including on committees, boards and municipal councils?
The representation of women from all walks of live is vital and essential to have on Council and other committees to have that most important female outlook on life, our problems and solutions. Better representation will ensure women's voices are heard and issues fairly recognized. We would serve as role models, which is critical. We could then generate broader societal impacts on pay equity, changing work place policies to benefit both men and women. It would then attract a more diverse workforce, which I believe the City of Kenora is already moving in the right direction on women's issues. We bring different perspectives to drive effective solutions. It is critical that we sit at the table.
What does a ‘feminist city’ mean to you?
It means equality for all. For me, it is a fundamental freedom to access opportunities and resources of the City. It means we would work across silos to equally support all marginalized groups including, but not limited to, women, whilst simultaneously tackling issues of violence, perception of safety and spatial equality. Building safe, livable spaces that accommodate women and children and everyone else, a safe downtown area, more public spaces and accessibility to transit systems is essential. Claiming our space in a man-made world.
Please identify the most critical policy, project, or initiative in your platform that addresses systemic barriers faced by women in your municipality, and describe why:
I am proud to say the City of Kenora has been good to me as a woman. I was allowed, encouraged and given the opportunities to rise up in the ranks within the City. When I started as a Supervisor, it was a struggle, but with perseverance and the willingness of the City to change, the City of Kenora has been progressive in its approach to women. There are now more women in supervisory positions than ever before. The last hurdle is to make Council more diverse for all minorities and make it accessible and reachable for women especially. This year will be the year of change - you are going to see a woman-driven Council. The constituents will vote with intent to ensure this happens.
Social Media Handles
Barb Manson, Team Barbara Manson
Where can people find you?
Check me out on Facebook and Instagram. Call me, visit me. I will be door-knocking in the near future. I will be visiting all city departments. See you at the upcoming debate. See you at the Council table, please!