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Press Release: PoliticsNOW Hosting "Running For Something"
MP Viviane Lapointe, Councillor Erika Lougheed and Councillor Kristin Murray coming together to tell their story about running for political office in Northern Ontario.
POLITICS NOW HOSTING “RUNNING FOR SOMETHING”
MP Viviane Lapointe, Councillor Erika Lougheed and Councillor Kristin Murray coming together to tell their story about running for political office in Northern Ontario
MARCH 7th 2022 -- PoliticsNOW is bringing together local three women politicians for a roundtable discussion about what it’s really like to run for office in Northern Ontario.
The event features Viviane Lapointe (Member of Parliament for Sudbury), Kristin Murray (Municipal Councillor for Timmins) and Erika Lougheed (Municipal Councillor for East Ferris and Ontario NDP Candidate for Nipissing). Together, they will speak candidly about their experiences running for office in their communities, and what it's really like to be a woman in politics up North. PoliticsNOW hopes that this event helps show women across Northern Ontario that their experiences are valuable and that there are many pathways to running for office.
“These women bring a wealth of knowledge and unique experiences to the table. There are a million different ways that women can get involved in politics, and we’re so lucky that we’ll get to hear these three stories,” said Amanda Kingsley Malo, the founder of PoliticsNOW. “With perspectives on what it’s like to run for different parties and at all different levels of government, the conversation that we will have promises to be honest and interesting.”
This event is free, and will be held virtually. It will be a 45 minute roundtable discussion, followed by a short Q&A. The event is taking place on March 21st at 8PM. Everyone is welcome to join.
More information can be found on PoliticsNOW’s website or Facebook page. To see more event details or to RSVP, please visit the event page.
About PoliticsNOW
PoliticsNOW is a non-partisan grassroots organization that aims to amplify women’s voices and engage in gender-inclusive political discourse, engage more women in politics at all levels of government and work together to support women candidates. In addition to their InspireNOW speaker series, they have run awareness campaigns and Running for Office Bootcamps. In the 2018 municipal election, PoliticsNOW trained over 100 women, supported 26 female-led campaigns and saw 11 women elected to municipal council.
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Erika Lougheed
Erika Lougheed works across the North - advocating, fundraising, and creating community connections to support the most vulnerable people in her area. She mobilizes positive community collaboration for a living. Although herfocus is in Nipissing and Parry Sound, and her office is in North Bay, her work takes her all across the North. She hasa long history in non-profit management as well as experiences as a wilderness canoe guide, yoga teacher, business owner, farmer, and community builder. Erika is running for councillor of East Ferris, ON.
Why did you decide to run for council?
I believe a healthy community, in spirit, has multiple voices at the table. The rural charm, environment, and appeal are drawing many people to East Ferris, particularity young families. We need to preserve the legacies of the past and include new voices and experiences to the future. East Ferris needs to become more than just a place to live, but a place where people want to come visit.
What innovative projects would enhance life in your community?
I'd like to see festivals and events that draw people from North Bay, Powassan, Callander and Bonfield to East Ferris.
What do you think are the greatest challenges your city faces?
East Ferris is a tight knit community that thrives on historical, existing, deep family connections. I am able to see the opportunities this provides for those who've lived here, as well as the gaps it creates for anyone new to the area. I see it as a community in transition. Nuzzled between other municipalities, East Ferris is becoming a place to live, not necessarily a place to visit. We need to put ourselves on the map, become an innovative and exciting community to visit, and realize that there is an upward swing of new families moving to the area.
Other than the official ways of communicating (minutes, municipal notes), how else will you reach out to your constituents to involve them in the decision making process?
Social media is the easiest, most convenient way to include constituents in a conversation. Keeping people informed and engaging in a two-way conversation. Then conversations with the public are met with a willingness to engage and less suspicion and frustration of feeling out of the loop. We need to be asking questions on social media, not just pushing information out.
What is your favourite thing to do in your city?
I walk. Every single day I walk kilometers throughout the municipality, deep in the forest, with my Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Agatha. I have a few chickens, operate a rural yoga studio, and spend an incredible amount of time making tracks throughout East Ferris. It's hard to beat this place.
Where can people find you?
@erika4council - on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.