RENFREW COUNTY (Pembroke) — The Township of Whitewater Region’s Councillor Charlene Jackson and Reeve Cathy Regier visited the 1st Pembroke Guide Unit meeting with the City of Pembroke Councillor Christine Reavieto. The three women helped 21 enthusiastic young women complete their Voices to Vote and Future Voters Challenge.
Shared were their views on women in politics and the importance of being involved in your community. A dialogue followed where the girls challenged the visitors with many interesting questions and a variety of ideas were explored.
Some of the questions the Councillors and Reeve answered concerned activities and issues politicians get involved in, what the favourite part of their job as a councillor is, if men and women present their ideas differently and lastly, how and why they each decided to become a politician.
The final session of the evening was a small group activity where each councillor helped the girls to find their voice. The groups chose a local issue important to them and worked with the councillor to prepare an action plan to present to council for consideration. Environmental pollution affecting the local community and local crime where discussed as areas for council involvement and action.
“It was a great experience,” said Reeve Cathy Regier to Kyle Dupuis, contributor for Whitewater News. “They asked a lot of really pertinent questions and they were very attentive and interested.” She said while there are no current plans for another night like this in the future, it’s something she throughly enjoyed and would partake in again.
