| People from inside and outside city hall are pushing to change the term "alderman," which is currently used to describe elected municipal representatives, to the gender-neutral "councillor."
A public event featuring a petition supporting the change is scheduled for September 16 to draw attention to the issue, and Ald. Madeleine King plans to propose the change to her city council colleagues later this month. She says her goal is to modernize the city and bring the title up to date with gender equality initiatives that have been strived for over the years.
"Gender neutrality in titles is really important," King says. "When you say you recognize and celebrate diversity, you have to show it in your titles.
"Since the mid-’90s… we’ve changed fireman to firefighter and policeman to police officers. A whole variety of other titles has changed, and since that time virtually all city councils that were using that title (alderman) have changed."
Dr. E. Lisbeth Donaldson, a University of Calgary education professor, says Calgary is one of the few municipalities in the country that still uses the term "alderman" and it’s time to get in line with the rest of the country. She says changing the term is a matter of gender equality, leadership and inclusion.
"I don’t think language should be frozen in time – it’s dynamic," Donaldson says. "It’s important (girls) don’t strive for a male model, that they represent themselves.
"(The use of alderman) strikes me as being an anachronism."
The issue, however, is not without controversy. Council voted against the change twice in the 1970s and ’80s. Some aldermen say debating the issue is a trivial waste of time.
In Alberta, only Medicine Hat and Lethbridge continue to use the term "alderman." One Red Deer councillor recently tried to have the title changed back to alderman after he heard of the debate in Calgary – based on the grounds that it better represents their position and heritage – but that move was rejected.
Calgary’s elected representatives were called councillors between 1884 and 1894.
King says she isn’t trying to open a can of worms, just bring the city up to date.
"In this case I think heritage is standing in the role of equality," she says. "I just wish we could get on with (the change) quickly and quietly." |
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