Calgary’s city council has voted down a motion to change the title of elected ward politicians from “alderman” to “councillor.”
“I think we have other more pressing issues to discuss, and that’s certainly what I’ve been hearing from my constituents,” says Ward 7 Ald. Druh Farrell, who voted against the name change. “Never when I was considering running did I give it a second thought that somehow this was an exclusive male club that I was intruding upon.” All three women on council voted against the name change, which was defeated eight to six December 3.
However, Ward 11 Ald. Brian Pincott says council made a mistake in rejecting the change. “I think that we need to be as inclusive as we can, and having a gender-specific title doesn’t move us towards inclusivity,” he says. “[Councillor] is just a more welcoming title. And if we’re concerned about things like gender balance and representation in our society, then this is just something we need to do.”
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