A good sized crowd gathered Tuesday evening in the multipurpose room of Boundary Trails Health Centre's new Community Services Building for the Pembina Valley Women in Leadership: Trailblazers in Politics event, an evening designed to encourage more women to consider public service and leadership roles in their communities. The panel brought together women with experience in municipal, provincial, and school board politics, offering attendees a candid look at the opportunities, challenges, and rewards that come with serving in elected office. Among the panelists was former Winkler city councilor Karina Bueckert, who became the first woman elected to Winkler City Council in two decades. Bueckert said she was encouraged by the size of the crowd and the level of engagement shown throughout the evening. "When I ran for city council, I went to an event held in Morden that Heather Francis had put on, again trying to encourage women who were considering running," said Bueckert. "There were, I think, five of us. So, for us to be in a room right now with 40-plus, how wonderful. We've come a long way. I think we have a long way to go, but we've come a long way." Throughout the evening, panelists answered questions about leadership, decision-making, balancing family responsibilities, and navigating environments where women have historically been underrepresented. Bueckert said one of the most valuable parts of the evening was hearing the experiences of other women who have served in leadership positions. "It's nice to have people with the same responsibilities in the same room making those same decisions," she said. "Sometimes it's not a bias, it's just a lack of thought of that approach. Being able to share different pieces of perspective is huge." Representation matters A recurring theme throughout the evening was the importance of having diverse voices represented at decision-making tables. Bueckert said she hopes events like Trailblazers will lead to more women putting their names forward in future elections. "We all need to be at the table. We all need to be able to serve and represent," she said. "We all come with a different default, and having everybody represented in how they make decisions and their background only helps the community with all the decisions that are being made." She also encouraged prospective candidates to build strong support networks before entering public life. "As the only female that was on council, it was very lonely in that sense," she said. "Get your people in place. Build your tribe. Have people behind you that support you and provide a safe place to bounce ideas off and talk things through." Former Garden Valley School Division board chair Hilda Froese reflected on her years in education governance and spoke about the importance of women using their voices. Froese shared examples from her time on the school board, including advocating for changes during school construction projects and pressing provincial leaders to address overcrowding at Garden Valley Collegiate. One of those conversations eventually contributed to the province approving a new high school for the division. "Both times there may have been a temptation to stay silent," Froese acknowledged. "But without speaking up, those things wouldn't have happened." Froese said she was heartened by the turnout and hopes the momentum continues into future elections. "I think we could take that a step further and put that into our next elections," she said. "Let's all encourage and stand behind some women for these positions. I really believe we can do it if we work together." Related stories: New Trailblazers event creates space for women to explore political leadership Her Voice - Nominate someone today! School boards often overlooked Froese also highlighted the often-overlooked role school trustees play in local governance. "School boards often get overlooked," she said. "City council looks after ditches and water and sewer, but we look after children and parents and staff." She encouraged community members to pay closer attention to school board elections and the impact trustees have on local education. A provincial perspective Former Gladstone mayor, MLA, and cabinet minister Eileen Clark travelled from Gladstone to participate in the event. Clark served eight years as mayor before unexpectedly transitioning to provincial politics, eventually serving as a cabinet minister for seven and a half years. She said she attended both because of family ties to the Winkler and Plum Coulee area and because she wanted to encourage women to pursue leadership opportunities. "I never anticipated that I would have this part of my journey in a political world," said Clark. "But I did, and I have some really great experiences. It's nice to share and encourage others." Clark spoke candidly about entering municipal politics during a difficult period for her community. "Our community was not doing well at all," she said. "I didn't know that I could make a difference, but I didn't do it alone. I had a great council." She said the evening's turnout left her optimistic. "There was an amazing turnout and people of all different ages," she said. "That's the thing that's most important." A path forward for younger generations Clark, now 72, said experienced leaders still have an important role to play by mentoring younger women considering public service. "Our knowledge and experience as seniors, we need to encourage the younger generation and show them there is a path forward," she said. Her advice to prospective candidates was to carefully evaluate whether public service fits their stage of life. "Take advantage of opportunities when they're presented, if it works," Clark said. "But if it's not right, don't do it." She added that public office should always be approached as service rather than personal ambition. "Don't go in looking for a leadership position to prove a point or for self-benefit. That's not the purpose. You're there to serve the people." For attendees, the evening provided an opportunity not only to hear from experienced leaders but also to consider their own potential roles in shaping the future of their communities. Courtney Yeo Thiessen attended as an interested community member and said she has considered running for council herself. "As a mom who's thought about running for council, being able to sit and listen to women who have had experiences on different types of boards and councils was really helpful," she said. Yeo Thiessen said one of the biggest takeaways was seeing that public service is possible even for younger residents with busy family lives. "The ability to balance and know that this is something that is doable for younger people in our community, if you're willing to put the time in and dedicate yourself to it, was important." She also emphasized the need for women to support one another. "I really appreciated the statement about women supporting each other even when other women are not in the room," she said. "At the end of the day, we are a team." Looking beyond gender While much of the discussion focused on women in leadership, Yeo Thiessen said age diversity is equally important. "I'm a young mom. I'm a young homeowner in our community," she said. "It's important to see women on council, but it's also important to see all ages represented." She noted that younger residents are more likely to participate in civic life when they feel represented by those seeking office. "They need to see themselves reflected in what they're voting for," she said. What can all women do to get ready for fall? Local business owner Linda Menzies attended the event to learn from women who have served in public leadership roles. Menzies, owner of Menzies Pro Care in Winkler and Morden, said the evening gave her a new appreciation for the work elected officials do behind the scenes. "The best way to build a stronger community is to learn from others," she said. Menzies said she plans to encourage others to become more engaged in local elections. "I think I'm definitely going to encourage people to get more involved in getting to know the people that are running for election and be a strong support to them, especially the women that are going out on a limb sometimes to be a voice." As a business owner, she said she connected with the panelists' discussions about balancing multiple responsibilities. "As business women, we wear a lot of different hats," said Menzies. "Then I come here and see these women wearing all those hats plus twice as many. What an inspiration they are." She added that hearing about the countless volunteer hours and unseen work performed by elected officials gave her a deeper appreciation for those serving their communities. "There's so much that we don't know," she said. "This was very enlightening." Hope for the future The evening ended with attendees continuing conversations long after the formal panel concluded, a sign, organizers hope, that the event's goal of encouraging future female leaders may already be taking root. As Bueckert noted, seeing a room filled with more than 40 people interested in the conversation represented progress in itself. "We've come a long way," she said. "And I'm excited about what comes next."