A gathering next month will shine a spotlight on the work of female leaders in our community—and hopefully inspire more to step into the world of politics.
Pembina Valley Women in Leadership are hosting Trailblazers in Politics on Tuesday, June 9 from 7-9 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Boundary Trails Health Centre’s new community services building.
Morden-Winkler MLA Carrie Hiebert will facilitate a panel discussion featuring fellow Conservative MLA and provincial minister Eileen Clarke, City of Thompson councillor and Association of Manitoba Municipalities president Kathy Valentino, businesswoman and former Winkler city councillor Karina Bueckert, and former Garden Valley School Division trustee and Manitoba School Board Association vice-president Hilda Froese.
It’s an opportunity to hear real stories of real impact from female leaders, says Leah Klassen, one of the members of the recently-formed Pembina Valley Women in Leadership group.
“Every woman on that panel is a pioneer in their own right,” she says, noting they’ve all found themselves in often male-dominated spaces and have had to contend with all the challenges that can entail.
Inspired by similar groups and panel discussions in other areas, and given the fact the 2026 municipal election is coming up this fall, it seemed the perfect time to bring women together for a frank discussion about some of the roadblocks and rewards of a career in politics, be it at the school board, municipal, or provincial level.
“We want folks to have an avenue to explore that in a way that is real and impactful, to hear about other leaders that have journeyed down that path and what being a woman in politics meant to them,” Klassen says. “Looking at some of the barriers, some of the challenges, but then also how can we better support women in politics? What does that look like?”
Along those lines, Pembina Valley Women in Leadership intends to branch out beyond this event, hopefully hosting similar discussions, guest speakers, and mentorship activities in the future.
“We would really like it, the group, to go on and have more women in leadership roles coming to support one another,” Klassen says. The group currently includes Klassen, Ang Braun, Sally Marsolais, and Carolyn Friesen. “We’re a grassroots group that just got started. It’s a handful of women that are involved who thought, you know what, we need to make space for women in leadership, recognizing that there are maybe some gaps in mentorship and collaboration.”
Next month’s talk is the best way to connect with them, Klassen says, especially if you’re interested in getting involved with future events.
The night is open to all. Admission is free.
