Mayor Marianne Meed Ward is Burlington’s longest-serving female mayor and founder of Elect Respect, a nationwide movement promoting respectful, inclusive politics and safer public spaces. What started as a small group of women sharing experiences of harassment has grown into a cross-country campaign calling for a renewed commitment to respectful public service.
Mayor Meed Ward will discuss her journey in public office and the work of Elect Respect, sharing insights for women leaders navigating the challenges of public leadership. As always, there will be lots of time for questions and discussion.
CC’s Women’s Caucus is a supportive network for women and gender-diverse local elected leaders across Canada who are advancing climate policy in their communities, providing a place for connection, mentorship, inspiration, and practical support.
Speaker Bio:
Marianne Meed Ward is serving her second term as Mayor of Burlington and is the city’s longest-serving female mayor. She champions smart, balanced growth alongside a passion for protecting Burlington’s natural beauty and heritage.
Under her leadership, transit became free for seniors and children, and youth on evenings and weekends. She chairs Ontario’s Big City Mayors Caucus, leading efforts to address homelessness, mental health, and addictions. She also launched Elect Respect, a nationwide campaign promoting respectful, inclusive politics and safer spaces for everyone in public life.
Prior to being Mayor, she served as a Burlington City Councillor from 2010 to 2018. Mayor Meed Ward has a degree in Journalism from Carleton University and worked for more than twenty years in journalism as a writer, editor, and broadcaster.
