Voters in the eastern Ontario municipality of Merrickville-Wolford have elected an all-female council for the new four-year term. Anne Barr was elected mayor of Merrickville-Wolford, receiving 66 per cent of the vote to defeat incumbent mayor Michael Cameron. Speaking on Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal, Barr said it was significant to have five women serve on council. “Mostly because the council members that have been elected are well-educated, tones of experience. Some of them have really deep connections to the community,” Barr said Tuesday morning. “We have qualified and committed people that are going to be serving the community for the next four years.” Barr has served on council since 2010. “I’m deeply honoured to have been elected as your mayor,” Barr said in a Facebook post. “Congratulations to our newly elected councillors and I look forward to working together and keeping our community’s best interests at the centre of every decision.” The four councillor positions in Merrickville-Wolford were also won by women. Margaret Gural and Marty-Catherine Fraser were elected councillors in Merrickville Ward, while Cindy Hanna and Gina Jelmini were elected councillors in Wolford Ward. “I do believe that we do have five members of council that are really keen on collaborating, communicating well, working through agendas in a positive way,” Barr said. Merrickville-Wolford is located 85 kilometres south of downtown Ottawa. 13 women elected to Ottawa city council There will be more women than men on Ottawa city council for the first time since amalgamation. Thirteen women were elected to council on Monday night. In 2022, voters elected 16 men, including Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. Here are the 13 women on Ottawa city council: There were six women on council in 2000 and 2003, seven women on council in 2006 and six in 2010. Four women were elected to council in 2014.
