We’re providing young women between the ages of 18 and 23 with an opportunity to learn about civic government and gain mentorship from members of Council.
The program concludes with participants taking part in a Mock Council meeting that explore issues facing our city.
- Applications open
May 29 - Application deadline
July 5 at 5pm - Orientation
August 15 - Mentoring
- Mock Council evening
October 29
Meet the mentees
Read the biographies of all of the women taking part in the program PDF file (64 KB)
Please contact the City’s media team if you would like to speak to any of the participants.
Program overview
Women4Politics provides the opportunity for 11 young women to participate in an orientation day, meet with a mentor, and take part in a Mock Council meeting that explores important issues facing our city.
Orientation (August 15, 2019)
The full-day orientation will include sessions hosted by the City Clerk’s office on Council meeting protocols and procedures, and an introduction to topics and issues to be debated and decided upon in the Mock Council session on October 29.
Mentorship meetings
Participants will meet one to two times with their respective Mayor or Council mentors who will be assigned to successful applicants based on mutual interests and criteria.
Matching each successful applicant to a member of Council for the mentorship component of the program will be based on mutual civic interests as outlined in the application.
Date and place to be mutually determined.
Mock Council evening (October 29, 2019)
Holding the place of the Mayor and Council, the young women will take over Council Chamber for a Mock Council evening to debate topics of importance to our city.
Meet and be matched with an elected official, create a great network of like-minded women, and be inspired to actively engage in the decision-making processes that impact our city.
Eligibility
Women, trans and cis, between the ages of 18 and 23, who live, work, volunteer, or go to school in the city of Vancouver, including the University Endowment Lands are eligible to apply.
Applicants must commit to being available for a full day orientation on August 15, 2019, one to two mentoring sessions with an assigned member of Council, and the evening Mock Council meeting, October 29, 2019.
Successful applicants will be selected by Council based on the following criteria:
- Previous volunteer experience and demonstrated interest in key civic issues and municipal leadership
- Demonstrated contributions to civic engagement, or actions that address broader issues facing our city
City of Vancouver employees are not eligible.
