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Elect Her Women in Politics Panel 2020
Date: December 8th, 2020
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM PST
Confirmed Panellists
Elizabeth May ; Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands, former leader Green Party of Canada
Elizabeth May served as Leader of the Green Party of Canada from 2006 – 2019, in 2011 becoming the Green Party of Canada’s first elected Member of Parliament representing Saanich-Gulf Islands. She will continue as Member of Parliament and will run again, now serving as the Parliamentary Leader of the Green caucus.
In 2005, Elizabeth May was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her decades of leadership in the Canadian environmental movement. She graduated from Dalhousie Law School and was admitted to the Bar in both Nova Scotia and Ontario. She practiced law in Ottawa with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre prior to becoming Senior Policy Advisor to the federal minister of the Environment (1986-1988). For seventeen years Elizabeth served as Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada (1989-2006).
A proud mother and grandmother, she lives in Sidney, British Columbia, with her husband John Kidder. Elizabeth is the author of eight books, including her most recent book, Who We Are: Reflections on my life and on Canada.
Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould ; Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould was first elected as the Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Vancouver Granville on October 19, 2015.
On November 4, 2015, Ms. Wilson-Raybould was appointed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada making her the first Indigenous person to serve in this portfolio. She then served as Minister of Veterans Affairs of Canada from January 14, 2019 until her resignation on February 12, 2019. Following the 2019 election she was re-elected as the Independent Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, making her the only Independent in the 43rd Parliament.
Ms. Wilson-Raybould is a lawyer, advocate, and leader among British Columbia’s First Nations. She has a strong reputation as a bridge builder between communities, and a champion of good governance and accountability. Prior to entering politics, she was a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver and later served as an advisor at the BC Treaty Commission, a body established to oversee complex treaty negotiations between First Nations and the Crown. In 2004, she was elected as Commissioner by the Chiefs of the First Nations Summit.
In 2009, Ms. Wilson-Raybould was elected Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, where she devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and health care services. She was re-elected as Regional Chief in 2012 and served until 2015, holding responsibilities for governance and nation building on the Assembly of First Nations Executive. Ms. Wilson-Raybould also served two terms as a councillor for the We Wai Kai Nation.
An active volunteer in her community, Ms. Wilson-Raybould has served as a Director for Capilano College, the Minerva Foundation for B.C. Women, the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, and the National Centre for First Nations Governance. She was also a director on the First Nations Lands Advisory Board and Chair of the First Nations Finance Authority.
Ms. Wilson-Raybould is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation. Her traditional name, Puglaas, means “woman born to noble people.”
Ms. Wilson-Raybould is married to Dr. Tim Raybould, a Cambridge scholar and management consultant.
Melissa Caouette; Vice President, Business Development & Government Relations at Canadian Strategy Group
Melissa Caouette is the Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations.
Melissa has been with Canadian Strategy Group since 2018. Melissa is an experienced public affairs professional having experience in both government and the private sector. Prior to joining Canadian Strategy Group, Melissa worked as a Special Assistant to the Premier of Alberta, and later went on to work within the public policy group of a global law firm. Melissa is active within her community and has played key roles on numerous municipal, provincial and federal campaigns.
Melissa is passionate about getting more women engaged in politics through her involvement with Equal Voice.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Alberta
– Rachael Segal ; Senior Director BC Liberals
– Susanne Skidmore ; Secretary-Treasurer of BC Federation of Labour
– Sarah Potts ; Victoria City Councillor
– Hon. Michelle Rempel; Member of Parliment for Calgary Nose Hill
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