March 8 2025
Ontario – As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, it is a historic moment for municipal leadership in Ontario. For the first time, all major municipal associations in the province are chaired by women, demonstrating the strength, dedication, and leadership of women in local government.
The women at the helm of Ontario’s municipal organizations include:
- Mayor Robin Jones, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
- Mayor Christa Lowry, Chair, Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA)
- Mayor Amy Martin, Chair, Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC)
- Warden Bonnie Clarke, Chair, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC)
- Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Chair, Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM)
- Mayor Wendy Landry, President, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA)
- Chair Karen Redman, Chair, Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO)
This unprecedented leadership milestone is further supported by a strong network of dedicated women who provide strategic direction and operational support to these organizations, including:
- Lindsey Jones, Director of Policy and Government Relations (AMO)
- Petra Wolfbeiss, Director, Membership Centre (ROMA)
- Kate Burns Gallagher, Executive Director (WOWC)
- Meredith Staveley-Watson, Director of Government Relations and Policy (EOWC)
- Michelle Baker, Executive Director (OBCM)
- Andrea Strawson, Executive Director (NOMA)
- Margot Cragg, Executive Director (MARCO)
Together, these women are shaping the future of municipalities across Ontario, advocating for strong local governance, and ensuring that communities—both rural and urban—are equipped to thrive.
“This is a testament to the talent, expertise, and leadership of women in municipal government,” said Chair Karen Redman. “We are proud to work together to champion the needs of municipalities and residents across Ontario.”
On this International Women’s Day, we recognize the contributions of women in municipal leadership and the impact they continue to make in building strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
For more information, visit:
- AMO: www.amo.on.ca
- ROMA: www.roma.on.ca
- WOWC: www.wowc.ca
- EOWC: www.eowc.org
- OBCM: www.ontariobigcitymayors.ca
- NOMA: www.noma.on.ca
- MARCO: www.marcontario.ca
About: The Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO) brings together 16 regional municipalities and large, single-tier cities, representing over 10.6 million Ontarians and 75% of the province’s population. MARCO members deliver services that underpin Ontarians’ most urgent priorities and touch every stage of people’s lives—including trade- and housing-enabling infrastructure, police, public health, homelessness supports and social housing, childcare and long-term care beds. For more information, visit www.marcontario.ca.