MLA Linda Larson stopped in at Rumours in Grand Forks to share lunch with local young women who are working through 2014 to identify barriers and challenges that keep women from participating more fully in government.

Grand Forks is one of only six communities across Canada selected to participate in the

Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Head Start For Young Women.

Larson shared her experiences as a municipal and now provincial elected official with the young women.

It is the goal of the program to increase women’s participation in government positions to 30 per cent by 2026. According to local project coordinator and Grand Forks Councillor Cher Wyers today we’re seeing just over 24 per cent.

The FCM Head Start – Grand Forks Group is planning a Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Conference this fall tentatively scheduled from October 3 to 5th in Grand Forks, inviting female politicians throughout the West Kootenay Boundary Region to bring up to three youths from their communities to participate in a weekend of leadership, learning and networking.

It is from this conference that the messaging will encourage communities to form a Youth Advisory Council in their communities to continue the work of engaging our youth in political and community life.