The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia hosted Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from across the CPA Canada Region for the 13th CWP Canada Regional Outreach Programme from 20 to 21 January 2026.

Delegates were welcomed by the British Columbia CWP Representative, Hon. Janet Routledge, MLA to the programme titled ‘Women Leading: Reflecting on Public Office’.

CPA BLOG: Supporting women into leadership roles in Canada: This blog reports on CWP outreach in British Columbia building connections between current women MPs and future women leaders. Click here.

Keynote speakers included Hon. Rachel Notley, former Premier of Alberta, the first Canadian CWP International Chairperson, Hon. Catherine Fife, MPP (Ontario) and the CWP Canada Chair, Hon. Susan Leblanc, MLA (Nova Scotia).

The two-day in-person programme included panel discussions with women from across Canada who serve in public office including Bridgitte Andrson, the first woman to lead the Vancouver Board of Trade in its 139-year history.

The CWP Canada Outreach Programme is an annual event in the Canadian Region that allows women Parliamentarians to engage with other women and girls in the community. The goal is to educate them about the political process and encourage them to get involved in politics and run for office. This is the first year that the programme has been held since 2019.

The Programme complements the CWP mission: “to promote the representation of women in CPA Branches and women's full and equal participation in political and parliamentary leadership at all levels", and the 2026 CWP Workplan objectives on disseminating opportunities and information to support women's political participation in politics.

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The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) promotes equal participation in all Legislatures and is the network of women Members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) with almost 180 Parliaments in its membership. The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was founded in 1989 to increase the number of women elected representatives in Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth and to ensure that women’s issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation. The network campaigns for gender equality in all spheres.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures at national, state, provincial and territorial level working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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