Municipal World honours 2024 Women of Influence in Local Government

Sheilagh O’Leary, deputy mayor of the City of St. John’s, Nfld., has been named as the 2024 honouree of Municipal World’s Women of Influence in Local Government Award.

The Women of Influence in Local Government Award celebrates women who have made significant contributions to the field, whether on the administrative or political side of life.

“I was absolutely delighted to hear the news, ecstatic to be completely honest,” O’Leary said. “Not because we all need the gold star on our heads, but as women oftentimes in politics, and certainly trying to serve marginalized groups, it can sometimes be like fighting for air in all kinds of other power struggles that are happening and the necessity of things that are important in terms of running a city. Just to get that acknowledgement to say, ‘Hey, I see you,’ is something I’m very, very grateful for.”

Launched in 2019, the Women of Influence award has evolved over the years. It now recognizes a single honouree plus two honourable mentions. Diane Ballantyne, a councillor in Wellinton County, Ont., and Colleen James, a regional councillor with Waterloo Region, Ont., have been named as 2024’s honourable mentions.

“The Women of Influence Award Women celebrates women who have made significant contributions to local government, whether on the administrative or political side of life,” said Municipal World CEO Anthony Gibbons. “The nominees, finalists, and honourees for this award have all demonstrated leadership, strength, and determination. They have shown grace under pressure, have worked collaboratively, and lifted up others along the way in the pursuit of affecting positive change in their communities.”

The nomination process for the 2024 edition of the award was opened on International Women’s Day, March 8, and resulted in a group of compelling and deserving nominees from across the country. That list was then narrowed down to 10 finalists.

The following are excerpts of the nomination letters of the honouree and two honourable mentions:

Sheilagh O’Leary, City of St. John’s, Nfld.

Sheilagh O’Leary is a respected community leader, driven by a profound commitment to fostering a sustainable economy that benefits both people and the planet. With a wealth of experience in non-profit leadership and over a decade of service as an elected municipal official, Sheilagh has distinguished herself as an unwavering advocate for inclusion, mental health awareness, arts and cultural advocacy, and environmental stewardship.

Since her initial election as St. John’s Councillor at Large in 2009, where she garnered the highest number of votes, Sheilagh has exemplified dedication, resilience, and a tireless work ethic. Balancing her responsibilities as a single mother of three young children at the time, she embarked on her journey to serve the community with unwavering determination.

A vocal advocate for equal opportunities, she champions intersectional feminism and is proud of her mixed Irish/Indigenous heritage which informs her advocacy. Over three decades, she has channelled her passion into empowering marginalized communities through strategic communication, collaborative initiatives, and innovative problem-solving.

Throughout her tenure, Sheilagh has been a vocal advocate for environmental sustainability, spearheading successful initiatives such as tree development regulations and lobbying for a provincial ban on single-use plastic bags. Her achievements, including achieving gender parity at St. John’s city hall, stand as testament to her commitment to advancing gender equity in the political sphere.

Diane Ballantyne, Wellington County, Ont.

I am thrilled to nominate Diane Ballantyne for the 2024 Woman of Influence Award as someone who demonstrates profound influence in our community. Diane is currently serving her second term as a Councillor for Wellington County.

Diane was an award-winning secondary school teacher for 28 years, receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2023 and the James Forster Provincial Human Rights Award in 2012.

In 2017 Diane co-founded the Centre Wellington Community Dinner Project, serving over 3,000 free meals and increasing community attention on local food insecurity. Her advocacy extends to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community through Renegade Rainbows, a program she started that invites volunteers to chalk rainbows across our community each June. This initiative led to the Wellington County Museum painting their front steps in 2022, hosting a Pride Month event in 2023, and our local OPP having a Pride flag-raising event that same year.

In 2024, Diane presented at the ROMA conference on Building Inclusive Communities and supported the “Wellington Welcomes” campaign, which won an award for showcasing stories of newcomers. She continues to mentor women interested in politics, recently speaking to the Public Service program at Conestoga College and last October was a guest on the Governance Solutions podcast.

Colleen James, Region of Waterloo, Ont.

I am honoured to nominate regional councillor Colleen James for the prestigious Woman of Influence Award for her outstanding contributions and leadership in public service. As an elected official, Colleen has demonstrated exemplary dedication, vision, and advocacy for advancing the rights and opportunities of women and under-recognized communities.

Throughout her career, Colleen has been a tireless champion of gender equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her leadership has driven positive change and created a more inclusive and equitable society.

Colleen’s career in local government is over 15 years; she was the executive assistant to Mayor Brenda Halloran at the City of Waterloo. She later became the research assistant to the regional council in the Region of Waterloo, where she supported 15 directly elected regional councillors and provided policy guidance. Her community advocacy was present when she led the region in 2020 to embark on its anti-racist journey following the murder of George Floyd.

Colleen has been promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives within her city and beyond. She has actively supported programs and policies that celebrate diversity, combat discrimination, and create opportunities for under-recognized communities to thrive.

Colleen is deeply committed to engaging with her constituents and empowering them to participate in civic life. She participated in and supported the women’s campaign school to encourage women to run for office.

About Municipal World

Municipal World Inc. is a Canadian media brand that connects local governments with the information, products, services, and people they need. The flagship monthly magazine, Municipal World, now available in both digital and print editions, has been continuously published since 1891 – longer than any other municipal magazine in the world.

Contact: awards@municipalworld.com

✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in Meyer’s article: Rowena Santos: Take your place and own it with style and grace.

Sean Meyer is digital content editor for Municipal World.

Related resource materials:

• • Forging a path for next generation of local government women
  • Fighting for gender, cultural diversity in local government
  • Municipal World honours 2023 Women of Influence