The Women's Advisory Voice of Edmonton (WAVE) Committee provides Council with advice on affairs relevant to municipal jurisdiction.
The Women’s Advisory Voice of Edmonton (WAVE) was created by Edmonton City Council in 2014. WAVE fosters and promotes equity, opportunity, access to services, justice and inclusion for women and gender diverse people in our city.
It is among the first of its kind in Canada, and WAVE is proud to be ensuring that the unique perspectives of women and gender diverse peoples are included in the conversations that shape our city.
Purpose
WAVE’s purpose is to empower women and gender diverse folks, to work toward social, political and economic equity in our city, and to add a gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) lens to decision making (a lens that has been historically, and is currently, under-represented). WAVE’s solution is additive and inclusive, not subtractive and exclusive.
Vision
Our Edmonton is a city where all women and gender-diverse people are respected, included and empowered to be full participants in all aspects of city life.
Mandate
The mandate of the Committee is to make recommendations to City Council about women’s gender-based issues and opportunities in relation to Council policies, priorities and decisions; promote leadership development to empower Edmonton women to fully participate in civic life, and provide research, information and resources about women’s gender based issues to Edmontonians.
Serving on the Committee
Online applications to fill Committee vacancies are accepted in the annual December/January Recruitment Campaign.
Council Members
| Name of Appointee | Term |
|---|---|
| Councillor Thu Parmar | Council Term of Office |
| Name of Appointees | First Appointed | Term Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| Toqa Abdelwahab | Jun 20/25 | Apr 30/26 |
| Noor Al-Henedy | May 01/25 | Apr 30/27 |
| Alison Bailie | Jul 04/22 | Apr 30/26 |
| Sarah Dharshi | May 01/25 | Apr 30/27 |
| Rhiannon Duval | Jul 04/22 | Apr 30/26 |
| Erika Eamer | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Saniya Ghalehdar | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Stella Igweamaka | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Laurence Jayawardane | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Areezah Jiwa | May 01/22 | Apr 30/26 |
| Echo Keizer (Co-Chair) | May 01/22 | Apr 30/26 |
| Cherie Klassen | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Trena MacGillivray | Jun 25/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Jaycee Meneen (Co-Chair) | May 01/23 | Apr 30/27 |
| Jess Smith | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Jasmine Virk | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
| Candace Yung | May 01/24 | Apr 30/26 |
Meetings, Reports and Resources
Meeting Schedule
All meetings are open to the public
If you would like to watch a WAVE meeting, you can watch it on WAVE's Youtube Channel.
If you would like to attend a WAVE meeting in person, please email: Wave@edmonton.ca
Request to Speak
We invite community members and groups to present at WAVE Committee meetings. Please complete the Request to Speak Form. For assistance with the form, please email Wave@edmonton.ca
Time
WAVE meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 5:30-8pm.
There is 1 subcommittee of WAVE. The work of WAVE is done through this subcommittee and meetings can be watched on WAVE's livestream.
- Policy Subcommittee Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month from 6-7:30pm
2025 Meetings
| Date | ||
|---|---|---|
| November | Agenda | |
| October | Agenda | Minutes |
| September | Agenda | Minutes |
| June | Agenda | Minutes |
| May | Agenda | Minutes |
| April | Agenda | Minutes |
| March | Agenda | Minutes |
| February | Agenda | Minutes |
| January | Agenda | Minutes |
2024 Meetings
| November | Minutes |
|---|---|
| October | Minutes |
| September | Minutes |
| June | Minutes |
| May | Minutes |
| April | Minutes |
| March | Minutes |
Reports
WAVE Strategic Plan Summary 2019-2021
Women and Poverty In Canada: Where Does Edmonton Fit?
An overview of the women in poverty in Canada.
Edmonton Women's Quality of Life Scorecard
Note: There has been a revision at the bottom of page 7 to reflect more accurate and comprehensive gender-based violence statistics. Corrected rates continue to demonstrate a higher than average rate of gender-based violence in Edmonton.
WAVE: Annual Report 2021 - 2022
WAVE: Annual Report 2018 - 2019
WAVE: Annual Report 2016 - 2017
WAVE: Annual Report 2015 - 2016
WAVE: Annual Report 2014 - 2015
Highlights our accomplishments and the building blocks of success of our 1st year.
Women's Spring Symposium: Final Report - April 7, 2013
Women's Fall Symposium: Final Report - September 15, 2012
YWCA Edmonton
YWCA Edmonton is a powerful voice for equity and has been leading social change and progress for women and families in the Edmonton region since 1907.
Equal Voice
A national, bilingual, multi-partisan organization dedicated to electing more women to all levels of political office in Canada.
Women in Local Government
Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Standing Committee on Increasing Women's Participation in Municipal Government.
How to Design a City for Women
Article about a "gender mainstreaming" experiment in Vienna. A project taking gender into account in public policy.
Sustainable Gender Equality
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions shows how citizens, municipalities and regions can benefit from gender equality.
Vancouver Women's Advisory Committee
Works with Vancouver City Council and staff to implement the Gender Equality Strategy and enhance access to full participation in Vancouver services for women and girls.
YWCA - A Turning Point for Women
YWCA is Canada's oldest, largest women's multi-service organization. Turning Point Programs for Women™ address personal safety, economic security, and well-being.
World Economic Forum - Global Gender Gap Report
Benchmarks national gender gaps of 142 countries on economic, political, education, and health-based criteria.
Searching For Izena
A grassroots project to commemorate the centennial of the first women being elected to Edmonton City Council.
Contact Us
Email wave@edmonton.ca