Equal Voice NL is holding its annual leadership summit this fall that encourages women and gender-diverse people to get involved in politics.

Future of the Vote—formally known as Daughter of the Vote—takes place on October 21 at the House of Assembly in St. John’s.

Project Coordinator Erica Strong says making this event more inclusive will help expose more people to the province’s political institutions and the people who work there, allowing them to take action in their local communities.

She says there will be a number of events and networking opportunities throughout the day including a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workshop, a Sharing Insights Panel, an official tour and protocol rundown of the House of Assembly, as well as an issue debate on the house of assembly floor.

Strong says leadership in the province lacks diversity and it’s important for people to see themselves represented in government to bring about more inclusive conversations, and ultimately meaningful change. She says that doesn’t just mean women and gender diverse people, but other underrepresented identities such as Indigenous Peoples, new Canadians, women of colour, and people with disabilities.

There is an open call for delegate applications. The deadline to apply is end of day on July 18.

More information can be found at on Equal Voice NL’s website. Financial aid is available for those outside the metro area.