We were pleased to facilitate Muriel Bowser’s participation as keynote speaker at a luncheon-conference as part of the Institut du Nouveau Monde’s Summer School program, co-hosted by McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies. This year’s Summer School brought together 400 young adults with the mission of inspiring civic participation within their age group through non-partisan discussion-based activities.
Ms. Bowser, currently the Councilmember for Ward 4 in Washington D.C. and the city’s Democratic mayoral candidate for the upcoming fall election, made room in her busy campaign schedule to make the trip to Montreal. During her stay, Ms. Bowser was eager to draw parallels between Montreal and Washington’s international metropolises and to learn about innovative projects the City of Montreal is working on relating to open government, sustainable development, job creation, and neighborhood revitalization. Following brief introductory remarks by Deputy Consul General Matthew Hurley, Ms. Bowser was interviewed by Julie Miville-Dechêne, President of the Conseil du statut de la femme, and then responded to questions posed by Summer School participants. The councilmember’s experience in municipal politics and passionate approach to all topics discussed allowed for an engaging discussion that touched upon issues of citizen participation, the challenges and advantages of being a woman in politics, and D.C’s rapidly changing economy and demographic landscape. Her firm belief in the goal of assuring that each and every citizen has the option of participating in his or her district’s governance made her an excellent fit for the forum’s “Public Voices” theme.
See photos from all of the Institut du Nouveau Monde’s Summer School activities here.
