Women’s Council Candidate Advocates for Women in Business

It is election season for the Metis Nation of Ontario’s Women’s Council, a provincial-wide council that represents female-identifying Metis citizens in Ontario.

Region 7 has two candidates running for Region 7 Representative on the Council, Michelle Lavallee Rae, and Suzanne Fraser.

Michelle Lavallee Rae has her Metis roots in the Red River and has been living in Region 7 since 1998. She is currently the executive director of the Ontario Petroleum Contractors Association and has held that position for 22 years. Her role involves overseeing various initiatives, including managing safety programs for the petroleum industry across Canada. She is also the chair of the Petroleum-Oriented Safety Training Advisory Committee.

Through her current job, Michelle finds herself working with and advocating to the government. This skill and relationship is something she hopes to bring to the role of MNOWC Region 7 Representative.

“There are many ways we could advocate,” says Rae. “Going through the local government, holding local events or participating in local events, social media, and of course, expanding our reach to our members.”

One of the issues Rae is passionate about is helping women entrepreneurs. “We've seen a huge surge of women entrepreneurs, and I would love to foster any support where needed, focusing on Metis women who are trying to get their businesses off the ground,” says Rae.

Michelle praised the council’s current contribution to female-identifying Metis citizens saying, “I know there's a lot of good work that the council is already doing to promote women's issues, and I just hope to be part of that and contribute in some way.”

The MNOWC election runs from August 7 to 14 and any female identifying MNO citizen over the age of 16 is eligible to vote. You can either vote online using onefeather.ca/mno or by phone at 1-855-923-3006 on the first and last day of voting between 3 pm and 7 pm.