Manitoba news: Selkirk just made municipal history, and the numbers tell the story plainly. Voters in the Oct 28 election delivered a Selkirk majority-female council, the first in the city, with four women now holding seats on the seven member council.
Selkirk elected its first Selkirk majority-female council on Oct 28, 2026. Four of the seven council members are women: Lorie Fiddler, April Smith, Darlene Swiderski and Joen Hadfield, who is newly elected. Mayor Larry Johannson, Deputy Mayor Doug Poirier and Councillor John Buffie fill the other seats. The council was sworn in on Nov 9 for a four year term.
By Maplestime News Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 13, 2026
Sources: Brandon Sun via Newsbly, City of Selkirk | Last updated: November 13, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Four of the seven seats on the Selkirk majority-female council are held by women, a first for the city.
- Fiddler drew 1,344 votes and Hadfield drew 1,242 in the official results.
- All five incumbents who ran again won another term.
- Women hold just under 25 per cent of elected municipal offices across Manitoba.
- The new council was sworn in on Nov 9 and serves a four year term.
Who won seats on the Selkirk majority-female council?
The four women on council are Lorie Fiddler, April Smith, Darlene Swiderski and Joen Hadfield. Hadfield is the newcomer of the group, while Fiddler, Smith and Swiderski all won another term.
The other seats belong to Mayor Larry Johannson, who was acclaimed, Deputy Mayor Doug Poirier and Councillor John Buffie. Five incumbent councillors ran again, and all five won: Buffie, Fiddler, Poirier, Smith and Swiderski.
The official results list Fiddler at 1,344 votes, Hadfield at 1,242, Buffie at 893 and Swiderski at 886. The Brandon Sun reported the milestone on Nov 12, in a Local Journalism Initiative story by Steven Sukkau.
The City of Selkirk shared a photo of the Civic Centre with its election results on Nov 4, and the post is embedded below.
Related: Lord Selkirk School Dispute 2026 — Union Files Labour Board Complaint Over Contract Reveal
Chuck the Channel Cat, the big catfish statue that greets visitors to Selkirk. Photo: Bluejaywpg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
What does the milestone mean for Manitoba?
Selkirk now stands out in a province where women remain a clear minority in municipal office. Women account for just under 25 per cent of elected municipal officials across Manitoba, according to the City of Selkirk, which makes the Selkirk majority-female council a genuine break from the pattern.
The result also shows continuity alongside change. With all five incumbents who ran again returned to office, voters kept experience at the table while adding a new voice in Hadfield and lifting women into the majority for the first time.
What happens next?
The new council gathered for orientation on Monday, Nov 2, and was officially sworn in on Nov 9. The Selkirk majority-female council now begins a four year term, and faces the same everyday work as any other: budgets, services and the decisions that shape a small Manitoba city.
Selkirk voters will be watching whether a council that looks different also governs differently. The first test will come in the months ahead, when the new council sets its priorities and its first budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Selkirk elect its first majority-female council?
On Oct 28, 2026, when voters delivered the Selkirk majority-female council. The Brandon Sun reported the milestone on Nov 12, and the new council was sworn in on Nov 9.
Who are the four women on Selkirk council?
Councillors Lorie Fiddler, April Smith, Darlene Swiderski and Joen Hadfield. Hadfield is newly elected, and the other three won another term.
How does Selkirk compare with the rest of Manitoba?
Women hold just under 25 per cent of elected municipal offices across Manitoba, according to the City of Selkirk. Selkirk, with four women on a seven member council, now sits well ahead of that mark.
The Selkirk waterfront on the Red River. Photo: Jd.101, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Maplestime will provide updates from Selkirk as announcements are made.
Have a tip about this story? Email [email protected]
Have a correction? Email [email protected]
Will four women at the table change how Selkirk is run? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Manitoban who cares about local politics.
Enjoying Maplestime? Support independent Canadian journalism — no paywall, no corporate owners.
