Diane Langman’s election last weekend as mayor of Warfield leaves only one local municipality in West Kootenay/Boundary that’s yet to have a female mayor.
In the 116 years since its incorporation, Trail has never had a female mayor.
In fact, only one woman has ever run for the position.
That was Doris Robinson in 1922 who earned 55 votes and finished last among three candidates.
However several women have served on Trail city council and some have topped the polls.
The first woman elected mayor in the Kootenays was Emilie Popoff in Slocan City in 1947 and served two terms.
Three other women have since been mayor of Slocan: Agda Winje, Madeleine Perriere, and presently Jessica Lunn.
The full list of women who have served as mayor in our area, and their dates in office, is below.
1. Emilie Popoff, Slocan   Jan. 6, 1947 – Jan. 8, 1949
2. Agda Winje, Slocan   Jan. 3, 1972 – Dec. 4, 1978
3. Audrey Moore, Castlegar   Feb. 1977 – Dec. 1993
4. Isabel Butler, Kaslo   1978-79
5. Mabel McCrory, New Denver   Dec. 3, 1979 – Jul. 12, 1983
6. Jackie Drysdale, Rossland   1985-87
7. Rosemarie Johnson, Nakusp   Dec. 7, 1987 – Dec. 6, 1999
8. Joan Lakes, Montrose   1994 – Dec. 1996
9. Libby Nelson, Fruitvale   Dec. 1996 – Dec. 5, 2011
10. Lori Lum, Grand Forks   Dec. 6, 1999 – Dec. 2, 2002
11. Colleen Lang, Greenwood   Dec. 2, 2002 – Dec. 5, 2011
12. Marguerite Rotvold, Midway   Dec. 2005 – Dec. 2008
13. Ann Henderson, Salmo   Dec. 2005 – Dec. 2, 2014
14. Karen Hamling, Nakusp   Dec. 2005 – Present
15. Madeleine Perriere, Slocan   Dec. 10, 2008 – Dec. 8, 2014
16. Ann Bunka, New Denver   Dec. 5, 2011 – Present
17. Kathy Provan, Silverton   Dec. 5, 2011 – Dec. 2014
18. Patricia Cecchini, Fruitvale   Dec. 5, 2011 – Present
19. Kathy Moore, Rossland   Dec. 1, 2014 – Present
20. Suzan Hewat, Kaslo   Dec. 1, 2014 – Present
21. Jessica Lunn, Slocan   Dec. 8, 2014 – Present
22. Deb Kozak, Nelson   Dec. 8, 2014 – Present
23. Diane Langman, Warfield   Mar. 10, 2017 – Present