Bringing together an exciting panel of academics and practioners, this talk will explore the role of parental status in political life, including recent debate concerning maternity leave policy for municipal politicians in Nova Scotia.

Open to the Public. Everyone welcome. 

Department of Politics contact: Erin Crandall (erin.crandall@acadiau.ca) 

Panelist Bios 

Meg Hodges has been a councillor for Kings County, NS since 2016. Meg, her husband Shawn, and their two children live in Sheffield Mills, where they grow vegetables, free range chickens, and pigs. Meg is the owner of Root Therapy Gardening and a director of the Sheffield Mills Community Association. 

Emily Lutz has been the Deputy Mayor of Kings County, NS since 2016. She lives on an apple farm in rural Annapolis Valley with her partner and toddler. She currently serves as the chair of the provincial Parental Accommodations Committee, which is recommending minimum standards for parental leave for municipal elected officials in Nova Scotia. She is also a board member of Engage NS and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, and is expecting a second baby in March. 

Melanee Thomas is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on gender and politics, with a particular focus on political attitudes, behaviour, and engagement. Her co-edited volume Mothers and Others: The Role of Parenthood in Politics was recently published by UBC Press.