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Patricia Leson, president of the Prince Albert Council of Women, recently became president of the National Council of Women of Canada. (submitted photo/Rose Rothenburger)

Local woman named president of National Council of Women

Jun 18, 2019 | 2:15 PM

A Prince Albert woman plans to use her newly appointed national position to address the issue of sex trafficking.

Patricia Leson, a retired educator, became the President of the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) this past weekend at the organization’s annual general meeting in Winnipeg.

“We know that many of our Indigenous young women and men are trapped in this and we have to stop this,” Leson said. “The more we hear about Saskatoon becoming a hub for Winnipeg and Edmonton, it’s frightening and sickening and we need to make it stop. We need to address those stories that were shared by grieving families with such passion and sorrow.”

The NCWC is an advocacy organization aimed at improving conditions for women, families and communities. Its made up of provincial and local affiliates, including the Prince Albert Council of Women (PACW). The council has focused on areas including women’s suffrage, immigration, health care, education, mass media and many others.

“The National Council of women has been an advocacy force in all of Canada for the last 126 years. I became involved approximately 20 years ago and I was so interested in how passionate these women were in fighting for the rights of women and children in every way shape and form,” Leson said.

Rose Rothenburger, member of the PACW, said there have been very few presidents from Western Canada and never one from Prince Albert in the history of the organization.

“We know Patricia will do an excellent job and we are pleased that women across Canada have placed their trust in her leadership,” Rothenburger said.

Two other Prince Albert women became vice-presidents of the NCWC this weekend. Lawyer Randi Arnot, and nurse-practitioner and educator Brenda Mishak will also sit on the national council along with Leson.

The term for the three positions is two years.

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone

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