Written By Olena Riznyk
LUCAN-BIDDULPH - Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson recently shared her experiences in Cambodia during a public presentation at the Lucan Library on April 23. Her talk, titled “Memories of Cambodia,” highlighted her role in a federally funded international initiative aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in local government.
The six-year project, called Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL), is coordinated by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). It brings together Canadian municipalities with counterparts in five developing countries to promote gender equity through community planning and policy development.
“This project is about looking at community development through a gender lens,” Mayor Burghardt-Jesson explained. “It asks: how will this policy or project impact women and children? And how can it create space for women to lead?”
Middlesex County was partnered with Cambodia, alongside the Town of Truro, Nova Scotia. Together, they worked directly with five Cambodian municipalities to support local leaders—especially women—in developing and implementing meaningful community projects.
“We started with the basics—what does equity mean? What does it mean to consider diversity or inclusion? For many of the local leaders, that language was entirely new,” said Mayor Burghardt-Jesson during the presentation.
On her two visits to Cambodia, she witnessed both challenges and remarkable determination. Many of the Cambodian projects focused on public health, maternal care, market hygiene, and waste management—all critical issues for women and families.
“In one village, their project focused on nutrition and access to maternal healthcare,” she recalled. “It’s 45 miles from the nearest hospital. If a woman runs into complications during childbirth, the outcome can be tragic. Yet they chose to focus on protecting mothers and babies. That speaks volumes.”
Reflecting on cultural differences, Mayor Burghardt-Jesson noted that in Cambodia, elected officials often take on roles that in Canada would fall to municipal staff—such as overseeing education, waste services, and local health programs.
Despite the lack of infrastructure, she said the warmth and hospitality of the Cambodian people left a deep impression. “What struck me most was how gracious and resilient the people are. After everything they’ve endured—the Khmer Rouge, poverty, limited infrastructure—they are still eager to learn, grow, and lead.”
As the PMI-WILL project continues through 2027, Mayor Burghardt-Jesson expects to make one final visit to Cambodia. In the meantime, she continues to advocate for local leadership that is inclusive and responsive.
