Searching for Izena came out of the gate with a lot more fanfare than its namesake, the largely forgotten first woman to be elected to Edmonton's city council.
Why so much interest when Searching for Izena debuted in January? Well, this is an election year, and the last few campaigns have brought very few women to City Hall. The podcast also has some power behind it as a project of YWCA Edmonton and Parity YEG, with financial support from the Edmonton Community Foundation. And it's got a pretty interesting news hook — the titular Izena Ross was elected one century ago, and only 30 women have followed in her footsteps.
The charismatic co-hosts, Stacey Brotzel and Kim-Ann Wilson, have presided over two episodes so far. Part 1: #30 and #31 sets the table for the series and interviews current councillors Bev Esslinger and Sarah Hamilton. Part 2: Sex, Tea Parties & Cigarettes gets into the history, with former Morinville mayor Lisa Holmes introducing Izena Ross, and Sen. Paula Simons telling the story of Margaret Crang, the 23-year-old firecracker who was the second woman elected to council.
The nine-part series comes out on the third Tuesday of the month, concluding a month before Edmontonians head to the polls on Oct. 18.