Commemorating and studying the often overlooked role of women in American history first began as a week of national celebration in 1982. Since 1987, March has been designated Women's History Month, which is a time to honor and acknowledge the historic, societal, and cultural contributions of women in the U.S.

The 2022 Women's History Month theme "Providing Healing, Promoting Hope," is "both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history," (National Women's History Alliance).

According to City of Canton records, only six women have ever served on its City Council: Margaret Logan, Amelia Rose, JoEllen Wilson, Pat Tanner, Sandy McGrew, and Brooke Schmidt. Despite that number, three of the six elected members in Canton's current City Council are women. These three leaders work together with all City staff to prioritize the tenets of Canton's Roadmap for Success and to engage with residents.

Promoting Hope in 2022

JoEllen Wilson
A seasoned Canton City Council member, Wilson served four full terms on City Council from 1990 to 2009 and was elected again in 2019. An avid boater and camper, she also loves to read and spend time with her husband, John. For her constituents, Wilson "HOPEs" to be Honest, Open, Progressive,
and Enthusiastic.

Sandy McGrew
Now in her third term as a councilor, McGrew has been a Canton resident since 2006. She served the Gwinnett County School System for 12 years as a technology lab manager/paraprofessional and enjoyed teaching new skills to children. Photography is a favorite hobby she shares with her husband, Gary Mullet. McGrew finds hope "in the women who are working and have done work to preserve and improve the environment. Women such as Jane Goodall and Winona LaDuke have spent their lives working toward sustainability."

Brooke Schmidt

Halfway through her first term as a councilor, Schmidt is excited to help the new Canton Cultural Arts Commission create civic engagement and placemaking in the city. Schmidt says, "I hold hope in challenging circumstances, like those of the last two years, because Canton always shows what it means to be a village, to be supportive. I want to continue to maintain that spirit of community while ensuring future generations want to call Canton 'home,' thanks to visionary economic development and responsible growth decisions."