National Chair, Equal Voice
| Topics: Women in Politics |
| Interview Date: November-29-2011 |
| Extraordinary Insights: "Women need to take the step to engage with the political arena, and not stand back or question their abilities, experience and preparedness." |
Audio-only version:
Donna Dasko is the co-founder and National Chair of Equal Voice, an organization with chapters across the country dedicated to electing more women to all levels of government. Equal Voice works with all of Canada’s major political parties to nominate more women, it raises awareness of the lack of women in public life, and it encourages women to seek careers in public office.
Donna Dasko is also one of Canada’s best known and respected public opinion analysts and pollsters. As Senior Vice-President of Environics Research Group, she has led directed hundreds of research projects during her 28-year career for government and non government clients. Her areas of expertise are public policy, health, and communications research.
She often speaks publicly, including as a media commentator and to groups and organizations on topics such as trends in public opinion, current politics, social change, multiculturalism and political institutions. She has appeared on several television panels, including during the recent federal election campaign in 2011, when she was a regular panelist on CBC’s Power and Politics. She led the CBC- Environics polling program for the 2008 and previous federal elections going back to 1993.
She was born and raised in Winnipeg Manitoba, and has a Ph.D. and M.A from the University of Toronto, and a B.A. Honours from the University of Manitoba. She is certified Market Research Professional (CMRP).
Dr. Dasko is a member of the Statistics Canada Advisory Committee on Social Conditions and provides ongoing advice to Stats Can on the conduct of all of its social surveys and the Canadian Census. She has served as president of St. Stephen’s Community House, director of the United Way of Greater Toronto, director of the Canadian Youth Foundation, and Governor of the Canadian Unity Council.