ST. JOHN’S — Residents of a small but busy community in eastern Newfoundland reelected its all-women council this week with a near-perfect voter turnout.
The few eligible voters who didn’t cast a ballot were away or out fishing, Mayor Kelly Power said in an interview. The 51-year-old was first elected in 2013 alongside four other women, and the council has been made up of women ever since.
“We have very strong men behind us. All our husbands support us,” she said in an interview. “We have very strong men in our community.”
“I’m elected by men, too, right?” she added, laughing.
Branch is on the southwest coast of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, on the shore of St. Mary’s Bay. It has a population of 223, as of the 2021 census, and its main economic driver is crab fishing.
More than a third of Branch residents are senior citizens.
The council works hard to ensure those older residents, and everyone else, are rarely lonely. They plan community dances and dinners and afternoon slide shows of old photos. They have events — often several — for Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas. They have bouncy castles, prince and princess days and a French Days festival for the 16 students at the local school. The community centre is full most nights for sewing, bingo or darts.
The town’s Facebook page is a steady stream of updates and happy birthday wishes to local residents.
“In a rural outport, you’re so far away from everything,” Power said. “The people here need things to keep them active, and to keep your community alive so people want to be here.”
Thursday’s municipal election was the first time since 2013 that the council wasn’t reinstated by acclamation. The highest voter turnout on record with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador is 92.4 per cent, said Alexis Foster, the group’s director of communications and advocacy.
Thursday’s turnout in Branch — more than 95 per cent — is “unheard of,” Foster said. “Kudos to Branch,” she added.
The organization has long been encouraging more women to run for municipal politics. Branch, she said, “really stands out.”
Andrea O’Brien with Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador said there was an all-women council in Cape Broyle, N.L., in the 1990s.
Women have long held important leadership roles in Newfoundland and Labrador fishing towns. O’Brien pointed to the history of shore skippers, who were women that managed the on-land tasks of fishing, such as cleaning, salting and drying the catch.
Power said it was particularly meaningful to be re-elected in 2025, which is the 100th anniversary of women in Newfoundland winning the right to vote.
“We know by the vote (Thursday) that the majority of the people appreciate what we’re doing and agree with what we’re doing,” Power said. “That gives us great courage and strength to move forward and to keep doing what we’re doing.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2025.
Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press
