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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 13 ,2 01 8 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @wlchronicle WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira nparreira@metroland.com Regional Director of Media Heather Dunbar hdunbar@starmetrolandmedia.com Sales Lead/Advertising Representative Michelle Stevens ext. 795062 Advertising Representatives Cassandra Dellow ext. 795066 Zach Peters ext. 795068 Jan Bodanka ext. 795072 Delia Medina ext. 795065 Regional Editor Mike Wilson Reporters Adam Jackson Bill Jackson Namish Modi CONTACT US Waterloo Chronicle 630 Riverbend Dr. Kitchener, ON N2B 2G1 Phone: 519-886-2830 Fax: 519-579-2029 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000 OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA EDITORIAL The voters of Waterloo Region may have just discovered a cure for what's ailing democracy in the world today. They've elected more women than ever to their local governments. Let other people in other places moan about being led - and misled - by out-of-touch elites. Instead of complaining, the citizens of this region have done something to make their political representatives more truly representative of their community. And the change they delivered in the Oct. 22 municipal elections is as breathtaking as it is positive. Consider the scope of the transformation going on as eight new, local municipal councils begin their terms. For the first time in its 45-year-old history, Waterloo Region has a woman as its regional chair - Karen Redman. Cambridge replaced long-standing mayor Doug Craig with a woman - Kathryn McGarry. The councils of North Dumfries and Woolwich townships also have women in the mayor's chair - Sue Foxton and Sandy Shantz, respectively. Women are now the majority on Waterloo city council. That's a change. Half the councillors in Kitchener are women, too. That's very different from the last term of office when seven out of 10 Kitchener councillors were men. Before this fall's vote, it had been 44 years since a wom- an was elected to Wilmot Township council. Now, three out of five councillors are women. Say goodbye to the old-boys- network there. Meanwhile, an equal number of men and women will serve as councillors in Cambridge and North Dumfries. On their own, these statistics tell only part of the story. Gender parity - or something close to it - in our local gov- ernments is about more than just counting numbers. The legitimacy of governments around the world is increasingly being challenged where those governments are not seen to reflect the electorate. They might be dom- inated by men or the wealthy. They might exclude repre- sentatives from certain racial, ethnic or religious groups. People in the LGBTQ community can also feel shut out. It's an unhealthy situation that alienates people con- vinced they're being ignored - and no wonder. We live in an era marked by massive human migration, disruptive new technologies and relentless economic uncertainty. And amid the turmoil, nations that claim to be bastions of equality are seen as increasingly unequal. These trends and the discontent surrounding them may not have percolated down to the level of Waterloo Region's municipal voters. But we've seen their impact, in the 2016 American presidential election, in the Brexit vote and even, to a degree, in this year's Ontario provincial election. So, while the election of more women than ever to this region's local governments might seem like a small, isolat- ed development, it bodes well for our future. Roughly half of the population is female. Governments that mirror this reality should be more connected to the entire community. Pollsters frequently find men and women have different political priorities. Men, for instance, seem more likely to focus on reining in taxes and government spending. Wom- en are frequently more attentive to the strength of the social safety net. Both perspectives are legitimate. But there's a greater chance of both viewpoints being honoured and implement- ed as policies by gender-balanced governments. That's where Waterloo Region is headed. And as we celebrate this new political reality, we should also applaud the organizers of the Waterloo Region Women's Municipal Campaign School, a program that has long encouraged and helped more women to run for office. At the end of the day, finding out how to fix what's wrong with the democracies of today is obvious: Make them more democratic. MAKE ROOM FOR WOMEN ON OUR REGIONAL COUNCILS The holidays are a spe- cial time of year - one for gathering with friends and family, enjoying delicious meals and participating in gift exchanges. Without a mindful approach, it is easy to overindulge in holiday cheer. Use the following nu- trition tips to help you plan ahead and navigate the holi- day season without overin- dulging. ENJOY HOLIDAY TREATS THAT ONLY COME ONCE A YEAR To manage your sugar consumption over the fes- tive season, savour those special treats that come on- ly once a year. Avoid the oth- er sweets that you can eat any other time of year. KEEP ACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS We may be eating a little more during the holidays so it's especially important to maintain regular physical activity. Go build a snow- man, walk around your neighbourhood and see all the lights, go skating at a lo- cal rink or walk inside at a local mall. Aim for at least 150 minutes of activity per week. FILL HALF YOUR PLATE WITH VEGGIES FIRST When there are lots of op- tions it is easy to over fill our plates and consume larger portions than we may need. Filling our plates with veg- gies first will allow for us to manage our portions and choose healthier options. SIP SMART With the holidays comes high sugar foods and bever- ages. Be aware of the sugar content that comes with eggnog and other festive drinks. Enjoy them, but in moderation. Have one of your favourite holiday cock- tails, then switch to a low sugar option such as spar- kling water flavoured with fresh fruit. PLAN AHEAD Don't show up to a party starving - that is a recipe for overeating. Have a snack be- fore leaving your house and engage in conversation in- stead of heading straight to the snack table. EAT MINDFULLY When attending holiday gatherings, take the time to really enjoy and appreciate the smells, flavours and tex- tures of each bite. Being mindful of what you are eat- ing will help you realize when you are full and help limit overindulging. MAKE HOLIDAY RECIPES HEALTHIER Lots of recipes can be made a little healthier by searching for healthier in- gredient substitutes. For baked goods, swap sugar for unsweetened apple sauce, prunes or dates. Heidi Pola is a registered dietitian with Zehrs. She is part of a network of more than 70 dietitians who pro- vide services like one-on-one consultations, assisted shopping, school tours and recipe ideas at locations across the country. SURVIVING THE HOLIDAY GLUTTONY USE THE FOLLOWING NUTRITION TIPS TO HELP YOU PLAN AHEAD AND NAVIGATE HEIDI POLA Column