The Albanian-Canadian community will have two of its own names on the ballot in the October 26, 2026 municipal elections: Danjeza Danglli and Mendi Kabashi, two Albanian-Canadian women who have chosen to take an important step toward representation in local government in Canada.

As the election approaches, the Albanian Canadian Political Action Committee (ACPAC) has expressed its support for both candidacies and is encouraging Albanian Canadians—particularly those living in the communities where Danglli and Kabashi are running—to learn more about their platforms, priorities, and vision, and to become actively involved in their campaigns. As Editor-in-Chief of Albanian Montreal Press, and as a member of the Albanian-Canadian community, I join this call and support the efforts of these two women who have chosen to take on the responsibility and challenge of running for public office.

This support is not based solely on their Albanian heritage. It speaks to something much broader: the need for our community to have a stronger presence in Canada’s civic and institutional life. For years, Albanian Canadians have built remarkable success stories in business, education, medicine, culture, media, and many other professions. But a well-established and fully integrated community should not only be successful—it should also be represented. Political and civic participation is one of the most important ways to ensure that our community has a meaningful voice.

Two Candidates Who Need the Community Behind Them

Entering an election campaign requires far more than simply deciding to put one’s name on a ballot. It requires months of hard work, conversations with residents, door-to-door outreach, presenting a clear platform, and, above all, building a team of people who believe that participation matters.

This is precisely where the Albanian-Canadian community can make a difference.

Danjeza Danglli and Mendi Kabashi need more than congratulations or a “like” on social media. They need people willing to learn about their campaigns, volunteers prepared to contribute their time and skills, community members who will share information with friends and relatives in the relevant electoral areas, and eligible voters who will participate in the democratic process.

Supporting a candidate should never mean voting blindly based on shared heritage. Every citizen has a responsibility to examine a candidate’s platform, priorities, qualifications, and vision before making an independent and informed decision.

At the same time, our community should foster a culture in which those who have the courage and commitment to enter public life know that they do not have to make that journey alone.

From Individual Success to Meaningful Representation

For years, we have proudly celebrated the achievements of Albanians who have built successful lives in Canada. Now, we must increasingly speak about representation.

We need more Albanian Canadians willing to run for public office, serve on municipal councils, become involved at the provincial and federal levels, and participate actively in the institutions where decisions affecting our communities are made. Not simply to represent Albanians, but to serve all residents of their communities with professionalism, integrity, and commitment. That is one of the true measures of integration: preserving our identity and connection to our heritage while contributing fully and meaningfully to Canadian society.

A Call to the Albanian-Canadian Community

As Editor-in-Chief of Whoman MagazineCanada, a media platform that has for years highlighted the lives, achievements, and voices of Albanians in Canada, I believe we also have a responsibility to encourage greater civic participation within our community.

I therefore encourage Albanian Canadians living in the areas where Danjeza Danglli and Mendi Kabashi are running to learn more about their candidacies. Read their platforms. Ask questions. Volunteer. Share information with eligible voters in your networks. Encourage your friends and family members to participate.

And above all, on October 26, vote. Because in a democracy, it is not enough to ask for our voices to be heard. We must participate if we want those voices to carry weight. Today, two Albanian-Canadian women have stepped forward and asked voters to place their trust in them. Tomorrow, we should hope to see many more.

Danjeza and Mendi have taken their step forward. Now it is time for our community to show that we know how to stand behind those who have the courage to step into the public arena.

A strong community is not measured only by how many Albanians live in Canada. It is also measured by how engaged, how organized, and how well represented we are in the country we have chosen to call home.