The women running for Calgary mayor describe slurs, taunts, harassment

Jyoti Gondek says some of the messages her mayoral campaign have received have reduced staffers to tears.

The city councillor says she's used to the racist, misogynistic slurs and taunts she's endured for the past four years as the representative for Ward 3, but it's been tough for her volunteers and supporters to see it for the first time.

"There are a number of volunteers and supporters on my team that have been exposed to things that they've never experienced before, and it shocked them," she said.

"What I'm disturbed by is how quickly it's ramped up and how much more emboldened people are to spew such hate and terrible personal things."

Mayoral hopeful Jan Damery raised the issue this week during a virtual debate, so CBC News decided to check in with all four women who are running for the top job at City Hall to find out what they've seen, heard and experienced during the campaign, which has just over two weeks left.

"The abuse we take, the misogyny we take," Damery told the forum.

Her team has since been posting short videos on social media reciting some of the messages they've received, and they're not easy to hear.