Canada 150 Women_Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries Read online

  Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries

  PAULINA CAMERON

  Contents

  Introduction

  Curators’ Notes

  Monica Adair

  Shelley Ambrose

  Christina Anthony

  Louise Arbour

  Jean Augustine

  Janet Austin

  Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia

  Nini Baird

  Kim Baird

  Yaprak Baltacıoğlu

  Janet Bannister

  Meg Beckel

  Jeanne Beker

  Cindy Blackstock

  Rose Boyko

  Barbara Brink

  Judy Brooks

  Manon Brouillette

  Beverley Busson

  Brenda Butterworth-Carr

  Kim Campbell

  Cassie Campbell Pascall

  Elizabeth Cannon

  Maryse Carmichael

  Tania Carnegie

  Debby Carreau

  Ann Cavoukian

  Lisa Charleyboy

  Piya Chattopadhyay

  Jan Christilaw

  Wendy Arlene Clay

  Kristin Cochrane

  Caroline Codsi

  Imogen Coe

  Ruth Collins-Nakai

  Shushma Datt

  Jean Hough Davey

  Natalie Zemon Davis

  Lisa de Wilde

  Sara Diamond

  Laurel Douglas

  Pat Duncan

  Susan R. Eaton

  Jennifer Flanagan

  Margot Franssen

  Tatiana Fraser

  Dawna Friesen

  Hedy Fry

  Anne Giardini

  Jennifer Gillivan

  Chan Hon Goh

  Kathy Gregory

  Mary Jo Haddad

  Evelyn Hart

  Linda Hasenfratz

  Jill Heinerth

  Debra Hewson

  Alia Hogben

  Pamela Jeffery

  Christina Jennings

  Maureen Jensen

  Judy John

  Roxanne Joyal

  Victoria Kaspi

  Petra Kassun-Mutch

  Kathy Kinloch

  Josée Kurtz

  Lisa LaFlamme

  Michele Landsberg

  Silken Laumann

  Karina LeBlanc

  Patti Leigh

  Monique Leroux

  Julia Levy

  Joanne Liu

  Alison Loat

  Sarah Lubik

  Fiona Macfarlane

  Christine Magee

  Ann Makosinski

  Elizabeth May

  Janice McDonald

  Meagan McGrath

  Marianne McKenna

  Nancy McKinstry

  Tracey McVicar

  Anne-Marie Mediwake

  Deepa Mehta

  Monique Mercier

  Farah Mohamed

  Emily Molnar

  Marta Mulkins

  Saadia Muzaffar

  Carol Newell

  Susan Niczowski

  Samantha Nutt

  Ratna Omidvar

  Barbara Orser

  Sue Paish

  Natalie Panek

  Julie Payette

  Heather Payne

  Mia Pearson

  Vivienne Poy

  Sarah Prevette

  Shahrzad Rafati

  Justina Ray

  Alison Redford

  Mandy Rennehan

  Jennifer Reynolds

  Shannon Rogers

  Michele Romanow

  Kate Ross LeBlanc

  Janet Rossant

  Ebonnie Rowe

  Martha Salcudean

  Vicki Saunders

  Gabrielle Scrimshaw

  Dorothy Shaw

  Brigitte Shim

  Molly Shoichet

  Gerri Sinclair

  Victoria Sopik

  Janice Stein

  Ratana Stephens

  Angela Sterritt

  Belinda Stronach

  Shannon Susko

  Tamara Taggart

  Carole Taylor

  Kathleen Taylor

  Vianne Timmons

  Erin Treloar

  Ilse Treurnicht

  Tanya van Biesen

  Annette Verschuren

  Tamara Vrooman

  Lise Watier

  Sheila Watt-Cloutier

  Sandra Wear

  Hayley Wickenheiser

  Faye Wightman

  Lorelei Williams

  Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson

  Jody Wilson-Raybould

  Kathleen Wynne

  Selected Honours and Achievements

  Jill Earthy

  Lois Nahirney

  Cybele Negris

  Maili Wong

  Introduction

  FOR EIGHT YEARS, I had the immense privilege of running a national organization focused on supporting and elevating young women. It was created with a desire to learn from the diverse voices of extraordinary female role models who are leaders in their fields.

  While a lot has changed, we still have a long way to go toward equality and equity. The data remind us that the gender pay gap in Canada still exists, that the proportion of women in positions of power is not at par, and that women are not financially or systematically supported at equal levels.

  But there is great reason for hope. More women than ever are starting businesses, leading our communities, and achieving “firsts,” “seconds,” and “thirds.” Feminism is experiencing a global resurgence—from the Fearless Girl statue on Wall Street to Women’s March Global, women are being seen and heard in an unprecedented way. Some will say feminism is not needed, or that it is outdated or divisive. That is not the feminism I know.

  Feminism is an invitation for us, women and men alike, to bring forth our best selves and to operate from a place of generosity and abundance. Feminism is an invitation to co-create possibility through power, equity, and imagination.

  Canadian women are the barometers of our country’s incredible human potential. The women who contributed to this book represent only a fraction of that potential, and their stories serve as an inspirational representation of the countless other known and unknown accomplishments of all women in Canada throughout its history. Some of these women you know well, and will get to know better. Others, you may be meeting for the first time. All of them are remarkable.

  I couldn’t have engaged with all our extraordinary contributors and their stories on my own. I first gathered a team of talented women to help me curate these stories—Jill Earthy, Lois Nahirney, Cybele Negris, and Maili Wong—who are themselves sources of inspiration for many.

  Together we reached out deeply and widely into communities. We researched awards and recognitions: from nationally scaled honours like the Order of Canada, to more community-based impact awards like the YWCA Women of Distinction. We consistently checked our perspective and challenged ourselves to be mindful of diversity across many metrics. Our criteria were simple and powerful: women who are leaders in their fields, who make a difference for other women, and who inspire those around them. Canada has no shortage of women of this calibre.

  As you will read in the interviews, we must acknowledge and hold space for Canada’s history. As we celebrate 150 years since Canada’s Confederation, we must also remember that our country is more than 150 years old, and that our work of being truly united is not yet over.

  I hope the stories of these women will inspire and spur us to action, and be a catalyst for those who will lead us to the next gre
at heights. May this book serve as a step in changing the narrative about women and who we see as our leaders, champions, and luminaries.

  PAULINA CAMERON

  September 2017

  Acknowledgements

  With each step up

  I take,

  I vow

  To lift up one more.

  Till we are all standing,

  Shoulder to shoulder.

  MY UTMOST GRATITUDE to my boys, for unconditionally loving and supporting me, endlessly cleaning the kitchen (David!), and for the sweetest mamaaaaaa’s and muuuuah’s (Jude!).

  Thank you to Karla, the best ciocia there is. To my parents for the courage they have lived and taught us.

  To my 24/7, worldwide cheering squad: Gen, Katie, and Theo: “Behind every great woman is another great woman replying to her frantic texts in the middle of the night”—Nora McInerny

  Thank you, Jesse, for answering a wild-idea email with “there is always a way!” and truly creating the way with your team (Gabi and Peter, you make magic happen). Thank you, Farah, for your dynamic, imaginative, and welcoming eye.

  Thank you, Pina, for your speedy transcribing. Thank you, Stephanie and Amelia, for hopping in to quickly support. Thank you to everyone who made recommendations, introductions, and suggestions.

  Thank you to all the friends and family for every single text, tweet, insta, email, and phone call of support—each one popped in at just the right time and lifted me up.

  Thank you to each of the women I interviewed. What we do creates ripple effects. Each of you has carved out a path and made a new contribution. Many of you may not reap the benefit of that, but rather will be leaving it as your legacy. I have the most immense gratitude and admiration for each of you.

  Paulina Cameron is Director of the BC + Yukon division of Futurpreneur Canada. The founder of Young Women in Business, she serves on the Government of Canada’s Expert Panel on Youth Employment. Paulina won an Alliance for Women’s Top 100 International Women Award and the inaugural Wendy McDonald Award from the Vancouver Board of Trade.

  #Canada150Women

  Curators’ Notes

  WHEN ASKED TO name famous inventors, trailblazers, or icons, most people begin naming men. It is important to portray women’s stories—first, to showcase what is possible; second, to inspire young women and men to take positive action in the face of challenges; and third, to continue to grow, standing on the shoulders of those who have built the foundation. It is about time our children started seeing and hearing the amazing accomplishments of women who have contributed so much to the fabric of our society.

  The journey for women has often been challenging. Women have, in many cases, worked harder and longer to get where they are today. Women deserve champions and advocates who understand the barriers that exist and actively work to support the advancement of women. By recognizing female leadership, we also reinforce the power and great payoffs that diversity and inclusion bring to the community, boardroom table, economy, and society as a whole.

  Feminism continues to be an important topic as gender imbalance prevails in traditional models. In the past, women were taught to conform to existing models and environments. We now know this is neither effective nor sustainable. The definition of feminism is evolving, and new models are being created to embrace diversity and enhance inclusion. We need to stop fixing a system that does not represent all voices and instead create new paths forward.

  If just one girl is inspired to step up as a leader, this book will have achieved its purpose. But it will achieve much more by inspiring all of us to shift our mindsets and to become engaged leaders and citizens.

  JILL EARTHY

  LOIS NAHIRNEY

  CYBELE NEGRIS

  MAILI WONG

  Monica Adair

  “Canada is young enough to become anything we want it to be. It’s never too late to protect our greatest asset—our natural landscape.”

  Birthplace Saint John, NB

  What age do you feel 32

  Occupation Architect

  Book you gift most Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

  Favourite drink Bourbon

  Favourite place in Canada Always the place I last visited.

  If you could have dinner with any woman, alive or dead, who would it be?

  Anya Violet, co-founder of Babes Ride Out, a women’s motorcycle meet-up and camp-out in the desert, has captured my attention lately. She is part of a great group of people who are creating a unique space for women to grow the motorcycle community. She is fearless with the throttle on any terrain, and has a playful, adventurous nature that certainly has had a pull on me as I find my own place in the motorcycle world.

  What message would you put on a billboard?

  “We are what we create.”

  Tell us more about taking the unconventional path, including how you raise your family.

  Part of why my husband and I started our own architecture practice was to be able to design our own life. In architecture schools, the enrolment numbers are approximately 50/50 men and women, but for senior leadership positions worldwide women are significantly underrepresented. When we wanted to start a family, I didn’t want to have to choose between having children and taking our ambitions to the next level. So we decided to raise our children at work. We moved into our first office and designed a playhouse in the office called Hugo Bureau—for serious play. It took everyone around us to make it work; everyone pitched in. It was a gift to have our children close at such a pivotal time of their growing and our growing our business. We embraced the chaos and feel so fortunate. We learned that the way we operate might be a little messy, but if you go with it, it becomes an energizing flow that feeds everything in our life with meaning. Architecture is a demanding profession, and so is motherhood. Convention doesn’t lay out how to make this happen easily, so we’ve learned to look for answers outside of convention.

  If you were to write a book, what would its title be?

  How to Put Your Kids to Sleep, Stop Stressing, Save Money, and Not Eat Seconds. This and a million other things I’ve never learned to do.

  Where did you learn about taking risks, and what is your decision-making process when faced with an opportunity?

  It is easy to understand conventional ideas of risk, that idea of risking too much, but we are more interested in that of risking too little. Not every outcome will be clear from its outset, and it will certainly not be guaranteed, and we firmly believe that you can’t open new doors with old ways. Our greatest challenge operating in Atlantic Canada is mediocrity, that things are good enough. We don’t have to sacrifice it all to make a difference, but we do have to push beyond what convention tells us is possible if we want to live better.

  When do you feel most powerful?

  When I am in a creative flow at work, when I am executing ideas, when I’m on a dirt bike, when I exercise, and after giving birth.

  What has become more important and less important to you in the last few years?

  More: feeding my kids. Less: feeding myself. More: creating the life we want to live. Less: worrying about what others think.

  Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting out?

  It’s taking me a long time to go my own way and not rely on the paths of others. I’m almost in my fortieth year of life and only starting to finally embrace my MO. If I had known this earlier, I probably would have just embraced the fact that the chaos can be a place to thrive, and not always tried to run away from it.

  If you were to get a tattoo of one word, what would it be?

  I have one. It says “Alive.”

  Shelley Ambrose

  “Time has become more important. What other people think has become less important.”

  Birthplace Chatham, ON, but grew up in Calgary, AB

  What age do you feel A very tired 32, or a very energized 80

  Occupation Executive director and
publisher, The Walrus

  Book you gift most The Diviners by Margaret Laurence

  Favourite drink I’m not drinking today, so I’ll have the white

  Favourite place in Canada Anywhere on the water

  If you could have dinner with any woman, alive or dead, who would it be?

  Elena Ferrante. So I can find out how she manages to write about mothers and daughters and friends in such an original, compelling, devastating way. And, of course, find out who she really is.

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  Different strokes for different folks. My view is that feminism is the ability to make your own independent choices; that means not shaming other women for their choices—however much you may disagree with them.

  Of course, my experience in media is not universal, but I have not found it hard to be a woman in this environment. I was hired by a woman for my first significant job, and in all of my positions, either a woman has been the boss, or there were several women in the most senior positions. I have hired lots of women, worked for and with lots of women. There are lots of women on air, on television, on radio, in print, and in power in media. There are many other industries and sectors where the lack of women at the top is much more prevalent.

  What has been a defining moment in your personal or professional life?

  Going to work for Peter Gzowski at CBC Radio Morningside in 1986 changed my life. For twelve years my job was travelling Canada from coast to coast to coast, making radio, making books, organizing charity golf tournaments; privy to fifteen hours of live conversation a week about everything from arranged marriages to the Oka crisis to chili sauce. It was very hard work, the bar was very high, but it was an incredible privilege and provided me with lifelong friendships and a very strong sense of place and our country.

  What is your vision for Canada in twenty years?

  With hope, that we are well on our way to reconciling our complicated past and have carved a path forward hand in hand with our founding first peoples and our new citizens. That we have confidence, pride, and compassion, while maintaining a sense of humour, our supply of fresh water, and lots of forums for the Canadian conversation.