Today on International Women’s Day The Breeze accepts the call to Choose To challenge, and call out inequality, we also want to recognize the women who have impacted all of our lives.
Join us on-air as we salute the women of music, with back-to-back female artists all day. We’ll also recognize the women who have affected change…. From the internationally renowned…. To the local heroes. A salute to the mothers, daughters and sisters who have made a difference.
And this year, you can show your support by joining The Breeze on social media. Raise your hand high and show that you choose to challenge and call out inequality, using the hashtag “choose to challenge”
Here are some of the women that inspire us, and they share their thoughts on what this day means to them, advice for future female leaders and who inspires them.
Dr. Bonnie Henry – Provincial Health Officer
Dr. Bonnie Henry was appointed as Provincial Health Officer for the Province of BC in 2018. As BC’s most senior public health official, Dr. Henry is responsible for monitoring the health of all British Columbians and undertaking measures for disease prevention and control and health protection. Most recently, Dr. Henry has led the province’s response on the COVID-19 pandemic and drug overdose emergency.
Dr. Henry’s experience in public health, preventative medicine and global pandemics has extended throughout her career. Prior to her current role, Dr. Henry was the deputy provincial health officer for three years. She also served as the interim provincial executive medical director of the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) from December 2013 until August 2014.
She has been involved with planning, surveillance and response to mass gatherings in Canada and internationally, including with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. She is also the author of “Soap and Water and Common Sense” a guide to staying healthy in a microbe filled world.
Karen Fry – Fire Chief/General Manager
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services
Fire Chief Karen Fry is the first woman to formally lead the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Department and it’s nearly 900 employees.
She has been in the fire service for 21 years and was most recently the Fire Chief in Nanaimo and previously a Deputy Chief for the City of Surrey.
Women represent approximately 4% of the fire service across Canada and Chief Fry continues to advocate and educate for diversity, equity and inclusivity to increase representation.
A mother of five she is a true believer in health and wellness in and out of the fire service.
Juggy Sihota -Telus VP Of Consumer Health
A telecom executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, Juggy has enjoyed a fulfilling and rewarding career with TELUS leading many emerging technology businesses and operations. Currently, as the Vice President of Consumer Health, Juggy is responsible for the national strategy, execution and operation of the Consumer Health business unit for TELUS Health.
Juggy believes in empowering Canadians with the right tools, information and support so they can live happier and healthier lives.
Juggy is the recipient of the Diversity Champion Award at TELUS. This award recognizes leaders who are champions of all diversity and celebrates those who leverage diversity of thought to help advance business strategy. Juggy received the Leadership Excellence Trailblazer Award by Canadian Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) as well as the Forty Under 40 award in BC by Business in Vancouver for her business achievements, inspirational leadership and community contributions.
Kendall Ansell – Founder of Belle Construction
Kendall Ansell is a talented interior designer who founded Belle Construction due to the obvious disparities and representation of women and folks of all genders within the trades industry.
Kendall has a strong understanding of design and uses an inclusive philosophy which has been strongly incorporated into Belle’s approach when turning their client’s dreams into reality.
Kendall’s goals for Belle Construction were to create exceptional craftsmanship and spaces clients can trust, all while being an innovator in having women in trades with a female-lead team of experts.
Melissa Hance – President, Dreams Take Flight Vancouver
My name is Melissa Hance. I am a mother, wife, full time employee with Air Canada and President of Dreams Take Flight Vancouver.
I represent women in a male dominated field of aviation and run a non profit organization.
My proudest achievements are being a mom and as there’s no handbook for being a parent, watching my boys grow and evolve into awesome humans is what I’m most proud of.
Miriam Alden – Founder, Creative Director and CEO of Brunette the Label and Brunette Showroom.
Over the past 11 years, Miriam has built and self-financed both a wholesale showroom and a fashion label with international reach. Brunette the Label was founded by Miriam Alden in 2014 as an outlet to align her personal values to the product she was already selling in her showroom. Her goal was to create a clothing brand for everyone.
Brunette the Label specializes in the elevated yet approachable loungewear to make you feel like the best version of yourself. Brunette is sold in over 700 stores in Canada and the US and is quickly growing in Australia and Europe as well.
Miriam’s mission to create a lifestyle of collaboration and kindness through her brand, and to change the meaning of the word “babe” to a source of positivity around self-love, and uplifting each other. She also owns the trademark to Babes Supporting Babes, a statement she created to share with the world her personal and professional values.
Paulina Cameron, CPA, CA
As CEO of The Forum, Paulina leads a national Canadian organization that educates, mentors and connects women entrepreneurs to thrive.
She is the author of bestselling Canada 150 Women: conversations with champions, leaders and luminaries; and was the co-founder and president of Young Women in Business. Paulina serves on the Board of Directors for the YWCA Metro Vancouver, is the Chair of the Board of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC, and the Government of British Columbia’s Small Business Roundtable.
She has been recognized in the community by being selected as Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40 2019, and being awarded the BC Business 2019 Most Influential Women in Finance Award, the Vancouver Board of Trade’s inaugural Wendy McDonald Award, The International Alliance for Women Top 100 Award in Washington DC, the KPMG National Leadership Award, and the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards.
Tamara Taggart is a community leader, activist, veteran broadcaster, cancer survivor, mother, and former candidate in the 2019 Canadian election.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Tamara is a community leader who advocates for others and raises much-needed funds for many important causes.
Tamara chaired BC Women’s Hospital’s Hope Starts Here campaign, raising $17 million for the newborn intensive care unit. She also served as chair of the BC Cancer Foundation’s Inspiration Gala for five years, raising more than $16 million for cancer research and treatment in BC.
Tamara’s 2014 TED Talk, “Two Conversations that Changed My Life”, struck a chord with medical professionals and universities around the world, by reframing the way healthcare practitioners communicate hope.
In 2015 Tamara was awarded the Order of BC—the highest honour awarded by the Government of British Columbia—in recognition of her years of public service. She also received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2016.
Tamara and her husband Dave have three children—son Beckett and daughters Zoë and Poppy. They also share their home with George their Airedale Terrier, Penelope their rescue dog from Mexico, and rescue cats Broccoli and Brussel Sprout.
Comments