Women make up 48 per cent of the workforce in Canada, but only half have seats in the boardroom.
That was the grim reality the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce presented this morning, March 8, as the local business group hosted its International Women’s Day breakfast and talk in Coquitlam.
With the theme “Inspire Inclusion,” keynote speaker Ravi Toor delved into her personal and professional experiences growing up in Abbotsford, and shared stories about how she changed her life by redefining a path toward leadership and creating social impacts with far-reaching legacies.
“I knew I had to honour the person inside,” the TEDx speaker told the crowd of about 200 attendees at the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club, after being rejected for a wage bump, adding, “We have to challenge what’s been put in front of us for so long and create something completely different.”
Toor then tasked the audience to “revolutionize” themselves by developing a plan for a life upgrade.
“Recognize your worth,” she repeated, as the crowd drilled down on how to unleash its potential.
Among those at the Chamber event included business women and politicians such as Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart and Belcarra Mayor Jamie Ross, city councillors and school board trustees.
Panelists Cybele Negris, CEO and co-founder of Webnames.ca, and Janine Davies, VP of corporate communications and marketing for Raymond James, spoke afterward about empowering women.
Ravi Toor gives her TEDx Talk in the United States.
Meanwhile, Vivien Symington, chairperson of the Chamber’s Women in Business program, offered a mimosa toast to mark International Women’s Day.
The founder of Club Aviva and the Symington Symbiotic Foundation, she is one of dozens of Metro Vancouver leaders and companies that have been nominated for a 2024 YWCA Women of Distinction Award; the winners will be named May 13.
Here is the full list of finalists:
Arts, Culture & Design
- Afuwa
- Angela Elster M.S.M.
- Bonnie Mah
- Catherine Winder
- Jag Nagra
- Jennica Grienke
- Judith Pyke
- Marn Norwich
- Naina Grewal
- Nalini Bhui
- Orene Askew (DJ O Show)
- Rosa Quintana Lillo
- Sandeep Johal
Business & the Professions
- Carol Mills
- Daphne Bramham
- Devon Thompson
- Emily Kerr
- Grace Chiu
- Hayley Woodin Hastings
- Heather Wilson
- Jennifer Cudlipp, CPA, CGA
- Karen Dosanjh
- Katerina Anastasiadis
- Lisa Clark
- Lisa Oleson
- Lorna Nimmons
- Mariat Jibril
- Sarah Hoffman
- Dr. Yabome ‘Satia’ Gilpin-Jackson
Community Champion
- Carmen Stossel
- Christina Wong
- Irene Dorsman
- Joanna Jagger
- Me-An Laceste
- Michelle Di Tomaso
- Raheil Moradi
- Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan
- Vivien Jean Symington
Education, Training & Development
- Dr. Awneet Sivia
- Dr. Carolyn Gilbert
- Julie Walchli
- Dr. Lynne Tomlinson
- Dr. Tamara Shenkier
- V. Victoria Shroff, KC
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Geena Jackson (Tsetasiya)
- Jessica Regan
- Mia Fiona Kut
- Nancy Wingham
Environmental Sustainability
- Alisha Lettman
- Christine Mallier
- Heather Keith
- Dr. Louise St. Pierre
- Dr. Love-Ese Chile
- Dr. Melissa Lem
Health & Wellness
- Dr. Amy Salmon
- Dr. Cornelia (Nel) Wieman
- Dr. Julie Wilson
- Dr. Kathleen Ross
- Dr. Laura Housden
- Dr. Maryam Zeineddin
- Dr. Natalie Chan
- Pauline Martin
- Ramya Hosak
- Tiara Abuedochi Cash
- Vivian Eliopoulos
Non-Profit
- Carleen Pauliuk
- Chelsea Minhas
- Christine Buchanan
- Fatima Hassam
- Irene Elhaimer
- Maria Howard
- Nicole Taylor
- Dr. Renee Fernandez
- Seema Tripathi
Reconciliation In Action
- Denise Mullen
- kihci têpakohp iskotêw iskwêw (Emily Henry)
- Lauren Kelly
- Marie Babisky
- Marissa Nobauer
- Mary Gerges
- Rhonda Larrabee
- Sarah McIntosh
Research, the Sciences & Technology
- Dr. Elizabeth Rohrs
- Forum Bhanshali
- Dr. Jacquelyn Cragg
- Dr. Joanie Sims Gould
- Dr. Shazhan Amed
- Dr. Xiaoxiao Li
Young Woman of Distinction
- Balqees Jama
- Chloe Goodison
- Hemanya Sharma
- Stephanie Quon
Outstanding Workplace
- Fairware Promotional Products
- Genus Capital Management
- Global BC
- Microserve
- Parq Vancouver
- Prospera Credit Union
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Sage
- Scotiabank
- Securiguard
- Terra Nova Medical Clinics
- Transportation Investment Corporation
- Vancouver Community College
- Wind Sun Sky Entertainment
