EDITOR IN CHIEF: Kelly Lee
ART DIRECTOR: Liesje Doldersum
CONTRIBUTORS: Lynette Pole-Langdon, Stevie Forbes-Roberts, GoYoga Orangeville, Carol Szuky, Tabitha Wells, Josie Balka,
PHOTOGRAPHY:
by Lynette Pole-Langdon
(IWD) is always meaningful for us at Family Transition Place (FTP). It’s a time to reflect on the service we provide to women, children, and families and on the collective responsibility we all share in creating a community where safety, hope, and equality are possible.
This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply within our work and agency culture. Working in social services, we see every day how our values and giving align; compassion creates safety and trust, equity helps people receive what they truly need to move forward, social responsibility strengthens our collective well-being, and integrity guides us to act with care and accountability.
The IWD 2026 Give to Gain campaign is focused on encouraging a mindset of generosity and collaboration. Living and working in our ever-growing rural community, we see firsthand how deeply connected we are and how progress happens when we show up for one another.
We know that you, our supporters, understand how powerful “giving” is and the ripple effect it has. Since 2001, community support and fundraising dollars have helped sustain our Youth Education program—one of our largely unfunded programs—allowing us to reach thousands of students each year. Hearing feedback
from a grade 5 student who talks about her classmates being more accepting and inclusive of her cultural clothing speaks to the power of encouraging this young girl to be proud of who she is and at the same time teaching others about respecting differences.
At FTP, giving takes many forms. It’s the generosity of our donors who share their resources to make a difference, especially at a time when our services remain chronically underfunded and operating costs continue to rise in 2026. It’s community partners who collaborate with us to strengthen services. It’s the time, care, and expertise our staff and volunteers bring to their work so people we serve have help moving forward in their lives. It’s the courage of survivors who share their voices and help shape better systems. Each of these acts contributes to something larger: a ripple effect where support multiplies, barriers can be reduced, and women and children are better positioned to thrive. When we give in these ways, through time, resources, and commitment, we all gain as we become stronger individuals, healthier families, and a more connected community. Thank you for being part of this movement.
Family Transition Place (FTP) has been committed to helping women and children in Dufferin and Caledon since 1985. In times of crisis, women have found their way through our doors and into safety, often with their children, and here they start the arduous work of re-building their lives. In our welcoming and cheerful shelter, they meet other women whose professional lives are dedicated to helping them overcome their challenges and build new relationships—at the centre of which is the relationship with themselves and their children.
Apart from the shelter services and our critical counselling services supporting women impacted by the trauma of abuse, and both women and men who are dealing with the aftermath of sexual violence, FTP has become known as a leader in the field of healthy relationship education. We believe that by educating youth and children about the importance of respect, self-esteem and nonaggressive behaviours, we can influence the next generation of families, so that they are emotionally healthy and strong
BY STEVIE FORBES-ROBERTS
AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND A MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE, there are days when I am less than optimistic when it comes to our health care system. I am also a queer person with my own lived experience of mental health. When I was a youth, I struggled to access services and received no early intervention. Today as an adult working in this community, I am honoured to be working alongside Dufferin youth in a youth-led intervention that could dramatically change how we offer mental health services in Dufferin.
The Dufferin Youth Wellness Hub will provide free and integrated services for youth ages 12-25. This one-stop shop hub is co-designed by youth and families to provide mental health & substance use counselling, primary care, peer support, service navigation and fun social activities in one youth-friendly location.
I met Chantelle a couple of months ago when she joined the youth advisory council for the youth hub. All the youth advisory council members have unique narratives of isolation as well as inclusion and acceptance. It’s been so wonderful to get to know Chantelle a little and I asked her these questions about her experiences with the Youth Hub and finding community.
What has been your experience as a woman and being a youth living in Dufferin County?
To be honest, my experience living in Dufferin County as a young woman has been mixed. In the beginning, before I knew about the available support resources and while being far from my family, it was very difficult. As a young woman without a strong support system, it can feel incredibly vulnerable and traumatic. I almost felt like I was at the bottom of
the food chain. I felt hypervigilant and exposed in ways I hadn’t experienced before. However, things have changed. Now that I have stable employment, safe housing, and a strong support system, my experience has become much more positive. Sometimes life is scary but however access to community and resources has genuinely made a significant difference in my sense of safety and belonging here.
How have you worked to find supports and build community to make Orangeville your home? I was able to find support through a network of interconnected organizations here. Many services are located within proximity or work collaboratively which made it easier for me to access what I needed. When I would reach out to one organization, they often referred me to others. Through accessing those services, I was also able to build community. It’s what initially helped me to feel rooted in the area.
What are your hopes for women and specifically black women’s rights as well as inclusion and acceptance now and for the future?
My hope for women and especially Black women, is that we experience genuine security and safety. Every person deserves to feel safe, included, and valued regardless of race, gender, class or background. When someone lacks a support system or access to resources, it can place them in a deeply fragile and even traumatizing position, especially as a woman. I hope Dufferin County continues to grow by investing in community programs, opportunities and inclusive spaces so that everyone has a fair chance to live a secure and fulfilling life.
Why did you get involved in the Youth Hub Youth Advisory Council (YAC)? I joined the Youth Hub Youth Advisory Council because I’ve always felt drawn to serving the community somehow. From a young age, I knew I wanted to contribute in meaningful ways, I just didn’t expect the opportunity to come this soon.
I also understand firsthand how isolating it can feel to navigate challenges without adequate support, especially when mental health is involved. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone. Youth deserve accessible, compassionate support because it shapes their futures. I’m grateful to be part
of an organization that prioritizes young people, and I’m excited to contribute however I can.
What role do you think the Youth Hub will play to increase inclusion and acceptance in the community for women?
From what I’ve seen in the organization’s plans, the Youth Hub will not only provide essential services but also create spaces for social and emotional connection. While many communities focus on meeting basic needs, social and emotional support is just as important. Creating spaces where women feel heard, seen and connected can definitely increase inclusion and acceptance.
What are services or opportunities are you most excited about at the Youth Hub when it opens in the next couple months? Honestly, I’m excited about everything! Being involved in community service has always been something I’ve wanted to do, so anything that allows me to contribute and support others feels fulfilling.
What do you think community members need to understand about how to advocate and support the needs of black women in Dufferin? I think community members need to understand that safety and belonging are not privileges, they are rights. Advocating for Black women starts with listening to their experiences without dismissing or minimizing them.
It also means being intentional about creating inclusive spaces and ensuring that resources are accessible and culturally responsive. Sometimes advocacy can be as simple as empathy…taking the time to understand someone else’s lived experience and then translate into action and support.
Both located in the Edelbrock Centre, the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) and the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub (HART Hub) Dufferin operate under distinct mandates while collectively strengthening the continuum of care available to this community.
YWHO Dufferin focuses on early intervention and integrated support for young people aged 12 to 25. This hub provides access to mental health and substance use services, primary care, peer support, education and employment assistance, and other
social services—all in one youth-friendly space. By addressing concerns early and reducing barriers to care, YWHO Dufferin helps young people and their families access timely, coordinated support during critical developmental years.
By contrast, HART Hub Dufferin helps people of all ages get the recovery and treatment services they need, especially those dealing with unstable housing, mental health issues, or substance use. The hub offers a wide range of support in one place, including primary health care, mental health services, addiction treatment, social services, and help finding work. Its goal is to support people with complex challenges, help them become more stable, and make it easier for them to access treatment and recovery services close to where they live. Family Transition Place is a proud partner of this initiative.
While the two initiatives are not directly tied in governance or mandate, their co-location in the Edelbrock Centre enhances community access to care across the lifespan. Together, they create a seamless local ecosystem of support—ensuring youth can receive preventative and early intervention services, while adults and individuals with more intensive needs can access specialized recovery and stabilization supports—all within the same welcoming community setting.
Chantelle (she/her) is a member of the Youth Advisory Council of the new Dufferin Youth Hub in Orangeville. She is passionate about youth mental health and hopes to pursue further education in psychology. Chantelle is of Zimbabwean heritage and, outside of YAC, Chantelle enjoys listening to music, drawing, and writing poetry.
Stevie Forbes-Roberts (they/them) is the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario – Dufferin Youth Hub Coordinator and a social worker at Dufferin Child and Family Services (lead YWHO Dufferin agency). Stevie identifies as white, non-binary and queer, loves kayaking and is a single parent to a 6-foot teenager.
The Dufferin Youth Wellness Hub will be opening in Spring 2026 at the Edelbrock Centre, 30 Centre Street. Currently we are inviting caregivers to join our Family Advisory Council to have your say in our next steps. Stay posted to our developments at www.dcafs.on.ca/familyadvisorycouncil/
From hands and knees: Inhale lift your tail and heart, Exhale press into your hands and round your back. Repeat x 5.
Step your left foot forward, lower your back knee, and lift your arms to the sky, palms facing forward. Inhale to lengthen your chest, exhale pull your elbows down your back.
Step your back foot to the front of your mat into a forward fold. Reach across to opposite elbows and allow your arms and torso to hang over your thighs.
Place your left hand in front of your right hand at the top right corner of your mat. Lower your right forearm to the floor and press your hips back evenly. Repeat on other side.
Lower your right hand to the floor and lift your left hand straight up to the sky. Lengthen from your tailbone to your crown. Stay for 2 breaths.
Repeat these three on your other side.
Roll yourself all the way up to a standing position. Draw your arms up over head and reach out actively through your finger tips.
Tuck your toes under, firm your hands into the mat, and lift your hips up to the sky. Pedal your feet, then hold for 3 breaths.
Lower your left hand back down to frame your foot. Exhale, and lengthen your left leg as you draw your hips back. Pause for a breath.
Hinge from your hips and fold forward.
Plant your hands on your mat and step your feet back into a plank position. Press into your hands and toes and feel your core engage as your scoop your belly inward and upward.
Lower all the way down onto your belly. Bring your hands beneath your shoulders and lift your head, chest and shoulders off the ground as you draw your collarbones forward.
Press your bum all the way back toward your heels and rest in child’s pose.
There is something extraordinary when women gather with intention. Not to compete, but to celebrate.
This is my second year performing with Citrus Fusion, a dance team of adult women rooted in service, sisterhood, and community. Through movement, we reconnect with our bodies, our joy, and our divine feminine power, reminding ourselves that strength and softness, leadership and sensuality, joy and resilience can coexist.
Dance isn’t just choreography; it’s energy. It’s presence. It’s a reflection for women in the audience of their own confidence, radiance, and authenticity. Our goal is simple: to create moments where women feel seen, celebrated, and inspired.
For us, this mission extends beyond the stage. It’s the same pulse we bring into our local businesses or workplace every day to create experiences where people feel empowered, connected, and fully themselves. Whether on
stage or in life, we are grateful for the chance to honour women, uplift community, and celebrate the quiet, magnetic power we each carry.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate essence, collaboration, and the feminine energy that leads with heart. Through dance, community, and purpose, we honour the divine feminine in us all. Follow us: www.instagram.com/citrus_fusion.pc
Szuky
TRACY MOORE on the next stage of life and continuing her work in a different way
by Tabitha Wells
They can upend the plans we’ve mapped out and force us to question who we are beneath the roles we’ve been playing. It’s in those times that we often discover the most about ourselves—and in the right circumstances, that rediscovery often includes a realization of how much of ourselves we’ve set aside, trying to wear so many hats to fit exactly who it is we feel (or are told) we need to be: at work, in social circles, and even at home.
Tracy Moore, trailblazer in Canadian journalism and well-known for her time on Cityline, is no stranger to those kinds of life-shifting occurrences, especially in her career. First going from news to a lifestyle show, finding new ways to tie her passions for positive change into her role. After many successful seasons came the next curveball: Cityline was ending and she didn’t know where she would end up next. Then came an offer to co-host another show, and it looked like a pathway forward was beginning to open. Apprehensively, maybe.
“I had a big question mark about this show,” Tracy shared. “I thought can we make something cool? It wasn’t my plan; wasn’t necessarily the direction I was going to go in terms of being a co-host.”
Tracy decided to look at the positives: it could be fun, she had a great rapport with her co-host, and they could try something different. Before the show was even underway, things shifted again. The senior manager was let go, and the two co-hosts began wondering what that meant for them. They were reassured the show was still going to happen. After just two meetings about the show within six months, Tracy started to doubt it would make it to the studio.
“We weren’t developing, we weren’t planning, which said to me that the show was
not happening,” Tracy explained. “What was good about that uncertainty was that I slowly started detaching myself from my career in television.”
Tracy spent time doing interviews with publications like the Toronto Star, talking about topics like menopause, weight bias, and weight stigma, talking on TVO’s The Agenda about Black Excellence.
“It was beautiful, but it tugged into the worry a little bit,” she said. “My parents, my husband, wanted to know what was happening, and I could only tell them I didn’t know. But there was also a part of me that didn’t care, or at least that I didn’t care as much as I probably should have cared. And through these other experiences, I started to exhale a bit.”
What can often accompany an exhale is the realization of all that you’ve given of
yourself without taking the time to refuel or holding parts of yourself back to meet certain expectations.
“It was an emotional year, and it was almost like I needed to get to the place of acceptance,” Tracy said. “I don’t think I realized how much energy I had been leaking in these roles.”
Word came in December 2024 that the show wasn’t going to happen, and the network had no answers about her future. A month later, she was called into the office and that was it.
“It was a very soft landing, if I’m being honest, and I wouldn’t have expected that,” she recalled. “The end of Cityline was very hard; the end of my career was not.”
That slow-building path of self-discovery Tracy experienced in 2024 continued into 2025. Reconnecting with who she really
was and learning what the next stage of her life could look like.
“I was holding up a lot of relationships because I had an underlying feeling of unworthiness,” Tracy said. “No one is more surprised to hear that about myself than I am. I have always been confident; I’ve always been surrounded by friends, not ever struggled in any social relationships.”
The amount of herself she was pouring into relationships, into the person she thought she needed to be, was unsustainable.
She began down a journey of shadow work—the idea of looking at all the hidden parts of ourselves and working through them to become whole.
As Tracy began to dig through the multitudes of things that she believed made up herself, she began to see a trend. Fitness buff. Mother. Career woman. TV host. Daughter to parents she’s close to. Things that weren’t really who she was; they were titles.
“What I learned is that there are parts of myself that I had not even stopped for a second to consider,” she explained. “I never had the time, the quiet, or the stillness. That’s why I feel like this is so serendipitous. It’s like the universe said, ‘we are taking everything away, and you are going to sit there’.”
Tracy has always been a big advocate for authenticity, being real whether she was in her role as host or in her personal time. She realized, while she might be in comparison to others on air, she was still performing; yes it was a version of real, but it wasn’t wholly authentic.
“Authenticity is knowing you’ve got parts of yourself that kind of stink, and you look at them and say ‘but that’s still me’,” she said. “I’m still going to throw love at those parts, right? But I had not done that. My authenticity was very shallow, very surface level. It wasn’t dealing with the ugly parts of myself.”
She added that the performing was partially driven, like it is for all of us, by working to belong. But it was also reinforced by her role. She was a performer, working in television, in a public-facing role. As she stripped it back, she found her skills at handling constantly being perceived were not as well honed as she thought they were. She had these rules in her head about equity and equality, fairness and acceptable behaviour as a public-facing person and needing external validation that you’re be-
ing the right kind of person.
Tracy realized she needed to rediscover herself beneath the heaps of titles and performances and rules.
“I was like, what do I even like to do?” she shared. “It turns out, I like to do some weird stuff. I like to look at the moon. I forgot that I used to love the stars; I used to go to the planetarium when we had a planetarium in the city. I like being obsessed with constellations and looking at the sunrise and sunset. I like to lean on a tree and read a book. I didn’t know that stuff about me.”
As Tracy describes it, she had to deconstruct the person that she had built out of LEGO pieces and sort of figure out what was inside.
“It’s a lot of being brutally honest with myself, but also being so compassionate, because it’s okay that I’m attached to external validation, I haven’t been authentic and I’ve been performing,” she said. “We’re all human beings trying to connect with people; we’re trying to survive.”
On her birthday this January, Tracy opened up—one could say truly authentically—and shared what she had been working through and how she was changing on her Instagram.
“My birthday came around and I felt very flatline about it, it just didn’t feel important, especially compared to all the deeper inner work I had done,” she said. “I wanted to keep it a little bit real and talk about the grief I’m feeling right now as I shed these versions of who I thought I was.”
She noted that while it didn’t bring in the number of likes her posts normally did, the comments from women sharing they were facing something similar were huge.
“I feel like there’s a signal going out that’s waking us up,” Tracy said. “I feel like we’ve hit a breaking point, and it’s not that awful things haven’t been happening in the world for eons, it’s that they’re all coming to the surface now. At the same time, there is this internal shift happening with a lot of people, and I don’t think the timing is an accident.”
As Tracy has turned much of her work inward, really focusing on becoming whole, caring for herself, and implementing boundaries, it’s meant shifting how she does her other work too.
“A big part of what I’ve been doing is unraveling from hustle culture, which is very much a part of my life,” she said. “It’s a part
of the Jamaican culture, Canadian culture, and it’s definitely Toronto culture. And part of what I am realizing is that with hustle culture there is manufactured urgency, a rush that is sewn into the system.”
Tracy calls the work she is doing now as inspired action; the more she works on herself and others are becoming inspired by it, the more it is creating real change. People see the way to live a better life and can work together to get away from the boxes they are placed in because of where they are from, what they look like, or what their work is. Moving forward comes from helping each other.
“I think that [women] are going to change the world,” Tracy said. “We have the answers, we have the key. The way we work is through collaboration, and if we can get to the place where we can really start to undo the very deep rules of patriarchy we’ve all been working under, it will be a very different world.”
Because when that shift comes, it’s not just a change for the girls, but for the boys too. It opens doors that weren’t there before and bringing with it a new way forward.
“It’s happening right now as we speak,” Tracy added. “Women are waking up, we’re getting together and we’re working on ourselves. We’re putting ourselves first and all of that is going to make society better.”
Tracy was FTP’s 2025 International Women’s Day Celebration Luncheon special guest. Her presence was memorable and treasured by all who attended and we are grateful to her for gifting her time for this year’s issue of Celebrating Women. Tracy was also recently appointed to the Order of Ontario for 2025 in recognition of her significant contributions to equity and inclusion, as well as her leadership in confronting systemic racism. This well-deserved honour acknowledges both her public advocacy and her meaningful community engagement.
Tabitha Wells is a writer, wife and mom based out of Dufferin County. A former journalist, she enjoys writing about social issues and challenging people to inspire and work towards change.
The publishing of Celebrating Women magazine alongside our International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration always provides Family Transition Place (FTP) with the privilege and opportunity to reflect on the remarkable women we are surrounded by.
The women who support us, who support other women and their families, who volunteer their time and expertise—women who fiercely believe in our Mission and Vision and who deeply recognize the importance of celebrating women—not just on International Women’s Day—but every day.
While there is simply no shortage of extraordinary women to honour and celebrate in this community, we are pleased to share the perspectives and experiences of a select few.
LISA LAHUE Technical Director
Theatre Orangeville
I would celebrate the women who have stepped into male-dominated industries—especially those in the skilled trades. These are the women who choose to take up space where they were not always welcomed, who remain steadfast in their convictions and, in doing so, make it easier for the next generation to walk in with confidence.
As a female carpenter who has faced adversity—from job sites to something as simple as walking down a hardware store aisle—I know firsthand that answering this calling requires tenacity, resilience, and grit. These women are not just building structures; they are building pathways. With every project completed, every tool lifted, and every boundary pushed, they are creating equity in real time.
I celebrate their courage, their skill, and their refusal to shrink. They are changing workplaces, communities, and the future landscape for all women.
Yes—my mother. She has always inspired me with her strength of conviction, her unwavering sense of self, and the depth of her love. She immigrated from Hong Kong to build a life in Canada, not only for herself but for her family. Through determination, hard work, and faith, she created a beautiful life from the ground up.
What inspires me most is her spirit. She approaches life fully and fearlessly—from spelunking through caves to paragliding, from laughter at the playground to long conversations around the dinner table. She embodies the idea that strength and softness can coexist, that you can be fiercely determined while still leading with love.
She raised a strong, connected family who support one another through every adventure. She feeds anyone who comes to her table, gives her time generously, and shows us daily what it means to fight for something, to persevere, and to build a meaningful life. She is, in so many ways, everything I aspire to be.
FTP extends its most sincere gratitude to these exceptional women for allowing us to share their thoughtful words and reflections. As these responses are all excerpts of the heartfelt insights of these women, you’ll find their complete responses on familytransitionplace.ca, which we hope you’ll take the time to review and reflect on.
JAEMILYN GAVINO Communications Manager Dufferin Board of Trade
SARITA GOORDIAL Owner & Brow Artist Browzen
Personally, I think it’s important to celebrate women because of the resilience we carry every day. We navigate different expectations, challenges, and responsibilities, yet we continue to show up, grow, and support the people around us. International Women’s Day is a reminder to honour that strength, challenge outdated perceptions, and recognize that women are capable of far more than the limits often placed on them.
I’m most proud of the woman I’m becoming. Life hasn’t always been easy, and I didn’t grow up with the strongest foundation, but I refuse to let that define me. I’m learning to love myself enough to grow into who I want to be. It’s still scary sometimes, but I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and I think my younger self would be proud.
Honestly, I’m most proud of the woman I’ve become. I didn’t take the traditional path people expected of me, and for a while that felt scary. But choosing something that fulfilled me—especially after becoming a mom—changed my life. I’m proud that I trusted myself enough to build something from the ground up and create a space where women feel confident and cared for.
If you were speaking to a group of young women, what would you want them to know?
You don’t have to follow the path everyone else expects of you. It’s okay to pivot. It’s okay to change your mind. And it’s more than okay to choose happiness over approval. Trust your gut. Build something you’re proud of. And never shrink yourself to make other people comfortable.
Scan to visit the responses page on the FTP website.
by Josie Balka
Every woman deserves other women to hear their tale and nod along to all of the parts they recognize.
To relate when they do and listen even when they don’t.
Every woman has not a story, but a book of chapters of all kinds.
And we are always surprised to find afterward that some of the loneliest ones have also been written by many women before us, and will be rewritten by many women after, which makes them a little less lonely after all.
Every woman deserves to have other women supporting them, not only to lift them but to sit cross legged on the floor beside them after they’ve fallen until they’re ready to get up.
Women willing to share why the ground feels familiar to them because they’ve been down there before too.
Every woman deserves a community where none of the houses have intimidating front doors and the porch lights are always on.
Where she can show up at her worst and know she’ll leave at least a little bit better because other women were there.
Every woman deserves other women to make rooms feel safe, to have girls’ nights in, to converse with in bathroom mirrors at restaurants, to borrow anecdotes and clothes and Kleenex.
Every woman deserves other women to answer their calls for help and for no reason.
To laugh with and to be friends with for fleeting moments and forever.
Every woman needs other women because everyone deserves to feel understood. And no one understands us like us.
Josie Balka is a Canadian New York Times bestselling author, media personality, and voice-over artist who describes herself as the happiest sad girl you’ll ever meet. With a talent for bringing people together, Josie’s poetry resonates by exploring shared human experiences. Though she has been creating content for years, it was her embrace of vulnerability that allowed her to connect more meaningfully with her audience. Through her work, Josie offers a heartfelt exploration of life’s complexities and the beauty of connection.
by Tabitha Wells
CREATING SPACES WHERE GIRLS
FEEL SUPPORTED AND HEARD is one of the first steps toward raising confident, empowered women. The challenges women face—whether at a societal, social, family level, or through rules we’ve imposed on ourselves based on perceived expectations— begin when we are young.
At times, generating forward motion can feel overwhelming. How does one change a system of beliefs and perceptions and laws and circumstances that require a shift on a broader scale? The answer is one that many wise women have spoken about: by women supporting and uplifting women, youth supporting other youth.
That’s where the girls’ empowerment groups in some of our local high schools come in.
“Having a club like this at our school is important to our secondary school experi-
ence as it gives us all a place of comfort and support in our school,” shared Evangeline Byle, leader of the Girls Empowerment Movement (GEM) for the 2025-2026 school year at Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School.
Evangeline, who is in grade 12 and leading the club for a second year in a row, said that there’s an ongoing need for GEM because it provides a safe space for students who need that support, especially in a school as large as theirs. She shared that she was drawn to the club because of that safe space and supportive atmosphere.
The club began in 2020, following a case in England where a young girl had been assaulted. A student at Robert F. Hall felt very passionate about the need to start a club where students could talk about these important issues and help raise awareness. She sought help from a teacher at the school,
Mrs. Mancini, and the club was launched.
“We want to normalize these conversations on women’s issues; they may be seen as uncomfortable, but they are absolutely necessary,” added Evangeline. “We hope to continue raising awareness and action on these topics that may not be normally talked about as it is truly crucial.”
The students do not shy away from the harder topics, recognizing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the Montreal Massacre each year. They take the opportunity to educate other students as well as pay their respects to the victims of the massacre and the gender-based violence that is ongoing today.
“We talk about during the Montreal Massacre, how many women lost their lives solely because of their gender, which is an unfortunate truth,” Evangeline explained.
The goal, she noted, is to bring awareness of the event to the students and help them understand why it matters to promote compassion and action.
Creating a stronger, safer world for women and girls takes more than being knowledgeable on the issues, however. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, empowerment means “the process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you.” When women bond, encourage one another, gain confidence in speaking up and feeling safe, change begins to happen.
“In our club, all voices are recognized and heard,” Evangeline said. “We really work to ensure that our space is a place where people feel comfortable to express their ideas and who they are.”
The club has done everything from safety talks and self-defence classes, to organizing fundraisers supporting organizations like Breast Cancer Canada and Family Transition Place. They also plan fun activities where club members have an opportunity to bond with each other. At their most recent
event, they made their own swag, including custom club sweaters.
“It was a really amazing experience to bond with all the girls in the club and produce something from it,” Evangeline said. “It helped with our goal of empowerment as it had a lot of people supporting each other and helping each other.”
Along with its support of Family Transition Place, the club also makes sure to recognize International Women’s Day each year.
“[It] is so important because it’s a time to recognize the achievements, contributions, and resilience women have had throughout history and continuing today,” Evangeline said. “The day is an important reminder that equality is something that we are all working towards.”
She adds that by celebrating it each year, these conversations can be kept on the table, encouraging others to continue pushing for fairness and equitable opportunities. By acknowledging that historically women have had to fight to gain more opportunities, it serves as an encouragement to learn from and continue the work they laid before us.
“It also recognizes the true unfairness that many women face in their lives being conformed to a traditional role and given unequal opportunity,” said Evangeline. “With this day, we remember all the women who have been resilient and pushed through barriers to fight for rights and it’s also important to recognize that we must continue to push for equality.”
Evangeline shared that her time with the club, both as leader and through developing bonds with other members, is the highlight of her high school career. Perhaps, most importantly, it’s done exactly what a group like this sets out to do: empower young women to be confident and passionate, recognizing they deserve space and a voice as much as anyone else.
“This is something I am very passionate about and something I will bring with me to university next year,” she said. “I feel that this type of passion coming from me as well as other girls in the club really makes our events and activities such a success as there is truly deep meaning and purposefulness behind all of our actions.”
Our thanks to Priya for once again donating her beautiful work to feature in this issue of Celebrating Women. To view more of Priya’s art, find her on Instagram: instagram.com/cartofartbypriya
Join Caregivers in the Hills, a FREE program created to recognize and validate unpaid caregivers in Dufferin/Caledon.
Receive an ID badge that may be used in health and social care settings to ensure care providers know you are a caregiver.
Enjoy discounts and benefits from participating local businesses in Dufferin/Caledon.
Join a supportive community of unpaid caregivers and receive support navigating local health and social care resources.
Learn more at caregiversinthehills.ca or 519-216-6671
FAMILY TRANSITION PLACE (FTP) is seeking community members who want to make a meaningful impact by joining our dedicated Board of Directors. We welcome individuals with diverse perspectives who are passionate about building a future free from violence, systemic racism, and hate.
We invite applications from people of all backgrounds. We are currently looking to fill one board position with someone who holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation (in good standing).
In addition, we have other board vacancies open to individuals with a variety of skills, experiences, and lived perspectives. Previous board or leadership experience is an asset but not required, and we strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as marginalized.
FTP supports the holistic wellbeing of those affected by gender-based violence, primarily serving women and children, and also provides youth education and counselling programs.
Join us in creating a safer, stronger community. To apply, please complete the Board of Directors Application and submit it to Kolleen Sykes at kolleen@familytransitionplace.ca.
First out of the gate... and across the finish line.
A proud supporter of Family Transition Place.
RBC AND WOMEN OF INFLUENCE+ are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. Now in its 34th year, the program recognizes Canada’s most accomplished and impactful women entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders, whose businesses and organizations contribute meaningfully to the local, national, and global economy.
In 2025, the program received nominations from across the country, spotlighting women entrepreneurs whose work is shaping industries and driving measurable economic impact. Nominated by peers, colleagues, and communities, these leaders have demonstrated exceptional business achievement while strengthening Canada’s triple bottom line. This year, the program continues its legacy of recognizing women entrepreneurs whose leadership delivers results—commercially and socially. Every leader has a defining moment, and this year, we’re asking nominators to make it hers.
“Women-led businesses are a critical engine of innovation and economic growth in Canada,” says Sarah Pendrith, Vice President, Commercial Banking Strategy, RBC. “For over thirty years, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards has shone a spotlight on founders who are scaling their businesses, innovating in their sectors, and creating lasting impact. We’re proud to once again help elevate their stories and inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs.”
As one of the longest-standing programs of its kind, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards have honoured hundreds of finalists and presented nearly 400 awards for outstanding entrepreneurial achievement and leadership in the not-for-profit sector since their inception. The awards span all sectors of the economy and every stage of business growth, with categories including: Ones to Watch Award, Micro-Business Award, Start-Up Award, RBC Momentum Award, Social Change Award: Regional Impact, Social Change Award: National Impact, Innovation Award, and Excellence Award.
“This program is built on three core pillars: recognizing the strategic vision of women entrepreneurs, highlighting measurable business and societal impact, and examining how leadership is evolving in today’s economy,” says Linda Kuga-Pikulin, President, Women of Influence+. “We invite businesses, organizations, colleagues, and communities to nominate the women entrepreneurs whose leadership is shaping what comes next.”
Submit nominations at womenofinfluence.ca/rbc-cwea
The 2026 Awards Gala will take place on Friday, November 13 at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto, Ontario. Learn more about the Gala here: womenofinfluence.ca/34th-annual-rbc-canadianwomen-entrepreneur-awards-gala/
AWARDS are the pre-eminent national business awards recognizing the country’s leading women entrepreneurs. The awards are an initiative of Women of Influence+, an award-winning global organization dedicated to advancing women.
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering lead-
ing performance. Our success comes from the 98,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet
our ethos is rooted in making meaningful and impactful change. We do this by placing ourselves and our community in positions of influence and power — places where we can drive transformation. We are dedicated to sharing and elevating the unfiltered success stories of a diverse group of role models. We know that when done right, from the podium or the page, these stories not only inspire, educate, and connect — they start to redefine our perceptions of gender roles and abilities. We are changing the narrative.
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For interview requests or further information, please contact: Lauren Ng, Corporate Communications, RBC, lauren.ng@rbc.com
