Canada 150 Women_Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries

by Paulina Cameron

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  When I was growing up, I watched my mother go from struggling as a single mother and being a successful business owner, to being financially dependent on my stepfather. I vowed that I would always be financially independent so that I could decide how to spend my money. I never saw that as being a feminist, and never thought of myself as a feminist until I was enrolled in liberal arts in university and began to understand the world in an entirely new way. I now proudly declare myself a feminist. We all deserve to participate in an equal manner and have holistic and healthy places in which to work.

  Tell us about a time when you had to summon all of your courage.

  In 2014, I made a quick decision to move from Toronto, where I’d been living for over a decade, to Vancouver to do my master’s degree. I had built up a very successful life for myself in Toronto. I felt that there was something missing in my life, though, and I had always intended to pursue my education further with an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA). I felt inspired to go to Simon Fraser University, and knew it was the right program at the right time. I had to go back to Toronto and pack up in just a few weeks in order to make this dream happen. It was a risk, as I would be giving up the life and the lifestyle I had spent many years building—but in the end, I knew it was exactly what I needed to do in order to get to the next stage in my life. I believe that you need to move outside of your comfort zone, and be willing to change in order to develop personally, professionally, and spiritually.

  What message would you put on a billboard, and where?

  I would put the phrase “Done is better than perfect” right outside my workplace’s front entrance, so I would be forced to look at it many times a day. Too often, I attempt to perfect when I really need to just move on and get the next item checked off my list.

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

  Not Your Pocahontas: Breaking the Stereotypes of a Twenty-First-Century Urban Native. I’ve actually started working on this book but put the project on pause to finish up my Executive MBA.

  What does being Canadian mean to you?

  It means that I’m able to live in a country that embraces diversity, exemplifies kindness and consideration, and prides itself on its socially progressive ideals. I think we need to push our country and our policies further to create an equal playing field for everyone despite age, gender, cultural or religious background, or ability.

  What does Canada need more and less of?

  Canada needs more accessible points to access education for everyone, and less hockey. A lot less hockey.

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

  “Joie de vivre.”

  Piya Chattopadhyay

  “Success means feeling good about what you contribute to the world.”

  Birthplace Saskatoon, SK

  What age do you feel? I’m 44, so I feel 44

  Occupation Journalist

  Book you gift most Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

  Favourite drink Beer

  Favourite place in Canada Home

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  At its core, it hasn’t changed at all, but my understanding of what equality means and the distance we still need to go, and how we achieve that, has certainly grown over time. I think feminism is one of the most misunderstood, misconstrued, and miscommunicated trigger words in the English language. I remind myself that when I’m talking about feminism, I’m talking about equality—human rights. It’s pretty simple when I break it down that way.

  Tell us about a time when you had to summon all of your courage.

  In radio, we still use a red light that comes on when you go on air. It comes on every time you hit the mic “on” button that sits in front of you, and I have to summon courage every day to press that button. I understand the platform of being in the media and also that it’s been bestowed upon me, and the privilege and responsibility that it is.

  What is your vision for Canada in twenty years?

  Collectively and individually, we need to get better at this experiment that we call Canada. In twenty years, I want all Canadians, regardless of where they live, to have clean drinking water. I’m astonished that we don’t have that right now. I want us to be a country that knows we’re a collection of different types of people.

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

  Professionally, the fall of a former host of the radio program Q changed me. When I was starting my show, I was asked what sort of people I wanted on my team. Kind and respectful human beings. I won’t make an exception to that. That’s it for me. I will not work with people who don’t have those qualities. It’s not worth it and I learned that. Probably more than anything else in life it has changed who I want to be and how I want to walk as a journalist, and as a mom, as a lover, as a friend, as a wife.

  What is the best investment you’ve made?

  Solo travelling.

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

  “Om.”

  Jan Christilaw

  “If the world moves ever so slightly, ever so slowly in the right direction, I would call that success.”

  Birthplace Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON

  What age do you feel I am proud to be 62 years young, but most days feel about 47

  Occupation Obstetrician-gynecologist, leader of BC Women’s Hospital, clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine, UBC

  Favourite drink BC wines

  Favourite place in Canada Lake Duborne, just north of Blind River, ON

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  I used to have great respect for many ardent feminists but had a feeling that I could not ever measure up, as I felt guilty about my inconsistencies and vanities. Now I have a much more relaxed and inclusive worldview. I see the beauty in us all, even myself, which has been the biggest struggle.

  What will it take to achieve gender parity?

  Gender parity is intricately linked to women’s reproductive health. True gender parity will come when we acknowledge that and support women to reach their maximal potential, whether they are mothers or not. I am proud to live in Canada, as we are far ahead of many other countries with regard to parity, but we, too, have a long way to go.

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

  No Woman Left Behind.

  What gives you courage?

  Injustice meted out to the vulnerable gets me fired up.

  What does being Canadian mean to you?

  I am at least seventh-generation Canadian on both sides of my family, and am very proud to be Canadian. I love this country, its geography, its people, and our generosity of spirit. I have met Canadians from coast to coast through my work and they are uniformly smart, helpful, tolerant, and community-minded.

  However, I grew up in Northern Ontario, adjacent to a large Indigenous community, and I am saddened to think about how many Canadian citizens were treated historically, and how much of a gap still exists. We have a very long way to go before we can rest. I think that the relationship between Canada and the Indigenous people of this country needs to be the number one priority for all of us in the coming decades.

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

  I would have been nicer to myself. I would have cut myself a bit more slack and exercised a bit more.

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

  “Namaste.”

  Wendy Arlene Clay

  “Vigilance is required to ensure appropriate representation of women in the workplace. We cannot take equality for granted.”

  Birthplace Fort St. John, BC

  What age do you feel Just middle-aged (most days)

  Occupation Former Surgeon General of the Canadian Air Force


  Book you gift most Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

  Favourite drink A good cup of coffee

  Favourite place in Canada The west coast

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

  Any of the women pilots who flew during WWII. While they were not members of the military air forces, they did not let their gender stop them. They demonstrated immense courage as members of Ferry Flight as they flew military aircraft to and from military bases, including Lancaster bombers, Spitfires, and Hurricanes. I can only wonder why it took almost thirty more years for a woman to be able to receive military pilot wings. Women’s abilities in this area were demonstrated in spades during the war.

  What is your vision for Canada in twenty years?

  A Canada where Indigenous peoples are respected and cared for as full members of our society, and a country where the needs of the land are balanced with the needs of its inhabitants and where the development of renewable energy resources is fostered. I would like to see Canada become less partisan in its politics, to think and plan further ahead than the next election, and become a true leader in the slowing of global warming.

  How has the role of women changed in the Armed Forces since you were among the “firsts”?

  When I enrolled in 1965, women were very much in the minority and were limited to such roles as nurses, dietitians, and administrators. Thus, as a female medical officer (doctor), it was natural that I should be “first” in a number of areas. Women’s roles gradually expanded over the years to what were termed “combat support” roles in the 1970s and, eventually, in the 1980s, to full employment, including combat. Female senior officers have increased in number and rank and now we have, for example, a female “3-star” general leading the NATO Defense College in Rome. While some women have reportedly encountered issues in their careers, I believe their presence in any role or environment is now being increasingly accepted. However, while employment parity can be legislated, it unfortunately does take time before ingrained attitudes can be changed.

  What will it take to achieve gender parity?

  I have always been opposed to affirmative action per se, and believe that the best person for the job should be selected, regardless of gender. That being said, sometimes change needs a “kick start.” My niece once commented that she didn’t know what all the fuss about feminism was; she has grown up in a time when women can aspire to any goal. However, there is enough evidence that vigilance is required to ensure appropriate representation of women in the workplace. We cannot take equality for granted.

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

  While I always admired the military, when I originally joined in 1965 I was looking for assistance in financing the rest of my medical training, since the costs were well beyond my means. I had planned on serving only the requisite three years following graduation as repayment, and then going on to choose a clinical specialty. However, during my first year of active practice at an air base, I had the chance to fly the Tutor jet (the same aircraft as flown by the Snowbirds) and I was hooked! I went on to earn my private and commercial pilot licences before being posted to Moose Jaw, SK, where, with the support of the then base commander, I was able to start on my military pilot training.

  Where did you learn about the value of service?

  From my parents. We did not have much in the way of material goods when I was growing up, but I never wanted for anything. I was taught to work hard at school and strive for the best, and both my parents were always active in our small community and in the church. Every Christmas and birthday, the main gift was usually a book, often about either the Air Force or the Navy in World War II, so I expect that is where I initially developed my interest in the military.

  What have you learned about leadership?

  I believe a true leader has a certain je ne sais quoi, but I feel my strengths are as more of a manager. What I have learned is the importance of the people with whom I work. The hierarchical structure of the military has not always fostered a collaborative approach, but that is now changing. I could not have risen through the ranks without my superiors’ support and my colleagues’ and subordinates’ contributions. Since retirement, the most effective boards on which I’ve had the privilege of serving have worked in a collaborative way, where everyone’s voice is valued.

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

  “Hope.”

  Kristin Cochrane

  “I encourage anyone I can to pause, take a year and do something—anything—before starting post-secondary or work.”

  Birthplace St. Catharines, ON

  What age do you feel 36

  Occupation President and Publisher, Penguin Random House Canada

  Book you gift most Recently, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

  Favourite drink Champagne

  Favourite place in Canada Tofino, BC

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  I will be very frank and admit that about five years ago I realized—admittedly with horror—that not since university had I paid much attention to the feminist movement. I imagined that great gains had been made and that “we” were working our way toward equality. That is, of course, completely and sadly foolish, and it’s clear that the complacent and passive form of feminism I’ve been practising is not nearly urgent enough or fierce enough or present enough for the generations that follow. I was struck by the posters I saw being carried around the world at the Women’s Marches in January 2017 and was quite moved. What felt like a punch to the gut was the number of women in their seventies holding signs that read, “I can’t believe I still have to protest this shit.” It made me feel sad for my mother and her generation, for the gains they made and felt had kick-started further change. They did move the needle, but I can only imagine how hard it would be for them to see the gulf between the hopes and ambitions of the first and second waves of the feminist movement, and where things stand today. I hope I maintain my current level of anger because I’d like to not be carrying a similar sign in my seventies.

  You have been called the most powerful person in the Canadian book publishing industry and Canada’s pre-eminent literary kingmaker.

  I reject this description, as it diminishes the role that so many of my exceptionally talented colleagues play. I am surrounded every day by some of this country’s—and indeed the world’s—most interesting, successful, highly regarded publishers and editors. This isn’t about humility, it’s about correcting the record and acknowledging that we are a large team of people bringing a wide variety of books to readers.

  What does Canada need more and less of?

  Canada needs more people. Overall, we could use some more swagger. We could do with a little less smugness.

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

  In 2005 I was approached by Maya Mavjee, then publisher of Doubleday Canada, who invited me to have lunch with her and Brad Martin, then president of Random House of Canada. That lunch, and the job offer that followed, to join the company as Maya’s deputy, changed my life dramatically. I think so often of how much life can hinge on these moments and how unaware we often are as they’re happening.

  What message would you put on a billboard, and where?

  “Let’s Go, Blue Jays!” I’d put it on the top of our office building, which is located across the street from the Rogers Centre.

  Caroline Codsi

  “Don’t waste time reading glass-slipper stories to your daughters. Instead prepare them for the glass ceiling in real life.”

  Birthplace Beirut, Lebanon

  What age do you feel I’m proud to be 49, but I feel 10 years younger

  Occupation President and founder of Women in Governance (La Gouvernance au Féminin)

  Book you gift most The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins

  Favourite drink Water, no ice, n
o lemon, no bubbles, no umbrella, room temperature

  Favourite place in Canada Montreal

  What will it take to achieve gender parity?

  Only quotas can help us get there in this lifetime. In 2010, both Canada and France had 12 percent of women on boards. Today, France has reached 40 percent thanks to the Cope-Zimmermann Law, while Canada has merely reached 15.9 percent. In Norway, the quotas law covers the big 200+ public limited companies. The impact is striking; the proportion of women on these boards went from 12 percent in 2006 to 42 percent in 2014. What is even more striking is that when you compare this performance to one of Norway’s 250,000 private limited companies that the law does not cover, women on their boards went from 16 percent in 2006 to only 18 percent in 2014. One thing is clear: with no legislation, very little happens.

  Another proof of this comes from right here in Quebec. Jean Charest, who was the very first premier of a Canadian province to have a gender-balanced cabinet where women had some of the most important portfolios, implemented in 2007 a law imposing 50 percent of women on the boards of Quebec’s twenty-two Crown corporations. As a result, in five years, women went from holding 27.5 percent of those board seats to 52.4 percent!

  What message would you put on a billboard, and where?

  “When we legislate, we find women. When we don’t legislate, we find excuses.” In front of both provincial and federal parliaments.

  Tell us about a time when you had to summon all of your courage.

  I was born in Beirut and was only seven years old when the war started, and twenty-two when it ended. During those fifteen years, I did eight international moves on three continents. When I was seventeen years old, the war in Lebanon was at its worst, and my mother decided to move me to a nuns’ home in Paris while she and my dad stayed in Lebanon. The war intensified and my parents had no way of sending me any money, and even had trouble simply telephoning me. I felt completely alone, but surprisingly not scared, although I had no resources in a foreign country where I was trying to get myself through school. I met a seventeen-year-old boy who was just as broke as I was, and a few months later we moved in together in a maid’s chamber with a single bed. I managed to get two part-time jobs that allowed me to complete school and university. We got married when we were twenty-one, and moved to Canada a year later. At the time, all of these things seemed perfectly normal to me, although I knew nobody else who was living this way. You never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice. I am convinced that this was the period of my life that shaped the woman I have become, resilient, brave, strong, persistent, and a little kamikaze at times.