Canada 150 Women_Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries

by Paulina Cameron

  Many women who have managed to swim upstream are like the freshwater fish that adapted. But what about the freshwater fish that left the salty stream, the ones who said the stream wasn’t for them? They felt they weren’t getting upstream as fast as the salmon, so they started to doubt their swimming ability. In the same way, how many corporate women have thought, “Everyone else is fine; it must be me,” or felt like outsiders in a room full of insiders? I know I have.

  To change the discussion—to reach gender parity—we need to change the water; we need our leaders to identify the invisible salt crystals and desalinate the water by focusing on creating a more inclusive culture.

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

  Sheryl Sandberg wrote Lean In—advice for women. I would write Reach Out—advice for men on how to support women.

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

  “Jump.”

  Christine Magee

  “Success is to look around me and to see that I have my family, friends, and colleagues who were there when I started my journey.”

  Birthplace Toronto, ON

  What age do you feel 40s

  Occupation Co-chair, Sleep Country Canada

  Book you gift most Younger Next Year, by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge

  Favourite drink Red wine

  Favourite place in Canada Home

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

  A young Lorraine Dunn—my mom. It would be interesting to get her perspective as a young woman who was about to embark on her life. I know what she accomplished—she was a great mom, a loving wife, a dedicated and passionate nurse, with relentless curiosity. But who was she then? What drove her to have such passion, such resilience, such a strong work ethic? What were her dreams and aspirations?

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  When I was young, feminism was a polarizing statement, unconventional and radical in many ways. I grew up in a household that largely acted in a non-gender manner, so I was ignorant of the real need for feminism. Today, I proudly say I am a feminist, which can be very different for each of us. I have come to better appreciate the great strides women have made, not to mention the simplest of rights—our right to vote and be educated, to have legal protection and pay equity, and even the more subtle and basic needs of respect and independence. This is not true everywhere in the world, and in some places, it appears that women’s rights are becoming more restricted. I think until the world is gender-indifferent, I will continue to be proud of being my version of feminist.

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

  Seize the Opportunity: It’s Not What You Do but How You Do It That Sets You Apart.

  Where do you feel most powerful?

  On my yoga mat.

  What does being Canadian mean to you?

  Canada is the best place to live and bring up two daughters, who have every opportunity to reach their potential.

  What are Canada’s best traits?

  As a country, we are not old enough—or big enough—to feel too ingrained or powerful, and we therefore have the unique ability to grow, change, and adapt to become an even better country.

  What does success mean to you?

  My true success is having a thirty-two-year marriage; two beautiful, loving, and talented daughters; my family and wonderful friends. We have built an amazing company, and reflecting on all the lives that we have positively impacted, our team and our customers, is also very rewarding.

  What will it take to achieve gender parity?

  Education, tolerance, and compassion. With an emphasis on eliminating any and all institutional and environmental conventions that preach, or directly or subversively reinforce, actions that subjugate women. Inasmuch as gender parity is a function of convention, something learned and practised, I sometimes fear that, like many issues facing mankind, it stems from something perhaps: even more challenging, human nature. Gender parity, racial indifference, and so on may be elusive ideals, as human nature often elicits characteristics such as selfishness, insecurity, and fear that promote actions, movements, and environments that perpetuate inequality. I know that great strides are being made, and women and men need to work together. We need to shine the light on both success and atrocities to motivate and galvanize all of us to make a difference and accept not that it cannot be done but that it has to be done!

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

  “Dream.”

  Ann Makosinski

  “Canada needs fewer teenagers wasting their time after school—they are the leaders and innovators of tomorrow!”

  Birthplace Victoria, BC

  What age do you feel 17

  Occupation University student and inventor

  Book you gift most Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom

  Favourite drink Ovaltine

  Favourite place in Canada Victoria!

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

  I would love to have dinner with Ann-Margret or Greta Garbo, because I’ve admired their talents, skills, and strong personalities for a very long time. And then I would discreetly raid their wardrobes.

  What will it take for more girls to go into STEM (or STEAM)?

  The education system will have to change drastically. Too often, middle and high schools only offer a science textbook and homework problems to their students. The amazing possibilities of what you can create and invent with science are completely untouched. Each school should hold an afterschool program that encourages students to tinker/invent outside of school time/assignments, and also open their eyes to the science fair world. Yes, there are lots of sports teams and plays you can join after school, but what afterschool program is there for kids interested in science?

  I personally feel I grew much more through my science fair experience than through any of the education I had at school. I also made some of my very best friends at science fair and entrepreneurship conferences. It’s really important for the curriculum to offer many more hands-on labs and activities that require students to think outside of the box and innovate, instead of following instructions in a textbook the entire time.

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

  My health has become extremely important. In January 2017, I was struck with a post-viral case of encephalitis, which is inflammation of the cerebellum. I couldn’t walk, see, taste, or use my right hand properly for months, and I had to take the semester off to recover. Now I have become much more conscious of what I put into my body and exercising. Worrying about what people think of me or how I dress has become extremely unimportant. I love playing with fashion and wearing funky, weird outfits. I’m my happiest when I’m being myself.

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  I wasn’t really aware of it when I was younger, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown a large friend circle of strong-willed women who have opened my eyes.

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

  “Work.”

  Elizabeth May

  “If elevating the well-being of all children became a central organizing purpose of society, we would create a more healthy and prosperous society.”

  Birthplace Hartford, CT

  What age do you feel 35

  Occupation Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands and leader of the Green Party of Canada

  Book you gift the most My most recent book, Who We Are Reflections on My Life and Canada

  Favourite drink Coffee

  Favourite place in Canada Margaree Harbour, Cape Breton Island, where I’m from

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  For generational reasons, it didn’t strike me as an important movement until I was older, though I was a major beneficiary. I gr
ew up with my activist mother, who didn’t let anything get in her way. Before I could walk, she was working in the movement against nuclear weapons and then in the civil rights movement and in the anti-war movement. She did all of these things as a volunteer, but she played very prominent roles, where it was very clear to me that she was taken seriously. It wasn’t until I was treated badly myself and was the recipient of sexist behaviour and sexist discussions that I became more consciously a feminist.

  One particular incident that stands out was when the editorial pages of the Chronicle Herald newspaper attacked me by name. At age twenty-three, I was a volunteer leader of the movement to prevent Cape Breton Island from being sprayed with toxic insecticides, which would jeopardize the health of children, wipe out bald eagles, jeopardize streams, jeopardize salmon. The Chronicle Herald’s editorial said, “The seals have Bridget Bardot and the spruce budworms have Elizabeth May,” with the message that neither one of them knows anything.

  That’s when it hit me that I was only being attacked because I was a woman. I was a waitress and cook on the Cabot Trail trying to stop my island from being poisoned and I was being compared to a French film star. There’s nothing wrong with Bridget Bardot, but the comparison was made because I was a woman. I’d never been attacked in print before and I have certainly gotten used to it now. It was pretty horrific. If that happened to my own twenty-six-year-old daughter, I’d be so furious, and no one would believe that a provincial newspaper would attack a young woman that way. That was 1978 or 1977. Ever since then, I’ve been a much more conscious participant in feminism.

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

  “We are in a climate emergency,” across from Parliament Hill.

  What advice would you give to young women considering a similar career?

  I’m torn because my genuine advice is “Don’t go into politics before you’ve had a real job doing something else first.” This is true for men and women. Being a career politician is not healthy in a democracy. You really do need people who know what it’s like to have trouble finding childcare, making ends meet, dealing with the impacts of government decision making. Being in politics tends to create and breed a type of team sport mentality of “it’s all about winning.” You lose track of why you wanted to win.

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

  The earliest memory was certainly at the Chicago Convention in 1968, where police were moving through the crowds and the National Guard moved in with jeeps with strung up barbed wire across their hood. I hadn’t been attending a demonstration—I was in Chicago with my mother who was a delegate for Eugene McCarthy. With other family members of delegates, we were taking a break in the park when the police rolled in and started attacking people. I had a nearly out-of-body experience of watching myself yelling at the National Guard. To this day, I can’t imagine what I was thinking. Then, one of my mother’s friends grabbed me by the arm, and we dashed back to our hotel. We wouldn’t have been allowed back in if we hadn’t been able to produce room keys. That was the most scared that I’ve been.

  Janice McDonald

  “My heart swells when I think about our country. I have seen many parts of Canada and the consistent experience is one of kindness, generous hospitality, and resilience.”

  Birthplace Montreal, QC

  What age do you feel Mostly like my 10-year-old self. Curious. Fearless.

  Occupation Collaborator, connector, and creator—a.k.a. an entrepreneur

  Book you gift most Ingenious by David Johnston and Tom Jenkins

  Favourite drink Water

  What’s your favourite place in Canada?

  In my classic red canoe, paddling on the St. Lawrence River near Gananoque, in the Thousand Islands... with Steve. The ritual is always the same. After we remove the big, hairy dock spiders that hide in hopes of creating an incident in the middle of deep waters, we set off to explore and take in the beauty of this special place, noting the changes in the current, in the sky, and in our conversation. It’s heavenly!

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

  Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space. She has a Bachelor of Science in zoology and agriculture, a Master of Science in experimental pathology, a Doctor of Philosophy in neuroscience, and a Doctor of Medicine! Dr. Bondar also has certification in skydiving and parachuting, and is a celebrated landscape photographer.

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  I am less patient now. Like many, I believed the changes we wanted and knew were right would happen because they so obviously were needed in order to achieve women’s equality, and yet they haven’t. It’s like Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day, where we keep inexplicably living the same day over and over. Sometimes I feel like the kid in the back of the car who keeps asking, “Are we there yet?”

  What is the best investment you’ve made?

  My education. I am committed to lifelong learning. It is the best way to stay relevant and in demand. My entrepreneurial journey began while I was completing my first graduate degree. I have continued to start and grow new businesses and, at the same time, learn in formal settings. I have a BA in communications, an MA in Canadian studies, certification in conflict resolution from the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, an MA in fine arts, my Institute of Corporate Directors designation, and leadership training from Harvard and INSEAD. My current challenge is to decide what I want to pursue next.

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

  The maple leaf symbol!

  Meagan McGrath

  “We can undertake a lot of physical discomfort—you just need to train your mind to endure. If you love the struggle, embrace it.”

  Birthplace Toronto, ON

  What age do you feel Twenty-something!

  Occupation Adventurer

  Book you gift most Miles from Nowhere by Barbara Savage

  Favourite drink Coke Slurpee

  Favourite place in Canada Sudbury, ON

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

  Isabella Bird (1831–1904), an English explorer who was outspoken and seemed bold and fearless. I would like to hear of her experiences in an era when women explorers were very rare.

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

  Skiing to the South Pole was a very demanding challenge that required a significant amount of time and money. I worked two jobs: during the day, I dedicated myself to my career, and in the evenings and weekends, I prepared for the daunting expedition to ski 1,200 kilometres, alone, unsupported, and unassisted. On the few occasions when I experienced apprehension, I would ask myself what caused it—and I would address the concern. It might have meant specific training, or fine-tuning a skill, but on the whole, I embraced all the work, and I moved forward with positivity and optimism. This potentially dangerous project required me to take a leap of personal confidence, humbled by the realization that I would be at the mercy of the environment. With the support shown to me by the expedition sponsors and supporters, I was blessed with a wide network of people who believed I could achieve this goal.

  When you are courageous one time, you learn that you can do it again. Courage is a strong, quiet strength that is buried inside each of us. The need to step up and be brave is not restricted to life-and-death situations; it’s also the times when you own up to your faults and mistakes, help others, make terrifying life-changing decisions, and take risks. I’ve been told that the right choice is often the hardest choice. I always refer to this statement to find courage in tough situations.

  What is your vision for Canada in twenty years?

  My hope is that Canada continues to be a peaceful, prosperous nation. That we continue to be relevant on the world stage, and that we become an example of environmental stewardship. That folks who want to work have t
he opportunity—whether that be in manufacturing or other industry. And that all citizens want to contribute to the success of our country, putting in the effort to ensure that we maintain our fortunate way of life.

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

  I’m too busy adventuring to write! One day, though, I’ll share some of the tales. The title might be Seduced by the Seven Summits or Every Adventure Has a Beginning.

  When do you feel most powerful?

  I won’t say powerful, but I certainly feel my best when undertaking difficult physical challenges. If the experience is hard enough, it becomes a leveller. At some point, your physical condition means less than your mental strength. The emotional aspect of an extremely difficult physical challenge will take a toll on folks emotionally—you’re fatigued, your muscles are screaming, you haven’t eaten for a long while, oxygen availability is limited, a decent sleep was days ago. This is what I love.

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

  My family and friends have become more important. They are the ones who know you—they know your history and where you came from. Every day I am grateful that I can pick up the phone and speak with someone in my family. I know it won’t always be this way, so I cherish each conversation and visit.

  How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?

  For as long as I can remember, I have believed that women ought to seek equality with men. Many women have paved the way for the women of today to enjoy access to employment, study, and opportunity. I have benefited from the struggle that women before me have had to endure. I am grateful to them for their “firsts” and what has since become normalized.