Canada 150 Women_Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries
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What does success mean to you?
A sense of inner peace and feeling like I’ve lived up to the vision I hold for myself.
If you were to get a tattoo of one word, what would it be?
“Be.”
Ilse Treurnicht
“Success is a space where personal, professional, and community activities align and reinforce each other. That harmony is magical.”
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa
What age do you feel Somewhere in the middle
Occupation CEO of MaRS Discovery District
Favourite drink Good coffee
Favourite place in Canada Toronto ravines, with Oscar the border collie
How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?
Like many others, I am disappointed that we have not made more progress over the past fifty years. The influence of women continues to be stifled everywhere in such a myriad of insidious ways—it is a colossal waste of talent.
On the other hand, I am absolutely in awe of the women I have had the great good fortune to cross paths with, learn from, work with, become friends with—their thoughtful intelligence, generosity, laughter, and purposeful humanity inspire my feminism. The world absolutely needs what they, and so many others like them, have to give.
What will it take to achieve gender parity?
Women everywhere need to expect it, and demand it. Men need to support it. The benefits of diversity need to be tangibly felt across society; in the economy, in the political system, in communities. We all have to make it easier for women of colour, and for women the world over who still lack basic rights.
Tell us about a time when you had to summon all of your courage.
When I was very young, I was almost killed by a cow when I inadvertently ran between her and her newborn calf on my grandfather’s farm in Africa. I vividly remember the feeling of her weight on my chest and summoning all my strength to scream for help. Many years later, that same cow instantly recognized and stormed me from behind a fence as I walked by. That incident has stayed with me as a lesson about the ferocity of a mother’s love.
What is your vision for Canada in twenty years?
Canada’s natural endowment is unmatched in the world, and by many measures, it is one of the world’s most successful modern societies. Moving forward from this place of privilege, we can—and should—strive to optimize a few important things: creativity and innovation, economic and social prosperity, and openness and inclusion. They all matter. We can uniquely lead the world at the sweet spot where these intersect.
If you were to get a tattoo of one word, what would it be?
“Kindness”—it’s what we all need the most.
Tanya van Biesen
“[To achieve gender parity there has to be] acknowledgement that this is a societal issue, and not a women’s issue.”
Birthplace Clatterbridge, Wirral Peninsula, England
What age do you feel A fantastic 48
Occupation Executive Director, Catalyst Canada
Book you gift most Just Kids by Patti Smith
Favourite drink Wine
Favourite place in Canada West Coast
How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?
Drastically. I graduated at the age of twenty-two quite convinced that I was going to be the CEO of one of the biggest companies on the planet. Today, twenty-six years later, I lead Catalyst Canada, and I have a front row seat to corporate Canada and the dynamics affecting advancement and leadership decisions. There is no denying the facts—less than 5 percent of Canadian CEOs are women, and women represent only 12 percent of Canadian corporate board directors—and that’s not because we lack drive or ambition or smarts. So there is still work to do, but I am incredibly energized by the challenge and equally optimistic about the potential for lasting change. Why? Because every day I meet with two kinds of people: incredibly talented female leaders of all ages and backgrounds who are as bright and driven as anyone I have ever met, and equally committed male leaders who are working with us in very intentional ways to reframe this issue from one of “a women’s problem” to a societal problem.
What message would you put on a billboard?
“Cherish the people who fill up your cup.”
What does being Canadian mean to you?
Being Canadian means living in a land of peace, and among the many, from all over the world. It means intelligent and balanced discourse on even the most difficult of issues. It means openness, acceptance, and humility. It means working hard for the benefit, rather than at the expense, of others. It means acknowledging that we don’t have it all figured out, but that we continue to try. And it means cold winters rewarded with warm summers.
Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting out?
I would have approached life as more of a marathon and less of a sprint. I seem to be hardwired to focus on the destination and not the journey, so if I had it to do over again, I would try very hard to focus more on the ride and appreciate all that comes with it. I would be more forgiving of myself and of others, and I would be more laid back (this is a long shot given I am the product of two World War II European immigrants, but I can dream!).
If you were to get a tattoo of one word, what would it be?
“Run.”
Annette Verschuren
“Leadership is courage. Courage to take risks. Courage to defend your team. It’s courage to accept the fact that you make mistakes, but you move on.”
Birthplace North Sydney, NS
What age do you feel 42
Occupation Chair and CEO of NRStor Inc.
Book you gift most The one I wrote—Bet On Me
Favourite drink Grapefruit Perrier
Favourite place in Canada Long Island Road, Cape Breton, where our log house is
What will it take to achieve gender parity?
I started my career forty-one years ago in the coal mining business. I was the only woman in management and I saw that there was discrimination. I always charged forward. I did not feel that my feminism held me back. We have to do a hell of a lot more, and it’s not improving fast enough.
We need strong leadership of women in this area, but, more importantly, we also need strong leadership of men. The greatness of our country is the diversity, but it’s not reflected in the top institutions of our society. I see women moving from senior leadership positions and businesses to start their own companies. I left Home Depot at the age of fifty-five and started a new company. That’s a big leap. I’ve never had more fun in my life. People are realizing that they spend a lot of time at work. If you’re not happy, why spend your time there when you have alternatives? I think women are opting out and saying, “Look. I can create a better place to work.”
What does being Canadian mean to you?
My parents are Dutch citizens who lived not far from the German border. The Canadians liberated them. They got married at twenty-six and twenty-seven and decided to come to Canada because they loved how nice the Canadian soldiers were to them. This is a country that has been built out of multicultural society, a caring and peaceful society that has so much to contribute to the world. I’m so proud to be Canadian. I have the Order of Canada. People ask me what the big highlight of my life is and it’s when I received that in 2011. I received it for my business acumen but mostly for my corporate social responsibility. To me, that was the greatest of honours.
If you were to write a book, what would its title be?
I did, and it’s called Bet On Me. It’s the history of my successes and failures and how I became the leader that I became.
If you were to get a tattoo of one word, what would it be?
“Canada.”
Tamara Vrooman
“Until we achieve equality in the home, we aren’t going to get it in any meaningful way at work.”
Birthplace Victoria, BC
What age do you feel Genera
lly younger than my true age
Occupation President and CEO, Vancity, and chair of the board of directors, Vancity Community Investment Bank
Favourite drink Gin and tonic
Favourite place in Canada Vancouver
How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?
It has become more strident, more resolute. I was a bit more optimistic and naive earlier on, expecting feminism to naturally progress and women’s issues to improve over time. But that hasn’t been the case. If things are going to change, that change has to be initiated, supported, and sustained. It’s not that I’m more pessimistic today; I’m just much more focused and realistic.
If you had the gift of a year off, in a paused world, what would you work on?
I know this sounds nerdy, but I would rethink and rewrite the way we teach math. We have a whole generation of people who are afraid of math—think of how many times you’ve heard someone say, “I’m not a numbers person.” Math is a language just like any other, and a powerful tool for storytelling, but unfortunately we don’t teach it that way. Understanding math is also unifying from a global perspective because it’s a single language that everyone can speak. It would make a significant difference in the way that we are able to communicate with one another and translate opportunities for reducing inequality.
What message would you put on a billboard, and where?
“Better together. Best as one.” I would put it outside a school or community centre.
What are Canada’s best traits?
Many people think of Canada as a country blessed with geography—and it is. But when you look at how we show up on the world stage, it’s increasingly clear that we are truly a country blessed with people and amazing diversity. We have a tradition of working together, talking about things, and being tolerant of different opinions. We need to ensure that we continue to create opportunities for individual voices to be cultivated and nourished.
I’m proud of the fact that we’re starting to have a long overdue conversation of reconciliation with Indigenous people. Non-Indigenous people are only beginning to understand what a gift it is to share a country with Indigenous people, who have lots to teach us. The wisdom of Indigenous people is a tremendous part of our history as well as our future. I’m just so impressed with how the reconciliation effort is being taken up across the country.
If you were to get a tattoo of one word, what would it be?
“Together.”
Lise Watier
“Problems open the way to opportunities.”
Birthplace Montreal
Occupation Founder, Lise Watier Cosmetics
If you could have dinner with any woman, alive or dead, who would it be?
Marie Curie. I would ask her how she reacted when her many trials failed in her years of research, what her utmost motivation was to persevere, and how she felt when her research activities were ultimately recognized. She changed the lives of millions of people, for generations to come. She was an incredible woman, ahead of her time, making her place in a man’s world of scientists and university professors.
What has become more important and less important to you in the last few years?
I used to be in the world of fashion, representing a fashion cosmetics brand. Wearing the best international labels was a must. I had to have my hair done in an impeccable way, and so on. Today, I really don’t care about the “labels.” Taking care of my health, enjoying time with my children and grandchildren, creating fun moments for all those that I love, and working for the future of my foundation are my current priorities. I still take care of my looks, for my own pleasure. I think I am still thirty-nine, even though I am going on seventy-five! Keeping a young spirit is a secret that I can share with everybody.
If you were to write a book, what would its title be?
Become Who You Want to Be. And for the subtitle, I love this quote from our First Nations, Follow Your Dreams, and Your Soul Will Find Peace.
How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime?
When I was in my twenties, I viewed feminism in a negative way. I did not really understand the meaning of the word. I witnessed the “No-Bra” movement. I realized afterwards that this was to provoke a reaction from the press to get the attention women deserved. Without knowing it, I was born a feminist. I was never told that boys and men were better than girls and women. My loving father was a feminist himself in his attitude, behaviour, and thinking. I never felt any barriers that kept me from doing what I wanted to do.
At the age of twenty-five, after a career as a TV host, I chose to become the master of my destiny. My first business venture was the Lise Watier Institute to help young girls and women of all ages gain self-confidence, believe in themselves and in their capacities, and realize their dreams.
I launched my cosmetic company in 1972 and fearlessly plunged into a man’s world. I refused to listen to those who tried to discourage me, and I worked day and night to pursue my goal, and to prove them wrong.
The Lise Watier Foundation was established six years ago with the mission of helping women in need, often single mothers, to become financially independent. Our exclusive, made-to-measure program, S’Entreprendre, will enable its participants to either finish their studies, go back to work, or start their own small business with access to micro-funding after their business training, if their project is viable. Financial autonomy is their best way to achieve freedom.
What has been a defining moment in your personal or professional life?
On August 5, 1990, a fire destroyed all of my facilities, my warehouse, and my offices. It was a terrible period in my life, shared with my family and all of my employees. Their support and their eagerness to help me rebuild from scratch were of great help. Yet, it was also the support of our faithful consumers, who waited for our products to be back on the shelves, instead of buying from our competitors. Women supporting a woman and the company that she built! Very touching testimonies!
After the fire and the losses incurred, the bankers became eager to get their loan refunds. I was swimming under water, hardly breathing through a straw... But we survived!
What message would you put up on a billboard, and where?
“When People Do Not Believe In You or Your Ideas, Prove Them Wrong!”
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
“We must keep asserting ourselves to allow female voices to be heard above the fray. If we put our forces together in a balanced way, we’d have a better future.”
Birthplace Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, Northern Quebec
What age do you feel 45, even though my body says otherwise
Occupation Teaching and connecting all these issues of the North, the Arctic, and Inuit culture as they relate to the rest of humanity and the planet
Book you gift most Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Favourite drink Tea
What has been a defining moment in your personal or professional life?
The sudden death of my sister at age forty-eight. She was my champion and my rock. I went through great losses beginning with her, and then my aunt, my mother, niece, and cousin. Overcoming those losses, even though I was internationally grieving in strange hotels or airports because I had to continue working, changed me at the core of what I thought I was.
What does being Canadian mean to you?
One of many moments when I have felt proud and grateful to be a Canadian was when we were negotiating the UN treaty banning toxic substances that ended up in our food chain, and ultimately in the nursing milk of our mothers. We were able to come to an agreement at the UN level that eliminates these toxins at their source. It was a proud moment for me when the Minister of Environment was there in person, to not only sign the Stockholm Convention but to ratify it on the spot. Canada was the only country to do so. It is in moments like that I’m proud of our Canadian government for doing the right thing. Their intention matched their actions.
Having said that, there are many time
s when you shake your head and say, “This can’t be happening,” when many First Nations communities still have no clean running water, when we have murdered Indigenous women and still no information to indicate what happened and where they are. Our families are still in grief and crisis over these issues. In the Arctic, we still have unaddressed hunger and poverty. We have to stop saying, “What happens in the Arctic has nothing to do with me.” It’s not just about the environment. For us, fighting and defending the environment in the Arctic is about a holistic approach to our food, our culture, and the teachings that we give to our children to survive, to be able to become resilient and embrace their lives and who they’re meant to be.
How has your view of feminism changed over your lifetime and what do you think it will take to achieve gender parity?
I was raised by two Inuk women (my grandmother and my mother) who were very strong survivors and they didn’t bow to victimhood. I grew up with the sense that as a woman I could do anything and I could survive—even though I’ve always been surrounded by male leaders. There were few of us women who were part of the leadership circles.