Women at Work: Economic Growth Past, Present and Future

In 1999, Cindy Blackstock co-founded and became the executive director of the national non-profit organization First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, often called the Caring Society. The organization conducts research, advocates for change with the federal and provincial governments and offers support to agencies caring for Indigenous children, families and communities. Blackstock, who teaches at McGill’s University School of Social Work, has served on the Pan American Health Organization’s Commission on Equity and Health Inequalities and has been asked to consult with the United Nations. She is a renowned activist who constantly addresses and fights for Indigenous child welfare and the importance of meaningful reconciliation.

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) named Tanya Tagaq as one of the 16 Indigenous movers and shakers to watch in 2016. They praised Tagaq’s activism to expose hard truths about racism in the Canadian government as well as missing and murdered Indigenous women. Moreover, Tagaq strongly advocates for preserving her culture, from supporting traditional practices to sharing the art of throat singing. One spotlight of her activism involved the narration of the music video, End of the Road, a protest song about missing and murdered Indigenous women performed by the band Crown Lands. End of the Road centres on the violence and ongoing injustices experienced by Indigenous communities, written in tribute to the Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people who have gone missing or have been murdered on British Columbia’s Yellowhead Highway 16, known also as the Highway of Tears.

Ann Divine is the founder and CEO of Ashanti Leadership and Professional Development Services, a company based in Halifax, N.S., that empowers Black and immigrant women to fulfill economic and business goals. An outspoken advocate for women, Divine is always innovating and adapting her services to meet the needs of her clients. Her education includes an honours degree in sociology, a post-graduate diploma in social work and a master’s degree in human resource management. Divine has been awarded many accolades for the important work she’s done including the Queen Elizabeth II 70th Jubilee Award and was recognized by the Atlantic Business Magazine as one of the 25 most powerful women in Atlantic Canada.

Bertha Wilson was a highly respected lawyer and judge who made history in 1982 as the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. She served on the court for eight years, bringing courage and openness to her role. During her tenure, she played a significant part in shaping the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She was involved in several landmark legal decisions, including the pivotal ruling that struck down Canada’s abortion law in 1988. Moreover, she was also part of decisions which changed charter laws about statutory rape and domestic violence. She’s always been a powerful advocate for women’s rights to their bodies, back when it was more taboo to speak up about them. From becoming a commissioner on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, being elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and being honoured as a Companion of the Order of Canada, her range of accolades are a testament to the work she has put forward.

Chantal Petitclerc is a renowned wheelchair racer, disabilities advocate and Canadian senator. At just 13, she lost the use of her legs in an accident on a friend’s farm, but that didn’t hold her back. Petitclerc only worked harder, becoming the first Canadian athlete to win gold at the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games. Over her career, Petitclerc competed in five Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2008, earning an impressive 21 medals, including 14 gold, and breaking 26 world records! She is one of the most decorated female track athletes in Canadian history. Her achievements have been recognized with numerous honours, including a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame and induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Beyond her athletic success, Petitclerc is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, working to highlight their contributions to society and promote inclusivity. Her story inspires many to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Dr. Theresa Tam is a renowned physician with expertise in immunization, infectious disease and global health security. She was named Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) in 2017, becoming the first woman to hold the job. As the national public health leader, Dr. Tam was instrumental in helping guide Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a treasured member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and serves as an expert on the World Health Organization Committee. She has over 55 peer-reviewed journal publications and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws from Carleton University and was chosen as an Immigrant Woman of Inspiration in 2021.

At the age of just 13, Shannen Koostachin took a stand for Indigenous youth and started an education rights movement called Students Helping Students, which ended up becoming the largest youth-led rights movement in Canadian history. She travelled to Ottawa to demand a new school for Attawapiskat, an isolated community in Northern Ontario. Although her request was denied, her activism drew worldwide attention. She made a speech on the steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa and told the media she would never quit until every First Nations child had a proper school. In 2014, thanks largely to Koostachin’s efforts, Kattawapiskak Elementary School opened in Attawapiskat. She sadly passed at 15 from a motor vehicle accident, but her work lives on in Shannen’s Dream, a youth movement that advocates for equitable funding for First Nations education.