Learning Innovators: Honouring Eight Inspirational Canadian Women
October is Women’s History Month. What better time to honour Canadian women in learning and to celebrate women’s role in shaping a tolerant, progressive, and inclusive Canada? Since Redwood is a learning organization, we thought we’d put our spin on this important occasion. This blog salutes eight exceptional Canadian women making history as we speak as learning innovators and thought leaders.
Jennifer Flanagan, Co-founder and CEO of Actua
Actua is Canada’s largest STEM outreach organization. It comprises a network of 43 universities and colleges offering STEM learning experiences to children and youth ages 6 – 26.
Actua’s mission is to break down barriers to youth engagement and encourage diverse perspectives among all sectors working in the innovation economy.
As the Co-founder, President and CEO of Actua, Jennifer Flanagan has worked to ensure greater access to STEM among those traditionally excluded: young girls and women, Indigenous youth, Black youth, young people from rural and Arctic communities, and those facing socio-economic challenges.
Jennifer also volunteers on many boards and advises start-ups. The focus is always on gender equity, innovation, and the future of education.
“Girls love STEM. Women are amazing at STEM. We must continue to work to call out systemic barriers and ensure that workplaces are inclusive.” – Jennifer Flanagan.
Farrah Khan, Manager of Consent Comes First at Toronto Metropolitan University
This award-winning human rights champion is a gender equity educator, writer and advocate. For many years, she has advanced progressive policies on stigma-free healthcare, 2SLGBTQIA rights, sexual harassment, and inclusive sex education.
Farrah Khan is also the creator of the innovative BRAVE Model©, a peer support model with five simple steps to support a friend who has been subjected to sexual harassment and violence. To date, over 100,000 people have been trained in the model.
This innovative change-maker has helped shape public policy at all levels, including as the co-chair of the Ontario Provincial Roundtable on Violence Against Women.
“You cannot talk about the economy and a thriving, sustainable, peaceful, and healthy world without talking about gender equality.” – Farrah Khan.
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, Founder of Let’s Talk Science
For many years, Dr. Schmidt has been helping children and youth fulfil their potential and prepare for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
As founder and President of Let’s Talk Science, she has reached approximately 10 million youth and educators and 30,000 volunteers. The overriding focus is on science literacy and the development and delivery of initiatives to encourage girls to choose a STEM education early in life.
Her ground-breaking work in education and youth development has been recognized with over a dozen awards. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2015 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2018.
“We need to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to engage with science and technology to reach their full potential and contribute to society.” – Dr. Bonnie Schmidt.
Michele Romanow, Tech Entrepreneur, Television Personality, Board Director, and Venture Capitalist
Chances are, you’ve seen this dynamic Canadian entrepreneur on Dragons’ Den. She joined the show in 2015, becoming its youngest Dragon to date. That same year, she co-founded Clearco, aiming to provide non-dilutive funding to digital entrepreneurs. She was also named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women—all by the age of 30.
Michele has a history of promoting women in entrepreneurship. Clearco’s funding model supports female startups, and she actively works to close the funding gender gap. This ensures more women have access to the financial backing they need to scale their businesses.
As a passionate advocate of STEM, she encourages young women to empower their entrepreneurial pursuits with innovative technology. She frequently speaks to the importance of women’s leadership and consistently champions the values of learning, education, and persistence.
“This is the best time to be a woman in tech or a female entrepreneur…It’s easier to start a company than ever before with the rise of technology.” – Michele Romanow.
Emily Mills, Founder of How She Hustles
Emily Mills is nothing if not dynamic! An inspiring speaker, digital influencer, and former CBC senior communications officer, she has worked with many of Canada’s foremost companies. In 2021, she was named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
In 2010, Emily Mills launched How She Hustles, a platform for diverse women from various backgrounds to connect in a space where they feel supported and heard. The network encourages young women, particularly women of colour, to pursue opportunities for education and personal growth.
As a longtime advocate of increased representation of women of colour in leadership roles, she has hosted events like “Startup & Slay,” where successful female entrepreneurs share their insights on building a winning business with young women beginning their careers.
“I created How She Hustles because I couldn’t find anything quite like it in Toronto. I wanted to be part of a local network where culturally diverse women were the norm, not the exception.” – Emily Mills.
Penny Bennett, Leading Advocate and Educator for Canada’s Blind and Deafblind Community
Since October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it’s the perfect time to acknowledge Penny Bennett, an educator and prominent advocate for people with disabilities. As learning providers, greater accessibility is always a topmost consideration.
Bennett has been a tireless educator and thought leader for decades. She has held leadership roles in numerous disability organizations across Canada. This includes the Chair of CNIB Deafblind Community Services, a member of the Kingston Municipal Accessibility Awareness Committee, and a Co-Chair of the National Deafblind Awareness Month Working Group. She also advocated for the Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2015. Her multi-year efforts led to her recent induction to the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.
Through her work, Bennett has helped shape policies and reduce barriers to accessibility. The overarching objective is to improve accessibility for Canadians with disabilities. Over the years, she has consistently emphasized the importance of accessible resources, adaptive technology, and inclusive education.
”All Canadians who are deafblind deserve the opportunity to experience life without barriers in society.” – Penny Bennett.
Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and Professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work
A prominent Canadian Indigenous scholar and advocate, Dr. Blackstock has been a leading voice for recognizing Indigenous children’s rights. She was born in British Colombia and is a member of the Gitxsan Nation. She is the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, which she co-founded in 1999.
Dr. Blackstock was instrumental in leading a landmark human rights case against the Canadian government. The case stemmed from discriminatory practices in funding First Nations child welfare. Her efforts were vital and led to a historic ruling in 2016 by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The ruling found that the government had underfunded child welfare on reserves.
She has long believed that real change comes from systematic reform and practical actions. Societal action, backed by a commitment to equality, is essential to improving the lives of Indigenous children.
“I really believe in the goodness of Canadians. The idea that everyone should be given an equal opportunity to succeed in this country, particularly for children.” – Dr. Cindy Blackstock.
Dr. Jen Gunter, OB/GYN, Pain Medicine Physician, Two-Time New York Times Best Selling Author
Dr. Jen Gunter works as a physician, author, and educator. She is focused on advancing women’s health issues through education and challenging long-standing medical myths. The overarching theme is female empowerment. This is achieved by providing women with the scientific knowledge necessary to make informed decisions around critical health issues.
Along the way, she takes a humourous approach to challenging misinformation and pseudoscience that have negatively impacted women for generations. Her best-selling books, The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, tackle subjects like reproductive health, sexual health, and menopause.
Along with her books, Dr. Gunter is active on social media. She uses multiple platforms to engage with audiences and healthcare providers. Yet regardless of the medium, she is a consistent advocate for greater awareness and accessibility to fact-based health information.
“It’s also misogynistic to tie a description for one-third or possibly even one-half of a woman’s life to the function of her uterus and ovaries. We don’t define men as they age by an obvious physical change to their reproductive function.” – Dr. Jen Gunter.