Canada’s Women’s History Month celebrates every woman fighting against the status quo. Here’s a list of nine inspirational women proving that “She Did, So Now I Can.”
By: Aliya Karimjee
We recognize nine strong Canadian women advocating for change during Women’s History Month. (From left to right, top to bottom, Anastasia Lin, Jyoti Gondek, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, Jaime Black, Backxwash, Breanne Sich, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Marina Nemat). (Collage by Aliya Karimjee/CanCulture)
This October marks the 30th anniversary of Women’s History Month in Canada, where we celebrate the actions of courageous women, non-binary folks, gender-fluid and other gender non-conforming peoples who don’t perpetually challenge an oppressive status quo. This year, the theme “She Did, So Now I Can,” inspires others to use their voice to empower ourselves and others around us.
Anastasia Lin
Lin testifying before the United States Congress.
Anastasia Lin is a queen in the pageant world and everyday life. She globally represents Toronto as a graduate of the University of Toronto and gained a platform after being crowned Miss World Canada in 2015. Lin uses her following to raise awareness of multiple human rights issues worldwide, such as persecution in China.
Hoping to make change, she presented these issues through media and legal action by testifying before the U.S. Congress and at the Geneva Human Rights and Democracy Summit.
Breanne Sich
Breanne Sich is building a community, raising awareness of the around Crohn’s disease, reducing its stigma and shame.
For this purpose, she founded an apparel line, The Crohn’s & Colitis Collective, where she donates 90 per cent of proceeds to a volunteer-based organization, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.
Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo
Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo is smiling at her accomplishments. (Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo/Facebook)
Everyone knows the iPhone and iPad as sources of entertainment, but Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo created the iLaunchHERproduct in 2021 to offer real help to women offering them the opportunity to meet buyers and transition growth into retail stores.
As the CEO & Founder of Simply Ebjola Inc. and de Sedulous Women Leaders, she connects Black, Indigenous and racialized entrepreneurs to buyers from different industries.
Adetokunbo-Taiwo facilitates entrepreneurial competencies through vessels of mentorship, education and support, empowering Black women, women of colour and immigrant women.
Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon
Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon is Inuk, making her the first Indigenous person to hold the office. (Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon/Twitter)
Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, was sworn in as the Governor General on July 26, 2021, and vocalized her concerns around Inuit rights, education, culture and youth.
Her work with Arctic Children and Youth Foundation and Indigenous rights is nationally and internationally recognized. She additionally responded to the formal apology on residential schools and negotiated the 1982 patriation of the Canadian Constitution.
In her new role, she enhances mental health programs and resources for Indigenous youth while creating a better future through discussions on climate change, reconciliation, diversity and inclusion.
Jaime Black
Jaime Black is a multidisciplinary artist of mixed Anishinaabe and Finnish decent. According to her website, Black’s practice works through themes of memory, identity and resistance. (Jaime Black/Jaimeblackartist.com)
Clothes can tell a story, especially when paired with a powerful colour like red.
Jaime Black launched the REDress Project and collected hundreds of red dresses to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada.
This artwork proves an image can tell 1000 words.
Jyoti Gondek
Gondek delivering a victory speech after being elected Calgary’s mayor in 2021. (Via Wikimedia Commons)
Jyoti Gondek became the first woman and woman of colour to be elected mayor of Calgary. Her accomplishments inspire other women to get involved in politics and pursue their dreams, even in male-dominated spaces.
She isn’t scared to stand up to others and disrupt the status quo, like when she refused to swear in a municipal politician guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Never Have I Ever… said I’m sorry.
You may recognize Mississauga-born actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from the Netflix TV series Never Have I Ever. Maritreyi Ramakrishnan is the representation for so many young South Asian women who are oft underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media.
She is unapologetic in her ambassadorship for Plan International Canada, an organization fighting for children’s rights and equality for women.
Marina Nemat
Marina Nemat attends the Oslo Freedom Forum after being released from imprisonment for social justice activism. (Marina Nemat/Facebook)
Using her voice cost Marina Nemat her freedom.
In 1979, at 16 years old, Nemat spent two years imprisoned and tortured for speaking out against injustice by the Iranian government.
After moving to Canada in 1991, she began sharing her lived experience in high schools, universities, conferences and through her books.
The Human Dignity Prize and the cultural association Europa awarded her in 2004 for her efforts to build a just and tolerant society.
Ashanti Mutinta (stage name Backxwash)
Backxwash is the first Trans woman to win the Polaris Music Prize, awarded to celebrate diversity and support Canadian artists.
In July 2019, she marked her debut album, Deviancy, where she defends black and queer people.
“My existence itself is political. My livelihood is political, and the livelihood of my sisters is political. We just want rights, and we have to go through so many hurdles to do that, and I feel very connected to that struggle,” Backxwash confirms in her debut album.