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  • activist: Aoua Bocar LY-Tall, making the connections between environment and the treatment of women and girls

    by Frances Rooney | Jan 14, 2008

    What does the status of women and girls – especially as reflected in female genital mutilation – have to do with global warming? Or with planting North American seeds in rural Africa? In fact, they have everything to do with one another. read more

  • Commissioner Busson on the case

    by Frances Rooney | Aug 24, 2007

    She took on the top job at the Mounties in December 2006. Bev Busson is the first woman to have held the position of commissioner. And she only had a few months to deal with two major crises for the RCMP. The story of how one of the first female members of the regular forces quickly cleaned house. read more

  • rebel daughter, feminist revolutionary: Doris Anderson, 1921–2007

    by Wendy Robbins | Jun 11, 2007

    Wendy Robbins’ impressions and notes on the public memorial for Doris Anderson held at Toronto’s Convocation Hall May 12, 2007. read more

  • a stand-up woman: Doris Anderson

    by Frances Rooney | Jun 11, 2007

    While other magazines were telling women to stay home, be quiet, and do what their husbands wanted, Doris Anderson was, as June Callwood said, “quietly putting out the most seditious magazine in the country ... She was saying to women, stand up.” read more

  • Josephine Mandamin and the Ashinabik Women's Water Commission

    by Frances Rooney | Apr 24, 2007

    The commission was only recently created to “play a leadership role in raising the awareness of Great Lakes water and impact to its quality and quantity. The Women’s Water Commission will also share their tremendous traditional knowledge and teachings about water as they undertake their work.” Commissioner Josephine Mandamin hopes to start the process by exploring the spirituality of water, how to revive dead lakes, and how we can work together to achieve common goals. read more

  • Canada’s Chief Astronaut: Julie Payette

    by Patricia Enborg | Mar 9, 2007

    She didn’t plan to go out in space, but out she went. Now she can’t wait to go again. How did Julie Payette get the chance in the first place? By answering a newspaper ad. Oh, and by taking school seriously. Julie makes a point of telling the girls she speaks with that education is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. read more

  • Engineering women in the Canadian Space Agency

    by Patricia Enborg | Mar 8, 2007

    Right now, she is working on a mission to Mars, which will be going out in search of water. It was during her second year of high school that Isabelle discovered she could combine her interest in space exploration with engineering to become a space engineer. “When you have a strong interest in something, you should pursue that. If someone is intimidated, I would encourage them to become more exposed, to look for the challenges and to go for that.” read more

  • revealing the human face of climate change in the Arctic: Sheila Watt-Cloutier

    by Frances Rooney | Feb 12, 2007

    According to Norwegian member of parliament Heidi Soerensen, “The threat to the climate is so important that if it isn’t solved, it could lead to huge conflicts as people fight over access to water and land.” That is why she and an opposing MP nominated a Canadian environmentalist and a former U.S. vice president for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sheila Watt-Cloutier is too positive for a fight. She is working instead to save a way of life on the land – for the people, and animals, that depend on it. read more

  • licensed to guide: Harragin sisters

    by Frances Rooney | Jan 12, 2007

    Agnes Harragin Truxler and Mona Harragin Matheson were the first women to be licensed as guides for Canada’s National Parks. They didn’t let sexist attitudes or The Great Depression get in the way of their dream to do what they loved. As children, Agnes and Mona had a passion for the outdoors, animals, and particularly horses. As adults, their passion became their working life. read more

  • “out there” is us: Severn Cullis-Suzuki

    by Frances Rooney | Nov 28, 2006

    In kindergarten, she sold lemonade to save old-growth forests. At 13, she spoke at a United Nations conference about the fate of the earth. Her commitment to this world being a sustainable place to live hasn’t slowed down since then. How Severn Cullis-Suzuki’s feisty spirit might just inspire you to go do something to save our planet, too. read more

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