National Post - Financial Post Magazine
CANADIAN TIRE Community Impact Awards
Recognizing women who strive to make a difference in their communities
BIO: Tabatha is Anishinaabe, member of Nipissing First Nation, descendant of the Macmillan Clan, and most importantly mom to two young men. As CCAB'S CEO she is committed to help rebuild and strengthen the path towards reconciliation and a prosperous Indigenous economy to benefit all Canadians. An electrical engineer, Tabatha works for Indigenous inclusion and diversity in Canada's energy sector.
TABATHA BULL
B. Sc Eng President and CEO, CANADIAN COUNCIL FOR ABORIGINAL BUSINESS
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Stay true to myself and the values I believe in. Whenever I have been faced with a challenging situation, discussion, or conflict, I have always found that being honest, transparent, and open to conversation has provided me with the most success.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: I strive to be “Influential.” I was never raised to strive for power, and never have. I was raised to think about how everything I do and say affects all of those I spend time with, all who I work with, and to never strive to be “on top”.
NIKKI HILL
Principal and Partner,
EARNSCLIFFE STRATEGIES; Principal,
NICOLA HILL STRATEGIES
BIO: Nikki Hill is a Principal and Partner at Earnscliffe Strategies. Before joining Earnscliffe, Nikki was a senior leadership team member at two B.c.-based charities and within a major political party. Nikki was the founder and Co-chair of United Way's Period Promise campaign from 2018 to 2022, which led to significant public policy change at the provincial and national levels. In 2022, she was asked by the Government of B.C. to chair the Period Poverty Task Force for the province.
ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Taking bold actions that may not be popular, to truly change the lives of people who may not have the same power to speak for themselves.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: To take charge of your choices and drive forward with a vision and passion.
POWER SONG: Run the World (Girls), Beyoncé
TONIE CHALTAS ACHĒV
BIO: After 25-plus years in the private sector, Tonie became the CEO of Achēv, one of Canada's leading service providers helping newcomers and Canadians to achieve prosperity faster. She is leading Achēv through a period of tremendous growth and transformation, and is passionate about building a culture where everyone belongs. Throughout her career, Tonie has prioritized volunteer work, much of it supporting and advancing women. She now uses her voice to help improve the lives of newcomers.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Develop a point of view, then use your voice to advocate for your ideas and perspectives.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Being able to lead through influence not direct authority. When people follow you because they believe in where you are taking them, not because they report to you, great things can happen.
AFSHEEN JIWANI
MBA, CFRE
Advisory Board Member,
UP WITH WOMEN;
Member, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Taskforce,
ASSOCIATION OF HEALTHCARE PHILANTHROPY (AHP)
BIO: Afsheen is committed to women's empowerment and diversity, equity, inclusion & anti-racism, leveraging 16 years' experience in fundraising. Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, she is actively involved in her community as a member of the Advisory Board of Up With Women, and of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy's (AHP) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Taskforce, and a volunteer leader in the Ismaili community. In 2021, she received the AHP'S 40-under-40 Award for her efforts to shape the future of healthcare development.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Believe in yourself no matter what anyone says, act like a leader before you're one - don't wait for the fancy titles, look at the bigger picture and always be humbled and grateful.
DR. SIU MEE CHENG
PHD, MHSC, BASC, CHE Executive Director,
THE STREET HAVEN
AT THE CROSSROADS, OPERATING AS STREET HAVEN, Instructor, TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
BIO: Dr. Siu Mee Cheng is a leader, advocate, educator and researcher and possesses 28 years of experience in the health and social services and public sectors at the local, provincial and national levels. She works, advocates and provides thought leadership on health and social policy and care issues including access to housing and health care, food insecurity, public health and poverty reduction. As a researcher and educator she is supporting future health and social care professionals and the community services sector.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Staying passionate about what you do.
ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Staying true, focused and committed to what you believe in.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Believing that you can achieve your goal.
POWER SONG: Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys
NEHA KHANDELWAL
IT Professional Founder,
INDIAN WOMEN CIRCLE
BIO: Neha Khandelwal is the founder of Indian Women Circle, a trusted Facebook community of 6,500-plus Indian immigrant women in Gta-ontario. As an immigrant woman of colour, a mother and full-time professional, Neha has demonstrated unwavering commitment and visionary leadership over eight years to create an inclusive safe space for women. Neha has been recognized by Facebook as a Power Admin, nominated for Women of Influence and DMZ Women of Year awards.
ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Lead with humility and integrity, listening to your heart and exhibiting relentless dedication to create a lasting impact on people's lives, because it matters!
POWER SONG: Unstoppable, Sia
DR. JACQUELINE OTTMANN
B.ED., M.ED., PHD President, Professor,
FIRST NATIONS UNIVERSITY OF CANADA; Past Co-chair & Co-founder, NATIONAL INDIGENOUS UNIVERSITY SENIOR LEADERS’ ASSOCIATION; Past President, CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF EDUCATION
BIO: Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann is Anishinaabe (Saulteaux) from Fishing Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan and President of First Nations University of Canada. Ottmann has been recognized as an international researcher, advocate and change-maker whose purpose is to transform organizational systems and practices inclusive of Indigenous leadership, methodologies and pedagogies. Jacqueline is driven to create schools, organizations and communities that foster a deeper sense of belonging and appreciation for Indigenous peoples – histories, stories, philosophies, knowledges, intellect, traditions and lived experiences.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Walk in strength and purpose, beyond the mediocre, to think outside the box and live within the circle, to be held tall and confident by a destined-filled vision and mission that benefits humanity.
REBECCA SHIELDS CEO, CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION YORK REGION & SOUTH SIMCOE
BIO: Rebecca is a well-respected transformational impact leader who builds trusted relationships that drive innovation and outcomes for people, teams and community. She has earned nationwide recognition for her leadership in system and sector integration, community development, inclusion for persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, support for youth at risk, and mental health and addictions care. She lives a deeply personal commitment to EDIA to create high-performance cultures where purpose and belonging drive meaningful outcomes for those we collectively serve.
ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Wisdom of a mentor: “I keep my promises and always try and do better.”
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: The ability to live fully authentically, with no fear.
POWER SONG: Brave, Sara Bareilles
TANYA RUMBLE
MPNL, CFRE, CMP, MFA-P Executive Director of Development, Faculty of Arts,
TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY; Co-founder,
RECAST PHILANTHROPY, Past Chair of the Board,
FINDHELP INFORMATION SERVICES; Board Secretary,
ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS CANADA; Member of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector, GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
BIO: Fundraising executive and thought leader on the intersections of equity and philanthropy, Tanya holds a Master in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton, Graduate Certificate in Marketing Communications from NYU and a Honours B.A. from Mcmaster. Tanya is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Communications Management Professional (CMP), and Master Financial Advisor - Philanthropy (MFA-P). Tanya acknowledges the Indigenous communities whose territory she is a settler and responsible steward of.
ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Living like a legend is the unique ability to hold the tension of having strong core values and beliefs that guide you, while also being flexible enough to unlearn and dismantle your biases along the way.
DR. MARY WELLS
P.eng
Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
BIO: Dr. Mary Wells is the Dean of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. An accomplished materials engineer, she is an award-winning researcher in the area of processing of advanced metallic alloys for use in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Dr. Wells is passionate about creating pathways for underrepresented groups into the engineering profession. She has led national initiatives to create opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups to enter and succeed in engineering programs.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: All people have an infinite amount of human potential, and my role is to allow them to believe in themselves and let them soar. Seeing this happen is what brings me the greatest joy and satisfaction.
ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Leading a life that's influential, inspiring and impactful. It isn't necessarily about fame or grandiosity but about leaving a positive and enduring impact on people around you and the world.
JILL SCHNARR
Chief Communications and Brand Officer, TELUS
BIO: As Chief Communications & Brand Officer, Jill Schnarr leads corporate communications, public relations, government relations, brand marketing, sponsorship, philanthropy and community investment at TELUS. Jill brings TELUS'S purpose to life, leveraging its world-leading technology to enable remarkable human outcomes while fostering a high-performance culture that has propelled TELUS to be recognized as a global leader in social capitalism and one of the most valuable brands in Canada.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: You get what you tolerate. This happens in life, in relationships, at work — if you tolerate poor or even mediocre performance in your work life or personal life, then you'll continue to get it. You've got to fight for more, be inspirational and enable people to strive to be the best they can be.
POWER SONG: Confident, Demi Lovato
DR. AMY WRIGHT
MSCN, PHD, Np-pediatrics, NCC-BC, CNEON(C) Assistant Professor, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO;
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, MCMASTER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, HAMILTON
BIO: Dr. Wright is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and President of the Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses. Working with Indigenous communities, she develops recommendations to improve health care access and delivery for Indigenous families with young children. She cocreated Healing the Hurt, a virtual campaign to educate clinicians, featuring videos of Indigenous mothers. Currently she is creating a parenting program by, and for, Indigenous fathers and Two-spirit parents.
MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: The importance of listening to others and remaining humble.
ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Being powerful means enabling others to live their best life.