Women of Courage Awards

Recognizing women who champion our country and its values across a diverse range of causes, with courage and compassion, even as it means risking their careers, reputations and, sometimes, their lives.

DOMANIQUE GRANT

Founder/ceo, GRANT CREATIVITY INC.; Founder, THE IMAGINE SUMMIT; Award-winning Singer/ Songwriter

BIO: Domanique Grant's Grant Creativity Inc. is a Bipocowned, female-led Canadian social enterprise dedicated to increasing access and development for equity-seeking groups through wellness and entertainment-based programming. Her music has been at the forefront of some of the largest global movements of our time. Through Grant Creativity Inc., her work as a social entrepreneur includes founding The Imagine Summit, Canada's first visualization, mental wellness and professional development summit. The Imagine Summit supports youth and entrepreneurs from underserved communities.

ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Living like a legend means transforming glass ceilings into glass stepping stones that create space for our dreams, and then create opportunities for the next generation

ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Standing in your light and trusting that showing who you are authentically will give others permission to do the same.

LILY POURZAND

LL.M. Director of Programs,

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SHELTERS

Expert in Social Services and Violence Against Women

BIO: Lily came to Canada as an asylum seeker from Iran at age 24 after graduating from law school. She continued her education in Women's Studies and graduated with an LL.M. in feminisim and law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Lily provides services to women, children, immigrants and became a leader in Social Services in York Region. Since 2021, Lily began to share her life experience in the media to shed light on women's challenges and braveries.

MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Trust, courage, transparency, dignity and resiliency.

ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: To dream big, take risks, fall down and rise up even higher.

ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: To be me - "an immigrant woman with big dreams."

POWER SONG: I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor

MICHELLE GROCHOLSKY

MASC Founder and CEO, EMPOWERED EDI

BIO: Driven by the philosophy that we must lift as we rise, Michelle is an award-winning equity strategist with global distinctions in the areas of innovation in engagement and inclusion. She is devoted to diagnosing the root causes of inequity inside organizations and establishing strategies that prioritize those most impacted by systems of oppression. Michelle's Empowered EDI is a leading measurement and strategy firm in Canada, sought after for its practical, impactful approach to meaningful results through equity, diversity and inclusion.

MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: We must lift as we rise.

ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: To make things better for those coming up alongside and behind you, so that they may never have to endure the same hurdles you and others have experienced.

POWER SONG: Higher Love, Kygo and Whitney Houston

HONOURABLE LISA RAITT

P.C.

Vice Chair and Managing Director, Global Investment Banking, CIBC CAPITAL MARKETS;

Co-chair, COALITION FOR A BETTER FUTURE

BIO: Lisa Raitt joined CIBC Capital Markets in January 2020, after careers in the public and private sectors. Her focus is on senior client coverage and business development with clients in the energy, infrastructure and industrial sectors. Previously, Ms. Raitt was the President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority. She was elected into the House of Commons in 2008, and held three senior portfolios. Ms. Raitt was the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada.

MOST IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON: Patience and humility are undervalued but pay off in the long run.

ON LIVING LIKE A LEGEND: Taking more risks than you think that you can.

ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: To have a network of people who you can reach out to when you need to.

POWER SONG: Brave, Sara Bareilles

ATOUSSA MAHMOUDPOUR

LLB, JD

National Chair,

Life Sciences & Technology, COZEN O'CONNOR

BIO: Atoussa is a Partner and the National Chair of Life Sciences and Technology at Cozen O'connor. She has been recognized in Legal 500 International, Chamber and Partners and has been awarded WXN'S Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award in 2021, and the Western Canada General Counsel, Tomorrow's Leader Award in 2022. She is a devoted wife, mother, and women's right activist. During her career, she chose to travel back to her country of birth to fiercely voice her opinion and take risks to empower women and raise awareness. Now back in Canada, she continues to lead by example.

ON WHAT POWERFUL MEANS: Stand tall and face every trauma and tragedy, and see them as challenges. Acknowledge and mourn if necessary, then move on to become a stronger and more powerful person every day.

POWER SONG: Unstoppable, Sia

We must lift as we rise ~ Michelle Grocholsky

Stand tall and face every trauma and tragedy ~ Atoussa Mahmoudpour

#WXNTOP100