CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023
In partnership with
#IWD2023 #E mbrace E quity IS USING HER VOICE TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS Isha Khan
Celebrate the power within
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
We’re excited to be a part of the Winnipeg Women’s Conference . Join us at the RBC Headshot Lounge for your complimentary headshot to elevate your personal and professional brand.
Date Monday, March 13, 2023
Location Winnipeg Art Gallery
winnipegwomensconference.com
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#IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity
International Women’s Day is March 8th and there is so much to celebrate. Women are making great strides in communities all over the world and Manitoba is no exception. This edition of IWD magazine has partnered with the Winnipeg Women’s Conference. WWC keynote speakers, sponsors and participants are about to share their successes and advice with participants next week at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Free Press is excited to give you a sneak peek. The Winnipeg Women's Conference provides a full day of engaging speakers and breakout sessions that will get attendees to the next level, both personally and professionally. This conference sets the stage for connecting with like-minded business owners, growing your network or taking your career to the next level. Already sold out for 2023, if you like what you hear remember to save the date for 2024! This magazine will highlight keynote speakers and notable Manitobans such as Isha Khan, Liz Choi, Norva Riddell, Connie Walker and more. We’ll also cover two additional keynote speakers: speech writer to Michelle Obama, Sarah Hurwitz and CEO of Cheekbone Cosmetics Inc. Jenn Harper.
Christine Theissen, founder, Winnipeg Women's Conference
Join us in honouring International Women’s Day with IWD magazine!
Editor Kristin Marand Design
President and CEO Mike Power Director, Lifestyles Publications Charlene Adam Charlene.Adam@freepress.mb.ca
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Tammy Mitchell View online at winnipegfreepress.com/lifestyles
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The first inaugural Winnipeg Women's Conference in March 2022
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CONTENTS
6 The Winnipeg Women’s Conference has been a labour of love leading up to the first inaugural event in March 2022 8 WWC 2023 Manitoba breakout speakers set to share their expertise 10 WWC keynote speaker and talented speechwriter and author Sarah Hurwitz 12 Jen Harper, keynote speaker at WWC, offers insights into her journey to found Cheekbone Cosmetics
14 Winnipeg's own Isha Kahn discusses her journey from Manitoba Human Rights Commission lawyer to her role at CMHR and the importance of mentorship 18 The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation highlights the leadership role women play in amplyfing voices of missing children 22 Body Measure set to celebrate five years of helping women acheive health goals 26 Balmoral Hall School embraces the future by empowering students
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THE 2023 ROBERT AND ELIZABETH Knight Distinguished Lecture
What does it mean to be an equity-seeking student on a Canadian campus today? Featuring Eternity Martis Journalist, assistant professor at TMU and award-winning author of They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up.
MARCH 9, 3-5 PM Investors Group Athletic Centre, Fort Garry campus Public lecture, all are welcome Please scan and submit your RSVP online at the following QR code or visit umanitoba.ca/knight-lecture
Celebrating International Women’s Day and empowering opportunity province-wide!
To get her Stronger
WECM.CA
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Celebrating women who inspire us, motivate us, and show courage everyday.
are excited to offer a Sip and Shop special event to be held at Earls Main on March 12th at 11am. This provides those who were unable to purchase a ticket to the Conference the ability to get a small taste of the Conference and network with some of the speakers and directors and shop with a curated set of vendors over brunch.
This year's event will be once again held at the Winnipeg Art Gallery to a sold-out crowd on March 13, 2023. Early bird tickets sold out in a record 11 minutes followed quickly by all remaining tickets, creating a waitlist of attendees eager to be included in a day of inspiring and uplifting events. As a result of the sold-out status, they
The Winnipeg Women’s Conference has been a labour of love for a few years leading up to the first inaugural event in March 2022. The event was held at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and utilized the entire building to facilitate the Conference which hosted 319 women. Christine Thiessen, founder and chair of the event developed the concept for the Conference several years ago while attending another conference. The key piece missing for her at the time was the ability to listen to topics that were relevant to individuals versus one general message. In September 2020 right amid the Covid-19 pandemic she started to plan the Conference. Over the course of 18 months, the entire lineup of the Conference was developed which included sponsorship, committee roles, marketing, speaker lineups and most importantly selling tickets. The largest challenge they had at the outset was simply getting the word out to the public, however with a dedicated team, an incredible lineup of speakers and the promise of an experience not to be forgotten they did just that. The Conference sold out and was a huge success.
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The first inaugural Winnipeg Women's Conference in March 2022
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Having listened to the 2022 attendees' feedback impactful changes were added to create even more excitement on the day. TD Experience - After the Conference last year, many attendees noted that they wanted ‘more’ and to keep the conversation going. Out of this, a new ticket level was created to provide a small group of attendees the opportunity to expand on their experience. In partnership with TD Bank, the TD Experience was created. Attendees are invited to an exclusive dinner with the three keynote speakers, followed by a stay at Inn at the Forks. The next day, they arrive at the Conference for a full day of engaging speakers followed by the Scotiabank VIP Reception. RBC Headshot Lounge - This year the Conference will also be offering the RBC Headshot Lounge providing attendees a fun and creative way to update their headshot before the day starts or over lunch.
The success of the event is not without the support of the incredible sponsors they work with. In addition to the above two sponsors they want to thank the Platinum Sponsor Pinnacle, VIP Reception sponsor Scotiabank Women Initiative, Breakfast and Snack Sponsor Mercedes- Benz Winnipeg, Lunch Sponsor BMO Private Wealth, Breakout Room Sponsors Asper School of Business Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship and Thompson, Dorfman Sweatman, Networking Lounge Sponsor 24-7 InTouch, VIP Registration Sponsor Jessiman Family Investments Inc, Registration Sponsor Johnston Group, Lisa Castro, Wine Sponsor MNP LLP, Workroom Sponsor UpHouse, VIP & Speaker Gift Sponsor Hillberg and Berk, Print Sponsor Comforts of Home Care ,and our Friendly Manitoba sponsors; Canadian Goodwill, Futurpreneur, Payworks, People First HR Service, Steinbach Credit Union and the Manitoba Club. For the second year, the WWC Committee hosted the Nominee Program Sponsored by Balmoral Hall School.This program was designed to allow the community to nominate amazing women business owners, who have gone above and beyond. Congratulation to our 2023 winners; Little Ghost Creative, Sharecuterie, Allyg studios/Allyg
Over the course of lunch, the Conference ensures there is time to relax, enjoy the company of other attendees and even do a little shopping. This year, there are three great local vendors, Mad About Style, Make Candle Co., and Mottola Grocery. The day finishes in the WAG- Qaumajuq Ilavut Entance Hall where our Scotiabank VIP reception guests will get another opportunity to visit our Sip and Shop companies while being served Veuve Champagne and passed Hor d’oeuvres, a great way to end the day. The WWC is a community of women who share experiences, create, and cultivate valuable long-term relationships and business connections while sharing knowledge and experiences from peers and experts in an open, authentic, and dynamic environment. They are excited to continue building the WWC community and we will be announcing a new line of programming for 2024 in the coming months.
Nail Artistry, Mama House of Pain, Sage Cleaning Services and
Elizabeth – Truly Lashed. The format the day of the
Conference will follow a similar concept to last year with keynote speakers and breakout sessions. Attendees will hear from three keynote speakers, Sarah Hurwitz; former Whitehouse speech writer for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Jenn Harper ; CEO and Founder of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics Inc, and Winnipeg’s very own Isha Khan; CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The day is formatted to include breakout sessions, where attendees can hear from a choice of 6 dynamic local women entrepreneurs and professionals. Liz Choi CEO of Education Canada
Group, Norva Riddell Senior VP Sales True North Sports &
Entertainment, Liz Crawford CEO of Swish Model Management, Justine MacDonald Founder Goal Chasers, Connie Walker CEO United Way Winnipeg, Kiirsten May Co-owner UpHouse.
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BREAKOUT SPEAKERS
Liz Choi Liz Choi is an award-winning and highly sought- after senior executive leader with over 15 years of experience in higher education, currently serving as the CEO of Education Canada Group. As a proud Korean-Canadian who moved to Canada on her own in her late teens, she firmly believes in the power of storytelling when it comes to disrupting systems of racism, bias, misogyny and patriarchy. Norva Riddell Norva’s career has been a journey that has spanned over the past four decades and has included several 'firsts' for women in both the beer and sports + entertainment industries. She’s been fortunate to work with great leaders who have supported and encouraged her. Norva is passionate about people, relationships and collaborating with others, and she thrives on working as a team to do the best job possible. Every day provides new challenges and opportunities. Liz Crawford Liz is the CEO of Swish model management, Swish productions, co-founder of Studio 315 and owner of Rosè Coffee and Wine. She is passionate about new adventures and empowering women in business and life to pursue their passions and adventures. She lives by Cher's wise words: “This life isn’t a dress rehearsal. Plan to make the most of it.”
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Following the morning networking sessions, keynote speakers and panel discussions, participants can attend two breakout sessions throughout the day. All the breakout speakers are Manitobans, experts in their field, discussing various topics, including finances, balance, leadership, negotiation and more.
Justine McDonald Justine McDonald is a business coach for women and author of the Mama's Got Goals planner. After a decade of working in corporate marketing, she decided to take her knowledge of building small business brands to help women create freedom- based businesses. She's been recognized in national publications and recently created a custom planner with Jillian Harris for her Jilly Academy Box. Connie Walker Connie is the outgoing president and CEO of United Way Winnipeg. She is grateful to have learned from amazing people her entire career and would never have guessed she would one day become a CEO. She likes making a difference. Kiirsten May Kiirsten May is the co-owner of UpHouse, an award- winning advertising agency that elevates in-house marketing teams and their brands. Kiirsten and Erica (UpHouse’s manager of marketing) led the development of the company's social purpose – to inspire the social consciousness of brands. Kiirsten believes we have a responsibility to use marketing to portray the kind of world we all want to live in: one that is more inclusive, diverse, accessible and equitable.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sarah Hurwitz
of Iowa. Sarah was also a lawyer at the Washington, DC office of WilmerHale and is a graduate of Har- vard College and Harvard Law School. Sarah has been profiled in the Washington Post, People.com, the Boston Globe, and the Guardian; interviewed on the Today Show, Morning Joe, Amanpour & Co., and NPR; and featured in the Forward as one of 50 Jews who impacted American life in 2016 and 2019. Sarah is also the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life -- in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) which was a finalist for two National Jewish Book Awards and for the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. Michelle Obama tweeted about Sarah's book, saying, "Sarah Hurwitz is a brilliant writer with a big heart and a kind soul — and I'm sure Here All Along will reflect her thoughtfulness and eloquence, which I depended on for so many years. I'm so proud of you, Sarah, for sharing your journey and your voice with the world!" Sarah offers audiences a behind-the-scenes look at life in the White House working for one of the most inspiring and influential women in the world. She also shares her advice on effective storytelling, providing concrete tips for how to create a moving, persuasive narrative that breaks through the noise and has a lasting impact.
Sarah Hurwitz was a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, starting out as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then serving as chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. Sarah worked with Mrs. Obama to craft widely-acclaimed addresses – including her 2008, 2012, and 2016 Democratic National Convention speeches – and travelled with the first lady across America and to five continents. As a senior advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls, Sarah also worked on policy issues affecting young women and girls. Before working at the White House, Sarah was chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential primary campaign. She then joined the Obama campaign, serving as a senior speechwriter for then-Senator Obama. Prior to the Clinton and Obama campaigns, Sarah served as deputy chief speechwriter for Senator John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, deputy chief speech- writer for General Wesley Clark’s primary cam- paign, and a speechwriter for Senator Tom Harkin Sarah worked with Mrs. Obama to craft widely-acclaimed addresses and traveled with her across America and to five continents.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Jenn
Harper
Cheekbone Beauty’s mission is to help every Indigenous youth see and feel their enormous value in the world while creating
support the FNCFCS today. During Cheekbone's infancy, Jenn also suffered a heavy personal loss with the suicide of her brother B.J. This loss, though difficult, has remained a driving force behind Jenn's desire to see Cheekbone Beauty succeed with its mission. In addition to Cheekbone's mission, Jenn strives to educate as many Canadians as possible about the residential school system and the effects it has had on her family and friends through decades of generational trauma. Jenn regularly speaks to university, college and high school students about social entrepreneurship, empathy and the history of her First Nations family. Jenn has also been invited to speak to various entrepreneur groups, women in business associations, Apple Canada, and First Nations organizations across Canada. In 2017 Jenn Harper was awarded the Social Enterprise Award at the 17th annual Women in Business Awards by the Women in Niagara Council and the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce for her work on Cheekbone Beauty. In total Cheekbone Beauty has dontated $1,705 to support Indigenous youth! Cheekbone Beauty exists to enhance and empower the lives of Indigenous youth!
Jenn Harper, the founder of Cheekbone Beauty, was born in
Thunder Bay, Ontario and relocated to the Niagara region, where she was raised and developed a passion for cosmetics. For Jenn, makeup has become a means of expression that she feels has amazing power. There needed to be a brand made in Canada that was never tested on animals, free of parabens, and that gave back to First Nations communities. The brand did not exist, so Jenn created it! Through countless hours over the past two and a half years, Cheekbone Beauty was born! Over the past ten years, Jenn has had a successful career in sales and marketing with two large international corporations. During her first week of training sessions with one of these companies, a questionnaire asked: "What is your dream job?" Jenn wrote, "To be the CEO of a major cosmetic brand." At the time, there was no indication that Jenn would eventually set out to build Cheekbone Beauty. During the development of Cheekbone Beauty, Jenn researched the industry as well as charities that help close the educational funding gap that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Jenn found the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (FNCFCS), and Cheekbone Beauty continues to
sustainable cosmetics.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Isha Khan's journey to human rights CEO A VOICE, A PLATFORM, A PURPOSE:
BY KRISTIN MARAND
Isha Khan always knew that she wanted to use her voice to advocate for others. But like so many, she wasn’t always sure how. She took a meandering route into the world of human rights, but the spark of wanting to be of service to others in the fight against inequity lit her path forward. “From an early age, I knew – based on my personal experiences and those of people around me – that discrimination and ‘othering’ have terrible, long-lasting impacts,” she explains. “I wanted to help people who were being discriminated against find their voices and advocate alongside them for change.” The road to her current role as CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights started with an undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba and a law degree from the University of Victoria. She went on to practice labour and employment law in Calgary before moving back to her hometown of Winnipeg and pursuing an opportunity with United Way. She says that a chance conversation with another mother at her daughter's skating lesson moved her to orient her career more deliberately toward human rights when the woman mentioned the Manitoba Human Rights Commission was looking for a lead counsel.
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“I hope that people see themselves in the stories that we’ve been entrusted to share.”
– Isha Khan, CEO, Canadian Museum for Human Rights
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believes mentorship isn't just about a person in a more senior position taking a younger person under their wing but rather about building relationships of trust and understanding. She is excited to be part of a conference where women come together to work through issues and share ideas. “If we approach conferences like this with intention, we can disrupt systems that have created barriers for women for thousands of years,” says Khan. “I'm excited to be with other women who want to think about these issues. For my keynote, I hope to offer some personal reflections about my experience as a woman of colour in a position of leadership, but I also hope to encourage people to look at the unique issues that women in leadership must face through the lens of human rights.” Khan acknowledges that while women, transgender, non-binary and Two Spirit people have come a long way, there’s still much work to be done. “We can make an impact in the world when we work together; when we can share stories of our past to inspire new ways of thinking, interacting and celebrating one another. And that gives me hope,” she says. “It's in small moments, just as much as it's in big moves and policies and laws being changed.”
“When I talk to young people who are looking to advance their careers, I always share that those moments of clarity, where we learn a lot about who we are and where we want to go, often come when we least expect them,” she muses. Khan pursued the opportunity with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, eventually serving as executive director. She says she was drawn to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights a few years later by the combination of education, creativity and community building it offered. “I hope that people see themselves in the stories that we’ve been entrusted to share. We work with communities across Canada and around the world to care for their stories and share them to inspire a greater understanding of human rights, equity and inclusion,” she says. “We’re pushing back against outdated ideas of museums as spaces that only display artifacts in glass cases. We want to promote dialogue and reflection about the issues of our time. It's exciting to be part of that.” This March, Khan will be a keynote speaker at the Winnipeg Women’s Conference. She feels strongly about the support and mentorship she has received from women in her life and says it has been a pivotal part of her journey. Khan
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Indigenous Women LEAD THE WAY AT THE NCTR
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
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Indigenous women leaders play pivotal roles as they amplify the voices of missing children through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
“Women are life-givers,” says Scott, noting that the NCTR is fortunate to have national leaders involved every step of the way. “I am grateful to our ancestors of all genders who resisted and fought back against colonialism. I think it is an important part of our healing for Indigenous women to take up our rightful roles as matriarchs, mentors and leaders to ensure future generations will never again experience those human rights violations on their identities and their cultures.”
Stephanie Scott is the organiza- tion’s executive director, which was created as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s mandate and is hosted at the University of Manitoba. Guided by a Governing Circle and Survivor Circle comprised of First Nations, Inuit and Métis, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) houses the collection of statements, docu- ments, sacred items and other materials gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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Brenda Gunn, academic and research director, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (left) and Stephanie Scott, executive director, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
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Kaila Johnston, serves as the supervisor of education, outreach and public programming at the NCTR
Dr. Levinia Brown, Survivor Circle member
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“Part of my responsibility is also to my four-year-old daughter and to oth- ers who see me in my role. I see the way my daughter models what I do — the good and the bad,” she says. “It’s important to me to try to live the values that I hold as best I can, to admit when I’ve made mistakes and to address them in the best way possible.” For Gunn, International Women’s Day is significant because many hu- man rights violations target women or impact women differently. “It’s also a day to not only remem- ber that there’s a lot of work to do to address gender-based societal imbal- ances and oppression,” she says, “but to celebrate the knowledge that women bring to this world.” Kaila Johnston serves as the su- pervisor of education, outreach and public programming. “At the NCTR, more than half
who helped open doors and provide guidance for today’s journey. “We recognize all leaders who paved the way for us to be where we are now, and we repay this debt of gratitude by supporting future women leaders through mentorship, compassion and opportunities to learn and grow,” she says. “This is also a time to be mindful of all the children and young women who never had the opportunity to grow up to become the leaders of their generation because that op- portunity was taken away from them through repressive colonial institutions like the residential schools.” Brenda Gunn is the academic and research director at the NCTR and a law professor at the University of Man- itoba. Through her role, Gunn hears a range of experiences, perspectives and questions about the history and legacy of residential schools.
For Scott, International Women’s Day is about striving for the safety, health and strength of future genera- tions of women, girls and Two Spirit people. At the same time, she credits women from the past and present A powerful teaching tool is the NCTR’s archival collection which includes millions of records, Survivor statements and physical objects related to the residential school system.
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times, but we have never given up. We have persevered, and we have adapted and survived,” she says. “We have never forgotten who we are and have carried our spirits, our ceremonies, our cultures and our beliefs forward. We were here yester- day, we are here today, and we will be here tomorrow.” She adds that the Indigenous community respects the wisdom of women, who have always played a role in governance, spiritual practice, education and health care. For Wesley-Esquimaux, Interna- tional Women’s Day honours and celebrates the hard work to secure women’s ability to achieve equity and positions of authority. “We encourage our daughters to own their power and live their passion,” she says, “while embrac- ing empathy and compassion for humanity.”
ours the role that women have in telling our truths and sharing sacred knowledge. So many of our valuable Knowledge Keepers and Elders are women.” Dr. Catherine Cook serves a dual role as a member of the NCTR Governing Circle and the vice presi- dent (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba. For her, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women and girls in all areas of society. “It is important to acknowledge how far we have come, particularly for Indigenous women who have been marginalized and often brutal- ized for the first century-and-a-half of Canada’s history,” she says. The voices of the missing children have been heard and are a power- ful influence for Canadians to come together with Indigenous Canadians to rectify the mistakes of the past, she adds. “My role is to support the coura- geous work that the NCTR staff and allies in Canada do every day to en- sure that the voices of the children are not forgotten,” Cook says. As chair of the NCTR Governing Circle, Dr. Cyn-
the staff are female or non-binary,” she says, “which speaks to some of the NCTR’s guiding principles of representation and inclusivity in its everyday work.” For Johnston, a powerful teaching tool is the NCTR’s archival collection which includes millions of records, Survivor statements and physical objects related to the residential school system. “It’s important when doing this work that there is always a human el- ement, a connection, to the content to ensure that Survivors, their families and others impacted are more than just a statistic,” she says. She believes International Women’s day is a time to focus on women’s successes and achieve- ments while also bringing attention to challenges that still exist, including reproductive rights. Dr. Levinia Brown, who received an honourary doctorate of law in 2022, and a member of the Survivor Circle, draws attention to the impor-
tant role of both Survivors and women in particular.
“It was Survivors that demanded government and church entities be held responsible and accountable for their actions. This continued convic- tion and passion of Survivors made it possible for the NCTR to take form, and I am proud that Survivors continue to guide the work and spirit of the NCTR in seeking the truth,” Brown says. “International Women’s Day hon-
thia Wesley-Esquimaux stresses the importance
of understanding the history of this country. “Indigenous peoples have been challenged many
“We encourage our daughters to own their power and live their passion, while embracing empathy and compassion for humanity.”
– Dr. Cynthia Westley-Esquimaux, chair, NCTR Governing Circle
A MEASURE OF SUCCESS BY TODD LEWYS
This July, Body Measure will be celebrating five years in business. Turns out, the concept for Body Measure was conceived during a rather casual lunch hour conversation, says co-owner Melina Elliott.
were doing it in Canada, and no one had ever done it in Winnipeg.” Sensing an opportunity to carve a niche in the Winnipeg market, Elliott and Henderson moved quickly. The first order of business was to secure a loan to help them acquire a DEXA Scanner and a commercial space to work out of. “Initially, the banks said, ‘you want to do what? No one is doing anything like
health-conscious women. “We started planning the very next day,” says Elliott. “We felt that we’d really hit on something that could make a difference in people’s lives.” After doing some research, Hen- derson found that the body scanning concept had yet to catch on in Cana- da, particularly in Winnipeg. “It was very popular in the United States,” she says. “Only a few clinics
“I was having lunch with Erica,” she says of co-owner Erica Henderson, a registered medical radiation tech- nologist who was working in research with Melina. “We were using a DEXA scanner for a study at the University of Manitoba, and she said, ‘wouldn’t it be great to use all this great info to help people live healthier lives?’” At that point, a figurative light bulb went off over the heads of the two
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Melina Elliott (left) and Erica Henderson owners of Body Measure
it,’” Elliott recalls. “Eventually, we eked out a tiny loan and then ponied up the rest of the money on our own. We risked our and our families’ security because we believed in the idea so much.” After finding a good location at 1086 St. Mary’s Road, Elliott and Henderson now had to let people know they exist- ed – and had a groundbreaking service that could transform their lives.
Today, Body Measure is a thriving business with a team of professionals that work together to help guide clients toward life-changing health solutions.
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als that work together to help guide clients toward life-changing health solutions. Not only that, but Body Measure’s staff is composed completely of women. “We’re completely woman-owned, and all our staff is female,” Elliott says. “We adhere to a living wage standard, as well. As we succeed, we want our staff to succeed in a positive work environment.” Body Measure’s range of services has also grown significantly. In Janu- ary 2022, they doubled their space to
did scans on whoever came to see us.” Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the merits of taking a DEXA scan to catch on. “Essentially, we were busy from day one,” says Henderson. Elliott says the strong start was both exciting and a relief. “All the hard work had paid off. People started to come, and as they did, we started to transform the health and bodies of people.” Today, Body Measure is a thriving business with a team of profession-
“We hustled to tell people why a 10-minute scan could change their lives,” adds Elliott. “We went every- where to get the message out.” To that end, Henderson literally went to every single gym in the city, of- fering free DEXA scans to trainers and gym owners. “We put up posters in gyms and churches and put ads on the radio, TV and in the paper and magazines,” she says. “It was just the two of us in the beginning. We answered the phone, cleaned, booked appointments and
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Emsculpt Neo helps people get leaner and stronger, Emsella helps with pelvic (incontinence and sexual health) issues, while Emface helps in replacing lost muscle and building back collagen and elastin.
blueprint for their body and an ac- tionable plan on how to make posi- tive changes.” Henderson agrees. “To me, the most rewarding part of the job is to help people find a way to feel good and be their healthiest self. We love what we do. We’re so happy that we took the chance to start a new, groundbreaking business that’s changed the lives of so many people for the better.”
with pelvic (incontinence and sexual health) issues, while Emface helps in replacing lost muscle and building back collagen and elastin. Best of all, the technology helps you use your own body to get healthier.” Suffice it to say, the journey has been challenging but ultimately re- warding, says Elliott. “We’re excited to meet people ev- ery day and transform their lives with the data our technology provides us with. When they leave, they have a
accommodate all their new services. Nowadays, the original DEXA scan- ner, which still hums day-in and day out providing body composition readouts - and was previously supplemented by RMR and Fit3D technology - works hand-in-hand with new FibroScan, Em- sculpt Neo, Emface, Emsella and Ther- mage therapies. “The key to all our technologies is that they’re non-invasive,” Henderson notes. “Emsculpt Neo helps people get leaner and stronger, Emsella helps
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From left to right: Isabel Cervantes Muller, Melissa Ramirez Sanchez, Ruixuan Zhou, Siyu Du, Jiayi Shi. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY
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FUTURE AT BALMORAL HALL FOCUS ON THE
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
Balmoral Hall School prepares girls to embrace their future with confidence, empathy and awareness. Whether they’re day students or boarding students at the renowned girls’ school, all are encouraged to pursue excellence.
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Balmoral Hall School advocates innovation and technology for gender equality
every day and especially on International Women’s Day.
PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY
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is a time to reflect. March eighth is dedicated to honouring past contri- butions to gender equality, as well as applauding those who fought for wom- en’s rights,” says Makeda, who hopes to pursue a career in politics or law fo- cused on human rights. “I believe this day is also a reminder that there is still progress to be made. We must be conscious of the adversities women face, particularly
One opportunity for growth is through the school’s co-curricular group, Girls for the World, which focuses on global issues. In addition to their many advoca- cy initiatives throughout the school year, students organize an annual assembly for International Women’s Day. Grade 12 student Makeda Davis takes a leadership role in organizing the school-wide assembly. “To me, International Women’s Day
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Domestic and international boarding students find a home away from home on campus while attending Balmoral Hall School.
cation and goals while also providing information on how to achieve them. “They make sure to include differ- ent areas into the curriculum to help ensure that everyone can try different things out and find what they like best. Balmoral Hall then helps each student succeed in their area of study,” says Natalie, who plans to pursue a busi- ness degree followed by law school.
her sights on a law degree. “The public celebration seen on International Women’s Day is vital to stoking the fire of action.” Grade nine student Natalie Klassen values the lifelong friendships she’s made at the school — including with fellow members of the Girls for the World group. At the same time, she appreciates how Balmoral Hall consis- tently promotes post-secondary edu-
women of colour and those fighting intersectionality.” Similarly, Grade 12 student Lily Rich has been involved with planning the assembly for the past four years. “As youth, we have an interesting vantage point: we are witnessing our- selves grow into a world filled with in- justice and disregard for human life, but also one filled with a tremendous amount of hope,” says Lily, who sets
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CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 29
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Balmoral Hall School empowers global citizens to act with compassion and integrity in striving towards a more equitable, inclusive future.
foster connections among all students — including day, domestic, and inter- national boarding students. “There is no gap between day stu- dents and boarding students,” says Jiayi, who aspires to launch her career in a medical field. “Students can make connections by talking with each other, and everyone is open to chat at school. Sometimes there will be activities in boarding that day students can experience.” The Grade 11 student has had the chance to participate in presentations and is encouraged to share her opinions. Although nervous at first, Jiayi has gained confidence throughout the process. “No one will judge you, no matter how your presentation is,” she says, “because it is you — and you are unique.” To learn more about Balmoral Hall School prior to their spring open house, visit www.balmoralhall.com.
Balmoral Hall does a great job of building confidence within students, not only through the encouragement of the teachers but also by giving new op- portunities to students, so they are able to try new things in a safe environment. Jahzara MacDougall, a grade nine student, appreciates Balmoral Hall’s focus on STEAM courses that encour- age girls to break glass ceilings. “As I am involved in the school as- sembly for International Women’s Day, I recognize the privilege that gender equality in Canada gives me and am aware that this is not a universal gift,” says Jahzara, who hopes to pursue a double degree in music and science with an end goal of studying medicine. “As well, it is a day to celebrate the global achievements of inspiring wom- en in STEAM fields.” For international boarding student Jiayi Shi, she says Balmoral Hall School has the most caring and warm teachers of all the schools she’s attended. In ad- dition, she notes how the school helps
30 CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
PROUD OF HER PROFESSION It is an exciting time to be a CPA in Manitoba It doesn’t take long upon meeting Geeta Tucker, FCPA, FCMA, President & CEO of CPA Manitoba to recognize how passionate she is about the accounting profession. After joining CPA Manitoba in 2019, she set her sights on making the profession more welcoming, modern and future-focused. As Executive Sponsor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the CPA profession in Canada, Tucker works with her counterparts to improve the diversity of the membership and seek innovative solutions to making the designation more accessible. These goals are also recognized in Tucker’s leadership of Indigenous working groups, both provincially and nationally, that are committed to reducing barriers and providing tailored paths for Indigenous learners. Manitoba is currently facing a shortage of 185 to 221 CPAs, a challenge that fuels Tucker’s creativity. “We are excited to modernize our programs to meet the needs of prospective CPAs and to support growth of the Canadian economy,” she says.
“Being a CPA opens the door to great career paths. It allows for a balance between personal goals and responsibilities, while doing fulfilling work that moves our economy forward.” - Geeta Tucker, FCPA, FCMA, President & CEO of CPA Manitoba
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Happy International Women’s Day!
WAB KINEW MLA for Fort Rouge wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca
NAHANNI FONTAINE MLA for St. Johns nahanni.fontaine@yourmanitoba.ca
LISA NAYLOR MLA for Wolseley lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca
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IAN BUSHIE MLA for Keewatinook ian.bushie@yourmanitoba.ca
JAMIE MOSES MLA for St.Vital jamie.moses@yourmanitoba.ca
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 31
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
The WWC Director Team (from left to right): Judith Chambers, Tina Boenders, Dana Plett, Christine Thiessen (founder and chair), Cady Jessiman, Melina Aiello
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