Blogs

Martha “Martie” Russel (pictured above left) brings her signature blend of warmth, compassion, and drive to everything she does. An award-winning volunteer, healthcare entrepreneur, and fundraiser, Martie puts caring for others at the core of her leadership. In 2005, she joined IWF Toronto and has been attending Cornerstone and International Conferences from the beginning. For her, those events are sacrosanct time in her annual schedule. Not surprisingly, she’s humble about being the originator of the IWF scarf, now a hit with delegates from Melbourne to Barcelona. For members who treasure the one-of-a-kind, silk-charmeuse memory of world travels and IWF sisterhood, you have Martie to thank... READ MORE

Is your company in a position to become a sponsor? Please contact Sharon London Liss (sharon@sharonlondonliss.com), Lisa Borsook (lborsook@weirfoulds.com) or Shirley Dawe (shirley@shirleydawe.com)

The Dine-Around Committee is searching for 20 more locations. If your home is located within a 20-minute radius of the Westin Harbour Castle or if you know of a private dining room within that vicinity, please contact Judi Cohen (cohen.judi@gmail.com), Brenda Brown (bbrown0205@gmail.com) or Martha Russel (martha.russel@gmail.com).  For non-residents, there are creative ways in which you might still be able to host – a private club, a sister’s home, or even an Airbnb!

For leads on Pop-Up Shops and Gift Bags, please contact  Pat Tremaine  (pat@tmiprojects.com) and Donna Harris (donnajharris10@gmail.com).

Conference Cookbook - The conference committee is creating a cookbook that highlights Canadian cuisine as a gift for each delegate. Collecting the recipes, testing them, and compiling the book will have to happen quickly. We’re looking for six recipes per chapter to showcase local flavour. Do you have a recipe that you would like to share, or can you get a recipe from a renowned restaurateur with photos? We are almost at our deadline, so please connect quickly if you have something to share! Please contact Sharon (sharon@sharonlondonliss.com), Karen Seward (karen.beverley.adams@gmail.com) or Lisa Lyons (Lisa.lyons@corusent.com)

To get involved in any other way, don’t hesitate to contact Sharon or Lisa. Working together as Canadian members, we can make this World Leadership Conference outstanding!

Meet some of our chapters’ newest members. Watch this space for more new-member listings throughout 2019.

(Calgary) Sara Austin is the Founder and Chair of Children First Canada, a new national non-profit dedicated to the protection and empowerment of Canada’s children. Claudia Cattaneo is an award winning journalist; news, finance and public policy junkie; and former Western Business Columnist at the National Post. Geeta Sankappanavar is Co-Founder & President of Grafton Asset Management and the recipient of numerous awards for leadership. Susan Veres is a partner with Honeycomb Communications.

(Edmonton) Myrna  Bittner, a CEO tech founder, is passionate about representative diversity and ethical AI. Cheryl Whiskeyjack, Executive Director, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, is a proud Aninshinaabe kwe (woman) and member of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Nation on Beautiful Manitoulin Island.

(Atlantic) Jennifer Angel is President & CEO, Develop Nova Scotia. Alice Aiken is VP Research and Innovation at Dalhousie University. Mary Bluechardt is President & Vice-Chancellor, Mount Saint Vincent University. Carrie Cussons is President & CEO, Events East Group. Christine Hanson is CEO, NS Human Rights Commission, and  Christine Pound is Partner, Stewart McKelvey.

(Montreal) Pascale Fournier, is President and CEO, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, is a member of the Royal Society of Canada College and holds the Research Chair in Legal Pluralism and Comparative Law at the University of Ottawa. Eve Laurier, General Manager, Edelman Montréal, is an award-winning strategic communicator. Francine Leger is VP Creative at Vasco design international Inc. Michéle Thibodeau-De Guire, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation of École Polytechnique de Montréal, is a distinguished recipient of numerous honours for citizenship and excellence.

(Toronto) Mary Federau, EVP at Mattamy Asset Management. Bambina Marcello is head of Business Development for Air Canada.

(Waterloo) Elizabeth Heald was named President & CEO of Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) in August 2017.

(Ottawa) Marjolaine Hudon is Regional President of Ontario North & East at RBC, and has held a wide variety of regional and national positions. Cheryl Jensen is President and CEO at Algonquin College. Jessica McDonald was appointed to the Canada Post Board of Directors and is acting as interim President and CEO. Amy Shapero is the CFO at Shopify.