On the occasion of the International Women's Day, we asked women in the uOttawa community what empowers them.
Here are their answers:
Marina Kun - President of Kun Shoulder Rest Inc.
“As the eldest child in an immigrant family, I developed self-reliance and a strong desire to achieve, combined with my love of craftsmanship and creativity. These traits have sustained and motivated me in all aspects of my life.”
Jeannine Ritchot - Alumna and Executive Director for Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
“Authenticity is the word that comes to my mind. I’m confident enough in myself to be the real me, whether I’m representing my country in an international meeting or volunteering in my community. When you are genuine, people feel more drawn to you, more inclined to listen to you. When I mentor young women in the public service, the first piece of advice I give them is to fearlessly be themselves. And to surround themselves with equally fearless women who will reinforce just how powerful we are when we are authentic.”
Constance Crompton - Professor, Faculty of Arts
“The women writers of history empower me. They tell us how we got here so we can decide where we are going.”
Maryse Glaude-Beaulieu - Transcriptions Officer at SASS
“My master’s degree in education empowers me to widen my horizons and to carve out a new career path. The knowledge acquired during the program inspires me to create new, inclusive teaching resources.”
Ouida Loeffelholz - Manager, Faculty Development, Faculty of Social Sciences
“I feel empowered when I have opportunities — opportunities to learn new skills and ideas, opportunities to join the conversation, to break down stereotypes, and ultimately, opportunities to empower others. Happy International Women’s Day!”
Michèle Wilson
“What empowers me? I can summarize it briefly. It's the fact that I have always been financially independent. And that I undertook an education that allowed me to maintain this independence and then to earn a good living. My mother instilled these principles in me and in my sister; we had the good sense to listen to her and we have never regretted it.”
Stéphanie Bourgeault - Social Sciences in Criminology student and member of the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation
“What empowers me the most is all the strong Indigenous women around me. I am fortunate to have such incredible role models in my community and in my family. Seeing all of the amazing Indigenous women in Canada fight for us and our rights inspires me to follow their path and stand up for what I believe in.”
Soukaina Boutiyeb - Alumna and Executive Director of the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne (AFFC)
“Education has allowed me to chart my own course; it is the key to harnessing my mind, gaining skills and enhancing my personal development. Nevertheless, I am aware that in life, we can’t always control everything and we need to be open to surprises. So my motto is to always have fun in anything I undertake. Those around me call it the 'Soukaina effect': being able to laugh about anything … and I mean anything!”
Erin Mccallan - Human Kinetics Student and Gee-Gees athlete
“Rugby empowers me because it gives me the confidence to overcome any fears or doubts I have on and off the field. Playing rugby, I feel like I can do anything, especially with the support of my teammates.”
