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First in her field: 7 women who paved the way in Ontario
Canada is and has been home to many outstanding women. Ontario has an extensive list of women who are recognized as the first to work in their selected fields. Below is a list of seven innovative Ontario women. They have paved the way for the women of today. Agnes Macphail Agnes Campbell Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons in 1921. That was the first year women were able to vote in a national election. She was also one of the first two women elected as Members of Provincial Parliament in the Ontario legislature in 1943. Macphail played an important role in the passing of Ontario’s…
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Shireen Ahmed on diversity and inclusion in journalism
Shireen Ahmed is an Ontario-based, multi-platform sports journalist. She is a co-creator of Burn It All Down, a feminist sports podcast that critically analyzes sports culture. Ahmed is a frequent contributor to The Sports Network (TSN). She’s also had work featured in Sports Illustrated, Teen Vogue, Vice Sports and The National Post. She is known for being an activist within the sports industry. Ahmed focuses on Muslim women and the presence of both racism and misogyny in sports. Ahmed is also a diversity and inclusion consultant and stresses its importance within journalism. Melanie Lennon: What does ‘diversity and inclusion’ mean to you? Shireen Ahmed: For me, diversity and inclusion are…
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Your guide to understanding breast cancer
Approximately one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Canada. Ontario alone sees just under 11,000 cases annually, according to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN). CBCN offers information and education to assist Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer. That also raises awareness on issues affecting patients, according to Rebecca Armstrong, CBCN’s Manager of Patient Education Programs. It is important for women to understand what breast cancer looks like and how to treat it. Diagnosis and treatment options can be overwhelming. In an effort to reduce that stress, Armstrong helped Women Quest create a guide to better understand the disease. Identifying breast cancer Women Quest: What…
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The shadow pandemic: COVID-19 highlights need for victim support services
Although Canada’s COVID-19 case counts are dropping, the number of domestic violence cases remains the same. A woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner approximately every six days, according to the Canadian Women’s Foundation. More than 6,000 women and children stay in shelters on any given night because it isn’t safe at home. This was the case even before the pandemic. Since March 2020, that number has increased. In The Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian Victim Services Statistics Canada report, 54 per cent of the surveyed victim services noticed an increase in the number of domestic violence victims they served between mid-March and early July 2020. As a result, women’s…
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10 best workplaces for women in Ontario
As a woman, choosing the right workplace can be tricky, and you don’t always know what to expect. Great Place to Work compiled a list of the best places for women to work in Canada to simplify that decision-making process. In order to qualify, a workplace must have been Great Place to Work-Certified™ in the past year. It also needs to have a minimum of 15 female employees and “at least 90 [per cent] of employees must agree that people are treated fairly, regardless of their gender,” according to their website. Great Place to Work also specified that “creating great workplaces for women isn’t political or trendy, and it’s not…
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10 women-owned restaurants to try this summer
Most people haven’t been able to travel for over a year because of COVID-19. There are a lot of things to be missed when you aren’t able to leave home – one of them being food. Foreign cuisine is, without a doubt, a highlight of travelling. Although the world is nearing normalcy, we’re not quite there yet. In the meantime, as Ontario re-opens and we enter patio season once again, it’s important to recognize the diverse restaurants across the province. Who says you can’t taste the world right here at home? Here are 10 of Ontario’s women-owned restaurants to try this summer. Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen Founded by Janet Zuccarini and located…
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The trials and tribulations of adult acne
Acne is something most of us deal with at some point or another. It affects more than 5.6 million Canadians, according to the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA). Some people get it as a young teen, then grow out of it as they approach adulthood. However, not everyone is that lucky. The CDA also reported that up to 30 per cent of adults aged 20 to 40 experience acne. Three-quarters of that number are women. I just so happen to be part of that demographic. The beginning One months away from turning 21, I am going on my fifth year of having acne. If you think those pesky zits are frustrating…
