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Women Empowerment Awards
2026 Award Recipients
TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2026 — The Women Empowerment Awards celebrated its fifth anniversary at the Fairmont Royal York, bringing together women leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, advocates and changemakers for an evening of recognition, connection and impact.
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Presented by Rogers in collaboration with Mantella Corporation, the 2026 Awards recognized excellence across ten categories, including leadership, mentorship, innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, global impact, Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement.
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Beyond the stage, the Women Empowerment Foundation continues to expand the impact of the Awards through grants, scholarships and community initiatives. To date, more than $140,000 in grants has been awarded to support women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Five years on, the Awards continues to grow as a platform that celebrates achievement while creating opportunities for women and girls across Canada.
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​Photos of winners and event highlights are available here.
Meet Our 2026 Women Empowerment
Award Recipients
Leadership Award
Yanique Brandford, Founder -Help A Girl Out
​Yanique Brandford transformed her experience with period poverty into a movement for menstrual equity and empowerment. As Founder of Help A Girl Out, a registered Canadian charity, she works across Canada, the Caribbean, and Africa to provide menstrual products, educate women and girls, and break stigma. Since 2018, her advocacy has earned honours including the Global Citizen Canada Hero Award and TMU Viola Desmond Award. A Biomedical Physics graduate and researcher, Yanique continues removing barriers for women, girls, and BIPOC communities. Her leadership is empowering a generation with dignity, education, and opportunity.
Rogers Entrepreneur of the Year Grant Award
Rhowena Adolfo Patel, Founder -Healing Mama Co.
Rhowena Adolfo Patel is redefining how women prepare for motherhood. After identifying a critical gap in maternal care, she founded Healing Mama Co. in 2019, creating medically backed labour and postpartum recovery bags designed to help mothers prepare for their own healing. Through Mama Care Coaching, she equips families with practical prenatal education and postpartum systems before labour begins. Her message that “postpartum healing starts in the third trimester” has reached national audiences through Global Television, podcasts, and more than 27 publications. Rhowena is putting mothers back at the centre of care and empowering families to help women heal and thrive.
Global Impact Award
Kehkhashan Basu, Founder & President - Green Hope Foundation
Globally recognized sustainability leader Kehkashan Basu, Founder-President of the Green Hope Foundation, has impacted more than 600,000 people across 29 countries, placing women and girls at the centre of solutions in sustainability and economic opportunity. Her initiatives have brought clean water to more than 4,600 people, supported over 18,000 women farmers, and strengthened food security for more than 40,000 people. A speaker on more than 500 international platforms, she is a recipient of Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal and Forbes 30 Under 30. Her leadership proves that empowering communities creates lasting global change.
Mantella Corporation Entrepreneur BIPOC of the Year Grant Award
Tanya Callaghan, Founder - Girls Addicted to Basketball
​Tanya Callaghan founded Canada’s first all-girls basketball not-for-profit, Girls Addicted to Basketball, creating a space where girls can build confidence, leadership skills, and community. When told there was no market for girls’ basketball, Tanya turned “no” into “not now.” Inspired by her experience witnessing sport’s transformative power in Eswatini, she has spent two decades creating opportunities for girls and women through basketball, mentorship, and leadership. G.A.B. hosted Canada’s first WNBA “Her Time to Play” event, and Tanya was selected as a Jr. WNBA curriculum writer. Her vision is helping the next generation discover their potential.
Diversity, Equality & Inclusivity Award
Dr. Shezadi Khushal - Human Rights Investigator & Equity Leader
Dr. Shezadi Khushal is a scholar-practitioner and human rights leader dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and human rights in education. As a Human Rights Investigator in one of Ontario’s largest public school districts, she leads human rights investigations and delivers trauma-informed, restorative, equity-centred learning for educators and leaders. She also founded the University of Toronto’s Human Rights & Equity Symposium, bringing together scholars, students, practitioners, and community leaders to advance action on human rights, anti-racism, accessibility, and educational equity. Through advocacy and mentorship, Dr. Khushal is empowering the next generation of human rights leaders.
Mentorship Award
Dr. Anne Aspler, Assistant Professor - University of Toronto
Dr. Anne Aspler is a Harvard-trained emergency physician, University of Toronto Assistant Professor, and leading voice in women’s brain health and violence prevention. She mentors physicians developing innovative approaches to support patients affected by sexual assault and intimate partner violence and provides pro bono medical consulting to End Violence Everywhere. Her global leadership includes founding the East African Point-of-Care Ultrasound Program and humanitarian and educational work in more than 30 countries. Through her Brain Health Group Program and speaking, Dr. Aspler continues empowering women through health, resilience, and education.
Innovation Award
Nadia Ivanova, Co-Founder & CPO - Sparrow BioAcoustics
Nadia Ivanova is Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Sparrow BioAcoustics, the company behind Stethophone—innovative medical software transforming an ordinary smartphone into a clinical-grade cardiac assessment tool. Leading product and regulatory strategy, Nadia has guided Stethophone through multiple FDA clearances, helping bring breakthrough digital health technology closer to patients worldwide. Under her leadership, Sparrow has built teams of clinicians and engineers focused on earlier detection of heart disease, particularly where access to specialists and medical equipment is limited. Nadia represents innovation with purpose—using technology to solve problems that truly matter.
Rising Star Award
Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis, Neuroscience PhD Candidate - University of Toronto
Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis is a remarkable young neuroscientist and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto researching machine learning applications for Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. A published researcher and international conference presenter, she is advancing the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence while contributing to student leadership and science communication. Canada’s youngest university graduate, Anthaea-Grace earned her Honours BSc in Biomedical Science at just 12 and is now 15, entering her fourth year of doctoral studies. She is redefining what is possible for the next generation of women in science.
Businesswoman of the Year
Jacqueline Dinsmore, Founder & Managing Partner - Caravel Law
Jacqueline Dinsmore is an accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, and champion of inclusive entrepreneurship. She has founded, scaled, and successfully exited three companies, including FlapJackKids, a globally distributed brand carried in more than 5,000 stores. As Founder and Managing Partner of Caravel Law, she helped build an innovative legal services model serving approximately half of Canada’s 100 largest companies, with more than 120 legal professionals. She also helped develop Caravel’s returnship program, creating pathways for women returning to law after time away. Through her leadership, investment, and advocacy, Jackie continues creating opportunities for women and emerging entrepreneurs.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ava Hill, FMR. Chief - Six Nations Council
​Ava Hill is a respected First Nations leader whose extraordinary career has been shaped by resilience, advocacy, and service. Born at Six Nations of the Grand River in 1950, Ava experienced the racism, discrimination, and intergenerational impacts of the residential school era. She built a distinguished career with the federal government, the Assembly of First Nations, and Chiefs of Ontario before serving 15 years on Six Nations Elected Council, including two terms as Elected Chief. Today, she continues advocating for youth, culture, and community as Co-Chair of the Woodland Cultural Centre Capital Campaign. Her legacy is one of courage, truth, and service.