Women Empowerment Awards

Dr. Bastiany is Canada’s first Black female interventional cardiologist, breaking barriers in medicine while championing equity in healthcare. Beyond her clinical expertise, she has dedicated herself to community advocacy—partnering with organizations like La Maison d’Haïti, launching career days for underserved youth, and speaking at Indigenous health forums to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. Fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole, she uses her platform to address systemic race and gender biases in medicine, ensuring equitable care and inspiring future generations in STEM and healthcare.

Dr. Cindy Sinclair is a visionary educator and mentor whose five-decade career has transformed education, healthcare equity, and community development. As Founder of Sinclair Consulting Services and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, she has designed and led initiatives supporting thousands of internationally educated professionals—including immigrant medical doctors and women of color. She co-founded the Immigrant Women Medical Doctors of Color Circle (IWMDCC), creating a vital support network that has helped many mentees thrive as physicians, professors, and advocates. Through her mentorship in medicine, social justice education, and international programs, Dr. Sinclair has empowered generations of leaders and reshaped systems to be more inclusive and equitable.

Dr. Aditi Sivakumar is an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident and visionary leader in women’s rights and health. She founded My Empowerment Platform, a digital resource supporting women facing violence and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health information—work that became especially vital during the pandemic. Beyond this, she serves as the youngest Vice Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health at the World Health Organization, co-leading global initiatives including the Global Forum for Adolescents and What Young People Want. Aditi’s leadership bridges technology, advocacy, and medicine to create safer, healthier futures for women and girls worldwide.

Christina turned a personal challenge into an innovation that is reshaping education. Inspired by her son’s autism diagnosis, she created the first chalkboard puzzle at her kitchen table—sparking a movement that has transformed how children of all abilities learn. Today, Creative Beginning’s inclusive, sustainable, hands-on learning tools are embraced by families, educators, and therapists across North America. Christina’s work bridges the gap between special needs and mainstream education, proving that innovation can start with a simple idea that changes countless lives.

Rashmi Prakash is transforming women’s health and sustainability as the founder of Aruna Revolution, Canada’s first company to create fully compostable menstrual pads made from agricultural waste. With over $1.5M in secured funding and global partnerships, she has positioned Aruna as a leader in sustainable health innovation. Drawing on her engineering background in medical devices, robotics, and assistive technologies, Rashmi merges science, ethics, and business to deliver solutions that are both impactful and equitable. She also helped establish UBC’s Biomedical Engineering program, inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Meera Mahadeo is a rising leader dedicated to advancing equity and representation in Canada’s public institutions. As a Founding Board Director of the Women’s Nonprofit Network, she has helped grow a national community of over 4,000 professionals, building pathways for mentorship and leadership in the nonprofit sector. Formerly a Senior Consultant at Counsel Public Affairs, she developed advocacy strategies on healthcare, Indigenous rights, housing, and women’s organizations, becoming one of Canada’s youngest registered lobbyists at 22. Now pursuing her Juris Doctor at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Meera continues to champion equitable solutions while mentoring youth and empowering women across the country.

Dahabo Ahmed-Omer is the Chief Executive Officer of the BlackNorth Initiative, leading a bold national movement to dismantle systemic anti-Black racism and reimagine equity across Canada. She has played a pivotal role in grassroots advocacy and systemic reform, from co-founding the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition to contributing to the Ottawa Mayor’s Taskforce on Anti-Black Racism. Her leadership bridges community activism with policy change, driving national conversations on race, equity, and justice. At BlackNorth, she champions inclusive leadership and equitable opportunities across education, business, and public life. Dahabo’s vision and action continue to inspire systemic change, creating a more just and inclusive Canada for all communities.

Lesley Hampton is a trailblazing Anishinaabe artist, fashion designer, and founder of the Indigenous-owned, women-led brand LESLEY HAMPTON. Her work champions body neutrality, Indigenous visibility, and mental wellness while redefining representation in global fashion. Featured by VOGUE as the #1 Canadian brand to watch and named to Forbes 30 Under 30, Lesley’s designs have been worn by icons including Lily Gladstone, Lizzo, Sandra Oh, and Tantoo Cardinal. Her brand is the first Indigenous-owned women’s fashion label carried by Holt Renfrew, paving the way for others in luxury retail. Beyond design, she is a sought-after speaker and mentor, establishing a $10,000 scholarship to support Indigenous fashion students at Toronto Metropolitan University. From Milan to Santa Fe, her collections are celebrated internationally, positioning her as a visionary voice for inclusivity, culture, and innovation in fashion.

Laura is the founder of Fire and Steel Inc., North America’s largest sword company, which she started in her parents’ garage and grew into a thriving e-commerce retailer and original merchandise manufacturer. Formerly a nuclear physicist, she left the science world to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, Fire and Steel expanded into a multimillion-dollar enterprise with a strong online presence. Laura has also appeared as an on-camera weapons expert, sharing her knowledge with wide audiences while continuing to grow her business into a leading name in specialty products.

Caroline Thélémaque is a Haitian-born, Quebec-based entrepreneur, mentor, and changemaker whose life mission has been to empower women—particularly Black and immigrant women—through leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. With over 30 years of business leadership and 15 years of community advocacy, she has transformed lives through her visionary ecosystem, Groupe GAZELLES, which includes networking clubs, entrepreneurship expos, coworking hubs, and mentorship programs that have supported hundreds of women from diverse backgrounds in building generational wealth and leadership pathways.

Beyond business, Caroline has led humanitarian initiatives such as Action SOS Haïti, mobilizing international aid and vocational training after the 2010 earthquake. Her work bridges social equity, women’s empowerment, and food autonomy through innovative projects like urban gardening programs that address food insecurity.

Widely recognized as the “Oprah of networking,” Caroline embodies the belief that we rise by lifting others, leaving a legacy of compassion, vision, and transformative impact across communities and generations.