Hub Staff

Women of rural Ontario came together during a windstorm to inspire one another at an open forum put together by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) at the Bruce Power Visitor’s Centre on Friday, November 6.

Powered by a generator due to a power outage caused by the storm, the event was hosted by CWP Ontario representatives, and Conservative MPP for Huron-Bruce Lisa Thompson asked the women and government officials in attendance to park their political affiliations at the door and listen to the stories of women who have broken barriers in the workplace and gone past the call of duty in their communities.

Thompson said that the reason for this outreach program is to learn from women.

“We wanted to reach out to sectors and to women and learn of their stories, their challenges and their inspirations,” said Thompson before the panel. “We are going to learn from our community and our panelists who are ordinary women doing extraordinary things.”

There were two panels of exceptional women, there to speak to a crowd of 50, all of whom had made a difference in their communities and/or workplaces. The first panel included Bruce Power employees, a group of women who had led by example in their fields.

Saugeen First Nation resident Christine John, a Communication Specialist for Bruce Power, was first to speak about her experience supporting the implementation of Aboriginal Relations at Bruce Power, as well as volunteering locally with Habitat for Humanity and the Southampton Rotary Club. John said it was amazing that she had been included to be part of this day and hoped that her children would strive to make a difference in the world.

The second speaker and President for Women in Nuclear – Canada, Heather Kleb, said that having a good role model helps in succeeding and pushing past barriers. “A good role model will help you set the way and clarify the right path (for you) in the industry.”

Bruce Power CIO, Sarah Shortreed, was the third to speak, explaining that women in her field are few and far between. Shortreed told of times when she had to stand up for herself because she was a woman, and had missed out on work opportunities because of her gender.

The second panel included “Community Champions” from both Bruce and Huron counties.

The panelists included Jacquie Bishop, a Huron – Bruce Returning Officer and the first woman Chairperson for the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2017.

Bruce County Chief Administrative Officer, Kelley Coulter, who once taught Public Administration for which she holds a Masters degree from Western University, explained how she used to ask questions in class but only the male students would raise their hands to answer. After finding that the female students knew the answers but chose not to raise their hands she inquired why. The female students’ answer troubled her because even in the 21st century these female students still felt as though the men had the only voice and held the power in the classroom.

Kincardine Mayor Anne Eadie along with her mother Audrey Ferguson brought laughter and life-lessons to the panel. The mother-daughter duo focused on how community involvement and doing what was right made them successful and contributed to their fulfilled lives.

Volunteering and answering the call for action is why Brenda Orchard, CAO of Huron County, made it to where she is today. After contributing to her community out east and showcasing her ability to work during stressful times, she was led down a path to where she is now.

The final Community Champion on the panel was Sylvia Sheard of Southampton. “I’m overwhelmed that I’m included with all these great women in attendance,” Sheard said before the forum. Sheard survived breast cancer a few years ago and has since been a driving force in raising over $82,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with her organization, Pretty in Pink.

Sheard is also an activist for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Mammography Campaign, for which Pretty in Pink has organized golf tournaments, luncheons and marathons.

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians is an outreach group that includes a steering committee of representatives from provinces across Canada. The representatives, women from bipartisan provincial legislature, hold the common goal of empowering and bringing women together to make a difference in their communities; and to advocate for women to go into public office.