Johanne St. Louis mixes fashion with philanthropy. Her loungewear line, Dreamyz, which manufactures pajamas under a fair-trade model, was showcased in Rwanda’s first-ever fashion week.
Mandy-Rae Cruickshank, free-diving world champion, teamed up with the Oceanic Preservation Society to work on The Cove, a documentary focusing on preserving our oceans and oceanic creatures, and shedding light on the dolphin slaughter in Japan.
Katherine Govier, an award-winning novelist, is an advocate of Canadian literature and helped establish two innovative Canadian writing programs: an online program and a program for immigrant, refugee and exiled writers. A few years ago, we were treated to her novel, The Ghost Brush (HarperCollins Canada, 2010).
The Honourable Louise Arbour has devoted her career to human rights as former UN high commissioner for human rights and former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Now president and CEO of the International Crisis Group, she continues to resolve conflicts around the world.
The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin has been chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada for the past 10 years. The first woman to hold that title, she was also the first woman to be appointed to the B.C. Court of Appeal and the first female B.C. Supreme Court justice
Ruth Rakoff put an irreverant spin on breast cancer recovery with her book When My World Was Very Small: A Memoir of Family, Food, Cancer and My Couch (Random House Canada, 2010), in which she shares tidbits like: chemotherapy is part of the cure – as is a good bottle of Merlot.
Viola Desmond (1914 to 1965), an African-Canadian, refused to sit in the black-designated balcony seats of a theatre in 1946, choosing a seat in the whites-only section. She was charged. In 2010, she was granted a posthumous pardon and formal apology from the Government of Nova Scotia.
Perri Tutelman, of Richmond, B.C., was named one of Youth in Motion's Top 20 Under 20 this year for her work researching the immune system and cancer growth at the University of British Columbia's Biomedical Research Centre.
Dana Florence and her husband founded the Three to Be Foundation to help fund a cure for cerebral palsy (CP) and other neurological disorders after their triplets, Cole, Taylor and Brody, were diagnosed with CP at 10 months old.
Elisapee Sheutiapik, is the president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, an
organization to help protect the rights of women and children. She renamed one street leading to a women's shelter "Angel Street" and challenged other communities to make their own Angel Streets as memorials to Canadian victims of domestic violence.
Sally Armstrong, a member of the Order of Canada, teacher, author and human rights activist, became a member this year of the International Women's Commission, whose mandate is to contribute to a just and sustainable Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Christine Magee, the cofounder of Sleep Country Canada, supports organizations such as the Donated Bed program, Give a Kid a Coat, Backpacks for Kids and the Children's Miracle Network, and works closely with the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business to encourage young adults.
Joannie Rochette skated her heart out to win a bronze medal only two days after her mother's sudden death at the Vancouver Olympics. Who didn't cry after watching her performance?
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This story was originally titled "35 Amazing Canadian Women" in the December 2010 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!
