With less than 10 days to Christmas, a small group of us gathered together this weekend in support of Beauty Night Society and helped stuff
Do you know an influential woman in Vancouver who has an inspiring life story to share?
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Exploring Purple is a fresh and fiery take on an old debate – what are the different roles between men and women in the workplace. Are the stereotypes, obstacles and conventions that attribute to gaps in wages, promotions and job security still relevant in our modern work environment? Has equality in the workplace arrived or is it just a myth? Where do we go from here? Young Women in Business, a group of emerging female leaders in Vancouver, want to find out. On May 14 they will be hosting a panel discussing women in business.
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“Women make less because they’ll work for less,” said Ghost Ceo founder Chris Flett at the provocative All-Male Panel discussion at YWiB’s Beyond Pink conference in November. He will join some of Vancouver’s savviest and successful men and women including:
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· Bob Elton, BC Hydro
· Ken Sim, Nurse Next Door
· Tamara Vrooman, Vancity
· Cybele Negris, Webnames.ca
· Anne Giardini, Weyerhaeuser
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The teams of men and women will go head to head in this exclusive panel talk, moderated by Blo Blow Dry Bar Founder, Judy Brooks. This is Exploring Purple, where pink meets blue. The first of its kind, Exploring Purple creates a space to have an honest and collective dialogue involving generations of Vancouver’s business community. This honest and raw panel conversation hopes to empower young women and men to celebrate equality in business. This once in a lifetime experience promises to be provocative, energizing and compelling.
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When: May 14th, 2010
Where: UBC Robson Square
Time: 1 – 3:30 PM
Tickets: Get ‘em while they’re hot at www.ywib.ca
Beyond P!nk is a 2-day conference that will host 350 energetic young women over an action-packed weekend. This unique, high-impact and eco-friendly conference will create a space for young women to engage in intimate workshops, partake in interactive roundtable discussions, engage with industry professionals, build lasting personal connections, and celebrate inspirational women in business. Beyond P!nk inspires through action, enriches through connection, and empowers through ideation.
Speakers for the two day event at Hyatt Hotel include Katie Dunsworth and Andrea Baxer (Smart Cookies), Bob Elton (BC Hydro CEO), Patricia Gragam (Editor in Chief of the Vancouver Sun), Judy and Devon Brooks (Blo Blow Dry Bar) and more!
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50 additional tickets are released for the YWiB Beyond P!nk conference. Buy yours ASAP here. Deadline is Friday, Nov 6th, 2009.
From now until November 15, bring a gently-worn party dress into Wear Else and get a $50 gift card. Your dress will be donated to Dress for Success.
Photographs by Grace Lau
In November, I had the opportunity to attend the first ever “SuperWomen & Friends”, a red carpet gala fundraiser at Four Seasons Hotel put on by the Women In Leadership Foundation. Founded in 2001 by Maya Kanigan, WIL has invested over $1.7 million into showcasing female role models and recognizing the accomplishments of Canadian business women. In her tearful opening speech, Maya spoke of how she dreamed of bringing women together to share their successes. Most notably, through their six-month mentorship program, young women are paired with business-minded female professionals to share wisdom and gain support on how to be a successful leader and contribute to the overall goal of achieving more female leaders in society.
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Keynote speakers for the evening included Melanie Berry, president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (think: JUNO Awards!) and the upbeat and lively Rena Heer of CTV news. Both speakers touched on the disproportionate ratio of women in management roles and praised the efforts of WIL in contributing to a worthwhile cause.
Other entertainment for the evening included a live auction with high-end items including jewelry from Tiffany & Co., a CTV VIP tour, dream makeovers and getaway packages. Similarly, outside the main dining hall was an extensive display of silent auction items. From Canuck game tickets, Muzi Tea, Urban Fare gift baskets, and clothing and accessory items from Boudoir, Jolie Mack and The Urban Rack.
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Towards the end of the dinner, more entertainment came with a full fashion show from JC Studio. Nine models dressed in fabulously colorful pieces graced the runway, which started with stylish corporate day-wear. The show climaxed to an incredible finish with each model clothed in glamorous but classy full length gowns in this season’s ever-so-popular popular brightly-colored jewel tones and poised strikingly in a picture-perfect poses back at the beginning of the runway.
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Lastly, the SuperWomen & Friends gala also featured a special music performance by Alexz Johnson and Stephen Spender. If Alexz’s name sounds familiar to you, it could be because she has been singing since the age of 7 and was the 10-year-old anthem girl singing live for the NHL. Or maybe it was from CTV’s “Instant Star” where she was recently honored with a Gemini award.
All in all, it was a fancy charity gala, packed with hours of non-stop entertainment. I was glad I had the opportunity to hear more about the initiatives of WIL and I would encourage you to check out their website for more information! Until next year…!
Since 2008, Vanessa has kept her readers and followers ‘in the know’ on local happenings, facilitating for the discovery and support of brands, businesses, and experiences available in Vancouver. Vanessa combines her expertise in living a modern Vancouver lifestyle with a approachable relatability that inspires her followers to think – hey, if she can do it, I can too!
Modern Mix has partnered with numerous Canadian companies as a social media influencer to highlight key products and current promotions. Email us at: info[at]modernmixvancouver[dot]com with PR pitches, event invitations, blogger editorial experiences, collaboration ideas, product reviews, enquiries about advertising and sponsored posts, or just to say hello.
