Informed Opinions

Joignez-vous à nous mercredi prochain. Une belle occasion de rencontrer les équipes de Femmes Expertes (dont moi ;)) et d'Informed Opinions avec la formidable Shari Graydon et de réseauter! Réservez votre place (gratuite mais limitée) en écrivant à info@femmesexpertes.ca. Au plaisir de vous y voir!

October 4 is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGTBQIA+ people. 3 Ways You Can Take Action Today: 1. Attend a #MMIWG2S vigil or event in your community. 2. Read the Assembly of First Nations Progress Report (June 3, 2024) on the 231 Calls for Justice. https://lnkd.in/gp3WdFqf 3. Use the hashtags #MMIWG2S #MMIGActionNow #SistersInSpirit on social media to help amplify the message.

Journalistic coverage of Black people has historically been negative, affecting Black people’s lives and contributing to negative beliefs about Black people. But what if journalists had a resource — led by your honest opinions and experiences — to help them make more informed and equitable decisions when reporting on Black communities?  Introducing Reporting in Black Communities: a research project to create the first Canadian guidebook and resource tool that seeks to equip journalists, journalism educators and journalism students with the resources they need to understand and comprehensively cover Black communities with accuracy, dignity and equity. Led by Toronto Metropolitan University professor Eternity Martis with Nana aba Duncan, and supported by the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication. Funded in part by Canadian Commission for UNESCO | Commission canadienne pour l'UNESCO www.reportingblack.com

It keeps getting worse... Four years ago I was genuinely shocked to learn that despite a widespread perception of Canada as a haven for women’s equality, we actually ranked 59th in the world for women’s representation in Parliament. Now – and I hope you’re sitting down – we’ve dropped to 67th. You may be as confused as the girl in the video below to learn that we keep going down… (Our fictitious "Alexi" provides some context for why that is.) We desperately need women’s life experiences and perspectives to inform the debates that happen in the halls of power, and are reflected in the policies that elected officials implement. That’s not currently happening in the way that it should at any level of government in this country. But next month, millions of Canadians will make a critical decision about their futures. Residents of #BritishColumbia, #NewBrunswick and #Saskatchewan will head to the polls to vote for their provincial governments. There’s a lot at stake. Provinces are in charge of health care and education, power and transportation, natural resources and the administration of justice.  As part of our Balance the Power initiative (link to the campaign website in the comment section below) Informed Opinions created a map of Canada that allows you to see, province by province, where women have a voice, and where we don’t. In BC, for example, 44% of MLAs are women – primarily because a whopping 53% of the governing party’s caucus members are women. Their presence has resulted in significant policy innovations including access to free birth control.  In contrast, the official opposition features only 23% women. If the government changes, women’s level of influence will likely go down. Meanwhile, in the Saskatchewan legislature, men outnumber women 4 to 1. A mere 6% of the governing caucus members are women. (It should go without saying that this level of representation is profoundly undemocratic.) But the official opposition boasts 67% women members – an imbalance that may make it easier for some men to appreciate how discomfiting the status quo might be for their wives, daughters and female colleagues. Voters weigh many factors when deciding how to cast their ballots, of course, and gender may not be a top priority. But Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves, in unpacking the widening gender gap among US voters leading up to the US election, echoes what others have found: Women view the climate crisis more seriously; we want more civility in our politics; we are less likely to be conned by misinformation. Those differences are important. Even if your province isn't going to the polls this fall, visit the map of Canada on our site that’s in the link below. Scrolling over it surfaces summaries of the gender breakdown of elected representatives by province, by party. At very least, it tells you something about how big a priority each party places on ensuring that women's perspectives are heard.

Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC) is recruiting for several board positions! We've put out a call for young voices already, but we also want to recognize the wisdom of the older women in the room. 👩🏼🦳 No matter what you call yourself - experienced, crone, or simply 'free' - here's an opportunity to put your experience to use and to benefit not just yourself but all the women coming behind you. Apply now using this link: https://bit.ly/3S3oqtc Other board opportunities can be reviewed on our careers page: https://canwcc.ca/careers Feel free to share with individuals or groups you think may be interested! #maturepreneur #canadianwomen Nancy Wilson Leanne Muir Raksha Manaktala Bhayana Gurjit Cheema Chris McMartin pk mutch Cindy (Cynthia) James Judy Rebick Shari Graydon

I'm still reeling from this! On Friday, I was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in Quebec City. I was among 100 recipients nominated by the Governor General Mary May Simon O.C., O.Q., LL D. (Hon.) herself. The award honours those who have made a significant contribution to a particular region of Canada or to the country as a whole, or those who have made an outstanding achievement abroad. For me, it was in recognition of my reporting, “for furthering dialogue and providing context in plain language on the natural resources sector, as a TV and radio journalist and host.” One of the best parts was getting to meet (and reconnect with) so many amazing people involved in such important and inspiring work. It was humbling to be considered among them. This was definitely a pinch me moment and I'm so grateful!!! 📷 credit: Anne-Marie Brisson, Rideau Hall OSGG, 2024

We've all been there: In a room, listening to a speaker who hasn't figured out how to present their information in a way that will engage us -- let alone remember what they said or act on it in the way they may have hoped. You don't have to be that person. In an age of TED Talks and TikTok, knowledge worth sharing isn't enough. But recognizing that, you can invest 90 minutes a week over the course of two months to learn tools and strategies that will serve you for the rest of your life. The link to register in Informed Opinions' once-a-year Master Class in #PresentationSkills to Enhance Your Impact is in the comment box below. But hurry: only a few spots remain and the first session is October 3rd! #publicspeaking