Women of Distinction

Angela is a dedicated radiation therapist at the Northeast Cancer Centre who demonstrates patience, empathy, and a high degree of skill not only to her many patients but also her team. She empowers, mentors, and supports the women with whom she works.

Outside of her career, she has spent innumerable hours volunteering as a board member for the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association. She began volunteering with SMHA 8 years ago and took on the role of registrar when nobody else was available.  She took on the role of Vice-President and supported the work of the Board and the Association when the President’s health prevented them from being fully active, and she now serves as the President, leading the Association through the significant challenges brought on by the pandemic. Angela takes pride in representing women in a historically non-inclusive and male-dominated sport and advocates for women and girls’ involvement at all levels, including coaching, managing, and especially on the Board. She’s implemented policies that facilitate children’s participation in hockey, instituted a variety of free clinics for player development, and ensured the Association took part in training and education around anti-bullying, inclusion, and trans-rights.

Through her leadership, Angela inspires the women and girls around her and proves that everyone has a place at any table.

Arthémise has a long history of being an active volunteer in her community, dedicating herself to spending time talking with seniors as a young teenager, co-creating her school’s yearbook, completing the daunting work of tracking and recording her family’s genealogy, and taking on roles with the Catholic Women’s League.  Recognizing the needs of the homeless she encouraged the donation of sleeping bags and clothing for distribution.  She was her church’s Liturgical Environment Minister for many years and helped organize other activities as well as singing in the choir.

Once she retired from the Canada Revenue Agency at 55, she began taking actions, small and large, to improve the New Sudbury area. As President of the New Sudbury Community Action Network in her Ward, she was a driving force behind note-worthy projects like the welcoming Street Sign Toppers across the area, whose art was created by local students after learning about New Sudbury’s farming history from Arthémise herself, and the pedestrian crosswalk at Barrydowne and Woodbine Streets which has improved safety for residents and families. She also helped resurrect the Ridgecrest Park Association, together with city staff began the work of installing brand new equipment, a splash pad, updating the field house, landscaping, and ensuring the park was accessible to all. Her passion for history led her to found the New Sudbury Historical Society and write the book “New Sudbury, Not as New as You Think”. Arthémise uses the knowledge, stories, and power of history to revive community connectedness. She’s often seen on the grounds, working the canteen at Ridgecrest Park every week, pulling weeds at the New Sudbury Library garden, or organizing festivals all while finding time to bring meals to an ailing neighbour and checking in on friends. When Arthémise sees something that needs doing, her “can-do” attitude, determination and energy are infection. Even at 81 years old, she does not appear to be showing signs of slowing down!

As the pandemic saw businesses and services shutting down, Lisa, Executive Director for the Samaritan Centre, was tenaciously finding creative ways to figuratively and literally open doors for marginalized individuals in need. She spearheaded a Drop-in Center which provides comforting snacks and reprieve from the weather, essential personal hygiene accommodations like washrooms, showers, and laundry facilities that help protect people’s health and dignity and provide a sense of community through access to communication devices. The Centre also serves as a hub for many organizations providing housing intake, screening, nursing, education, haircuts, and more. Even beyond their doors, Lisa delivers outreach services to those who cannot come to her. She meets them where they are, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Lisa is funny, caring, hardworking, and genuine to all those around her. Her accepting and non-judgmental nature has inadvertently inspired her team and clients to be stronger and more resilient.

Michelle and her family have lived all over the world and, although Zimbabwe is her birthplace, she calls anywhere she resides home and becomes part of the heart and the fiber of the community. Settling here in Sudbury, she plays an integral role as an elder and Life Group Director at All Nations Church and she regularly volunteers with the Elgin Street Mission, on the school council at both MacLeod P.S. and Lockerby Secondary, on the board of the Pregnancy Care Center and Infant Food Bank, and with the fundraising committee for the annual A Night In Africa Gala in support of ZLT Hope Homes.

In everything she does, Michelle selflessly gives without reservation. She is friend, mentor, and confidante for young mothers, opening the doors of her own home to them and their children so that they may find a supportive and learning environment to continue to grow in their strength, confidence, and in moving forward through motherhood and difficult situations. She also makes herself available outside of groups for heartfelt conversations over a cup of warm Rooibos tea whenever someone is in need of support or a helping hand. Michelle is humble and does the work she does because she believes it is the right thing to do and feels a calling to help. You likely will not find her in the news but rather in the fray, lifting others by her example and her actions.

Originally from Brampton, Ontario, Ra’anaa received her Bachelors of Architectural Studies and Masters of Architecture at Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture. She is currently pursuing PhD research on the intersection of Black art and activism at Concordia University. Ra’anaa is the Co-Founder and President of Black Lives Matter Sudbury. She has taken on many leadership roles, both as an artist creating space for other artists and as a community organizer promoting anti-racist practices and social justice.

Additionally, Ra’anaa is the Co-Founder and Co-Curator for the McEwen School of Architecture’s Nuit Blanche for three years in a row, Guest Curator for Up Here 6, and moderator for the 2021 She&Her Virtual International Women’s Day Celebration. Through her work on installations like ETHEREAL, a series collaborative photography surrounding the themes of Black hair & beauty, the nationally recognized BIPOC LIVES MATTER/LES VIES NAPDC COMPTENT ground mural, the “HERE TO STAY BABY!”: A Northern Intersectional Conference, a two-day virtual event designed to uplift the voices of marginalized individuals across Northern Ontario, and presentations to our city council & public demonstrations, she confronts systemic racism in all forms and calls for change from all levels of government.

Ra’anaa’s most current project is “Powerful BIPOC Women doing powerful BIPOC things”, a digital gallery of photos and interviews elevating the voices of BIPOC women in the Greater Sudbury Area. The impact Ra’anaa has had in such a short time as she vibrantly leads by example is inspiring, incredible, and shows the world what Black women are capable of.

Renée is a respected and accomplished, fluently bilingual family and criminal defense lawyer with Legal Aid Ontario who’s not only wholeheartedly devoted to her clients, but also to issues surrounding social justice, equality rights and French language rights. She serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury-Manitoulin and the President of the Centre Victoria pour femmes, for which she recently presented as a witness before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on the Status of Women to relay the shortcomings of the criminal justice system when it comes to providing French-language services to women who are survivors of sexual violence in rural communities. Wherever she goes, she strives to improve conditions for and change the dialogue around marginalized populations, including women with mental health issues, racialized and Indigenous women, whether that be through helping to launch a sustainable LGBTQ2S+ committee through her union to support queer employees and allies or participating in drafting and negotiating a pioneer collective agreement that would lead to positive pay equity changes in her organization.

This drive to beneficially impact those around her has motivated Renée to facilitate gender equity workshops in high schools with LEAF, make public legal presentations for newcomers and young parents through le Centre de Santé Communautaire and Our Children, Our Future, and spearhead an annual 5-day training to allow justice participants to improve their services in French with the French Language Institute for Professional Development. Renée’s passion for the law, gender equity and other social justice issues led her to pursue teaching. She was as a professor of family law at Collège Boréal, created and delivered a French curriculum on the criminalization of marginalized populations and is looking forward to teaching the Equality & Human Rights course for the Law & Justice program at Laurentian University this winter.

Renée tirelessly advocates for marginalized individuals, freely gives her expertise and empathy to underserviced populations, and encourages others to speak up when they see injustices.

Beginning her mining career in 2004 in Timmins Ontario, Stella was drawn to the mining and supply service sector due to its prevalence in Timmins, but stayed with it due to the supportive culture of innovation and career opportunities.  Stella is well aware of the challenges women face to break into the industry and all forms of trades. When she returned to Sudbury in 2008 she began to work for MacLean Engineering. Stella started from the ground up as an Account Manager for Northern Ontario, then Aftermarket Manager and Operations Manager, followed by General Manager for Northern Ontario Operations, and building to her current role as Vice President, Sales and Support.

Stella possesses an incredible strength of character and conviction that women and girls have a place and belong in mining and trades.  She sits on the Board of Directors for Science North and was also a past director for Women in Mining Northern ON a non-for-profit organization that creates awareness and provides opportunities for mentoring women in mining, mineral exploration and support services.  Stella has been involved in outreach initiatives like Jill of all Trades at Cambrian College, the Norcat Trailblazers, and numerous podcasts to encourage gender inclusiveness and promote awareness about the benefits of entering non-traditional roles.

Beyond raising awareness, Stella advocates for and mentors women one-on-one, providing them with real opportunities to build network connections and dedicates time to have conversations about career paths and options with them, fostering their growth. Her leadership is driving change within the industry. From green mining, the advancement in technology, women in engineering or gender diversity and inclusion within skilled trades, Stella is at the forefront, committing herself with action and dedication and elevating those around her in the process.

Stella is a proud member of the mining community and wants to share her passion and encourage all women to consider a career in mining. She feels it is a tremendous industry to be a part of, with a diverse range of career opportunities.