Women of Distinction

Leila Barsanti is an exceptional young leader whose dedication to community service, advocacy, athletics, and youth empowerment has made a meaningful impact across Greater Sudbury. A recent graduate of Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and future Laurentian University sports psychology student, Leila exemplifies resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to creating positive change.
Throughout her academic journey, Leila has combined strong scholastic achievement with active involvement in student leadership, school committees, and community initiatives. Her commitment to public safety and youth well-being is reflected in her specialized training in Violence Threat Risk Assessment and trauma-informed practices, as well as her service on the Greater Sudbury Police Service Chief’s Youth Advisory Council, where she helps amplify youth voices and strengthen relationships between young people and community institutions
Additionally, Leila has provided support to the B.U.R.S.T Youth Program, helping to create positive and welcoming opportunities for vulnerable youth. Her compassion and courage have also been demonstrated through life-saving actions that assisted individuals in crisis, earning her recognition for selfless service, including the Greater Sudbury Police Service’s 2025 Service Above Self Award.
As a competitive hockey goaltender for more than 15 years, Leila has broken barriers by excelling in both boys’ and girls’ leagues, challenging traditional gender norms in sport. Her leadership as team captain, combined with her strong work ethic and personal resilience, has made her a powerful role model for women and girls. Leila’s impact is defined not only by her achievements, but by her unwavering commitment to uplifting others and strengthening her community.

Alisha Ravi is an educator, mentor, and community advocate whose nearly two decades of service have empowered students, supported marginalized communities, and advanced equity through education. A passionate believer in the transformative power of learning, she has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for children, youth, and adult learners from diverse backgrounds.
Alisha’s commitment to education began as a volunteer with Frontier College (now United for Literacy), where she led homework clubs, facilitated reading circles for children at the YWCA women’s shelter, and helped provide books and educational resources to local families. She later supported students with learning disabilities through the Rainbow District School Board and worked at Laurentian University assisting students with writing, research, and English language learning. Her dedication to mentorship earned her the GenNext Volunteer Award for Mentorship.
Alisha holds degrees in English Literature and Education from Laurentian University and a Master of Teaching Adolescent English from Fordham University. She began her teaching career with Teach For America, teaching Grade 9 English in New York City public schools and advocating for educational equity among underserved students. For the past eleven years, she has been an educator with the Rainbow District School Board, contributing to curriculum development for English language learners and serving in equity-focused leadership roles, including the RDSB Equity Committee and currently sits on the ETFO Sudbury Equity Committee.
Beyond the classroom, Alisha is an active community leader. In 2026, she organized a community solidarity rally in response to acts of hate and white nationalism in Greater Sudbury, bringing together residents, educators, community organizations, and elected officials to promote inclusion, understanding, and respect. She is also a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring local youth. Through her leadership and advocacy, Alisha continues to foster belonging, amplify diverse voices, and help build a more inclusive community for all.

Ashley Hayes is a respected nurse leader, educator, and advocate whose work has strengthened trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and child maltreatment across Northeastern Ontario. As the Violence Intervention & Prevention Program Lead and Nurse Clinician at Health Sciences North, she has dedicated her career to ensuring survivors have access to compassionate, evidence-based, and culturally responsive care.
Through her leadership, Ashley has advanced forensic nursing practice by implementing innovative clinical tools, including Medical Directives, enhanced Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner documentation, and intimate partner violence screening processes. Her expertise has helped improve patient safety, strengthen care pathways, and influence best practices in trauma and violence-informed care across Ontario.
A passionate educator and mentor, Ashley has provided training and support to nurses, physicians, paramedics, child protection professionals, learners, and community partners throughout Northern Ontario. As Co-Chair of the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres Nursing Community of Practice, and through her contributions to provincial committees and education forums, she fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth among healthcare providers.
Ashley has also championed initiatives that improve access to specialized services for survivors of gender-based violence, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities. Her commitment to incorporating lived experience into healthcare education and practice has helped create more inclusive, affirming, and accessible care for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
Beyond her clinical achievements, Ashley is a dedicated advocate for healthcare worker wellness, promoting resilience, psychological safety, and sustainable self-care. Through her leadership, compassion, and commitment to improving systems of care, Ashley Hayes continues to make a lasting impact on survivors, healthcare professionals, and communities across Northern Ontario and beyond.

Dominique Ansell is a trailblazing physician, leader, mentor, and advocate whose contributions to emergency medicine have transformed healthcare in Northern Ontario. Born in Ottawa and raised in Sudbury from the age of 4, she has dedicated her career to serving the community that shaped her. A proud francophone, Dr. Ansell completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Laurentian University, attended the University of Ottawa for medical school and Family Medicine residency, and returned home to complete her Emergency Medicine fellowship through the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Since then, she has focused on advancing emergency care, medical education, and patient advocacy throughout the region.
Dr. Ansell is the first female Chief of the Sudbury Emergency Department and the first female Trauma Team Leader at Health Sciences North, breaking barriers in a specialty that remains largely male-dominated. As Chief, she leads a team of approximately 35 physicians and has fostered a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional excellence. Her leadership has strengthened emergency medicine services, enhanced patient safety initiatives, and earned her the Health Sciences North Academic & Leadership Excellence Award. She also contributes to healthcare system improvement through her work with the Ministry of Health and initiatives that address barriers to care for vulnerable and underserved populations.
A passionate mentor and advocate for women in medicine, Dr. Ansell actively recruits, supports, and champions female physicians at every stage of their careers. She is known for investing in others, creating opportunities for leadership development, and advocating for gender equity in healthcare. Through her mentorship, honesty, and authentic approach to leadership, she has inspired countless women to pursue ambitious careers while defining success on their own terms.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Ansell is recognized for her compassion, humility, and dedication to her community. Whether caring for patients, mentoring colleagues, supporting marginalized populations, or balancing leadership with motherhood, she leads by example. Her unwavering commitment to service, empowerment, and improving the lives of others has made a lasting impact on healthcare, her community, and the next generation of women leaders.

Judi Straughan is a highly respected educator, arts leader, mentor, broadcaster, and community volunteer whose decades of service have helped shape Greater Sudbury’s cultural landscape and inspire generations of young people.
As one of the founders of Sudbury Secondary School’s Performing Arts Program in 1985, Judi helped establish the first program of its kind in Northern Ontario. During her 13 years with the program, she developed drama curriculum, directed award-winning productions, and mentored hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the arts nationally and internationally.
Her commitment to arts education continued as Education Director at Sudbury Theatre Centre, where she expanded youth programming and created meaningful opportunities for aspiring performers. One of her most impactful projects, Black Dog: 4 vs. the World by Matthew Heiti, used theatre to open the conversation of youth mental health and encouraged young people to seek help. She also shared her expertise as a sessional professor at Thorneloe University. In recognition of her significant contributions to the arts and community leadership, Judi was bestowed a Doctor of Sacred Letters from Huntington University in 2025.
Judi’s influence extends well beyond the classroom and stage. Through her work with CKLU 96.7, Eastlink Community TV, the Sudbury Arts Council, Jazz Sudbury, Music and Film in Motion, CFUW Sudbury, Maison McCulloch Hospice, and the Elgin Street Mission, she has been a tireless champion of arts, culture, education, and community service. As host of Into the Studio and The Judi Show and through her Sudbury Star arts column, she has spent more than two decades showcasing local artists, organizations, and community stories while celebrating Northern Ontario’s vibrant cultural identity. She looks forward to the publication this fall of the book “Sudbury Arts: 50 Visionaries”, her two-year passion project with the Sudbury Arts Council honouring 50 impactful people over 50 years.
A dedicated mentor and advocate, Judi has empowered countless women and girls through education, storytelling, and the arts. Her leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to community have created a lasting legacy that continues to enrich the lives of individuals throughout Sudbury and beyond.

Leanne Lewis, Alisa Arseneau, Mélanie Lafreniere, and Cathy Castanza are a remarkable team of realtors whose collective leadership, generosity, and commitment to ending intimate partner violence have made a profound impact in our community. Through their volunteerism, advocacy, and fundraising efforts with Royal LePage North Heritage Realty and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, they have demonstrated the power of a small group of dedicated women creating meaningful change.
Over the past four years, this extraordinary group has helped raise more than $350,000 in support of YWCA Genevra House and Manitoulin Family Resources. Their efforts have directly contributed to emergency shelter spaces, counselling services, safety planning, transitional housing, and other essential supports for women and children fleeing violence. Beyond fundraising, they have dedicated countless hours volunteering, organizing events, building community partnerships, and raising awareness about gender-based violence.
Drawing on their strengths in donor relations, event coordination, fundraising, promotion, advocacy, and volunteerism, the four women have worked collaboratively to maximize their impact and support critical services for women and children in the community. Together, they have organized and supported a variety of successful fundraising events, including the Annual Charity Golf Tournament, Purses & Playlists, Porketta Bingo, Wingo Bingo, Adopt-a-Family campaigns, and other community initiatives benefiting local women’s shelters. Melanie and Leanne have also participated in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s international Shelter Challenge treks in Ecuador and Cambodia, raising thousands of dollars while bringing awareness to the issue of intimate partner violence
What truly distinguishes this group is their humility, consistency, and unwavering dedication to supporting women and children in need. They do not seek recognition for themselves; instead, they focus on creating safer communities and brighter futures for others. Through their leadership, advocacy, and generosity, Leanne, Alisa, Melanie, and Cathy have become powerful role models, demonstrating how collective action can transform lives and strengthen communities.

The staff of Elizabeth Fry Safe Harbour House are an extraordinary team of compassionate professionals whose dedication has transformed the lives of women and gender-diverse individuals experiencing homelessness in Greater Sudbury. Since opening in 2022 under the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northeastern Ontario, Safe Harbour House has become a vital part of the community’s response to homelessness by providing safety, stability, dignity, and hope.
Working from a harm reduction and client-centered approach, the staff do far more than provide emergency shelter. They build trust, foster belonging, and create meaningful connections with guests while supporting them in achieving housing, health, and life goals. Through a harm reduction perspective using nonjudgemental and non-coercive strategies, they help women navigate trauma, complex service systems, and the challenges associated with homelessness, while ensuring every individual feels valued, respected, and supported.
In response to growing community need, Safe Harbour House expanded in December 2024, relocating to a larger Cedar Street facility and increasing capacity from 10 to 26 beds, with occupancy now averaging 95%. The shelter also began welcoming female youth aged 16 to 18, filling a critical gap in local services. Staff extended operating hours, increased support services, and introduced transitional housing programming that allows some guests to live onsite full-time while developing essential life skills, accessing supports, and building the confidence needed to successfully transition into permanent housing. Their work is further strengthened through collaboration with community partners and leadership within Greater Sudbury’s housing and homelessness network.
The team is recognized for its commitment to equity, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed care. They work to ensure services are accessible and responsive to diverse communities, including Indigenous women, who continue to experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates. Every day, they create a safe and welcoming environment where women and gender-diverse individuals can build the skills, confidence, and support needed to live safer, healthier lives.