#WonderWomenWednesdays

#WonderWomenWednesdays is a campaign created by Because I Am A Girl UOttawa to empower and showcase the powerful women found on the University of Ottawa campus!

February 25, 2015
Annalise Mathers

                Hi! I’m Annalise Mathers, and I am finishing my fourth year in Biomedical Science. I’m from Stouffville, Ontario, which is a small town north of Toronto and living in Ottawa for the past 4 years has really opened my eyes to our global our world really is. In my years here, I’ve had the opportunity to work and/or volunteer with many organizations on campus and in the city. I love global health, culture, travel, the gym and meeting new people. I’ve also been able to go to Peru and Tanzania through university programs, and these experiences (along with all the amazing friends I have made!) were definitely the highlight of my university life! In both Peru and Tanzania I was hugely aware of the issues women face in their daily living. Advocating for women’s access to healthcare is something I believe strongly in, and I had the opportunity in Peru to work alongside an obstetrician for maternal care that was sorely lacking in rural communities. In Tanzania, I helped African Wildlife and People in a project that involved building a boma (kind of like a corral) for the livestock belonging to the indigenous tribe the Maasai. The fence I helped to build was for a widow’s family consisting of about 20 or 30 people (her sons and daughters, and their spouses and children). This widow’s goats had been attacked by hyenas, and this boma was really essential to ensuring that the woman, her family, and their livestock could continue to survive. In the future, once I graduate, I want to continue to help individuals and communities like these to ensure that women – and all people! – have access to essential life needs.

             The women’s issue that I feel most strongly about is women’s rights – especially with respect to street harassment. I watched a documentary about street harassment during the summer, and it really connected with me. After being here for a month last summer and personally experiencing some form of street harassment or unwanted comments/attention quite regularly, I realized how ridiculous it is that as a woman I have to be 100x more conscientious about simple things like going outside and what I am wearing. It’s a barrier to developing personal self-respect, feeling secure, and being comfortable in one’s own skin. I’m not sure how, but I would love to get involved in a project that works on breaking down these barriers and making every girl feel safe and fabulous everywhere, every time.  Yet at the same time I love being a girl. I played every sport under the sun growing up, and I can attest to how much girls can take pride in being fit, both physically and mentally to make strides in their personal and professional life. I definitely recommend everyone to find some kind of physical activity that makes them feel great. Finally, I think that everyone’s confidence comes from within. It sounds cliché, but when you do what you love, and take the time to devote to yourself, that’s when you find inner happiness. Girls are the future. We have the power to do what we want and achieve anything. The time is now to be bold and beautiful!

February 11, 2015
Nicolette Addesa

Being from Toronto, I didn’t know many people in this new city. This encouraged me to join clubs on campus to get to meet new people. I volunteered here and there until I found a few clubs on campus that I found a passion for.

As an elected Director, representing the Faculty of Arts, as the assistant to the liaison and special projects officer of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Arts, as head of marketing and events for Her Campus and, as president of Equal Voice uOttawa Chapter, I have had several opportunities to consolidate my service leadership skills on many levels.

Being an elected Director on both the Board of Administrators and the Faculty council, representing 7 000 students, I demonstrated integrity by upholding and respecting the diverse needs of each unique department. I was the voice that respectfully shared concerns and possible rational and achievable solutions, to the Dean and the chairs of the Faculty. This role also demanded that I recognize and uphold policies and procedures and ensure confidentiality in many of the items discussed.

As the assistant to the liaison and special projects officer of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of  Arts for the past 3 years, I was immersed in the multicultural fabric of our city.  Serving and working with students with language barriers, physical challenges, or who may have had dispositions that may be deemed challenging, it became my goal to provide and guarantee a warm and supportive environment to ensure a positive experience under any circumstance. Service leadership was at the core of my role, and in fact I received many acknowledgements in  writing, which led me to receive the opportunity to be an ambassador for the Faculty at various university fairs around the province (Ontario University Fair in Toronto, Applicants fair in the Greater Toronto Area etc.)

As head of Marketing and Events of Her Campus uOttawa chapter, I exemplified both personal and professional integrity by mobilizing volunteers, organizing and executing fundraisers, to raise money for the Lupus Foundation. That year, my teams’ fundraising efforts collected over $6500. My passion for community outreach began when I turned my sweet 16 into a fundraiser for the Children’s Wish Foundation and donated the money to grant another 16 year old their wish.

I found the position of president for Equal Voice uOttawa chapter most fulfilling as it empowers woman politically and that is where my passion surfaces; serving others in a socio-political arena.  My role called upon skills such as collaboration, being open minded, a team player, a forward planner, well organized and approachable.  These qualities allowed me to create a respectful climate for my volunteers where people’s integrity was honoured and the ability to authentically serve the cause was upheld.

Most of the positions mentioned above were elected positions. My advice would be no matter what year you are in, no matter how much experience you think you might lack, apply anyways! To quote former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. If you get the position, great, if not, you will be equipped with the lessons learned for the next time.

We have all heard the famous quote by Babe Ruth “never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”. You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Why? Because you are a girl!

Septemeber 24, 2014 
Samah Syed

Samah Syed, 21 years old and a student of the University of Ottawa has recently attended the 2014 International Taekwon-Do Federation World Championships, which, were hosted in Rome, Italy from July 23 to 27. The ITF World Championships happen very two years and this year; over 500 competitors came from 32 different countries to compete. The Canadian Delegation consisted of 40 athletes and 40 supporters and brought home 90 medals in total. Samah Syed, a Canadian-Pakistani has been doing Taekwon-Do for 17 years and still continuing, participated in the ITF World Championships for the second time. She is a third degree blackbelt and brought back 4 medals from this years championship in the following categories: Bronze in Individual Patterns, Bronze in Team Patterns, Bronze in Team Sparring and Bronze in Special Technique. Over the course of two years, Samah attended several competitions and ranked to be part of the Canadian delegation. 

"Competing for the second time at the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships, the feeling was surreal. It was a huge accomplishment for something I have been working on for approximately two years. The first time I competed back in 2007, I was a junior and brought back 2 silvers and 1 bronze for all team events. However, this time around was my first time winning an individual medal, which was amazing. I felt that all of the hard work I have been putting in for so many years have finally shown through my first bronze medal in Individual Patterns. I also received 3 bronze medals in Team Patterns, Sparring and Special Technique. 

My experience as a young female athlete in sports is that not to feel underestimated by men. Just because men are doing it, so can women and if you are passionate and willing to do something, go ahead and do it. You never know what you can accomplish and succeed unless you try. Many people are afraid to try new things but you'll never know what you really like until you give a try. I would say is that try new things, don't give up and even if you're really passionate about anything in life, keep working hard because one day you'll succeed and feel astonished about what you have done."

August 13th, 2014 
Lisa Banville

Lisa Banville is an entrepreneur in the Ottawa area who attended Ottawa U and Algonquin college. She began her education route at Algonquin college in Pembroke, starting with a general business diploma. The two year program was a largely male program, but with Lisa’s mother and father (business owners) as guidance and inspiration, she completed the program and made the Dean’s list. Once completing the program she decided to attempt to follow up with an undergrad at Ottawa U in Business with a specialization in accounting.

This is where she joined the Sigma Psi Alpha sorority, where she began to network with a group of strong, passionate, goal-oriented women who only inspired her further. At one of her first sorority events, the group of girls went to a loose leaf tea house, and Lisa’s love for loose leaf tea was born. What started as a small collection quickly grew into cupboards filled with different teas from around the world.

After 2 years at Ottawa U, Lisa decided that she had enough of university. Enjoying Human Resources more than accounting, she enrolled back at Algonquin College for a 3 year Human Resources program. Once completing the program (and again making the Dean’s list), she decided it was time to follow in her parent’s footsteps and open her own business.

Using Shopify (An online platform for building ecommerce websites), she built www.tealee.ca, where she sells loose leaf tea and shares her love of tea with friends, family, and strangers. Finding that online sales weren’t as enjoyable as face-to-face interactions, Lisa decided to start attending farmer’s markets in the Ottawa area. She begun with the Ottawa U farmer’s market (which starts again in September) and loved it so much, she decided to bring Tealee to the Main street market every Saturday between May and October.

Never getting enough of tea, Lisa began taking the Tea Sommelier program at Algonquin College, which educates students on tea types, the process of blending, preparing, and drinking tea, as well as pairing tea with food, creating menus, and the history of tea. Once completed, the program will give Lisa the opportunity to take a Tea Sommelier Certification exam.

While running a business, furthering her education, and working a secondary job, Lisa has volunteered her time to assist with the Ottawa Tea Festival, planning a children’s tea party to raise money for the Candlelighters, an Ontario based charity that provides assistances to families whose children have been diagnosed with Cancer.

In the future, Lisa and her boyfriend hope to open a physical location in the Ottawa region. A lounge style shop where patrons can enjoy loose leaf tea while socializing, working, completing school assignments, or just relaxing with a warm(or cold) cup of the world’s most popular drink.

January 15th, 2014 
Jessica Silva

Jessica Silva is currently completing her first year in Master of Science in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa.

Jessica has worked as a research assistant for Dr. Angel Foster for the past two years and contributed to Dr. Fosters’ Backline project, which explored the need for pregnancy options, counseling and the effects of secondary transmittance on social change. Backline is a talkline originating out of Portland, Oregon and the funding is at risk of being cut. Currently, Jessica is conducting her thesis on refugee women’s experience with sexual violence and their post-migration needs in Canada.

Jessica has also been an active member of many University of Ottawa organizations. She works as an exam proctor with access services, was a team leader with Alternative Sudent Break and worked as a project officer with the Center for Global and Community Engagement. Jessica supervised an alternative spring break trip to Nicaragua with 12 participants from May 3rd to May 18, 2013. During the trip she acted a liaison between the NGO and her team members in the country.

However, her travels don’t stop there! Jessica was selected amongst 10 others for the International Health Field course placement in Zambia in conjunction with Shared World Initiative NGO in 2011. While in Zambia Jessica conducted needs assessments of several villages surrounding Chazenga compound in Lusaka, Zambia. She worked as a member of a 3-person team to help develop a social enterprise project in collaboration with Lupwa Lwabumi Trust (LLT), a local NGO. This social enterprise involves working with rural female gardeners and their tomato sales. LLT purchases their tomatoes and sells them to another market at the higher price. The project that she and her two teammates worked on resulted in a steady income for the female gardeners as well as  less donor dependency for the NGO.

Jessica was also VP communications of UOHS during her undergrad degree, volunteers with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Holder’s Association and presented at Women’s Health Research Day. She looks forward to continuing her research with women’s health and increasing the opportunities available to women on campus as a member of the Committee on Student Experience at the University of Ottawa.



December 2014
 Arlanna Pugh

Arlanna Pugh wants to live in a world where a stranger’s smile is returned, health promotion is priority, and her cell phone battery never dies. 

Currently completing her Bachelors of Health Sciences (French Immersion) degree at the University of Ottawa, Arlanna has pursued her academic interests in global health, development, and research in a variety of ways. The summer after her first university year, she worked at St. Micheal’s Hospital as a summer research student where she helped investigate the effects of traumatic brain injury on cognitive reserve and auditory perceived sensitivity in the elderly population. She took a break from research until last summer, where she dived into the field of epidemiology and helped conduct research on whether therapeutic exercise can improve the management of hip osteoarthritis. For her honours project she hopes to complete a systematic review on whether development assistance for health is effective and appropriately targeted. 

Although Arlanna enjoys being a student researcher, she also appreciates the article publication process. In the past, as senior editor and now as the Editor-in-Chief of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Health Sciences, she hopes to be able to promote a research-friendly environment where uOttawa students can learn and benefit from the peer-review process! Arlanna believes research is fundamental for academic and global progress and that teaching is one way to transfer that knowledge. She’s tutored math and science in high school, and was a Kumon tutoring assistant in the past. 

When Arlanna’s not in school catching up on readings you can find her getting outdoors and travelling locally and abroad. She loves backcountry camping, canoeing and trail running, which she was lucky to do for 2 months as an Ontario Ranger in 2010. The summer after her second year of university she found herself travelling to Nicaragua with a team of 12 students on a two-week humanitarian trip through the Centre for Global and Community Engagement. Recently, Arlanna travelled to Nunavut to deliver STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) based programming in the form of week-long camps and school workshops to children ages 5 – 12. There, she learned the power of open communication and teamwork, experienced immense generosity from locals, and enjoyed the beauty of Canada’s Arctic first hand. 

Arlanna was a health promotion peer educator, an avid volunteer at both rural and urban based hospitals and promoted interprofessional education as the president of the Ottawa Health Science Student Association. As she wraps up the final year of her degree, Arlanna hopes to explore future opportunities where she can continue to pursue her research interests, volunteer within her community, and truly take the “glass half full” analogy to heart.