VIRTUAL PINK TEA CONVERSATIONS
When the Famous 5 were campaigning for women to have the right to vote and run for elected office, their suffrage meetings were often disrupted by their opponents. Women traditionally held teas for the birth of children, when someone left the community or other reasons. Men didn’t attend these teas so suffragists started calling their political meetings Pink Teas and very few opponents attended.
We proudly continue the history and tradition of Pink Teas today, and have moved the conversation online! Typically held the first Friday of the month, these virtual events feature inspiring female leaders, profiling challenging issues and opportunities. These modern Pink Teas are accessible to all, with a goal of helping today’s and tomorrow’s female leaders: “To feel equal to high and splendid braveries!”
Register for one - or all - and hear inspiring female leaders, challenging topics, and lively conversation. Engage in the chat and Q&A in our online Famous 5 Pink Tea Conversation setting.
Watch the videos from our sessions
2024
April 9 - Meet Justice O'Bonsawin - Canada’s first Indigenous Supreme Court Justice!
Canada’s first Indigenous Supreme Court Justice - Justice O'Bonsawin, and Dr. Candis Callison, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse, Associate Professor at University of British Columbia
2023
December 1 - Balance the Power! Speak up!
Shari Graydon, Sharon Hapton and Sarah Elder-Chamanara
November 3 - Mentoring & Leading: Stories of Courage & Compassion
Elsie Elford, Olive Yonge, Janet Weir and Bukola Ojemakinde
September 15 – Cyberbullying, Youth, Mental Health & Resilience
Dr. Gail Beck, therapist, Giovanna Mingarelli, Tech entrepreneur, Claudia Lang-Dion & Fae Johnston, Wisdom2Action
June 2 – Defeating Anti-Semitism
Holocaust Survivor/Author, Marie Doduck with Lise Kirchner, Jane Sanden & King David High School Students
Days for Girls Canada’s Jill Johnston with students from West Island College, Calgary
April 14 – Courage of Creativity
Oscar-nominated NFB Animators Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby with Mary Anne Moser, Co-Founder, Beakerhead
March 2 – Courage of Reporting
CBC’s Chief Correspondent & The National’s Anchor, Adrienne Arsenault with Tara Weber, BNN Bloomberg
February 3 – Courage to Evolve
Soup Sisters’ Founder, Sharon Hapton with Shari Graydon, Award-winning author, educator & activist, CEO & Catalyst, Informed Opinions
2022
December 2 – Immigrant Women & Microloans
Claudia Hepburn, CEO, Windmill Microlending with Paul Calderon, CEO, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association
October 7 – Remembering Queen Elizabeth’s Role in Canada
Former Saskatchewan Lt. Governor Lynda Haverstock; Arts Philanthropist Clarice Siebens and former CTV Western Bureau Chief, Janet Dirks
September 9 – Reproductive Justice (Long-Acting Birth Control)
Dr. Rupinder Toor, CEO, The Women’s IUD Clinic; CEO, Project EmpowerHer with Juliet Guichon, PhD. Medical Ethicist, UofC
August 9 – Tribute to an Outstanding Indigenous Leader
Jeannette Corbiere Lavelle speaks with her daughter, Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Director, First People’s House of Learning with her daughter, Autumn Cooper
July 8 – Honouring Viola Desmond
Hon. Mayann Francis, former NS Lt. Governor and Associate Professor Késa Munroe-Anderson, Acadia University
Tina Ackermans, VP, Strategy & Corporate Development, Suncor; Michelle George, SVP and Chief of Transition, Enbridge with Katie Smith-Parent, Business Development, Spartan Controls
May 6 – Gender Identity Justice
Hon. Kathleen Wynne, former Premier of Ontario; Bobbie Racette, CEO, Virtual Gurus with Jen McMillen, Vice Provost (Students), Toronto Metropolitan University
April 1 – Challenging Charles Darwin by Finding The Mother Tree
Dr. Suzanne Simard, Professor of Forest and Conservation, UBC; Finding the Mother Tree & Mary Anne Moser, CEO, Telus Spark Science Centre
March 4 – Governor General Mary Simon
Rt. Hon. Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada discusses her goals with Michèle Stanners
February 4 – Environmental Leaders
Ersilia Serafini, Julia Langer & Miranda Baksh highlight positive strategies and opportunities
January 14 – Political Courage
Hon. Christy Clarke, former BC Premier; Hon. Carolie Cochrane, Premier of NWT & Professor Kate Graham, Western (audio file)
2021
December 3 - International Leaders for Afghanistan
Lauryn Oates, PhD; ED, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan; Murwarid Ziayee, Senior Director, CW4WAfhanl & Mellissa Fung, Award-winning Journalist
November 5 – Canadian Female Military Leaders
Brigadier General Krista Brodie with Jean Slick, PhD; Program Head & Associate Professor, Disaster and Emergency Management, Royal Roads University
October 1 – Creating the Women Are Persons! monuments
Sculptor Barbara Paterson, C.M.; M. Ann McCaig, C.M., A.O.E, LLD & first F5F monument donor & Roxanne McCaig, 2nd F5F monument donor; Arts connoisseur
September 10 – Sports Champions
Award-winning Paralympian Senator Chantal Petitclerc; Anne Merklinger, CEO, Own The Podium, Sport Canada & Lorraine Lafrenière; CEO, Coaching Association of Canada
August 13 – Remarkable Asian Leaders
Former Senator, former UofT Chancellor, the Hon. Dr. Vivienne Poy, secured formal designation of Asian Heritage Month , restored our anthem and now chats with Sarah Hussaini
The 51, Judy Fairburn & Shelley Kuipers chat with Deloitte’s VP of Strategy & M&A, Colleen Pound
June 4 – A Conversation with Nancy Ruth, C.M.
The Founder of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and LEAF, former Senator, Hon. Nancy Ruth shares her thoughts with her biographer, Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, CEO, Mount Saint Vincent University.
May 7 – Former Chief Justice of Canada
Hon. Beverly McLachlin, best-selling author & Althia Raj Journalist, CBC At Issue Panelist
April 9 – Devastating COVID Effects on Women
Pamela Jeffery, Founder & CEO, The Prosperity Project; Founder & CEO, Women’s Executive Network & Vianne Timmons, PhD; CEO, Memorial University
March 5 – Indigenous Child Advocate
Cindy Blackstock, PhD; First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada, with lawyer, Fay Brunning
Premiere Ballerina Karen Kain, International ballerina Galien Johnston-Hattori & Dawn McDonald, former Chair of Alberta Ballet
January 22 – Female Political Leaders
Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, Hon. Jean Augustine & US Consul General, with Michele Stanners
2020
Dr. Nadine Caron, Canada’s first female surgeon with CBC’s Peter Mansbridge
November 6 - Journalistic Ethics & Social Media
Jennifer Hollett, CEO, The Walrus with Tara Weber, BNN Bloomberg’s Western Canada Bureau Chief
October 2 – Political Leadership
Hon. Rona Ambrose, former Leader of the Opposition, former Leader of the Conservative Party and Susan Murray, former CBC Journalist
Janice Price, CEO, Banff Centre and Vanessa Yurchesyn
August 7 – International Human Rights Leadership
Sally Armstrong, Human Rights Champion, Author, Journalist with Denise Kokaram, Dental Health Advocate
July 5 – Women, Diversity & The Senate of Canada
AB Senator Patti LaBoucane-Benson and Narmin Ismail-Teja, CEO, Impact@Work
June 15 – Leadership Excellence
Olympic Gold Medalist Beckie Scott, now CEO, Spirit North with Lorraine Lafreniere, CEO, Coaching Association of Canada