By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
Hundreds of women gathered at West Island College in Dollard-des-Ormeaux last week for a groundbreaking forum addressing critical issues facing women in 2025, followed by a celebration marking 85 years since Quebec women won the right to vote. The atmosphere had a strong sense of camaraderie as women from all sectors came together to tackle pressing challenges.
The day-long event, organized by Robert-Baldwin MNA Brigitte Garceau, featured two dynamic panel discussions focusing on women’s economic empowerment and the complex challenges of homelessness among women and senior women.
“Women in Quebec have transformed leadership,” Garceau noted during her opening remarks, paying tribute to trailblazers like Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, the first woman elected to Quebec’s National Assembly. “Nothing can stand in our way when we act together.”
The forum brought together MNAs Linda Caron (Lapinière), Madwa-Nika Cadet (Bourassa-Sauvé), and Désirée McGraw (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce) with Garceau.
During the homelessness panel, AJOI Director Tania Charron highlighted the complex challenges facing women experiencing homelessness in 2025. “The most powerful thing to understand is that homelessness intersects with many forms of oppression,” Charron told The Suburban. “With the current setbacks we’re seeing in the US and elsewhere, along with rising masculinism, women who are homeless face multiple vulnerabilities. The situation becomes even more challenging for those who are Black, disabled, or trans.”
Among the other notables in attendance were Tanya Toledano, DDO City Councillor and federal Conservative candidate for Pierrefonds-Dollard; Commander Annie Mercier of SPVM Station 4, Linda Sestock, National President of CFUW-FCFDU, Akilah Newton, activist, entrepreneur, and founder of Overture with the Arts, and Laurie McCulloch from the West Island Chamber of Commerce.
The forum concluded with a celebratory cocktail reception, complete with a photo booth, refreshments, and gift bags for attendees. The event not only marked a significant milestone in Quebec’s history but also highlighted the ongoing work needed to achieve true gender equality across all sectors of society. n