On July 9th, Indigenous Roots heads out for their 21-day expedition to explore some of BC’s finest wilderness areas, including Gambier Island, Howe Sound, Sechelt Inlet and Whistler. For months, the group has been preparing (from kayking, canoeing, hiking, and even catching a Tanya Tagaq concert) to ready themselves for 21 days of conquering BC’s wilderness, while learning environmental and cultural...
Learning to Lead alumna, Andria Coulbourn, was recently invited by Lafarge to experience a day in the life of a senior level executive, as part of Minerva’s Face of Leadership™ initiative. Lafarge’s General Manager, Lincoln Hyne, led Andria from the Executive Boardroom to the construction site, providing insights on the paving and construction industry, as well as Lafarge’s leadership approach.
Say hello to the newest members of Team Minerva, Jackie Dagg and Devon Wong. Jackie joins us after 19 years at the Vancity Community Foundation, while Devon recently relocated back from Singapore. We sat down to talk former lives over hot tea and coffee on a cloudy Thursday morning.
Last week, Minerva launched Indigenous Roots, Canada’s first outdoor leadership program for Indigenous girls. This ground-breaking initiative began with a five-day retreat at beautiful Camp Squeah, nestled in the mountains of Hope. Girls ranging in age from 13 to 18 gathered for this first of many adventures to come.
Minerva is always working to champion the next generation of leaders. Which is why we were so delighted to be an event partner at We For She, earlier in October. Over 1,500 people attended the conference, which brought business leaders and students together to advance gender equality. The goal was to give young women a greater understanding of their own potential, expand their confidence in what they can achieve, and inspire them with access to dynamic and successful role models.
We For She was the perfect opportunity for alumnae from our Learning to Lead™ program for Grade 11 girls. Ashley Milbury, Minerva’s coordinator of Learning to Lead™ (seen above, on the far left), re-united a dozen of the girls from the 2016 cohort, and served as their chaperone on the day of the event. Two of the twelve travelled from outside the Lower Mainland. Another was so eager to attend, she rallied funding and the support of a teacher/chauffeur, and brought three of her classmates all the way from Agassiz – entirely the result of her own initiative.
In March of this year, Minerva was fortunate to add a new full-time team member: an extraordinary educator and lifelong student named Jacquelyn Nadrazsky. At the six-month mark, Jacquelyn and I sat down to discuss her MBA, her life’s purpose, and the moment she knew she’d been ‘Minerva’d.’
Jacquelyn was born and raised in Bella Bella, the traditional territory of the Heiltsuk First Nation. She graduated from high school there and knew that she wanted to continue into post secondary education right away, without delaying like so many of her peers. At 17, she went to Malaspina University to attend First Nations Arts One – an introduction to Liberal Arts. At that time, she also competed at the North American Indigenous Games in basketball, where she met her husband. She transferred to UNBC Prince George for First Nations Studies, where she remained for three years, before becoming pregnant with their first daughter. Feeling the call of home, she and her husband returned to Bella Bella, where she became a liaison worker at the community school.
Amelia has been keenly conducting interviews with past participants of our Learning to Lead™ program for grade 11 girls. One such testimonial came from Sanya Ranchal, a recent graduate of UBC in Immunology and Microbiology. She hopes to pursue gynecology, obstetrics and women’s rights – largely because of her experience with Minerva. What she shared with Amelia:...
Minerva BC is a Vancouver-based charity that is
dedicated to advancing the leadership of women and girls.
Our office is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
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