Pam Damoff
Pam Damoff
Member of Parliament for Oakville North—Burlington
Young Women in Leadership program pairs local youth with professional mentors to explore future career paths
May 29, 2023

 

OAKVILLE NORTH-BURLINGTON – MP Pam Damoff’s Young Women in Leadership (YWIL) program took place last week. Founded by MP Pam Damoff during a roundtable on women’s empowerment in 2016, the 4th annual YWIL program culminated in a week-long celebration of empowering young women and gender non-conforming youth to explore diverse career pathways. Offering an immersive job shadowing experience in various local businesses, agencies, and organizations, the program saw 65 mentees partnered with 48 mentors across a broad spectrum of sectors.

 

YWIL, held from May 23-26, aims to enhance career readiness by equipping participants with valuable insights into different occupations and industry-specific skills. In addition, the program fosters the development of essential "soft skills," confidence building in professional settings, and expands the mentees' network.

 

"The YWIL program continues to inspire and empower young women, underlining the critical importance of their contribution to our society," said MP Pam Damoff. "By providing these aspiring women with firsthand experiences in diverse fields, we ensure they see themselves in various professions, which is crucial for building an equitable and inclusive society."

 

A standout highlight from the program was mentee Armeen Atif's mentorship with Dr. Paula Marques, a prominent professor and neurologist in genetics and epilepsy research at Hamilton General Hospital. The pair spotlighted the crucial role of women's representation in health and medicine and showcased the remarkable potential and opportunities for women in the world of science.

 

At the celebratory reception held at the Joshua Creek Art Heritage Centre in Oakville, a panel discussion featuring inspiring women Tamika Tulloch and Emily O’Brien energized attendees as they listened to stories of resilience and self-belief. The gathering served as a testament to the program's success, underscoring the importance of female representation and persistent demands for equity in all professions.

 

Mentee Serenna Hardy found her experience at the Alzheimer’s Society of Halton enlightening, expressing how she, "feels better knowing that the growing aging population in the Halton community has this organization to rely on." Similarly, Miaoer Song's experience with Mosaic Wealth Planning & Mosaic Financial surpassed her expectations, allowing her to gain new perspectives on business-related professions.

 

The YWIL program's overwhelming success is echoed by William Smith, Senior Vice President of Terrestrial Energy, who noted, "The enthusiasm and positivity of the mentees was energizing for our team. We had a great time with them.” Julia Leszczynski, the company’s mentee, was “fascinated by how many people here did not know they would end up working in nuclear energy but love what they do now.” Her job shadow experience reaffirmed for her the importance of young women being exposed to multiple different career paths.

 

The YWIL program is a living testament to the enduring need for initiatives that break down barriers and provide young women with diverse professional role models. As we move forward, the YWIL program remains committed to its foundational mantra, "If you can see it, you can be it", which continues to echo the necessity of female representation across all career paths.

 

As the YWIL program continues to grow and foster future leaders, the Halton community can anticipate many more success stories from its participants. As MP Pam Damoff concluded, "Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the mentors who generously contributed their time and wisdom, and to the mentees, for their eagerness to learn and grow. The program is a testament to what our community can achieve through collaboration, laying the foundation for the next generation of women."

 

For more information about the YWIL program or how you can participate next year, please visit our website at MPDamoff.ca or email [email protected].

 

About the Young Women in Leadership program:

Established in 2016 by MP Pam Damoff, YWIL is an initiative designed to foster leadership skills among young women and gender non-conforming youth between the ages of 15-25 in the Halton area. Through job shadowing experiences, YWIL provides a platform for participants to learn from successful professionals, gain firsthand knowledge of various occupations, and build a foundation for their own career success. The program aims to encourage their aspirations and contributes to the creation of an inclusive and equitable society.

 

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For more information, contact:

 

Keri Schoonderwoerd

Communications Director, Office of MP Pam Damoff

[email protected]

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