A Message from the President: Reflecting on Your Mentorship Journey

Dear WIL Mentorship Graduates,

On behalf of Women in Leadership and our mentorship committee, I want to thank you for your participation in our 2026 WIL Mentorship Program. This year has been truly exceptional as we launched two additional mentorship programs: the Emerging Leaders cohort and the Indigenous Youth Group Mentorship cohort alongside our signature WIL Mentorship Program.

Congratulations to our 70 graduates, making this year, one of our largest mentorship cohorts yet.

Thank you to Canada Service Corps, for providing the funding through our Emerging Leaders Placement Project to make the 20 scholarships for youth possible along with our Indigenous Youth Program with 14 Mentors and 31 registered.

To our Mentees, thank you for your commitment to your personal and professional growth. Your eagerness to learn and engage has been truly inspiring. By participating in the program, you have shown tremendous determination in shaping your leadership careers and embracing the challenges that come your way.

To our Mentors in our three programs, we extend our deepest appreciation for your selfless contribution of time, knowledge, and wisdom to the next generation of leaders. Your guidance and mentorship have played a pivotal role in empowering these aspiring leaders with confidence and resilience.

To our speakers, thank you for imparting your wisdom, storytelling and experience for our leadership sessions, you’ve inspired, enlightened and empowered our hearts and minds.

To our Mentorship Committee:

• Crystal Sinclair

• Ajoke Akinmade

• Jaelynn Miller

• Janani Ram

• Karen Berna

• Melissa Corfield

• Upasna Parikh

• Salma Abdi

• Vero Gomez Guerra

• Zoe de Geofroy

• Angelina Dubrule

• Ashley Medeiros

• Linda Mota

  
  

We thank you for your contribution of your time, energy and dedication leading the matching process with interviewing all the mentors and mentees, an important aspect in WIL’s mentorship programs.

And to our Indigenous Mentorship Committee: Chief Leanne Joe and Umu Sow, heartfelt thanks for bringing together the storytellers, Indigenous leaders and for all your work on the Indigenous Youth Mentorship Program.

And lastly, to our Director, Strategic Programs and Management, Crystal Sinclair, our heartfelt thanks for your leadership of these 3 programs this year, for hosting all of our sessions, bringing the leadership content tougher, and we thank you for making this incredible programming possible.

As we conclude this year’s program, we thank you for being a part of the Women in Leadership community where our mentorship programming is at the heart of everything we do at WIL. I encourage you to reflect with pride on your experiences and celebrate your achievements. The impact of this program extends far beyond its duration, and I am confident that the knowledge and connections you have gained will be impactful on your future success. We hope that many of you will join us again for our 2026/2027 cohort.

We are immensely grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in the Women in Leadership Mentorship Program. Your participation has enabled us to continue creating an inclusive community that fosters connection and empowers women and youth in their journeys. As a mentorship graduate, you are a member in an extraordinary alliance that is dedicated to advancing women in leadership and empowering the next generation. It is through our collective efforts that we pave the way for gender equality and representation.

Together, each of us has the power to make a difference and WIL is about working together to get there.

Congratulations graduates!

Happy Summer & best wishes,

Maya

Maya Kanigan, BCom.

President & Founder

Women in Leadership Foundation

250.764.0009

maya@womeninleadership.ca

www.womeninleadership.ca