Launching Our Mentorship Program: A Powerful Opening Ceremony

Today, we officially launched our mentorship programs with an opening ceremony that brought together mentors, mentees, and community members united by a shared purpose. This moment marked the beginning of a new chapter of learning, leadership, and women supporting women through mentorship.

Across our mentorship programs, we are welcoming 68 participants, ranging from ages 14 through 50+, and joining us from a wide range of locations. Participants are based across British Columbia, including Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, as well as Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, with others joining us from the United States, including New York and Florida. This geographic spread reflects the growing reach of our mentorship community and the shared commitment to leadership, connection, and community across regions and borders.

This year’s mentorship cohorts include:

• Women in Leadership Mentorship Program with 12 mentees and 23 mentors

• Emerging Leaders Placement Project Mentorship Program with 23 mentees and 9 mentors

Together, these cohorts form a supportive mentorship network built on shared experience, guidance, and mutual growth.

During today’s opening ceremony, we invited participants to reflect on a simple question:

The responses revealed the heart of our mentorship community.

Words such as empowerment, connection, community, and growth appeared frequently. Participants spoke about giving back, helping future leaders, developing leadership skills, and women helping women. Others shared motivations centered on career development, learning, confidence, impact, and the opportunity to both mentor and be mentored.

What makes this mentorship program special is not just the diversity of participants, but the alignment of purpose. Whether mentors joined to share expertise and guide others, or mentees joined to gain direction, confidence, and support, everyone arrived with a commitment to growth and impact.

Today’s opening ceremony was only the beginning. As our mentorship programs continue, we look forward to watching relationships form, skills strengthen, and leaders emerge through the power of mentorship.

Founded in 2001, the Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) advances women in leadership and empowers the next generation building diverse workplaces that inspire lasting change across Canada.

WIL is empowering women and youth through Mentorship Programs (Women’s Leadership, Indigenous Group Mentorship, Youth Mentorship & Leadership Development Series), Regional Events and Chapters across Canada and national events and retreats, connecting leaders across North America.

The Transforming Workplace Opportunities Initiative is part of WIL’s broader mission to advance women’s leadership and break barriers for BIPOC communities. We invite employers to become a Transforming Workplace Opportunities Advocate and sign the Transforming the Workplace Pledge. By signing the pledge, your organization commits to fostering an inclusive workplace, where all employees are valued and respected and have equal opportunities for recruitment, growth, and success.  

Be part of the change and sign the pledge today.