In this edition of The Look, we talked with Cassandra and Stefanie Lepp about the agriculture industry, fashion, farming, family, and flowers. These sisters are filled with unique insights about individuality, life, style, and pursuing your passions. Though admittedly “chaotic,” Cass and Stef are living undeniably compelling lives. "We wanted to change the conversation. Why do farmers have to look a certain way? Why do we as a society so often stereotype people based on the way they look?"   What inspired you to start the Instagram page @thetulepps?  We started our Instagram page @thetulepps in the spring of 2018. We were the marketing team for Springland Manufacturing’s UTL truck loading augers. We travelled to trade shows across Canada and the US selling them, and it was at these shows we noticed an underlying current of sexism in the Agriculture (Ag) community. Some men wouldn’t want to speak to us, others were blatantly rude because we were young women. Certain companies at the shows wouldn’t approach us when we walked through a booth. They didn’t think we were farmers because of our gender and the way we look. In those years, we were running all the equipment and taking on more responsibility at our Dad’s farm.  Growing up our parents were often asked if they wish they had boys to take over the family businesses. We wanted to change the conversation. Why do farmers have to look a certain way? Why do we as a society so often stereotype people based on the way they look?   Our second major reason was to share our story. The Ag community is filled with incredibly diverse, multitalented, kind, hard working and humble people. We are feeding the world and the media often portrays us in a different way. We thought by combining our love of fashion and our careers as farmers our page would allow us to speak to a broader demographic.  Urban and rural individuals follow us now and that was our goal from the start! Working with Hillberg & Berk is one way this dream has come to fruition. It’s incredible for us to see where this page has taken us and the support we’ve received is truly humbling. "When we started The Tulepps we wanted it to be a safe space for anyone and everyone that celebrated breaking social norms and stereotypes. We love meeting people who are unapologetic and confident in who they are." How do you balance both fashion and farming? Balancing fashion and farming is hectic.  For our IG shoots we try to batch shoot photos but it becomes difficult in the summer months when we have so much to do at Rivers Air and the farm. [The Lepps run air business based in Rivers, MB. Cass and Stef work as the grounds crew.]  Last week we went to the combines in nice outfits while our dad was in line at the elevator. We had filled the bins at home and new we had an extra 30 minutes to spare so we made use of it. Then we changed in the truck and went back to work.  When shooting with H&B we got up, shot the campaign, and then ran to the airport because—as the grounds crew—we had to help our dad get some custom spraying done with his AT-802F spray plane.  We love the juxtaposition of our life.  When we’re at work we wear tough, durable clothing. When we’re out for an evening, we explore fashion and make our outfits interesting.  We have the same value in both settings and that’s something we really want to portray to young girls.  You shouldn’t be treated differently based on the way you look, which is why we often show up on our page with no filters, no makeup, just us.  The next generation needs that more than ever.  Balance is difficult. Our life is chaotic and most of the time we love that. Life is short and we’re trying to cram in as many experiences as we can so balance sometimes flies out the window during busy seasons like harvest.  What do you wish more people knew about women in agriculture?  Women are running farms; we just aren’t talking about it.  If you don’t know about the Tractorettes, do some research!  These women went to classes and learned how to run the farms when the men went off to war.  Without them so many people would have starved.  Just under 30% of farm operators in Canada today are women.  It turns out we do look like farmers!  Women have been doing incredible things for a long time. Another one to research is the Night Witches of WWII. We wish more people knew that a farm wife (or farm husband) is the glue of many farm operations.  Whether you’re trying to get the crop in, or harvesting in the fall, you are bound to have breakdowns. You don’t have time to eat and nothing matters but getting things at the farm wrapped up before a storm rolls in or a deadline rolls by.  Farm wives are often the ones picking up the pieces; they’re the ones that hold the farm together—bringing suppers, running for parts and taking care of the house.  It’s crucial.  In our case it’s our mom, my husband, and Stef’s fiancé at times.  There are also many, many women in Ag that aren’t the farmer but are crucial to the Ag community. Agronomists, seed reps, equipment sales, and so many more jobs are filled by women.  "Women are running farms; we just aren’t talking about it." What is it like running a business as a sister duo?  Running businesses as a sister duo with our dad is amazing. No one else would support us the way we support each other.  We are 100% committed to making the businesses run smoothly and that’s a really incredible environment to work in.  There are struggles.  Separating work life from family time is hard.  We need to find more balance there.  We have misunderstandings and things get personal in the business because we are family.  When I (Cass) was taking my business degree they focused on family businesses being some of the hardest.  I definitely agree. But at the end of the day, we’re constantly working on being better communicators, and we get to spend our days working beside our dad and sometimes our mom. It’s really special.   What are your tips to styling jewellery? When styling jewellery we like to mix chunky chains with smaller chains and differing lengths.  We like pieces that tell a story. We prefer gold but we sometimes throw some silver in the mix too!  Your style should reflect who you are.  We also make sure we shop consciously.  Supporting local brands that focus on sustainability and quality is very important to us.  If we buy something we want to be able to wear it for years not just a season or two. Where do you find inspiration for fashion? We are currently doing a series where we style our outfits around our equipment which has been fun!  Inspiration for our fashion often comes from @tezza.barton and @kyliekatich—we adore them and their art.  Locally, we often ask our friend @jilliannesbitt to style our shoots if we have special projects we’re working on.  It’s nice to have an outside perspective. She’s so creative and the best hype girl/friend we could ask for!  We are hoarders when it comes to our closets so we enjoy mixing older pieces with trends to add interest.  Fashion should make you feel good. Wear whatever you want and rock it!  We adore seeing people embracing their individuality. "Fashion should make you feel good. Wear whatever you want and rock it!  We adore seeing people embracing their individuality." If you were a flower, what type of flower would you be? A tulip, a sunflower, a daisy, or something else? (Cass) I think I would be a wildflower. Maybe a tiger lily.  A tough little flower that can bloom in the ditch. (Stef) I’d like to think I’d be a wildflower too. Growing in the wild wherever I please, maybe a lady slipper. Fancy but still in the ditch.  What social causes are you passionate about, and why?  We are passionate about anything that helps people celebrate their individuality and makes them feel like they belong.  When we started The Tulepps we wanted it to be a safe space for anyone and everyone that celebrated breaking social norms and stereotypes. We love meeting people who are unapologetic and confident in who they are.  Imagine if the entire world was more encouraging of celebrating our differences.  We would all learn more, we would all benefit, we would all feel safe. "You shouldn’t be treated differently based on the way you look, which is why we often show up on our page with no filters, no makeup, just us.  The next generation needs that more than ever."   What makes you feel empowered?  We feel empowered when we are independent, when we learn something new, when moms tell us we made a difference for them or their little girl, when we see someone thriving, when we help someone else, when we fix something at the farm without asking for help. When we help another woman feel confident in her own skin.  Society really is so damn hard on women and we should be each other’s biggest fans. Click here to shop The Look, and see how The Tulepps are styling our floral fall Sparkle. Writing: Carter Selinger 

Influenced by the lives and styles of women we admire, The Look was created to celebrate what the incredible women in our community are thinking, doing, and wearing. This week on The Look, we’re featuring mother-daughter duo, Paula Collins and Jasmyn Pingue. We chatted with Paula and Jasmyn about their modelling agency, Masala Model & Talent, their personal style, as well as their advocacy for racial equality. They inspire us with their authenticity, bold sense of style and passion for uplifting young women and girls.  "We’re strongly passionate about developing our talent to bring out their best qualities and managing their careers on a local, national and international level."  What interested you in owning a model agency?  PAULA: My modelling agent moved from Saskatoon, SK to Whiterock, BC to expand her agency. There was a lot of projects left in Saskatoon that needed talent for bookings. I wanted to continue a legacy that was established in our province and beyond.   What advice would you give to women wanting to start their own journey with entrepreneurship? PAULA: Always follow your dreams, research, be bold in taking a leap. Not everyone will support you so be ready to take on tasks alone and continue to believe in yourself. Be ready for disappointments, keep going, you got this! JASMYN: Start with what brings you joy, passion, and fulfilment. Having a great support system for encouragement and advice is wonderful to have. It’s extremely important if you are proceeding alone, and never stop rooting for yourself. Everyone deserves a life that brings you success. You’re special and amazing! "Stand proud of your accomplishments no matter how big or small they may seem." What’s it like running a business as a mother/daughter duo? PAULA/JASMYN: We enjoy working together and we have a great relationship. At times we need space from each other to decompress; then we come back more rejuvenated. Having the creative freedom to express ourselves and cohesively work in the fashion, fine arts, and entertainment industry with endless opportunities is truly phenomenal! We’re strongly passionate about developing our talent to bring out their best qualities and managing their careers on a local, national and international level.  Not only are we like-minded, but we also share the same birthday!  How would you describe your personal style? PAULA: For work, stylish coordinates that have some colour and accent my curves. For casual, anything that flows. JASMYN: My style consists of a variety of eclectic styles with a creative personal touch. I love a great statement shoe!  We both love freedom and comfort that is fashionable. It’s important to be your own individual outside of following trends.  "I believe jewellery is a creative reflection of your personal style." Why do you think jewellery is important in completing an outfit? PAULA: Jewellery always brings life to an outfit. It makes a statement that is personal to you that can be memorable and timeless. JASMYN: I believe jewellery is a creative reflection of your personal style. Simple as styling a black dress instantly enhances and boots your self-esteem.  What fashion advice would you give to your younger self and why? PAULA: Always start with the basics then add on pieces to expand your wardrobe. You are fierce and amazing, be your authentic self, because there is no one like you. JASMYN: The best fashion advice I’ve been given is: “dress the way you want to be addressed." Confidence is key! You can quickly lose your poise if you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing; the right clothing or garments can lend you the right attitude. The rest has to come within. What life advice would you give to your younger self and why? PAULA: Believe in yourself! This advice is from my parents and still holds true today for me: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. PROVERBS 3: 5-6. This advice is life!  JASMYN: This has always been applied throughout my life…you are worthy, unique and loved. Always believe in yourself, never give up, you can achieve anything your hearts desire. You deserve it! Stand proud of your accomplishments no matter how big or small they may seem. No matter what others say, stand true to your morals and ethics. "As Black women, we have a responsibility to speak up for racism, injustice and inequality." What social causes are you passionate about, and why?  PAULA/JASMYN: We are both passionate about building our community, Black Lives Matter and mentoring youth and young adults to strengthen their mental health and well being. We want a strong and unified community that brings people from all walks of life together in harmony. As Black women, we have a responsibility to speak up for racism, injustice and inequality. The youth and young adults need a safe environment and support without the stigmas of race, gender, bullying and abuse. "We are both passionate about building our community, Black Lives Matter and mentoring youth and young adults to strengthen their mental health and well being." What makes you feel empowered? PAULA/JASMYN: Having a supportive family and knowing the hard work and dedication to the causes we’ve served have been rewarding. Giving gratitude each day and give thanks, to the most high. Without God, we would not be here to share this. Share your gift and true passions with the world, as you were put on this earth to make a difference. Lastly, be intentional and have control over what you do and stand for. Click here to shop The Look. @masalamodeltalent@jasmyn.naomirunwayWardrobe by Klassique Designs Snakeskin Sandals: Traxx Footwear Writing: Carter Selinger

"Getting involved in this role was inspired by community members and the desire to take on a challenge where I’d be refocusing an organization to be the national youth-led 2SLGBTQ organization many young queer and trans people need."  We talked to Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah about her work as an Executive Director with the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity (CCGSD), some key moments in her childhood and adolescence that led her down this path of advocacy and activism, her time as a rugby player, and her earring-making hobby during the pandemic.   Has this kind of advocacy and activism work always been something you envisioned yourself doing? Yes. Recently, I was sitting on a panel for Carleton university (where I did both my undergrad and my masters) and the panel was on alternative careers outside of academia. I told them the reason I moved to Ottawa at 18 years old was to get into a career where I was involved in advocacy and activism. Both from a public policy approach (like foreign affairs) but also feminist activism. I knew I needed to be in close proximity to where those decisions were happening. So that kind of inspired my academic journey and career trajectory. I moved here from the Toronto area so, it was a bit of a sacrifice (laughs) for the better of what I want to do. I’ve always been that teenage feminist. I was pretty outspoken in undergrad. I pushed where I could in a Catholic school in Brampton, Ontario. I think my rugby coaches and my teachers knew I’d probably be at the forefront of future protests. And they weren’t wrong. It’s always something I thought I’d be doing and it’s something I’m happy to be involved in now.  Were there any moments in childhood or adolescence that you look back on now as indications you’d be well-suited to this kind of work? I developed really early. I got my period in grade 4, and I knew what had happened, but my mom’s immediate reaction was “Don’t tell anyone.” So I felt that periods were a shameful thing, and this was the complete opposite experience of my best friend at the time who grew up in a single-parent home and was the child of a feminist lesbian Latina woman from El Salvador. My friend’s first period was celebrated. She got roses and Oreo cookies. I’ll never forget that. It was such a stark contrast between her household and mine. I remember confronting my mom about (her reaction to my first period) after my first year of university and she was like, “I was just afraid that if you told people that they would harm you.” This was a reflection of how she grew up in western Africa where those moments—those physical changes in your body—are supposed to signify a coming of age and it meant something completely different. I look back on that time and it’s no surprise I ended up working at the women’s center during my undergrad, hosting feminist consciousness-raising groups and talks with people about alternative mentrual products to use. So if there was one moment that I think really marks that change for me, it was that. "I knew what feminist leadership should look like—having been fortunate enough to work in organizations that had really good feminist leadership."   What about in terms of protesting? Did you have any moments related to that growing up? I went to a Catholic school in Brampton where they made us wear uniforms. I think we were in grade 10 or 11. With this Catholic school once a month they had dress-down days—you could come to school and wear whatever you wanted. And Halloween, my favourite holiday, happened to land on the Friday we had dress-down day. The administration felt it would be appropriate to ban us from wearing halloween costumes because they were afraid of how rowdy we’d get. So I actually helped lead a protest with a bunch highschool students where we came into school wearing our Halloween costumes. I remember I was dressed as a vampire. I had contacts, fangs, and long nails. I’ll never forget it. It was almost like a badge of honour to be kicked out of class. We got CP24 (a local news network) to come in and interview students about it. I got kicked out of class because I pushed against what I felt was a foolish idea. After that, I think a lot of people were like, “Ok, this girl’s going to be doing something. Speaking truth to power, or engaging in some kind of civil disobedience.”  Could you tell me about how you got involved with the Canadian Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity? What kind of work do you do on a daily basis? I saw the job posting and had a conversation with my partner about it. She was really encouraging. I know what this organization has meant to people I share community with, and people I consider friends here in Ottawa. I thought, “This organization is going to require someone who can really bring it forward.” I applied not knowing what was going to come of it, but it happened. I became an Executive Director at 28 years old, and it was an opportunity for me to package skills I’ve learned—from school where I was studying foreign policy, to my undergrad in women’s studies, to my political activism and my community care work. That experience helped me bring thoughtful leadership into this role. Getting involved in this role was inspired by community members and the desire to take on a challenge where I’d be refocusing an organization to be the national youth-led 2SLGBTQ organization many young queer and trans people need.  My day-to-day work is focussed on organizational change. Everything I do—whether it’s finance related, fundraising, day-to-day management with staff, being the spokesperson for the organization—all of it is centred on organizational change. This organization had the same leader for the last fifteen years before I came in. So I knew I was coming in with a very different set of expectations and understandings, and I knew what feminist leadership should look like—having been fortunate enough to work in organizations that had really good feminist leadership.  "A lot of queer folks have been using the term possibility model—a model of what is possible for you." Intersectional feminism is one of the guiding principles of the CCGSD. Can you talk about the importance of intersectional feminism in your own life and why it’s so important to the CCGSD? Whenever I have a conversation about intersectional feminism I have to remind people that intersectionality is a framework, and the term was coined by Black women and Black feminists. Historically, intersectionality was centred on naming the experiences of Black women who were navigating sexism, racism, and sometimes classism at the same time. As a framework, intersectionality is liberating for me because it allows me to analyse how the rest of the world impacts me—the vulnerabilities it might put me in—that might be different from a white woman, for example. As someone navigating homophobia, racism, sexism, and classism at the same time, I’ve had to think about decisions I’ve made differently and intersectionality allowed me to name that experience.  When it comes to our work at CCGSD, I like to say, oppression doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Homophobia is happening at the same time as Islamophobia and colonialism. In our work it would be a disservice to only name homophobia and transphobia while ignoring other different ways in which oppression impacts other 2SLGBTQ communities. The homophobia I’m going to experience is very much shouldered in being a Black person. I’ve heard things like, “Black people are more homophobic than anyone else.” If you apply an intersectional lens to a statement like that you end up finding out how convenient it is for white supremacy to talk about our people this way, and to position itself as inherently progressive. It was white supremacist colonialism that introduced very homophobic laws that are archaic and still practiced even in my own country. You have to name the different ways that oppression operates even in the 2SLGBTQ community; if you don’t, you risk further isolating community members who aren’t the more mainstream white, cisgender, gay, queer man.  You were a very accomplished rugby player in university. Did playing that tough sport prepare you in any unexpected ways for the work you do now? Yes. If you speak to any person in women’s rugby (highschool, club, university etc.) they’ll all talk about how rugby is such an empowering sport in terms of how different body types are able to find a space (in the different positions). In other sports sometimes it doesn’t really translate the same way. I think for people who are socialized to not be rough, or to be ladylike, there is a joy that a rough sport like rugby can bring out for folks that is beautiful. I’ve made so many awesome connections and lifelong friendships because of this sport. It’s also made me a better leader. My first leadership opportunities were through rugby. I was the captain of the rugby team in high school. It taught me what it was like to represent a group of people, to be the person who is at the forefront of making sure collaboration is happening, and being the person who is cheerleading. I bring that same skillset with me today as someone who is leading an organization. I have to ensure we’re all on the same page, respect all the different skill sets we have, and cheer us on when we’re exhausted or going through a really rough time. Rugby has definitely helped me grow more confident, be a better leader, and be a better feminist.  "Rugby has definitely helped me grow more confident, be a better leader, and be a better feminist."  Who are some of your role models? A lot of queer folks have been using the term possibility model—a model of what is possible for you. Laverne Cox talks about possibility models a lot specifically for young trans folks. For me, it’s important to find other Black women, but also women who are specifically from Ghana. Women who understand the challenges that come from a somewhat socially-conservative community that is entrenched in tradition. Being feminist or queer is sometimes frowned upon by our communities and elders. When I discovered Phyll Opoku-Gyimah—the executive director of Kaleidoscope UK and director of UK Black pride—I saw her name and I was like “That’s specifically our tribe. That’s an Akan name.” She’s a queer woman and significantly older than me and I was like, “Holy crap. This is what I wanted to see.” I wanted to see what I could possibly look like in 20 years. An example of how I could rock it with such beautiful fierceness. She’s the definition of a badass. Just like myself, she’s proud to be Ghanian, proud to be queer, and proud to be a lesbian. We actually connected because she shared a picture of a traditional Ghanian wedding, but it was a lesbian wedding. I commented on her Instagram and was like, “As a queer Ghanian this just makes me so happy to see.” We ended up following each other on Instagram. Then, through this role, last month a full circle moment happened—I was able to sit on a panel with her. I was fangirling her for years and then here I am sharing space with her as a Black women leader working on 2SLGBTQ rights. It was pretty awesome.  A lot of what you do seems to be in the spirit of empowering others. What does empowerment mean to you? I know some people have feelings about the word empowerment. Empowerment is so much based on the individual. I can’t hold your hand and empower you. But I think you can play a role in fighting to change the conditions around someone that will allow them to be empowered. Also, if people look at me and see a potential possibility model and that empowers them, that’s something that I find really cool. Empowerment to me means being able to achieve a goal, or engage in an activity you may have originally thought you couldn’t do, but through the process—whether it’s accessing information, education, knowledge sharing—you are compelled to actually do that thing. You’re like, “You know what? I can do this. I shouldn’t have imposter syndrome. There’s no barrier in my way.”  "Empowerment to me means being able to achieve a goal, or engage in an activity you may have originally thought you couldn’t do." The weather is getting nicer. Vaccines are rolling out. Are there any looks, outfits, or pieces of jewellery you’re looking forward to showing off when we’re officially allowed to start socializing again? Yes I am! Lesbian earrings. It turns out Queer women and lesbians have somehow gravitated towards this trend of making earrings out of anything. It’s like this weird form of coding for your queer life. I have miniature ketchup earrings, mini pencils, miniature shopping cart earrings. Through quarantine and the pandemic I have just been making earrings. I have like over 300 different pairs of earrings that I’ve either purchased or made myself. They’re a great way to express my style while working remotely, and I always have a fun time when I see people’s reactions to my earrings. Our lockdown in Ontario has been especially hard and long so I’m really excited to show off my collection of earrings.  Writing: Carter Selinger

As a proud Saskatchewan company, our core operations and Head Office are located on Treaty 4 Territory, the original lands of the Cree, Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakoda, Lakota, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. We respect and honour the treaties that were made on all territories, and are committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration. This edition of Know Her features Jodi Robson. We spoke with Jodi about her time on the The Great Canadian Baking Show, the beaded statement necklaces she made and wore on the show, and how baking and beading help her represent her personal history, family, and culture. She also spoke to us about the importance of acknowledging and understanding the trauma residential schools have inflicted upon her family members and Indigenous people across the country.   "Every bake had an element of me in it...I wanted to be as authentic to who I am as I could be while I was there."  What came first—the beading or the baking? Baking definitely came first. I started dabbling in the kitchen at a very young age. When my grandmother or mother was preparing food I was just there. And then as soon as you’re old enough to start helping, you’re helping. You can’t be hanging around unless you’re lending a hand.  Do you have any early memories from that time with your mother or grandmother? My earliest memory in the kitchen is of my grandmother’s giant red flour bin. We weren’t supposed to touch it because you’d contaminate the flour if you played with it. But everyone wanted to play with it because she had one of those old sifters where you turn the crank and it sifts the flour. My first memory is of getting into the flour bin, making a huge mess, and then hiding under the table because I was worried I was going to get spanked (laughs). She was giving me heck the whole time while I hid and she cleaned up my mess and made supper. "I’ve gone from being a kid in the kitchen to teaching my kids in the kitchen and it’s very heartwarming."   Are these hobbies—baking and beading—a kind of homecoming for you? Or a way for you to reconnect, or ground yourself in your Nakoda and Cree heritage? They are actually. Beadwork has a very long and rich history with Indigenous people prior to contact. And in terms of cooking, when we were children we’d go out during the day with our grandmother, our aunties, or my mom and spend the entire day in the field or bush collecting ingredients. We’d go berry picking, dig for roots, harvest wild mint. We’d bring those ingredients back and create with them. To be able to take my children out now and show them where you get this stuff, and the proper way to do it, is a very important thing for me. I think it honours the heritage of my Cree and Nakoda cultures. It’s exciting to create a fusion there with those ingredients and my baking.  There isn’t a lot of history with Indigenous people and baking because we were mostly nomadic people, particularly on the plains with the Nakoda and Cree. There aren’t really historical Indigenous ties to baking aside from the ingredients. But that’s also exciting because it creates new opportunities. I can do things that weren’t there before. I can use techniques from other cultures and make a hybrid dish with the ingredients that our people have used traditionally.    You appeared on season 3 of the Great Canadian Baking Show. You baked a really amazing cake in the first episode with a tempered chocolate tree on top of the number 4. Can you talk a little bit about that cake, the number 4’s relevance to your culture, and what that initial experience was like?   That was the most exciting bake because I was completely out of my element. You’re around all these people you’ve never baked beside before in a completely new kitchen. It’s intimidating. I’m used to answering questions from my hubby or kids because they’re constantly harassing me in the kitchen. So I had an advantage when the hosts came up and asked me questions while I was panic-baking. The cameras in your face can be quite daunting. But that tree was so exciting to make because I’d only made it once before, and you never know what it’s going to be like to temper chocolate in other areas of the country because sea elevation and humidity can change things so much. So that was scary for me, but I went for it and it worked out, and it was so cool to be able to put a piece of myself out there for the very first bake. We got to choose which number we were doing and I chose 4 because the number 4 is huge for my people. We honour the four directions. The four seasons. Our ceremonies take part in 4 separate elements. It was me getting to introduce myself to everyone. I could say, I’m Indigenous and here’s why this number is so significant to me.   "I made every piece I wore prior to the episode and so sometimes I didn’t sleep. And then I just gave them away. After each episode I gave them to one of the other bakers as a little memento."   Did you find it easy to be yourself on the show? Because you seemed to look quite comfortable. Did you feel like that under the surface?  Yes and no. As far as my attitude and character on the show? That’s me. I’m hyper all the time. I drink a pot of coffee for breakfast and then follow it up with a red bull, so (laughs), that’s just me. The only thing that wasn’t really me on the show was that I don’t bake under time constraints at home. I don’t cook with recipes or measurements, which upsets a lot of bakers. My bannock, for example, is measured by handfuls not cups. People ask for recipes and I’m like, “Hold on I’m going to have to remake this.” Is that kind of improvisational baking something that you inherited from your grandmother? I remember on the show you talking about how she rarely used measurements.  So we grew up on the reserve, on Okanese First Nation, and on the reserve you don’t have easy access to grocery stores. If you need something you have to get in the car and drive for it, and that isn’t always a possibility. You have to get really creative with what you have available. We were fortunate in that my grandmother was an incredible gardener. If I needed something it was usually going to be in the yard, and if I wanted to make something with berries I’d just go out into the bush and come back with a pail. We got very good at that creative aspect of baking. I wasn’t going to the store looking for some specific imported ingredient because there just wasn’t access to it growing up.    "I felt that it was very important to represent First Nations people in everything I did on the show. Particularly Cree and Nakoda because that’s my heritage." How important to you was it to pay homage to your Nakoda and Cree heritage on the show? In what ways did you do so? I felt that it was very important to represent First Nations people in everything I did on the show. Particularly Cree and Nakoda because that’s my heritage. I feel I did that with both my appearance and my bakes. Every bake had an element of me in it. Some story and some inspiration. A part of my culture and heritage was always focal. That was really important because I haven’t had the luxury of seeing people like me on baking shows before. We have had a few famous Indigenous chefs coming out of the woodwork in the last couple of years, but it’s very new. I wanted to be as authentic to who I am as I could be while I was there.  You wore a lot of great, beaded statement necklaces during the bake off that you made yourself. How did it feel to be wearing these creations while working on your bakes? Do you think your jewellery gave you confidence or good luck?  I absolutely do think there was an element of confidence, and of course luck. Especially since I made it all the way to the finale. I never believed that I could make it that far. We weren’t supposed to wear statement pieces on the show because it would interfere with the mic. I actually argued on that one. I said, “Please, I need to represent myself in some way.”  There’s a little story behind the beadwork on the show. I had only brought beadwork for the first day because I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I thought, at the very least I’m guaranteed to be on the first episode and I’m going to represent myself as much as possible. After that all the other bakers were like, “Why don’t you make a new piece for every episode and then it’s like a celebration.” Yeah, so I literally did that. I made every piece I wore prior to the episode and so sometimes I didn’t sleep. And then I just gave them away. After each episode I gave them to one of the other bakers as a little memento.   I always try to wear beadwork in some form if I can. There are a lot of fantastic artisanal beadwork artists who live here on the prairies, and one of the best things is the sense of comfort you get when you see someone who has beadwork on. It’s like “Ok, cool. There’s someone else here like me.” Leaving the reserve, and moving to an urban center when I did, left me feeling shell shocked. So my beadwork is like my little flag to other people. It’s a way of saying, “Hey, Tansi.” It's a comfort thing, and honestly it’s a bit of bragging because it’s like, “Look what I can do.”   What informs the designs and colours of your necklaces? Are they story-telling vehicles at all? They definitely are a form of storytelling. I know a lot of beading artists have a template that they follow. I’ve never used a template. When I create I just sit there and look at the felt or leather and then I just start. I’ll grab a colour and it just builds on itself. Sometimes it takes a long time to decide when something is done because I’ll continually add things or take things off. It’s similar to my baking. I’ll add things until it’s the way it needs to be. There are actually a lot of similarities between the two. I can look at any piece I’ve created and tell you the story about what influenced the design because I remember everything about all the pieces. I’m not a mass producer of beadwork. I only make beadwork when I feel inspired.  Have you turned either of these hobbies into a job?  Prior to the show, I never created pieces for sale. If I baked or beaded something, I usually gave it away. After the show, I’ve had a lot of people reaching out and saying “Do you sell beadwork? Do you have an Etsy page? Would you make me something?” While that’s very flattering, unfortunately I work full-time and I homeschool my children. I can only do so much. And I don’t intend on opening a bakery in Regina because our market is heavily saturated. There’s a lot of great talent out there. I don’t really have a desire to turn it into a career. I don’t want to lose the love I have for it. People say take your passion and turn it into a career, but I’m worried I’d lose the passion. But maybe one day.  Has your relationship with baking or beading changed at all during the pandemic? In the start of the pandemic it was very difficult getting ingredients. You couldn’t find things like yeast or flour anywhere. I did find some local producers of flour in Saskatchewan that I wasn’t aware of before. They’re not available in mainstream stores, but you can find them in local markets and farmers markets. I noticed a big difference using that flour with sourdough. The artisanal local flour bakes a denser loaf but it’s so much more flavourful. I highly recommend it.  For beading I had more time so I was able to make more pieces, which was nice. For some of the people that did reach out, I was able to be like, “Hey, I have this.” It was nice to have some extra time to focus and improve on something I do for fun.  I also got to bake with my kids a lot more because they’re normally in school. Since they’ve been homeschooling we could just take a break and create some baking together. They’ve influenced flavours and new designs, and I’ve been able to teach them the basics. I didn’t have the time for that before.  "The most important thing about all of this is that we need to have an understanding for each other, and we have to be more accepting of others’ struggles because we don’t know." That must have been pretty cool to be able to give your kids a similar experience to your own growing up and helping out in the kitchen. At the end of the day, reflecting with a cup of tea, I did get emotional several times because it’s like, “Wow, I’ve come full circle.” I’ve gone from being a kid in the kitchen to teaching my kids in the kitchen and it’s very heartwarming.   There has been some heartbreaking news in this country recently—revelations of the horrific realities of residential schools in B.C. How are you doing? How do you mourn something like this? How do you support yourself and your family when coming to terms with news like this? Well, for me it’s not news. I understand that for a lot of people who aren’t fully aware of residential schools in Canada and their histories, it’s shocking news. And for some people it’s not shocking and they’re saying, “Well we knew about this already.” For me, that coming to light, it’s a reminder of a lot of pain. I’m the first generation in my family that didn’t have to go to residential schools. Both of my parents went. Both of their parents went. I could have gone because the residential school in our territory only closed in 1996. I was fortunate because my mom and my dad—having gone through the schools and suffering as a result of their time there—were able to make the decision to not let us go. Their parents didn’t have that option. And their parents before them didn’t have that option; it was forced upon them. That news hit my family really hard because it brought up a lot of memories that they had pushed down. I don’t think that pain and that terror ever truly leaves you. And I know there is an intergenerational traumatic effect because you see the impact on children that never attended the schools. In our family we’re lucky we have our cultural ceremonies and we’re able to sit down and do things like smudge and talk openly and let that stuff out so we don’t have to hold it in.  I think it hit a lot of people across the country very hard and as always there is a dismissive approach to it by a lot of people. You always get people saying, “Could you get over it?” That’s a very hard thing to ask of anybody. I’m glad that it came to light though, and that it was brought forward so now the whole country knows as opposed to just those who are exposed to Indigenous peoples. Nothing is going to change the past. But it needs to be acknowledged, and then we have to look at policy change and our own mental biases against each other and go from there. We should never live in a world where something like that could occur again. There has to be some level of understanding amongst each other. For example, if I see somebody on the street struggling with addiction, I don’t look down upon them because I don’t know their story. I don’t know what has driven them to that point. The most important thing about all of this is that we need to have an understanding for each other, and we have to be more accepting of others’ struggles because we don’t know.  It feels like we’re close to getting to the other side of a really hard pandemic. What are you most looking forward to as things begin to reopen again? Socializing. Oh my goodness do I miss people! Normally I work in customer service at the Casino in Regina, and there were some nights I said, “I’m so done with people!” I regret ever saying that. I also have a ton of shoes I want to show off so I can’t wait to go out and be like, “Look at these.”  At work people would just sit down at the table and just tell me stories, and I loved just listening to other people’s stories because it’s cool to see how other people see things. I also miss sitting outside and having a bonfire with friends.  I imagine one of the joys of being a really good baker would be sharing your bakes with a bunch of other people and seeing how they react to them.  The best place I’ve ever taken baking is my husband’s wrestling shows. No matter how bad the baking is, you put an entire tray of (basically anything) in front of wrestlers, they’re going to eat everything in minutes, which is a huge ego boost. Writing: Carter Selinger

Influenced by the lives and styles of women we admire, The Look was created to celebrate what the incredible women in our community are thinking, doing, and wearing. Inspired by our Head Designer, Lisa McEachern, this edition of The Look features the idea of breaking fashion rules - including mixing metals! Lisa has been at the forefront of our designs for over eleven years and is an original muse to H&B. She inspires us with her passion for design, as well as, her bold and eclectic personal style. "I love jewellery for so many reasons; as a wearable form of art and self-expression, for their sentimental value, especially heirlooms." What interested you in a career in jewellery design?I started making jewellery at around 10 years old. I have always loved it and from there I started my own business in high school and after it took off I decided to further that knowledge and attend school to learn the art of goldsmithing. The program I took was incredibly art & sculpture focused and encompassed a lot of art history drawing, painting, drafting and gemmology. I love jewellery for so many reasons; as a wearable form of art and self-expression, for their sentimental value, especially heirlooms.Where do you find inspiration when creating designs?I am in awe of the natural world and quite fascinated with the patterns and eccentricities that exist and are created by Mother Nature. I love fashion and trends, I also gravitate towards timelessness and look a lot to the past and history of art and design. How would you describe your personal style?My personal style is very eclectic and incorporates a lot of old and new. I love history, vintage clothing and accessories especially with modern elements.  "I love fashion and trends, I also gravitate towards timelessness and look a lot to the past and history of art and design."  What do you like most about wearing jewellery chains?Chains are such a great staple wardrobe item. You can mix and match, dress up or down, wear them on their own or layer for a more statement look. I wear some form of chain every day.  What is your opinion on traditional fashion rules such as not mixing patterns, don’t wear black and navy together, etc.?I feel like the rules do not apply. I really don’t adhere to any fashion rules. I love an eclectic fashion style and love mixing and matching. Is it faux pas to mix metal colours in jewellery?Absolutely not!What are your tips for layering jewellery?I always start at the top with some form of choker whether it’s a choker of gemstones or chain and then layer a few chains with pendants. I love this eclectic look and I love mixing metals.  "I feel compelled to create in some form every day and that’s what makes me feel happiest and most connected to the present moment." What social causes are you most passionate about, and why?I am very passionate about natural health and healing as I am studying herbal medicine in my spare time. I am very concerned about sustainability and ways to live more connected and with respect to the planet.  What makes you feel empowered? Living my truth. Which is living a life full of creativity, which I feel is a basic human necessity and so many of us have been taught this is a luxury. I feel compelled to create in some form every day and that’s what makes me feel happiest and most connected to the present moment. Click here to shop The Look.

After a tour of the HMCS Winnipeg, Rachel Mielke and Amber Comisso got together over Zoom to have a chat about Comisso’s most recent mission, her unlikely career path, leadership, diversity in the military, and making it work in a demanding career.  "Women can do whatever they want and I can’t wait to get to a point where that’s not even part of the conversation anymore." Here’s their conversation:  Rachel: Tell me a little bit about how you got into a career in the Navy. Amber: Happenstance is probably the best description. I was at a university information night in Thornhill, Ontario and my mom had come along. I went to the first presentation and my mom branched off and when she came back she said, “Amber! You’ve gotta watch this presentation.” She took me to a presentation by the Royal Military College of Canada, and I said, “Mom, this is the Canadian military,” and she was like “I know, right? Isn’t it so great?” I was totally into drama in highschool. I was very artistic. I was almost the antithesis of a military mind. But, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a smart decision. My four years of school would be paid for. I had a guaranteed job afterwards. I didn’t know what I wanted to be and the idea was exciting. I got excited to serve my country and to, as they say, “Join the Navy, see the world.” I think I was the first person from my highschool to go to RMC.Rachel: Given that you had an arts focus and you were into drama, one might assume you would go in for a few years, experience it, and then do something else. What has kept you with the Navy for 23 years? Amber: Originally, I thought I’d do my 4 years of school and my five years afterwards and that would be it. I always said I would leave when I was bored, but this work just keeps getting better. I was given an incredible amount of responsibility at a very young age. Out of RMC in 2001 I remember being on the bridge of the ship with over 200 people asleep and my job was to keep everyone safe and sound. That sense of leadership at a young age appealed to me; it’s a very dynamic career—it’s not a desk job at all—and every couple of years you’re basically learning a new job. I went from being on the bridge of the ship, to learning how to control the helicopter that accompanies the ship, to being the captain’s warfare advisor, to being second in command of the whole thing. It’s been an adventure and I’m still having a lot of fun, but what’s kept me here is the leadership opportunities. That, and the travel of course. Pre-pandemic, I was able to see so much of the world. During one job I got to go to 10 different countries in 2 years, which was just amazing.  "You have to have courage. If you’re looking at something and thinking, 'I don’t see it that way at all,' have the courage to put your opinion out there."  Rachel: What does a regular day on the ship look like? Amber: On operation neon, this last mission, our job was to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea from August to December. I’d wake up around 5 o'clock and have a nice quiet cup of coffee and about an hour to myself. After my coffee I’d go to one of two hotspots on board and try to figure out the pulse of the ship. I’d often go into the operations room and there was one cohort of sailors who’d really let you know how it was going. Then I’d see what everyone was saying in the machinery control room. Then breakfast. Operation neon was so dynamic. We’d basically get intelligence of where we thought these ships were smuggling oil, and then we’d launch the helicopter and follow ships. My job, as second in command, was to support the captain. So if he hadn’t slept very much throughout the night, he would give me control of the ship in the morning and get his head down while I helped the bridge team execute our intelligence mission. I’d always fit in a workout at around 4pm. I loved to ride the stationary bike on the upper deck because you could glance out at the ocean and see all the fishing traffic on that side of the world. Then it was dinner. After dinner, I’d usually try—somewhat unsuccessfully—to watch the movie we’d screen every night to try to get all the officers together to decompress. Life at sea is long hours. You’re working all the time because you live there. As I’d get ready for bed, the rest of Canada would be waking up and the emails would start coming in so I’d try to answer a few before getting a bit of sleep. That’s life at sea. It’s a lot about food and routine. Normally, the best part of the Navy is port visits. That’s when you get to see the world. On this mission, because of the pandemic, we were confined to the ship and the jetty. So we had to work hard to keep 254 people mission-focussed with enough rest and relaxation.  "My inclination in the beginning was to be silent. Now I realize that my diversity of thought is actually such an asset." Rachel: The space is, of course, very limited on board. I’m sure you’ve had gender-related obstacles that you’ve had to (or continue to have to) overcome as a woman in the navy. Can you talk to me about those? How did you get through them? Are there any female role models who inspire you or have inspired you? Amber: When you’re the only woman sitting at the table, you look at things differently. At the beginning of my career, I really hesitated to voice my opinion because it was so different from everyone else’s. The military is predominantly white and male. We’re trying to get beyond that, but that’s what the majority of the numbers are. Everyone around the table would be nodding and I’d be like “Wait a second, I see this totally differently.” My inclination in the beginning was to be silent. Now I realize that my diversity of thought is actually such an asset.As for role models, there are so many that came before me like Commodore Kurtz. It was just announced that she’s going to command the Royal Military College of Canada. She was a warship captain back when I was just starting out. Mentoring is very important. On the last deployment we had quite a few women on board, and what was encouraging was how inspired women in the junior ranks were to see women in senior positions of leadership and importance. These younger women want to see that it’s possible. That’s why representation is so important. They have to actually meet you and say “Yes, ok, Amber. You’re here.”  Rachel: I think a lot of the women who read our blog are in their 20s and 30s and at that stage where they’re trying to gain confidence in their voice and facing the same challenges you faced. They’re at the table, but they’re not feeling confident enough to speak up when their ideas are different because maybe they don’t look like everyone else sitting around the table. What helped you find the confidence to speak up when you knew that your ideas were so different from what was being said around the table?Amber: Well it has taken a while because you do feel like you’re wrong or crazy sometimes when you’re in a male-dominated field like the military. I actually had an admiral who said “You know what Amber? Your job is to make sure our meetings have representation.” He recognized that you can’t have an honest conversation unless there are different opinions at the table. To me that was a progressive, brilliant move. It takes effort to make sure your team is diverse, but the benefits are incredible. You have to have courage. If you’re looking at something and thinking, “I don’t see it that way at all,” have the courage to put your opinion out there. When I was at Staff college in Toronto I researched diversity and inclusion, and there is great research that shows that diverse teams often feel uncomfortable and awkward, but they’re proven to produce better results because they’re more interested in consensus. "I do hope that one day my girls (who are 10 and 6) will be able to look at my career and see that you really can be whoever you want to be." Rachel: A question I get asked alot is about balance, and you and I both know that there is no such thing as balance. You have to make choices. When you told me you hadn’t seen your family in over a year, I kind of went, “Wow. That’s a real sacrifice.” So my question is, how do you make it work? Not seeing your family for a year is not balance, but how do you make it work? Amber: I was really lucky that my partner understood what a career milestone it was for me to be appointed as executive officer (second in command) of a warship. I couldn’t have done it without him because he’s been at home by himself with the kids. He understands what I’m trying to do in the navy. When I got the job one of our first conversations was like, “Are you sure you can do this? This leaves you at home with the girls.” And he said, “We’re going to make this work.” A true partnership like that is important. He’s in the military also. He has his own career goals so we’re always trying to balance that. The biggest thing is patience. The kids have been very patient. When I deployed for 4 and a half months, I was very mission-focussed. I would call home when I could, but really I think they understood Mom was on a mission. I think you should fully commit yourself to whatever you’re doing. When I was home—it was only a couple of weeks—I poured myself back into my kids, and my marriage, and our home. You’re right, I really don’t think there is much balance, but I’ve tried to be more deliberate. If I’m on a mission, I’m on a mission. If I’m back at home, I’m back at home. I do hope that one day my girls (who are 10 and 6) will be able to look at my career and see that you really can be whoever you want to be. As a very short, petite woman in the Navy, I’m not what you think of when you picture a warship captain. That’s part of why I’m doing all of this. I hope they see that.Rachel: As someone who wears a uniform, to what extent do you consider fashion and accessories part of your identity? What clothes or accessories make you feel most like yourself? Amber: The uniform is very masculine. So whenever we went into port (pre pandemic) I would always try to dress up, and dress more feminine to feel more like myself. The military used to be very strict when it came to hair being tied back tight. Recently we’ve changed and adapted. It’s important for our younger generations. How they look is really important to who they are. I like seeing that people can wear ponytails with their uniform and have more variety when it comes to earrings and stuff. I’ve got a friend who’s deployed on the HMCS Calgary. She’s the executive officer as well and I saw her in one of their promo videos with her heels on, and I really liked that. Rachel: If you had to pick a favourite fashion house, designer, or brand, what would it be? Amber: Oh gosh. Ok, well I do have to say that I think your Sparkle Ball™ earrings are just like...happiness! I actually got a couple pairs for some of the younger naval officers that I mentor because I just love the sparkle, the shine, the brightness. Honestly, my favourite thing to do is go to a place like Marshall’s and hunt. I just love that. If I ever have any free time that’s what I like to do. I love the thrill of the find.  Rachel: There’s a lot of talk about the military wanting to recruit more women. Are there specific skills or talents that women bring to the table that you’ve witnessed?Amber: Women lead differently. We’re very invested in collaboration and consensus, and we lead with a strong sense of empathy. On deployment I felt like I was Mom to 254 people. That’s how I am. I like to nurture. My leadership style is very nurturing, and I think there’s value in that when a ship sets out in the middle of a pandemic and you’re not quite sure what the world is going to look like. We didn’t really have a lot of answers to give the crew because it was everyone’s first time deploying in that kind of environment. If you look at the median age (of the people on board) they’re young. They’re in their twenties. They’re experiencing life for the first time in their military career so I think you need that compassionate, nurturing aspect that women can naturally bring to the table. Not to say that men don’t or can’t do that. They certainly can. I would just say that my nature was to nurture and mother a little bit. Probably because I’m a mom myself.  "Empowerment to me is to know what you know very deeply." Rachel: Tell me a little bit about what empowerment means to you? Amber: Empowerment to me is to know what you know very deeply. It was only recently in my career I’ve been able to settle into myself and come to terms with who I am and how I lead. Empowerment to me is to lead authentically. For a long time I tried to fit that mold of a classic military officer—cold, stoic, unemotional. But I realized that’s not who I am. Embracing my emotional side helped me lead more authentically. Empowerment is knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing “This is how I lead. I’m an empathetic person. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m artistic.” Rachel: You have two daughters. Is life in the Navy or Military something you’d encourage them to do? Amber: I think the military is great when you’re young. It’s such a grand adventure. It gets more difficult when you have a family. There’s a lot of moving. There isn’t a lot of predictability. I’m hoping that I’m fostering resilience in my kids with all these changes, but I’m excited to see who they’re going to become. I just want them to know they can do anything. Mom and Dad are both in the military so if they decide to continue in that tradition, great. The biggest thing I want them to know is that there is no traditional role for women. Women can do whatever they want and I can’t wait to get to a point where that’s not even part of the conversation anymore.

Paulette Senior is the President and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation. In 2016, Paulette joined the Canadian Women’s Foundation as President and CEO after a decade serving as CEO of YWCA Canada. She is a nationally recognized thought-leader on gender equity, women’s empowerment and leadership. We talked with Paulette about her crucial work with CWF, the effects of the pandemic on gender-based issues, great literature for understanding our times, and how tights are a big help in this moment.   "We want to provide women, vulnerable women, girls, and gender-diverse folks with the support they need to thrive."  Can you talk a little bit about your work with The Canadian Women’s Foundation? I’m privileged to be a part of the Canadian Women’s Foundation. It’s been an incredible institution within the women’s sector. We’re actually celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. We raise money and fund organizations that are doing grassroots work around various aspects of gender equality. We combat gender-based violence, support women’s economic prosperity, address skill-building needs, support girl’s confidence and self-esteem, and help girls combat negative messaging they receive about their bodies and abilities. We also promote women’s leadership in various aspects of society. So those are the main areas where we try to raise money and acquire grants. Doing that for thirty years has really been a mission of the Canadian Women’s Foundation. One of our founding mothers was the late but great Rosemary Brown from Vancouver, and one of her infamous sayings is “Until all of us have made it, none of us have made it.” We approach our work with an intersectional lens, a gender-based analysis lens, and a social justice lens. We want to make sure all of us have the opportunity to make it, to fulfill our goals and missions. We also make sure Indigenous women, Black women, and racialized women have a voice through the work we do. Our work is fueled by committed folks like Hillberg & Berk. Companies and individuals who recognize that investing in gender equality benefits all of us, and their generosity feeds into the generosity we’re able to provide. We see these as critical investments. What do your days look like? And what do you find rewarding about this work?One of the things I like about this work is I don’t have a typical day. My personality doesn’t align very well with routine (laughs). I like doing a bunch of different things that contribute toward the same goal. For example, today I just got off a phone call with the advisory committee for the charitable sector. That’s a government-appointed committee that I sit on to look for ways and means to address barriers that might prevent charitable organizations from doing their work effectively. That could be through policies, or regulations that need to be changed. I try to reduce those barriers and make it easier for organizations to serve their communities. That’s an example of a policy table. I also sit at other policy tables that develop and create plans for gender equality, or strategies to end gender-based violence in Canada. I like that. That’s an important part of the work because it’s systemic. I also do a lot of media interviews. As we approach International Women’s Day, interviews become more frequent. Tomorrow I’ll be doing a national syndication for CBC radio. My work is also about setting the strategic priorities, visions, and goals for the foundation. Making sure we’re not just setting those goals but always aligning our work towards the mission and vision of achieving gender equality. I spend a lot of time with my colleagues and senior leadership team figuring out our path forward—whether that is budgeting, checking in to make sure everyone within the organization is ok, and doing a lot of virtual events.  "We’ve proved ourselves as conveners, supporters, and critical voices for the women’s sector, the gender equality sector." The pandemic has increased gender inequality in a few areas. We’re seeing women disproportionately encounter job loss and economic pressure, there’s been increased gendered violence, and women are also more likely to be exposed to stressful, dangerous conditions on the frontlines. Can you talk about what CWF is doing to lessen the burden of these rising inequalities?  I don’t think there has been a time like this in a long time. The pandemic has really had a negative impact. We’ve been responding to the gendered impact of the pandemic in multiple ways. At the grassroots level we’ve worked hard to get emergency funding to organizations that serve women, girls, and gender-diverse people in communities throughout the country. Some of these organizations are shelters, some are sexual assault centers, others are organizations that provide services to women living in low income. We’ve worked hard and out of that work (and our partnership with the government) we’ve been able to secure over 30 million dollars that we’ve distributed to organizations across the country. It’s an emergency response to the pandemic. We’re still in the throes of distributing that money, but we’ve proven to ourselves, the government, and others that this is a critical role for us to play as The Candian Women’s Foundation. We’ve proved ourselves as conveners, supporters, and critical voices for the women’s sector, the gender equality sector.We’ve also done a couple of things to rebuild after the pandemic. We know that Canada needs to have a fundamental shift. So what we’ve said is “Normal was not good for everyone.” It wasn’t very good for Indigenous folks, for Black and racialized folks, for gender-diverse people, and trans folks. So we’ve created some papers in collaboration with other women’s organizations that focus on resetting normal. Instead of going back to normal we’d like to create a new normal where everyone can thrive, and work toward ensuring policies are reset. We want to provide women, vulnerable women, girls, and gender-diverse folks with the support they need to thrive. What are the things we need? A livable wage, affordable and accessible childcare, response to community need, affordable housing in every part of this country but especially for vulnerable groups, and we need the wage gap to be addressed. The wage gap continues to be an issue. We need to address issues around leadership, and when we talk about women’s leadership we’re talking about the spectrum of women so all women can have opportunities to lead as they wish to do so. In the spring and summer we were able to pivot quickly and raise emergency dollars which brought a lot of new folks to the work of the foundation, and then we were able to distribute those dollars. But as we go forward, as the vaccine gets distributed and the virus recedes, and we start to think about recovery—what does recovery look like? We want folks to work with us, to engage with us, to support the kind of recovery that benefits all of us, and we ask that folks will go to our website because we’re focussed on investing in gender justice. We also ask people to send letters to their government representatives to invest in three key areas that will make an impact for women, girls, and gender-diverse people as we recover from the pandemic.  "Instead of going back to normal we’d like to create a new normal where everyone can thrive, and work toward ensuring policies are reset." Who have you drawn inspiration from recently?I would say that it’s not one person. If I look from BC to Newfoundland, I see these amazing women who are leading the public health response to the pandemic. I am so lifted and inspired by them because it’s the first time we’ve seen women’s leadership shine for all Canadians to see, and at one of the most critical times in our lives over the past hundred years. There has really been a tremendous display of women’s capacity to lead us through such a stressful time and keep us safe during a pandemic. So I would say all those women are an inspiration. The women who are visibly leading and keeping track of our progress, and encouraging us to be kind, and being calm in their delivery of these messages every single day. But I’m also inspired by the women who are not as visible but still working just as hard because we depend on the essential services they provide that we need to survive. It’s not one woman, it's these women we see and know and also the ones we don’t see and don’t know who are working so hard behind the scenes.  Say you could choose a short (mandatory) reading list for adults in Canada, what books would you put on it? Why? Books have become even more important to me lately. Whether I’m walking, need a change of pace, or just something to help me fall asleep. All of the above have become very important in terms of the books I choose to read. I don’t think I’ve done enough of that over the years but the pandemic has really shown me what I’ve been missing. In my organization we have taken on a knowledge-building journey on the issues we are addressing around justice and equality. There are a couple of books that we read, discussed, and learned about with each other. One is called Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva. It’s a great book that is so pertinent to the work we are doing within the philanthropic space. And the other one is So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, which is another great book to take on now because—as the Black Lives Matter movement and the Indigenous rights movement and other equality movements have taken the stage over the past year—it’s important to take on some learning. Sometimes it gets a little tiring to be the source of knowledge for folks. It’s important that we take personal responsibility around our own learning and then have conversations. So those are the two books I’d recommend. One is about my organization and the other is really about talking about race, and not being afraid to talk about race. Are there any great books for kids you’ve found that help introduce ideas of gender inequality? Or gender diversity? I love this question. On our website we have a list of books that we recommend. There’s one called Little People Big Dreams (ages 5-8) that’s a good one. Another one I think a lot of girls would appreciate is Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky. That’s probably for pre-teens. There’s a good one for kids called, All Are Welcome, or there’s another one called Happy in Our Skin, which really gets to the issue of the intersection of race and gender. There’s another one called Just Ask, which encourages young people to ask the tough questions they may be troubled by. Then Girls Resist, which is about girls' activism and leadership, which are areas we work in. I also think Desmond Cole’s book, The Skin We’re In, which came out last year is always a good book to read.  If you could change (or eliminate) one policy or law in Canada what would it be?I think it’s more about enhancing and not necessarily about eliminating, and I think [the pandemic has shown] the critical need for a national action plan on gender-based violence. I believe it’s needed more now than ever because we’ve seen gender-based violence increase worrisomely during the pandemic. Quite frankly I shiver to think about what we’ll uncover as we come out of the pandemic. Folks have called it a shadow pandemic. As the pandemic grew the issues of gender-based violence increased along with it. So I’d love to see [an action plan] in place and I know that there's a commitment from the current federal government because I’m at the table for those conversations, which is important. I want to make sure that we see that through because it’s so critical. It’s really about saving lives.    How do you relax after a difficult day? Do you have any self-care practices that help you recharge and get ready for this important work? I find exercise is important to me, but I’m also finding it very important to be outside. I have never been a winter-loving person but this year I’ve appreciated dressing up as warm as possible and going for walks—to get some fresh air in my lungs. Sometimes I walk with a friend and we’re able to get caught up. I live alone so having company is important and being in conversation is important. And, yeah, exercise however I can get it. If I have to stay inside I have a bike that I use. When I had to cancel our meeting earlier—that was really about taking care of myself and my mental health. I realized I’d worked something like ten straight days and I needed a break. My body told me that. I think I also have to set an example within the organization. So it’s not just about physical health. It’s also about mental health. They affect each other. That’s an important thing to focus on. My day off made a world of difference; it rejuvenated my mindset. And I can tell you I haven’t done that in a long time [laughs]. And so I’m still celebrating two days after taking that day.  Are there any pieces of clothing or jewellery you find meaningful or empowering lately?Well, first of all, I was on the Hillberg & Berk website today and I ordered a couple of International Women’s Day pins. The Venus Pins. And they’re beautiful! They’re beautiful and inspiring so I’m awaiting their arrival. But I’d also like to say thank god for tights [laughs]. Thank God for that element in fashion where I can sit down and make sure my upper body is dressed for business but my lower body is as comfortable as ever. I’m finding that very empowering because at the end of the day it just allows me to completely unwind, yet feel comfortable and not have to be performative in any way. 100% of the proceeds from the Venus Pin will support the Canadian Women's Foundation. Click here to learn more. Writing: Carter Selinger Images: Provided  

No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s stylish looks? We beg to differ! This week on The Look, we’re featuring Holly Horvath. (You might know her as @teachme_style on Instagram.) We chatted with Holly about style, teaching, jewellery tips, influencing, and her passion for helping solve food insecurity in Regina. Holly’s pursuits often intertwine and influence one another in a way that makes it easy to see why she's so influential as a teacher, lifestyle blogger, and passionate member of her community. Now get your pencils and notepads ready because school is back in session with Holly Horvath! "When I am well educated on a particular subject and I get to speak about that it makes me feel empowered. I love feeling smart. I think knowledge is so classic, sexy, and never goes out of style." H&B: As a lifestyle blogger a lot of people look to you for influence and inspiration, who do you look to for inspiration? Like most people, I find inspiration from a variety of places: my friends and coworkers, people I follow on Instagram, magazines, etc. In fact, the other day I was at the grocery store and saw an outfit I loved so I went home and put it together on a hanger for the next day!!What’s the hardest but most rewarding thing about lifestyle blogging? I would have to say the hardest thing is balancing full time teaching, blogging, and all the other things that life brings... relationships, family, friends, the dog, the gym, groceries... haha you get it! The most rewarding part hands down is the relationships I have built through the platform. I have been able to connect with people all over the world I would not have ever met — it's pretty special!  What’s the hardest but most rewarding thing about teaching? This is a hard question there are so many highs and lows when it comes to teaching ESPECIALLY now. Like anything, there are more challenges with teaching now than ever but it also makes those 'aha' moments even better. Challenges include masks, social distancing, and essentially learning a new style of teaching to keep everyone including myself safe. The reward has not changed, for me teaching has always been about relationships with my students. Has lifestyle blogging helped you as a teacher in any unexpected ways? Or has teaching helped influence your blogging? It actually has. It has allowed me to connect with so many other teachers! Connecting with other teachers means sharing resources and ideas — I am a big believer in collaboration over competition. I am ALL about sharing ideas and resources.  Do you talk to your students about your life outside teaching? If so, what do they think of it? I don't — they will sometimes bring up my Instagram saying that their parents follow me but I just have the same response, "Oh, that's nice." How do you want people to feel when they look at your Instagram or blog? It is important to me that people feel like I am relatable. I never want to portray that my life is perfect. I hope to inspire people but in a relatable way, if that makes sense.  Why is style still important during a pandemic? I think style is a reflection of yourself and it's important not to lose that. It's easy to get into a slump but if you're going to, make sure it's a cute slump! Are there any social causes you’re passionate about?  Lately my eyes have been opened to the food insecurity in our city. I have been trying my best to donate what I can and help spread the word about the Regina Community Fridge. Can you share a hot jewellery tip with us?  Hmmmm, I would say that mixing metals is okay! So many people ask me if it's ok to do and I say yes!! What makes you feel empowered? Knowledge. When I am well educated on a particular subject and I get to speak about that it makes me feel empowered. I love feeling smart. I think knowledge is so classic, sexy, and never goes out of style. Click here to see how Holly's styling our first-ever patterned Sparkle, Leopard.

"I thought, 'There has to be a place in the conversation about loving your skin colour. There has to be a narrative about how we are more than our trauma. We are more than the experiences that have been put on us.' So I started shifting my poetry into that."  Peace Akintade is an African-Canadian poet, public speaker, actor, model and Saskatchewan's Youth Poet Laureate for 2020-21. She currently lives in Saskatoon. We talked to Peace about her background, style, jewellery, and themes of identity and love in her poetry. H&B: Love, self-love, race, and identity are consistent themes in your poetry. In poems like “Rainbow” you say “I am the pancake that was left on too long, but I’m the gingerbread cookie that came out just right.” Given that February is often associated with both love and Black history, can you talk about the importance of self-love and how it has influenced your perspective on race and identity? A lot of my poetry has to do with Black love and Black joy. When I first came to Canada (from Nigeria at age 12) it was hard for me to practice self-care and self-love because I was introduced to what racism could truly be for the first time. Coming to a new country and suddenly having this different perspective of your skin colour as a young impressionable teen—I spent a lot of years not wanting to be Black. Around 2018 (when I started getting really into poetry) I went to a poetry festival, and I saw so many Black poets and they were all talking about trauma, racism, and ways their skin colour has put them down. And as I sat there, I felt suffocated, it was alarming to have all these problems put on you by multiple people talking about it every single day. So I left that building and when I breathed in the fresh air I thought, “There has to be a place in the conversation about loving your skin colour. There has to be a narrative about how we are more than our trauma. We are more than the experiences that have been put on us.” So I started shifting my poetry into that. Yes, we need education and awareness about our history, but we’re also humans who experience joy. That’s when I started talking about Black joy and Black love.  The reason I wrote that line is because it’s how I saw myself—as a pancake that was left on too long. Something not good enough to eat. But then I thought, “Gingerbread is the same colour, and everybody loves that colour. That’s the exact colour of gingerbread you want to eat." So that line really is all the years of me reshaping how I saw my skin colour.   "Being able to personify my skin colour with the earth, it being the same colour, and it being loved, it’s a way for me to feel I can love myself."  In another excerpt from Rainbow you say, “I was kissed by the sun before I was born and will return to earth to blend with nature. My body will begin a new cycle. My colour will always continue to be seen.” There is a loving, accepting, almost familial presence coming from nature in this passage. There’s also a kind of permanent reassurance in that “your colour will always continue to be seen.” Has a love for the natural world inspired your work?Yes, definitely. I like to say my type of poetry is personification. The line “The sun kissed me” is an expression of how I like to think about nature. Nature is so forgiving, and it’s so much a part of us. It feels like a presence that will always be there. Whenever I feel I’m not grounded, I like to go outside in my bare feet and just stand there and be like, “Ok, the earth is still here. I am still here.” It grounds me. I spent a lot of time in nature back in Africa. We’d always go running in bare feet. We’d walk up hills, jump off trees, and that’s how we lived our life daily. When I stand on the ground outside now, it’s an expression of homesickness—missing feeling a part of earth—and yet I feel reassured because the earth will always be there for us. Being able to personify my skin colour with the earth, it being the same colour, and it being loved, it’s a way for me to feel I can love myself. That connection that we have—even with the trees, being the same colour—it makes me feel like there is a place in the world for us. We all love to identify with a colour that makes us feel good. That’s the kind of thing that I think of whenever I put nature into my work. Being grateful for it and putting it into my work so it’s a part of me permanently.    Do you feel a similar kind of love, reassurance, and inspiration coming from your family? Or your ancestors? And if so, what ways do you reconnect with them? It’s been a strange journey with my family. I can talk about my ancestors. All of the stories we are told when we’re young are about bringing honour and respect to our ancestors. We’re part of a lineage. This is one of my favourite quotes: “We are standing on the shoulders of giants.” That’s something they told kids straight from birth in our village. In our culture, names are so important because the grandparents and great grandparents pick the names too. When I go back home everyone has a different name for me because they want me to be a part of their life too. That helps form a connection and a community that really looks out for you. That feeling of togetherness and similarity has really influenced my poetry. Sure our ancestors haven’t dealt with all the problems we have today, but history has a way of repeating itself so we can always find some kind of connection with them. And if we look back and think of ourselves as part of a lineage of strong, powerful people that gives me a sense of purpose. It’s sad to lay in bed and think “Why am I here?” When I think about that question, I think, “I’m here because my great, great, great grandpa decided he wanted a goat farm. That’s why I’m here. That gives me purpose and I want my great granddaughters to get that same sense of purpose when they think of me. My family is really about love and we have a strong bond because we have no other family here. Everyone else is back home in Nigeria so we just have each other. Sometimes we’ll just sit on the floor and have a picnic in our living room. We'll put blankets on the floor and food on the floor and we’ll just eat from the same plates because that’s the kind of bond we really want to preserve in our life. We have each other, we have our ancestors—it’s a way we can move forward with strength.   “Looking back and thinking of ourselves as part of a lineage of strong, powerful people gives me a sense of purpose.” “I’m not part of the colours of the rainbow, but goshdarnit both ends of the rainbow will always touch me.” This is another great piece of perspective. The earth that you align yourself with, where people might not be looking, is actually in closest contact with the rainbow. It’s almost connective tissue. Can you talk about what inspired this line?That line was inspired by asking myself, “How do Black people see themselves?” A lot of people talk to me about lines in this poem, and they’ll say “I see myself as wood, or I see myself as the grass,” and that’s how they remain themselves. So for me, rainbows are a very important symbol—they mean peace, comfort, promise. When I hear people talk about themselves no one talks about themselves as colourful, or spontaneously flamboyant. They all have this grounded, down-to-earth way of thinking about their skin colour. And it made me think, we don’t think of ourselves as taking space. We’re always trying to be in the corners, out of sight, making space for other people. We don’t see ourselves as the rainbow—the most striking thing—so I thought how can I connect those two worlds? That’s when the line “both sides of the rainbow will always touch me” came to me. I hope it inspires other Black youths, children, and adults to see themselves as part of the rainbow because we are. They always talk about what’s at the end of the rainbow. Well...? [Laughs.] So that’s what inspired that line.  The Black Lives Matter movement asked our society to confront racial inequality last summer. Obviously, we still have a long way to go, but have you (personally) noticed any signs of progress? Or lack thereof?Honestly, I do feel like there has been progress. And I really like saying that because it’s been a very challenging journey being a Black artist in Saskatoon because there are not many other Black artists. Most people don’t proudly talk about themselves as artists, but for about five years now I’ve been able to proudly say “I am an artist, that’s who I am, deal with it.” And now other people have started coming up! The reason I started writing and performing is because someone took that step to say that there is a place for us, which is so great. But, it also leads to other issues. One thing I’ve dealt with a lot is tokenism. Lots of people will ask me to join stuff because they want to check a box for diversity. That’s why February is one of my busiest times. That’s when people will come to me. There have been a few companies who say that they want to change, they call me to perform, and then they put me all over their web page and Instagram and then that’s it. I feel like in order for us to go forward as a society it needs to not be about, "how many Black people can I put on my page?" Race should not be the first reason for wanting to know someone’s work. That’s why I really love this approach where you watched some of my poetry and you came with feedback and we were able to have a conversation about it. That’s progress. That’s beautiful progress. You came with the work and then we started talking about colour. That’s a good indicator of progress. Is there any jewellery that helps you feel empowered when you’re performing your poetry?Mmhmm. Rings. I love rings. A bunch of rings like my whole hand is always filled with rings. They’re always the—I like to say—obnoxiously giant ones. It seems like it’s back on trend to have those small round gold ones, but I like going to vintage stores and getting those big pearls. When I’m wearing rings it makes me feel like I’ve got a glove of armour on and my hands are just full of jewellery.  That’s gotta feel cool when you’re holding the mic too. Oh my gosh, yes! And the sound they make when they click together. I just love it.    You’re also a model. Do you find fashion and modelling influence your poetry or vice versa? Yeah. I actually just started modelling this year. It’s really about creating community and being able to relate to someone like the photographer or client. I don’t go to a shoot as a model. I go as a person that wants to talk to you and achieve a dream that you have, a vision that you have. That approach has influenced my poetry because it’s all about learning people’s experiences, and that inspires me to write more poetry about their lives, about their dreams, about their visions. I’ve found that when photographers and make-up artists are working they often talk about their lives and you get to see this ambitious, vivid, vision they have in their head. It’s nice to see it pour out of them. It’s nice to see that light in their eyes. I’m just like yeah! YEAH! There have been shoots where it’s supposed to be like an hour, but we ended up having two hours of just discussion, and at the end of it the photographer was like, “Oh my gosh, we were supposed to do something!” I’ve gained so many new friends this year from having this title of a model, which is such a strange relationship to have, but I think of it as just another opportunity to talk to people.  "It’s all about learning people’s experiences, and that inspires me to write more poetry about their lives, about their dreams, about their visions."  Can you talk about someone you don’t know who you love?The poet laureate of Edmonton, Nisha Patel. I saw her in Toronto and she has the brightest, determined energy and vision for her life. The way she does storytelling and the way she brings community into everything she does is really inspiring. I was having like a fangirl moment. I was in front of her and I could talk to her but I didn’t. I just stood there and watched while she talked to someone else about organizing poetry festivals. Poetry festivals are where so many poets go to get inspired. I’ll go back to a high school in Saskatoon to perform, or speak to the students, and I’ll bump into a grade 8 student and they’ll be like, “I went to this poetry festival and now I think I want to be a poet.” And I’m like “Yes! Go for it!”  "It’s all about learning people’s experiences, and that inspires me to write more poetry about their lives, about their dreams, about their visions."   Can you talk about a friend or family member you love? I have this friend Micah. It was my birthday yesterday and I don’t really celebrate my birthday. I haven’t had a birthday party since I was like thirteen, and I just turned 19 yesterday and Micah rounded up friends and they came for a safe socially-distanced gathering in my driveway. And that kind of care, like she just loves to care. She called me one day and said, “I’m on Skip the Dishes and I’m just going to send you over a pizza.” That’s her love language. One of the things that is amazing about our friendship is that we first met when we were passing each other on the street. She complimented me on my performance in a rendition of Romeo and Juliet, and I told her she’d make a great Juliet. We just randomly complimented each other as strangers. And then, three months later, I was running an errand for one of my closest friends, and she sent me to her house, and Micah was there! And she was like, “Wait a minute. You’re the person from the street!” We coincidentally ended up in the same room together. It’s been a year since then but it really feels like the universe aligned. It’s the kind of friendship where you can care a lot and not worry about the other person getting weirded out.What colour makes you feel empowered?Gold. It just feels so in tune with itself. It knows that you want it, but it just stays back. It doesn’t reach out to you. It doesn’t demand your attention like a diamond. Gold is standing in a place and allowing the world to come to it. I love that energy and that self-confidence. That’s how I aspire to be. Peace is looking forward to getting back to travelling and performing, but for now, she is doing poetry readings online. If you'd like to see one of these readings (or want updates on what Peace is up to) follow her @s.ole.peace on Instagram for details. "Gold is standing in a place and allowing the world to come to it. I love that energy and that self-confidence. That’s how I aspire to be."  Writing: Carter Selinger  Images: Molly Schikosky Photography