Community in vulnerability: Celebrating intergenerational stories in Generation Women Canada launch

Women from across generations share insightful stories about their ever-changing relationship with their bodies

By: Natalie Vilkoff

Speakers and organizers of Generation Women Canada on stage at The Lounge at Live Nation in Toronto. (Courtesy of @generation_women_ca via Instagram)

This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

Six women of six different generations shared their stories about their relationships with their bodies in an honest and touching night of performances — the first night of many to come.

‘Flesh and Bone: Stories About the Female Body,’ was the theme of the Oct. 18 launch of Generation Women Canada, a storytelling event that began in New York City, to create a space for women to feel “validated, respected, and seen,” according to the Generation Women Canada website.

“I really wanted to highlight intergenerational storytelling, especially women's voices,” said Jennifer Baxendale, the host and producer of the launch.

Baxendale and her producing partner Kirstin Turnbull saw a Generation Women show in 2020. They were so inspired by it that they signed up to bring it to Canada. She added that she wanted it to be a space where women can connect and learn from one another, despite differences in age and background.

Karen Cleveland, a Toronto-based marketing strategist and writer, was the speaker representing team 40s.

“When you get a group of women together, something special always happens,” said Cleveland. “And that was the appeal for me: being alongside such an interesting group of women that I probably would never otherwise be in the same room with.”

Cleveland added the most valuable thing for her was being able to hear from a collective of diverse women — from their identity to their race to their age, each woman had a story to share that was shaped by their lived experiences.

“That's the real magic of the event: bringing together different voices across different generations and celebrating their experience,” she added.

Mental health advocate and public speaker Ghanwa Shahnawaz, who represented the 20s, said that she felt so nervous she wanted to bolt from the stage — but once she started talking, she was glad to have the space to share her story.

On stage, Shahnawaz shared her experience of sexual assault as a young girl, and how it took her years to figure out what her body meant to her.

“What I hope people will take away from it is not just my relationship with my body, but also to know that you're not in it alone, that there are other survivors out there,” she said.

Shahnawaz added that it was different from sharing stories on her Instagram where she only goes as far as she’s comfortable. “This really required me to be out of my comfort zone. It’s very different when you have everyone sitting in front of you,” she explained.

While preparing her speech, Shahnawaz said that she was thinking of her younger self. She added that she had a picture of herself in elementary school next to her as she was writing.

“I think if Grade 3 Ghanwa was sitting in the audience hearing that, I would have felt a huge burden lifted off my shoulders, and I wouldn’t have blamed myself for years,” she said. “My whole story would be different.” 

Despite the uncertainty she felt about sharing a subject as personal as her body, Shahnawaz said that sharing her story in front of a supportive audience brought her a sense of calm.

“I felt empowered, I felt relieved, and I felt a bit more healed,” she said.

The next Generation Women theme is ‘Promises Made, Promises Broken’ and will take place on Jan. 24. After such a successful launch, Baxendale said she plans to keep the show running in Toronto and hopes to take it to other major Canadian cities.

Nine Canadian women activists you should know about

Canada’s Women’s History Month celebrates every woman fighting against the status quo. Here’s a list of nine inspirational women proving that “She Did, So Now I Can.” 

By: Aliya Karimjee

We recognize nine strong Canadian women advocating for change during Women’s History Month. (From left to right, top to bottom, Anastasia Lin, Jyoti Gondek, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, Jaime Black, Backxwash, Breanne Sich, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Marina Nemat). (Collage by Aliya Karimjee/CanCulture) 

This October marks the 30th anniversary of Women’s History Month in Canada, where we celebrate the actions of courageous women, non-binary folks, gender-fluid and other gender non-conforming peoples who don’t perpetually challenge an oppressive status quo. This year, the theme “She Did, So Now I Can,” inspires others to use their voice to empower ourselves and others around us. 

Anastasia Lin

Lin testifying before the United States Congress.

Anastasia Lin is a queen in the pageant world and everyday life. She globally represents Toronto as a graduate of the University of Toronto and gained a platform after being crowned Miss World Canada in 2015. Lin uses her following to raise awareness of multiple human rights issues worldwide, such as persecution in China.

Hoping to make change, she presented these issues through media and legal action by testifying before the U.S. Congress and at the Geneva Human Rights and Democracy Summit.

Breanne Sich

Breanne Sich is building a community, raising awareness of the around Crohn’s disease, reducing its stigma and shame. 

For this purpose, she founded an apparel line, The Crohn’s & Colitis Collective, where she donates 90 per cent of proceeds to a volunteer-based organization, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo

Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo is smiling at her accomplishments. (Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo/Facebook)

Everyone knows the iPhone and iPad as sources of entertainment, but Ebjola Adetokunbo-Taiwo created the iLaunchHERproduct in 2021 to offer real help to women offering them the opportunity to meet buyers and transition growth into retail stores.

As the CEO & Founder of Simply Ebjola Inc. and de Sedulous Women Leaders, she connects Black, Indigenous and racialized entrepreneurs to buyers from different industries.

Adetokunbo-Taiwo facilitates entrepreneurial competencies through vessels of mentorship, education and support, empowering Black women, women of colour and immigrant women. 

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon is Inuk, making her the first Indigenous person to hold the office. (Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon/Twitter)

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, was sworn in as the Governor General on July 26, 2021, and vocalized her concerns around Inuit rights, education, culture and youth.

Her work with Arctic Children and Youth Foundation and Indigenous rights is nationally and internationally recognized. She additionally responded to the formal apology on residential schools and negotiated the 1982 patriation of the Canadian Constitution.

In her new role, she enhances mental health programs and resources for Indigenous youth while creating a better future through discussions on climate change, reconciliation, diversity and inclusion.

Jaime Black

Jaime Black is a multidisciplinary artist of mixed Anishinaabe and Finnish decent. According to her website, Black’s practice works through themes of memory, identity and resistance. (Jaime Black/Jaimeblackartist.com)

Clothes can tell a story, especially when paired with a powerful colour like red.

Jaime Black launched the REDress Project and collected hundreds of red dresses to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada. 

This artwork proves an image can tell 1000 words. 

Jyoti Gondek

Gondek delivering a victory speech after being elected Calgary’s mayor in 2021. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

Jyoti Gondek became the first woman and woman of colour to be elected mayor of Calgary. Her accomplishments inspire other women to get involved in politics and pursue their dreams, even in male-dominated spaces.

She isn’t scared to stand up to others and disrupt the status quo, like when she refused to swear in a municipal politician guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

Never Have I Ever… said I’m sorry.

You may recognize Mississauga-born actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from the Netflix TV series Never Have I Ever. Maritreyi Ramakrishnan is the representation for so many young South Asian women who are oft underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media. 

She is unapologetic in her ambassadorship for Plan International Canada, an organization fighting for children’s rights and equality for women.

Marina Nemat

Marina Nemat attends the Oslo Freedom Forum after being released from imprisonment for social justice activism. (Marina Nemat/Facebook)

Using her voice cost Marina Nemat her freedom. 

In 1979, at 16 years old, Nemat spent two years imprisoned and tortured for speaking out against injustice by the Iranian government.

After moving to Canada in 1991, she began sharing her lived experience in high schools, universities, conferences and through her books.

The Human Dignity Prize and the cultural association Europa awarded her in 2004 for her efforts to build a just and tolerant society.

Ashanti Mutinta (stage name Backxwash)

Backxwash is the first Trans woman to win the Polaris Music Prize, awarded to celebrate diversity and support Canadian artists.

In July 2019, she marked her debut album, Deviancy, where she defends black and queer people. 

“My existence itself is political. My livelihood is political, and the livelihood of my sisters is political. We just want rights, and we have to go through so many hurdles to do that, and I feel very connected to that struggle,” Backxwash confirms in her debut album.