Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, in partnership with Bouchier, is proud to present the Leaders of Today: Women of Inspiration Celebration 2025 under the theme Waves of Change: Charting the Path to Inspiration. The two-day event kicks off on Friday, March 7, 2025, with a Girls Empowerment Mini Gala for girls ages 9-15 at Unifor Local 707A, followed by the main gala on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Shell Place, MacDonald Island, in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Lisa DeJong is the Beijing 2022  Paralympic Silver Medalist in Snowboard Cross (SBX). She made history as the first Canadian to bring home a Paralympic medal for Canada in  Para Snowboard.

She enjoys telling her story to schools across the province and is also the author of the newly published children's book "Lucy's Fancy Leg."

Lisa had her left foot amputated at the age of three following a tibial hemimelia diagnosis. From there, she hit the ground running, breaking down barriers and showing the world what's possible with perseverance and belief in yourself. 

In June 2022, Lisa was awarded the Strathcona County Athlete of Excellence award in Sherwood Park, AB. In February 2023, Lisa was awarded the King Clancy Award in Toronto, Ont. In March 2023, Lisa was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her impactful contribution to the province of Saskatchewan. In August 2023, Lisa was awarded the Canadian Paralympic Sport Award- Best Paralympic Debut by a Female Athlete.

Learn more about Lisa here: https://lisadejongspeaks.com/

Since 2012, Women of Inspiration has been the signature, mission-driven award program of Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, highlighting local women who break gender stereotypes, drive positive change, and advocate for the rights of women and girls. In 2019, Girls Inc. entered a multi-year partnership with Bouchier to expand the series under the theme “You can’t be what you can’t see.” The partnership was renewed in April 2024 with a new theme: “Waves of Change: Charting the Path to Inspiration.”

Each year, the event celebrates inspirational local women role-models across various sectors and professions in the Wood Buffalo region. For 2025, five prestigious awards will be presented:

Ground Breaker

Visionary

Wholistic Power

Hidden Gem

Transformer