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.

Waneek Horn Miller, Mohawk Olympian, Advocate, Mother, and Motivator, will headline the event, unpacking the notion of ‘leadership’ by sharing her powerful journey and insights on decision-making, resilience, and navigating challenges. Her message will inspire attendees to embrace change, lead with courage, and use their voices to create positive impact. At the mini-gala, Waneek will empower girls by addressing leadership, confidence, and teamwork. 

"Waneek’s story reflects our mission to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Charting the path to inspiration is a dynamic and non-linear process," said Nanase Tonda, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta. "Her journey of overcoming challenges and leading with resilience will encourage many more girls to pursue their goals, take risks, and drive change. Together with Bouchier, we trust that her keynote will amplify the waves of change initiated by the five Women of Inspiration in our community and inspire many others to join in creating meaningful action."

To learn more about Waneek Horn Miller, please visit her website: https://waneekhornmiller.com/bio

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