L’organisme East Toronto Families for Syria (ETF4S) a été fondée par sept mamans issues de la région est de Toronto en septembre 2015. Les co-fondatrices souhaitaient aider les nouveaux arrivants syriens à s’adapter à leur nouvelle vie au Canada. Le groupe Facebook ETF4S a été conçu afin de permettre aux membres de la communauté, divers organismes et autres groupes de parrainage de coordonner leurs efforts afin de soutenir les nouveaux arrivants.
Sur une période de trois mois..., par l’entremise de leur magasin temporaire, "The Hub", elles assistèrent plusieurs familles à emménager dans leur nouvelle résidence en leur procurant divers articles de ménage d’une valeur totale excédant 200 000 $. Le groupe facilita également des rencontres où les nouveaux arrivants et les membres de la communauté, y compris des politiciens de tous les paliers de gouvernement, ont appris à mieux se connaître.
De plus, le groupe travaille à établir un projet de restaurant/cuisine communautaire hybride, où les nouveaux arrivants pourront préparer des mets traditionnels, acquérir des compétences pour les aider à percer le marché du travail et gagner un peu d’argent.
Aujourd'hui, nous célébrons les fondateurs du groupe Facebook East Toronto Families for Syria (ETF4S), pour leur dévouement et leur engagement afin d’aider les réfugiés syriens à se sentir à l’aise dans leur nouveau pays.



!['Canadian Prime Minister @[21751825648:274:Justin Trudeau] and Marne Levine, Chief Operating Officer of Instagram, met on Parliament Hill in June to celebrate #EducationCan, a collaboration that highlights young Canadians who are strong advocates for the role of education in furthering one's life and career aspirations.
They were joined by the 8 young Canadians profiled for #EducationCan, who took part in a discussion about the value of education, mentorship, entrepreneurship and women in STEM.
Today, in honour of Canada Day, we are celebrating the next generation of young Canadian leaders pushing the boundaries and inspiring others to reach for the stars.
These individual use Instagram to visually bring their journey to the world - sharing their challenges and achievements, while inspiring others. Follow their journeys:
Ashley Callingbull: Actress and indigenous education activist; first Canadian, and the first Aboriginal woman, to win the Mrs. Universe title. www.instagram.com/ashleycallingbull
Sage Franch: Content developer at Microsoft and student at Dalhousie University; founder of trendytechie.ca and advocate for youth/women in technology. www.instagram.com/thetrendytechie
Alex Gillis: 17-year-old entrepreneur and student; co-founder of Bitness, an analytics product for retailers, and Hoist Halifax, a monthly meet-up for teens interested in entrepreneurship, design and programming. www.instagram.com/theAlexGillis
Vinita Marwaha: Space engineer and women in STEM advocate; space suit designed for the European Space Agency and founder of Rocket Women, a website dedicated to telling the stories of successful women in STEM. www.instagram.com/vmarwaha
Kendal Nemaker: First Nations entrepreneur and founder of Neechie Gear, a lifestyle apparel brand empowering youth through sports, with a portion of profits helping fund underprivileged youth's participation in sports. www.instagram.com/KendalNetmaker
Natalie Panek: Rocket scientist and women in STEM champion; engineer at MDA's Robotics and Automation division working on Canadian space robotics and mentor/program adviser for Cybermentor. www.instagram.com/natalie_panek
John Richardson: 20-year-old political science and government major at the University of Toronto; worked for the Liberal campaign and WordFest (literacy non-profit), and interned for the State government in Colorado. www.instagram.com/johnnnyrich
Kate Whitfield: Founder of fearlesslyGiRL and fearlesslyKiND, a national movement and school program dedicated to inspiring young women across Canada to be kinder to themselves and each other. www.instagram.com/Kate_Whitfield'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp320x320%2F13592641_1104409086264008_3590482338185044666_n.jpg%3Foh%3D8ff3aa983167b99310f29f6e7de3ef58%26oe%3D5881527E&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['@[175682812486772:274:Ashley Callingbull], an actress and activist hailing from Alberta’s Enoch Cree Nation, is the first Canadian and Aboriginal woman to win a Mrs. Universe title.
Raised by her mother and grandparents, Ashley credits her success to both her education and childhood experiences. After graduating high school at the age of 16, she went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree focused on drama, acting and television. In 2015, Ashley was drawn to the Mrs. Universe pageant because it touched on important topics such as domestic violence and child abuse, an experience she survived as a child.
Ashley is a fierce advocate of indigenous rights and has used her international platform to champion the cause. She has spoken to students at universities across North America, as well as at TED Talks and WE Day.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs240x240%2F13590231_1104408692930714_2322253819275789169_n.jpg%3Foh%3D6ad2b6321729001e5fff28dc4ff128fb%26oe%3D5878B1C5&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Sage Franch recently completed her undergraduate computer science degree at Dalhousie University, but she was already a content developer at Microsoft within her third year.
A firm believer in equal opportunities, Sage uses her tech skills to advocate for global connectivity and technological empowerment. She is the creator of @[145062002349364:274:Trendy Techie], a personal website where she blogs about her experiences as a woman working in tech. Sage is also a motivational speaker for youth and mentors STEM students around the world through Trendy Techie, most recently speaking at the Inspiring Future Women in Science conference at the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.
Education has been instrumental to Sage’s career. Having actively sought opportunities to further her tech knowledge since middle school, she is now prepared to kick start her career and find success—all before graduation.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs240x240%2F13508942_1104409049597345_3477776567861109252_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dbb7842e59215b55af7a7698f88f0cc92%26oe%3D583FD3B4&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Alex Gillis, a 17-year-old entrepreneur and student from Halifax, NS, co-founded @[684952561643941:274:Bitness] at age 15, an analytics product for retailers. Alex was named Startup Canada's 2015 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and earlier this year, appeared on Dragons' Den, where he secured $50,000 in funding.
When establishing Bitness, he struggled to find young entrepreneurs as mentors. He partnered with Volta Labs in Halifax to start @[677685438999629:274:Hoist Halifax], a safe and collaborative space offering monthly workshops to teens, to educate and inspire those interested in business, technology and design. In Grade 12, he also worked with his high school to add an experiential learning program to the curriculum, so students could receive academic credits while learning how to start a business.
Later this year, Alex will begin his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of British Columbia with the support of a $100,000 Loran Scholarship, where he will continue to develop Bitness. He also hopes to establish Hoist programs across Canada for aspiring young entrepreneurs, programmers and creative thinkers.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs240x240%2F13516452_1104408726264044_6048001478411413640_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dabd2238414bd47a147802f8185d63d6d%26oe%3D587E77D9&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Le Premier ministre canadien @[21751825648:274:Justin Trudeau] et Marne Levine, la directrice de l’exploitation (COO) d’Instagram, se sont rencontrés en juin dernier sur la Colline parlementaire pour célébrer #EducationCan, une collaboration mettant en vedette de jeunes Canadiens qui sont d'ardents supporteurs du rôle de l'éducation dans l’atteinte de projets de vie et d’aspirations de carrière.
Se sont joints à eux les 8 jeunes personnes qui ont été mises à l’avant-scène sur le compte Instagram du Premier ministre dans le cadre de la série #EducationCan, afin de prendre part à une discussion portant sur la valeur de l'éducation, du mentorat, de l'entrepreneuriat et sur le rôle des femmes dans les domaines reliés au STIM.
Aujourd'hui, afin de marquer la fête du Canada, nous célébrons la prochaine génération de jeunes leaders canadiens qui repoussent les limites du possible et inspirent leur pairs à atteindre les plus hauts sommets.
Ceux-ci utilisent Instagram pour témoigner de leur vécu en partageant leurs défis et réalisations, tout en inspirant les autres en paroles et en images.
Suivez leur cheminement:
Ashley Callingbull: Activiste pour les droits des Autochtones et première femme canadienne et autochtone à remporter la couronne de Mrs. Universe www.instagram.com/ashleycallingbull
Sage Franch: Militante pour l’accès à la connectivité et la place des femmes au sein de l’industrie des technologies, elle travaille chez Microsoft tout en complétant son programme de premier cycle universitaire www.instagram.com/thetrendytechie
Alex Gillis: Étudiant et entrepreneur en herbe qui travaille à créer des occasions de mentorat pour d’autres jeunes entrepreneurs canadiens www.instagram.com/theAlexGillis
Vinita Marwaha: Ingénieure spatiologue et porte-parole pour l’essor des femmes au sein de professions en STIM www.instagram.com/vmarwaha
Kendal Netmaker: Entrepreneur qui s’est donné comme mission d’aider les jeunes plus défavorisés à s’épanouir à travers la pratique du sport www.instagram.com/KendalNetmaker
Natalie Panek: Ingénieure en aérospatiale qui inspire d’autre jeunes femmes à approfondir leur intérêt envers les sciences, la technologie, l’ingénierie et les mathématiques www.instagram.com/natalie_panek
John Richardson: Étudiant en sciences politiques et futur politician www.instagram.com/johnnnyrich
Kate Whitfield: Conférencière, auteure et modèle pour les jeunes femmes qu’elle inspire à faire preuve d’audace, de gentillesse afin d’être des agentes de changement www.instagram.com/Kate_Whitfield'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp320x320%2F13557892_1104405379597712_7298957972982486618_n.jpg%3Foh%3D09b9b8544b0688a03ae99504f76ff9d6%26oe%3D586F2D63&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['@[175682812486772:274:Ashley Callingbull], une actrice et activiste originaire de la Nation Crie d'Enoch en Alberta, est la première femme canadienne et autochtone à remporter la couronne de Mrs. Universe.
Ashley fut élevée par sa mère et ses grands-parents, et attribue son succès à l’intérêt qu’elle porta à ses études ainsi qu’à son expérience familiale. À l’âge de 16 ans, au terme de ses études secondaires, elle poursuivit un baccalauréat axé sur les arts dramatiques et la télévision. En 2015, son attention s’est tournée vers le concours Mrs. Universe qui abordait des sujets importants qui l’intéressait fortement tels la violence familiale et l’abus à l'égard des enfants, une expérience à laquelle elle a survécu durant son enfance.
Ashley est une ardente défendresse des droits des autochtones et utilise sa plate-forme internationale pour mettre en lumière et appuyer cette cause. Elle a multiplié les conférences dans diverses universités à travers l'Amérique du Nord, ainsi que dans le cadre du programme TED Talks et WE Day.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs240x240%2F13522007_1104404786264438_102803856555239386_n.jpg%3Foh%3D7c1e76c24e7c90d529fedc19ed398a04%26oe%3D583DDB3F&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Développeur de contenu chez Microsoft depuis sa troisième année à l’Université Dalhousie, Sage n’a que récemment complété son diplôme en sciences informatiques.
Une farouche militante pour l’accès à la connectivité et la place des femmes au sein de l’industrie des technologies, Sage a créé @[145062002349364:274:Trendy Techie], un site où elle blogue sur ses expériences en tant que femme travaillant dans le domaine de la technologie. Sage est également conférencière-motivatrice pour les jeunes en plus d’être un mentor pour les étudiants dans les domaines STIM partout dans le monde. Elle a récemment participé à la conférence Inspiring Future Women in Science, qui s’est tenue au Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.
L'éducation a joué un role déterminant dans la carrière de Sage. Elle est constamment à la recherche d’opportunités lui permettant d’accroître ses compétences et elle se prépare déjà à la prochaine étape de sa carrière, avant même l'obtention de son diplôme universitaire.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs240x240%2F13512149_1104405292931054_2042321991605219953_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dcfed48393a28db9d86363065c588653c%26oe%3D5842157E&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Alex Gillis, un entrepreneur et étudiant de 17 ans originaire de Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse, avait 15 ans lorsqu’il a co-fondé @[684952561643941:274:Bitness], un produit innovateur d'analyse pour les détaillants. Alex a été nommé Jeune entrepreneur de l'année 2015 dans le cadre du programme Startup Canada. Plus tôt cette année, il a aussi participé à la populaire émission Dragons’ Den, où il a obtenu 50 000 $ en financement.
À ses débuts à la barre de Bitness, Alex avait peine à trouver de jeunes entrepreneurs qui pouvait lui porter conseil. Il s’est associé à Volta Labs de Halifax pour lancer @[677685438999629:274:Hoist Halifax], un environnement de collaboration offrant des ateliers d’éducation aux adolescents intéressés aux domaines des affaires, de la technologie et du design. En 12e année, il a travaillé de concert avec son école secondaire pour y intégrer un programme d'apprentissage par l'expérience, où les élèves pouvaient accumuler des crédits d’études tout en apprenant à démarrer une entreprise.
Plus tard cette année, Alex entamera son baccalauréat en commerce à l'Université de la Colombie-Britannique, avec le soutien d'une bourse Loran Scholarship de 100,000 $, où il continuera à assurer la croissance de Bitness. Il compte également établir des programmes Hoist à travers le Canada pour jeunes entrepreneurs en devenir, programmeurs et concepteurs novateurs.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs240x240%2F13524332_1104404862931097_6806200571388943826_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dfe0e0abc9975035df9e35ba6290d772b%26oe%3D5838FE64&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)

!['Þórunn Antonía Magnúsdóttir is uniting women in Iceland through a Facebook group focused on positivity and changing the narrative that women are catty and don't support one another. The group has more than 50,000 members, which is astonishing, considering that this is nearly a third of Iceland's female population.
I met Thorunn in her hometown, Reykjavik, during a freezing day. But her warm and positive personality made me forget instantly about the coldness.
Thorunn is a popular singer and songwriter in Iceland. She was a TV host and a judge for Iceland's Got Talent. But her life suddenly changed when she got pregnant.
During her pregnancy, Thorunn went through dramatic moments. She lost her vision and experienced nosebleeds and terrible headaches.
She was misdiagnosed in the early stages, and her life was in great danger. But she didn't let this bring her down. She remained strong and positive and the doctors came with the accurate diagnosis just in time to save her and her baby's life. She was suffering from a very rare obstetric complication, called HELLP syndrome.
Thorunn describes the moment of her daughter's birth as a miracle. They were both healthy and together they overcame that terrible challenge.
The pregnancy and the first months of her daughter's life made Thorunn see things in a different perspective. She remembered her childhood and adolescence when she had doubts about herself, thinking she was not good or beautiful enough, compared with women she saw in the media.
Thorunn says that she wants her daughter to look in the mirror and be happy and confident with what she sees. To focus on her intelligence, abilities and passions, instead of trying to be somebody else.
After she became a mother, Thorunn started to feel more connected with other women. One night, in December 2015, she was thinking about how much energy women spend working against each other when they should be supporting one another. She decided to start a Facebook group called "Góða Systir" (meaning “Good Sister”). She thought it would be a group for a few people she knew, but after inviting 50 friends, the group took off. She says in about three days, more than 50,000 women had joined.
She believes that women can make so much more progress toward gender equality by working together, and the first step is to reduce the feelings of insecurity and competition among them, which her group aims to do every day.
Thorunn noticed that in the Western world many women become defeminized. Some think that we’re supposed to be strong by acting like man, she says, but we possess a lot of strength and power in our femininity and we should celebrate that. Sometimes, talking about your emotions and problems is considered a sign of weakness, but Thorunn created the Good Sister group where women can share honestly their worries and dreams. Thorunn herself shared her intense experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Each month the group also raises money for a member in need.
Thorunn believes that all women in the world should be like sisters and she dreams about a bright future for her daughter. And she's already building it.
Icelandic speakers can join Góða Systir here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1647141338899488 Visit Thorunn's band page @[130640883677928:274:Þórunn Antonía = Thorunn Antonia] and listen to the new record she released on International Women's Day.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs480x480%2F12802740_1065294260178634_7077094646145240300_n.jpg%3Foh%3D28d8889e278f3e91d5ca1019d73a27c7%26oe%3D586F1441&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)





!['L’organisme @[1625969530986515:274:East Toronto Families for Syria] (ETF4S) a été fondée par sept mamans issues de la région est de Toronto en septembre 2015. Les co-fondatrices souhaitaient aider les nouveaux arrivants syriens à s’adapter à leur nouvelle vie au Canada. Le groupe Facebook ETF4S a été conçu afin de permettre aux membres de la communauté, divers organismes et autres groupes de parrainage de coordonner leurs efforts afin de soutenir les nouveaux arrivants.
Sur une période de trois mois, par l’entremise de leur magasin temporaire, "The Hub", elles assistèrent plusieurs familles à emménager dans leur nouvelle résidence en leur procurant divers articles de ménage d’une valeur totale excédant 200 000 $. Le groupe facilita également des rencontres où les nouveaux arrivants et les membres de la communauté, y compris des politiciens de tous les paliers de gouvernement, ont appris à mieux se connaître.
De plus, le groupe travaille à établir un projet de restaurant/cuisine communautaire hybride, où les nouveaux arrivants pourront préparer des mets traditionnels, acquérir des compétences pour les aider à percer le marché du travail et gagner un peu d’argent.
Aujourd'hui, nous célébrons les fondateurs du groupe Facebook East Toronto Families for Syria (ETF4S), pour leur dévouement et leur engagement afin d’aider les réfugiés syriens à se sentir à l’aise dans leur nouveau pays.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13495294_1104965586208358_881067717923389924_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dc1638fb21fa35eb128c8f844b058b0ea%26oe%3D58425964&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['@[1625969530986515:274:East Toronto Families for Syria] (ETF4S) was founded by seven moms in the east end of Toronto in September 2015. The co-founders wanted to help Syrian newcomers adjust to their new lives in east Toronto. The ETF4S Facebook group launched as a place where community members involved in helping newcomers - private citizens, various organizations and sponsorship groups - could engage with each other for advice and offer their volunteer services.
This grassroots organization supplied over $200,000 worth of donated household items over a 3 month period via their pop-up shop, "The Hub," which helped many families and individuals set up their new homes. The group also hosted various meet-ups where newcomers and members of the community, including politicians from all levels of government, got to know each other.
Up next, the group is collaborating on a hybrid restaurant/kitchen where newcomers will be able to cook their traditional cuisines, earn money for their families and gain valuable employment skills.
Today, we are celebrating the founders of the East Toronto Families for Syria Facebook Group, for their dedication and commitment to helping Syrian refugees settle and feel welcome in Canada.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13590392_1104963782875205_5406157084085122748_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dc45ec411b347fd199b6b1a776fea5a80%26oe%3D586CA81E&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Vinita Marwaha's job is out of this world. An experienced space engineer and women’s advocate, she has worked in 8 countries alongside some of the space industry’s most successful women.
After gaining an education in physics and engineering from various international institutions, including the University of London, Vinita’s work now focuses on human spaceflight. During her time at the European Space Agency (ESA), she was involved in the design of a spacesuit that was worn on the International Space Station. She is currently a Space Operations Engineer with the ESA.
Vinita is a passionate advocate for women in STEM. Through her website @[560452863965899:274:Rocket Women], she shares the experiences of other women in the field in the hopes that their stories might inspire others.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13567528_1104409182930665_4226512646982466855_n.jpg%3Foh%3De2be15d60513a92570d8520729f59d80%26oe%3D5885A6C5&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Canadian Prime Minister @[21751825648:274:Justin Trudeau] and Marne Levine, Chief Operating Officer of Instagram, met on Parliament Hill in June to celebrate #EducationCan, a collaboration that highlights young Canadians who are strong advocates for the role of education in furthering one's life and career aspirations.
They were joined by the 8 young Canadians profiled for #EducationCan, who took part in a discussion about the value of education, mentorship, entrepreneurship and women in STEM.
Today, in honour of Canada Day, we are celebrating the next generation of young Canadian leaders pushing the boundaries and inspiring others to reach for the stars.
These individual use Instagram to visually bring their journey to the world - sharing their challenges and achievements, while inspiring others. Follow their journeys:
Ashley Callingbull: Actress and indigenous education activist; first Canadian, and the first Aboriginal woman, to win the Mrs. Universe title. www.instagram.com/ashleycallingbull
Sage Franch: Content developer at Microsoft and student at Dalhousie University; founder of trendytechie.ca and advocate for youth/women in technology. www.instagram.com/thetrendytechie
Alex Gillis: 17-year-old entrepreneur and student; co-founder of Bitness, an analytics product for retailers, and Hoist Halifax, a monthly meet-up for teens interested in entrepreneurship, design and programming. www.instagram.com/theAlexGillis
Vinita Marwaha: Space engineer and women in STEM advocate; space suit designed for the European Space Agency and founder of Rocket Women, a website dedicated to telling the stories of successful women in STEM. www.instagram.com/vmarwaha
Kendal Nemaker: First Nations entrepreneur and founder of Neechie Gear, a lifestyle apparel brand empowering youth through sports, with a portion of profits helping fund underprivileged youth's participation in sports. www.instagram.com/KendalNetmaker
Natalie Panek: Rocket scientist and women in STEM champion; engineer at MDA's Robotics and Automation division working on Canadian space robotics and mentor/program adviser for Cybermentor. www.instagram.com/natalie_panek
John Richardson: 20-year-old political science and government major at the University of Toronto; worked for the Liberal campaign and WordFest (literacy non-profit), and interned for the State government in Colorado. www.instagram.com/johnnnyrich
Kate Whitfield: Founder of fearlesslyGiRL and fearlesslyKiND, a national movement and school program dedicated to inspiring young women across Canada to be kinder to themselves and each other. www.instagram.com/Kate_Whitfield'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13592641_1104409086264008_3590482338185044666_n.jpg%3Foh%3D445beadc1288558cfa5682523f460565%26oe%3D58868DF6&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Sage Franch recently completed her undergraduate computer science degree at Dalhousie University, but she was already a content developer at Microsoft within her third year.
A firm believer in equal opportunities, Sage uses her tech skills to advocate for global connectivity and technological empowerment. She is the creator of @[145062002349364:274:Trendy Techie], a personal website where she blogs about her experiences as a woman working in tech. Sage is also a motivational speaker for youth and mentors STEM students around the world through Trendy Techie, most recently speaking at the Inspiring Future Women in Science conference at the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics.
Education has been instrumental to Sage’s career. Having actively sought opportunities to further her tech knowledge since middle school, she is now prepared to kick start her career and find success—all before graduation.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13508942_1104409049597345_3477776567861109252_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dc36ba40346e71c17842593892f28f2b5%26oe%3D58388E92&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)

!['@[356442914485331:274:Kendal Netmaker], an entrepreneur from Sweetgrass First Nation, SK, started his company while attending the University of Saskatchewan to complete two degrees. Business competitions allowed Kendal to give entrepreneurship a try, and helped spark the idea for @[200045666694174:274:Neechie Gear], a lifestyle brand and apparel company that gives 5% of profits to help underprivileged youth participate in sports.
The idea for the company arose from Kendal's life experiences - he grew up in a single-parent, low-income family with little opportunity to be involved in extra-curricular activities as a kid. Fortunately, his best friend in elementary school changed his life when his family offered to pay for Kendal's soccer registration fees and helped get him to games and practices.
Kendal saw first-hand what sports can do for youth in developing athletes and future leaders. He channeled his experiences to create Neechie Gear, enabling underprivileged youth to change their lives through sport.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13529189_1104408832930700_3659846003077354420_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dde5dc58592a64e92e24e6f32e067e906%26oe%3D5877E6F4&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Speaker, author and social entrepreneur Kate Whitfield has led @[144253788975472:274:FearlesslyGirl], a national leadership and empowerment movement for young women, for more than a decade.
Since founding the organization, she has spoken to over 150,000 young Canadian women about the importance of empowerment, leadership, kindness and possibility. Through the movement’s sister project FearlesslyKiND, Kate also leads one of the country’s most successful anti-bullying school programs, inspiring girls to be kinder to themselves and each other.
Kate’s organization wouldn’t have been possible without her high school education and experiences. Thanks to the support of her high school community, she never felt as though her dreams were out of reach. She hopes to instill this belief in future generations.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13528780_1104408772930706_5016361095539646213_n.jpg%3Foh%3D370ca1c3ede1f294e6dfbff64c30c388%26oe%3D587E095F&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)
!['Alex Gillis, a 17-year-old entrepreneur and student from Halifax, NS, co-founded @[684952561643941:274:Bitness] at age 15, an analytics product for retailers. Alex was named Startup Canada's 2015 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and earlier this year, appeared on Dragons' Den, where he secured $50,000 in funding.
When establishing Bitness, he struggled to find young entrepreneurs as mentors. He partnered with Volta Labs in Halifax to start @[677685438999629:274:Hoist Halifax], a safe and collaborative space offering monthly workshops to teens, to educate and inspire those interested in business, technology and design. In Grade 12, he also worked with his high school to add an experiential learning program to the curriculum, so students could receive academic credits while learning how to start a business.
Later this year, Alex will begin his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of British Columbia with the support of a $100,000 Loran Scholarship, where he will continue to develop Bitness. He also hopes to establish Hoist programs across Canada for aspiring young entrepreneurs, programmers and creative thinkers.'](/p?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160917084240im_%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fscontent.fsjc1-3.fna.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fp100x100%2F13516452_1104408726264044_6048001478411413640_n.jpg%3Foh%3D23211815619e4db2af294601727166d3%26oe%3D583ECEFF&__src=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20160705122412%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fth-th.facebook.com%2Ffacebookcanada&__type=image)








