Future of Feminism Award Winners
In Memory of Patti Szostak
At Primeau Law, we work to empower our clients through confident and well-informed staff, progressive and innovative standards, and strong feminist legal representation.
Our winners have all managed to hit the key goals of this award: finding a creative and thoughtful way to create and promote equality for women in a tangible way, relating directly to our firm’s mission.
2024 Winner // Skyla Bonell
Skyla Bonell's innovative submission, "Dear Skyla," epitomizes the spirit of the "Future of Feminism" Award. Through a creative approach inspired by traditional advice columns, Skyla addresses the pervasive issue of gender discrimination in the workplace, particularly focusing on the impact of maternity leave on women's careers.
Skyla’s insightful research sheds light on the personal struggles women face due to unfair gender-discriminatory practices in Canadian society. Her work highlights the recurring theme of how maternity leave affects employability and long-term career goals. By sharing real stories and offering advice and encouragement, Skyla aims to spark meaningful debate and conversation about gender equality.
In her proposal, Skyla outlines several strategic steps to alleviate the pressures surrounding maternity leave for parents:
Educate Employers: Raise awareness about the legalities and benefits of equitable hiring practices.
Lobby for Government Support: Advocate for affordable and flexible childcare and mental health support for parents.
Employer Incentives: Encourage employers to provide more financial support for parents during maternity leave through incentives.
Skyla's empathetic and practical approach not only addresses the immediate concerns of women but also calls for systemic change to promote gender equality in the workplace.
It is with immense pride that we honor Skyla Bonell as the recipient of the 2024 "Future of Feminism" Award for her exceptional contribution to advancing gender equality and empowering women in the workforce.
2023 Winner // Jamie Hopkins
Jamie’s "Women in the Trades" powerpoint submission encapsulates the essence of the "Future of Feminism" Award. Jamie’s profound insights and visionary suggestions serve as a catalyst for change, urging stakeholders to take concrete steps towards ensuring the safety and inclusion of women in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Jamie adeptly addresses the significant issue of exclusion and safety concerns faced by women in male-dominated fields. Her research emphasizes the collective responsibility of manufacturers, employers, and employees to ensure the protection and inclusion of women in the workplace.
It is with great pleasure that we recognize Jamie Hopkins as the recipient of the "Future of Feminism" Award for her outstanding contribution to advancing gender equality.
2022 Winner // Lydia Dillenbeck
Lydia’s submission titled “Women and Working from Home” is current and relatable to many households, especially through the global pandemic. Her submission focuses on lived experiences of women who work from home and the corresponding barriers to gender equality in the workforce. We were impressed by Lydia’s suggestions to employers for eliminating these barriers as they were relevant, tangible, and astute. She went above and beyond, conducting interviews with women who work from home to complement her research on the subject.
Like Patti Szostack, Lydia always strives to positively impact people around her. She is actively involved in community volunteering and community groups. Also, like Patti, Lydia is self-determined, self-motivated, and resilient, and she perseveres to overcome anything that stands in her way.
2021 Winner // Emma Martin-Rousselle
Emma’s comprehensive project titled, “The Importance of Female Role Models” explains how the lack of visible successful women in “male-dominated” professions can negatively impact young women when they are considering their career options. Emma identifies the “need for mentorship and connections” between local women who have achieved career success and young women who would benefit from guidance; both in regards to their future careers and issues they may face as women in a professional environment. Emma’s project, which draws on her experience as a local young woman in the process of choosing a path of study, is very well-researched and includes a local focus that provides concrete steps for how to create a more equitable feminist future. We feel privileged to benefit from her perspective.
Emma’s submission exemplifies the reason this award was created and provides concrete steps toward the future we want to build in the local community and beyond.
2020 Winner // Kiley Sims
Kiley Sims’ submission immediately stood out this year as a front-runner for our award. One of our key interests is to find substantive obstacles to equality that students can work toward overcoming themselves. Kiley’s submission outlined a tangible problem within the publicity and marketing of women’s sports in a secondary institution. She provided context and clearly outlined the problem. She then outlined a very clear way of addressing the obstacle to conquer the obstacle and help solve this problem. Excellent submission, Kiley!
Please take the time to look at this Powerpoint Presentation. Kiley has a fantastic achievement-oriented attitude, and we cannot wait for updates on this venture! Go get them, Kiley!
2019 Winner // Bridget Chiasson
Bridget Chiasson’s submission stood out to us for a handful of reasons. Bridget provided the reader with a big picture idea, but then was able to narrow down the problem to a section of her own life, which further proved that Bridget’s issue is happening in our own lives. Further, Bridget provided a well-thought-out blueprint for promoting gender inclusion in both a micro and macro environment, which presented us with how we can start to promote a change.
Please take the time to read this article. Bridget has the perspective of a new generation, our future to a new world of feminism, and we are excited to be a part of her journey.
