BPW Edmonton

Success Circles Kick Off
2025-04-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Edmonton) | ZOOM Meeting
Join us for the launch of our 2025 Success Circles!
Do you want to…

Unlock wisdom, accountability and growth?
Develop empowerment and inspiration?
Build a supportive network?

Then consider elevating your journey with the BPW Success Circles presented in collaboration with BPW Edmonton and Calgary.
What are Success Circles?
Success Circles are empowering, collaborative groups designed to bring diverse women together to provide support, wisdom, and accountability. Each person contributes and receives valuable insights and expertise, challenges perspectives, and provides guidance for success.
Key Features:

Supported: Get the most out of your Circle, using the information, handouts, and guidelines provided.
Diverse Perspectives: Tap into a network with varied skills and experiences.
Upskilling: Expand your expertise across multiple disciplines while sharing your wisdom. Gain fresh perspectives and insights from diverse minds.
Accountability: Stay aligned to your goals, supported by a group committed to
your success.
Self-Driven: Each Circle decides the frequency, location and topics.
Future Focused: 2025 Success Circles will branch into our 2025/26 Mentorship
program.

HOW CAN I JOIN?
1. Determine your goals. Identify the skills and expertise you seek, and reflect on what you can contribute to others’ growth
2. Complete the sign up form by March 31st to provide your information and get matched with your group REGISTER HERE
3. Be part of the launch! March 19th, 12-1 pm (Zoom link to follow)

Hosted by BPW Edmonton’s new Programs Chair, Angela Saxby
A chance to connect with all Success Circle participants and receive an overview of the approach and timelines
You’ll be matched with approximately 4 other BPW members from Edmonton and Calgary to begin introductions and review our Success Circles Guide.
Before you leave, you’ll have a plan for when and how to meet with your group.
Circle meetings will include a virtual option, if participants require it.
If you can’t attend the event, an email will be sent with information about your Circle and items to agree upon as a group.

4. Be committed

Schedule and attend 4 meetings between March 23rd and June 14th
Show up prepared
Participate, listen and hold space
Make the most of the diverse and dynamic leadership offered

Pricing
Success Circles are FREE for BPW Edmonton and Calgary members!
Not a member yet? No problem. Sign up for early bird membership for the 2025/26 BPW season by March 31st and gain free access to this year’s success circles while saving $30 off of the regular membership price! Edmonton Early Bird Membership Payment
Still testing the waters with BPW membership? We’ve got you. Non-members can enjoy all the benefits of Success Circles for $40 (but you’ll probably want to become a member anyway!) Edmonton Non-Member Success Circle Payment
Complete the sign up form by March 31st to provide your information and get matched with your group.

BPW AGM and a Night of M.A.G.I.C (Member Only)
2025-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Bella Italian Restaurant, 8223 104 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4E7, Canada
Get your tickets here!
BPW Edmonton is wrapping up our 2024/25 season with our Annual AGM and Night of Magic. A member only event, we would like to take the opportunity to thank our members for sharing their wisdom and connection throughout the year. Additionally, any new members are welcome to take part, as a taste of what it means to be a BPW Edmonton Member.
We’ll begin the event with our AGM to quickly celebrate the milestones and accomplishments from the year. Food will be provided and there will be a bar for those who are interested.
Then, Shannon Armstrong will lead us through a Night of M.A.G.I.C.
Life happens… there’s not much we can do to control many of the circumstances that hit us. Loss or uncertainty fill our head, and things feel insurmountable. But that’s not our destiny; it’s actually the beginning of something magical.
Using her M.A.G.I.C framework for embracing your circumstances and moving through this messy life with a little grace, hope and optimism. Admittedly, it’s not really magic, but with intent and effort, the impact and outcome might feel that way!
Shannon will inspire us to move through our own journeys by weaving in her own experiences with divorce, job loss, and parental dementia. Instead of getting stuck, we’ll dig deep to find relevant tools and strategies for creating a better future and life.
Shannon has a Bachelors of Commerce degree, and she’s certified as a Mediation and a Change Management specialist. With over 20 years of transformational leadership experience across private, public and the not for profit sectors, she is set to lead women through their own powerful journeys.

Equity in Policy Panel Discussion
2025-10-29 18:30 - 20:30 | YWCA Edmonton, 10402 124 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
BPW Edmonton’s upcoming panel will bring together experts, advocates, and community leaders to examine how gender equity can be advanced across policy, community, and institutional frameworks in Alberta. The discussion will focus on areas where systemic barriers persist and where targeted policies can create meaningful change. By connecting lived experience, research, and policy perspectives, the panel will explore pressing issues affecting women, girls, and gender-diverse communities, highlighting opportunities for action and collaboration. This event is designed to engage participants in dialogue, raise awareness, and identify practical strategies for advancing equity in Alberta today.

Get your tickets here! BPWpanel.eventbrite.ca

Key Topics:
1. Trans/Gender Inclusion: Ensuring inclusive policies for trans and gender-diverse people is increasingly urgent in Alberta, where recent debates around education, health care access, and human rights protections highlight the need for evidence-based, equitable approaches. Policies that respect gender identity not only uphold fundamental rights but also create safer schools, workplaces, and communities for everyone.
2. Ending Violence Against Women: Rates of domestic violence and gender-based violence in Alberta remain among the highest in Canada, with rural, Indigenous, and marginalized women disproportionately affected. The issue places a significant burden on health, justice, and social systems, while undermining women’s full participation in society and the economy. Addressing violence is not only a moral imperative but a policy priority requiring collective advocacy, prevention strategies, and systemic change.
3. Equity in Sports: Sports are a powerful driver of community, health, and leadership development. Yet barriers continue to limit equitable access for women and girls, and participation for trans and gender-diverse athletes remains contested. In Alberta, where sport is central to community identity and youth development, advancing policies that prioritize fairness, safety, and inclusion is essential to ensuring all athletes can thrive.

Our Panelists

Elli McDine (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce, leading advocacy and community-building for queer and trans entrepreneurs across Alberta. She is the co-creator of Coming Home, a documentary on queer and trans joy, and teaches innovation at NAIT. With over 15 years of experience in research, transformation, and equity-focused leadership across government, education, and nonprofits, Elli is committed to creating systems where diverse leaders can thrive. A parent of two, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work in building inclusive and resilient communities.

Ashley Lim is the Director of Counselling Services at YWCA Edmonton, a Registered Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor with over 15 years of experience. She specializes in supporting women and children impacted by domestic violence and works with diverse populations, including BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ clients, and individuals with disabilities.
Ashley helped create Edmonton’s Integrated Domestic Violence Response Team (IDVRT) and co-chairs the Council of Service Providers with CIAFV. She also contributes to YWCA Canada’s national Anti-Gender-Based Violence Network. Her leadership and service has earned her multiple awards, including YWCA Canada’s Carolyn Bray Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Ashley is also an Adjunct Academic Colleague at the University of Alberta.

Dia Syed has dedicated a significant portion of her professional career to sports, teaching, and business. Dia founded and is the CEO of Girls In Sports Canada. She has a wealth of experience in program development, implementation, marketing, sales, and management. Through her work in grassroots sports Dia has taught over 200 schools, engaging students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Through Girls In Sports Canada, Dia actively addresses disparities in girls’ sports and advocates for solutions. Her programs continue to reach many of girls’ and young kids’ year after year. She has spoken at teacher conventions, sport conferences, and as a guest speaker in university education, business, and kinesiology classes. Her insights have been featured on multiple podcasts, CTV Edmonton, and she recently appeared on 630 CHED radio in Edmonton. Girls In Sports Canada has empowered youth aged 5-17 through various sports programs and classroom presentations. Additionally, her company was highlighted in Desjardins’ small business tour and featured in a commercial during The Amazing Race Canada.
Dia’s vision is to empower girls to become confident change-makers and barrier-breakers through physical activity and sports. Her programs aim to equip girls with the knowledge and confidence to excel in adulthood, fostering champions in the workplace and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.

Dr. Miranda Pilipchuk is a gender-based violence scholar/advocate with expertise in community-based research, intersectional feminist theory, decolonial theory, critical race theory, and legal theory. She specializes in conducting trauma-informed, survivor-centered research that values the voices and perspectives of people with lived experience, speaks to the intersections of abuse and systemic barriers, and seeks to dismantle all forms of oppression.
Dr. Pilipchuk is the Manager of Research and Evaluation at the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, where she works with domestic violence and elder abuse shelters, community and academic partners, and people with lived experience to construct innovative, culture-shifting research programs that work to understand and end violence and abuse, and to establish and implement best practices for supporting people impacted by violence and abuse.

Get your tickets here! BPWpanel.eventbrite.ca

Pathways to Empowerment: A Community Forum on Removing Barriers to Gender Equality
2026-02-04 18:00 - 21:00 | Stanley Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2V5, Canada
Please note: This event has been postponed. Stay tuned for an updated date.

Gender equality isn’t achieved through awareness alone — it requires honest conversation, shared learning, and collective action.
Pathways to Empowerment is an interactive community forum bringing together local subject matter experts, advocates, and community members to explore the real barriers women and gender-diverse people continue to face — and how we can work together to remove them.
Aligned with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2026 global theme focused on barriers to justice for women and girls, this evening will move beyond panels and presentations into meaningful dialogue, practical learning, and connection.
Participants will engage in two small-group “mini-workshops” led by experienced practitioners across key areas including:

Financial empowerment and security
Legal access and systems navigation
Access to justice for Indigenous women and racialized communities
Personal agency, leadership, and navigating change

Through guided conversation and shared problem-solving, participants will deepen their understanding of systemic barriers, discover community resources, build new relationships, and leave with practical insights they can apply personally and within their communities.
Whether you are navigating these barriers yourself, supporting others, or passionate about advancing gender equity, this forum offers a welcoming space to learn, connect, and contribute.
Join us to strengthen collective knowledge, amplify community voices, and help shape pathways toward a more just and equitable future.
Get your tickets here! BPW.eventbrite.ca

BPW Edmonton would like to highlight and thank W.O.R.K. (Women’s Outreach and Resource Centre) for their sponsorship of this event through BPW Canada. Their support is instrumental in making this forum possible and in advancing important conversations around access to justice, equity, and empowerment for women and gender-diverse people.
We are grateful for W.O.R.K.’s partnership and their continued commitment to community-led advocacy and education.

BPW Canada - WIIFM Event
2026-03-03 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Leadership is one of the fundamental pillars of BPW Canada, empowering women to lead, influence, and create lasting change.
We invite BPW members from across the country to join this inspiring leadership-focused event.
🗓 Tuesday, March 3
🕓 8:00 p.m. (MT) / 7:00 p.m. (ET) / 6:00 p.m. (CT) / 5:00 p.m. (MT) / 4:00 p.m. (PT)
👉 Members, please register in advance:
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/5g_pPUCoRZGCuGgCyvI1Vg

International Women’s Day Celebration - Date TBD
2026-03-10
More details to come.

BPW Advocacy Workshop & AGM - Date TBD
2026-05-14

BPW Canada Biennial Convention
2026-08-13 - 2026-08-16 | Regina, Saskatchewan
BPW Canada hosts a National Convention every two years in even-numbered years (e.g., 2022, 2024, 2026).
In alternating odd-numbered years (e.g., 2021, 2023, 2025), a National Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held.
Both events typically take place in the month of August.
