A new book celebrating the accomplishments of some of Canada's leading women features a name that should be familiar to Whistler's business community.
Canada 150 Women, released in conjunction with Canada's sesquicentennial, highlights outstanding women in their fields, and Whistler's CEO whisperer, Shannon Susko, is no exception.
Susko is a leadership coach helping top corporate executives in a range of industries, who has also co-founded and led the sale of two companies in less than six years: Subserveo and Paradata Systems.
She joins some esteemed company in the book, which includes such figures as award-winning filmmaker Deepa Mehta, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, and former astronaut and current Governor General Julie Payette.
"Ambition, diversity, strength: few groups better represent the potential of Canada than women," Susko writes in an email. "The Canada 150 Women book profiles 150 of the country's most inspiring, groundbreaking and powerful female role models, providing insight into their achievements — and a challenge for all to better support women."
Author Paulina Cameron says despite the important progress that's been made in Canada, the book is a timely one considering women still make 87 cents an hour for every dollar made by men and remain underrepresented in high-paying professions.
"The need for this conversation is loud and clear. Women must be listened to, celebrated, and championed," she writes in an email. "Women have contributed significantly to shaping the last 150 years of Canada and I am encouraged by what the next 150 years will look like with more women in influential roles."
Canada 150 Women: Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries is available now wherever books are sold.
Pitch in to 'Save Between Shifts Theatre'
Between Shifts Theatre has been bringing award-winning theatre to Squamish for the past 25 years. With your help, the theatre company wants to make it another 25 more.
Last week, Between Shifts launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 after running into some financial difficulties related to growing expenses, primarily due to the recent loss of its storage space after a major rent hike.
The non-profit has produced 58 shows over the years, many of which went on to win awards at Theatre BC's Mainstage Festival. Between Shifts also supports youth performing arts in the corridor, and contributes annually to Howe Sound Secondary School's scholarship and bursary fund. For more info and to donate, visit gofundme.com/save-between-shifts-theatre.
WFF launches crowdfunding campaign
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) is looking for "Canadian film heroes" to contribute to a crowdfunding campaign aimed at preserving its lauded industry programs. A registered non-profit, the WFF campaign is targeting $150,000 to "enrich and expand" its script-to-screen development and industry immersion programs for Canadian filmmakers.
In its 17 years, WFF has become known as a filmmakers' festival that places particular emphasis on supporting and promoting emerging writers, directors, producers and actors.
The funding will allow the homegrown fest to open up its programs to more Canadian creators, to diversify its programs and industry connections, and to extend the program duration beyond the festival's four days to ultimately include year-round training.
The Indiegogo campaign comes with a slew of perks for contributors, and closes Dec. 22.
To contribute, visit indiegogo.com/projects/whistler-film-fest-help-launch-canadian-filmmakers.
