18 Women Giving to Gain in Urbanism
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women's achievements across society, the economy, culture, and politics. It is a moment to recognize the contributions of women and gender-diverse people who are shaping our communities, while also reflecting on the work that remains to build a more equitable world, where everyone can thrive and lead.
This year's theme, “Give to Gain,” highlights the power of generosity, mentorship, and collective action in advancing gender equity. Progress happens when people share knowledge, create opportunities, and uplift others within their communities and professions. In the field of urbanism—where decisions about housing, mobility, infrastructure, and public space shape everyday life—this spirit of giving back is essential to building cities that are more inclusive, accessible, and responsive to diverse experiences.
To honor the contributions of those who embody this spirit, Women in Urbanism Canada (WiUC) proudly highlights exceptional women and gender-diverse people who are making meaningful impacts across Canada's urbanism sector. Our selection process involved nominations from board members, members, and the public. The criteria for selection focused on expertise, impactful contributions, dedication to advocacy and innovation, inclusive representation, and regional diversity across Canada.
These are the voices helping to shape more inclusive cities and demonstrate that when we give our time, knowledge, and leadership to others, we all gain:
Art, Representation & Placemaking
Carmahn McCalla
Halifax, NS
Artist & Graphic Designer at Halifax Regional Municipality
Highlight: Creates art and illustrations that bring light to Black Women in urban spaces and their connection with nature.
Carmahn McCalla (@carmahnm.art) is an African Nova Scotian and Jamaican visual artist whose work explores Black identity, nature, and gender. Rooted in digital illustration, her multidisciplinary practice spans animation, painting, graphic design, and web design. Largely self-taught with formal studies at Dalhousie University, NSCAD, Athabasca University, and OC Art Studios, Carmahn has exhibited work in festivals, businesses, and public projects. Her illustrations and animations appear in books, theatre, and murals, all reflecting a commitment to celebrating underrepresented voices.
Learn more about Carmahn’s work on her website.
Danielle Hyde
Toronto, ON
Multi-disciplinary Artist at Red Urban Nation Artist Collective
Highlight: Creates Indigenous public art and advances disability justice through community-led placemaking, youth mentorship, and mental health advocacy.
Danielle Hyde is a multi-disciplinary Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) artist and a person with a disability (OCD). They are a principal artist member of the Red Urban Nation Artist Collective (RUN), which creates Indigenous murals and supports emerging Indigenous artists and placemaking in urban spaces. Danielle is also a member of the Toronto Indigenous Business Association, founder of CoCreations Art, and serves on the Board of Directors at the Tangled Art + Disability Gallery. Their artistic practice spans murals, installation, painting, mixed media, photography, and performance. Danielle’s work blends traditional and non-traditional mediums while exploring themes of Indigenous identity, disability arts, placemaking, and futurism. Through storytelling and collaborative creative processes, their work emphasizes relationality with land, community, and shared space. Danielle works to support youth and facilitate participation in STEM education, disability justice, and mental health advocacy. As an artist and disability justice advocate, they remain committed to promoting healing, community connection, and equal access to wellness for the whole being.
Learn more about Danielle’s work at Red Urban Nation Artist Collective.
Indu Shaji
Vancouver, BC
Urban designer at DIALOG & Placemaking expert
Highlight: Works on community engagement and play-based placemaking projects in downtown Vancouver.
Indu Shaji is currently working as an Urban Designer at Dialog. She is an experienced architectural and urban designer who is passionate about making cities and public spaces vibrant, beautiful, and engaging for users. In her previous role as the Beautification Coordinator at Downtown Van BIA, she designed and coordinated several placemaking and public art projects across downtown Vancouver. She has a strong academic background with a master’s degree in architecture from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. She was also awarded the prestigious DAAD scholarship and pursued a semester exchange at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Indu is committed to making a social impact through her placemaking advocacy and volunteering. She co-founded a volunteering group called KAK and has been curating and conducting workshops for underprivileged children from her hometown for the past 4 years. She is also a children's book illustrator, running an illustration agency that has created over 100 published books.
Learn more about Indu’s work on her LinkedIn profile.
Linda Salem
Toronto, ON
Co-Founder & Director, Programming at Muslims in Public Space
Highlight: Works on creative public space projects that protect shared spaces for Muslims in urban environments and advocate for their participation in civic life.
Linda Melody Salem is a Stakeholder and Constituency Advisor at the City of Toronto, bringing expertise in urban planning and community engagement. As Co-Founder of Muslims in Public Space (MiPs), Linda works to transform public spaces into inclusive environments through creative initiatives, from bike lanes and basketball courts to electrical boxes, with a vision where everyone has a role in shaping their urban surroundings. Their experience as an Organizer at the Toronto Public Space Committee further reflects a deep commitment to protecting shared spaces and advocating for meaningful citizen involvement in municipal policy. With a background rooted in grassroots organizing, Linda has consistently worked to influence public discourse and shape community participation at the local level. She holds a degree in Art History from the University of Toronto and is a dedicated community-builder and champion of inclusive public spaces in Toronto.
Learn more about Linda’s work at Muslims in Public Space and on her LinkedIn profile.
Youth, Community & Participation
Angela Ng
Toronto, ON
Co-Executive Director of Urban Minds
Highlight: Spearheads the 1UP Youth program that empowers youth to shape more equitable and sustainable communities.
As the Co-Executive Director of Urban Minds, Angela combines her passion for youth engagement, expertise in design, and meticulous attention to detail to grow the organization from a small side project to now a thriving non-profit organization with 4 paid staff and 60+ volunteers. Her superpower is the ability to operationalize various initiatives with very limited resources, while making everyone on the team feel empowered to accomplish shared goals. One of her standout accomplishments is #WouldYouRatherTO, a youth-friendly public art installation that was a winner of the King Street Pilot Project Design Competition in 2018. She has done and continues to do all of this work at Urban Minds as a volunteer over the last 10 years while working full-time as a licensed architect. Her commitment to engaging young people in design and urbanism has left a mark on thousands of aspiring city builders in Ontario.
Learn more about Angela’s work at Urban Minds.
Koko Agborsangaya
Ottawa, ON
Co-Founder of Black Girls Biking Ottawa
Highlight: Advocates for equity, inclusion, and community leadership through research innovation and grassroots initiatives supporting inclusive education and outdoor access for Black women.
Koko Bate Agborsangaya has over 15 years of experience leading innovation in research ecosystems across private and public sectors. An avid community builder and advocate for justice, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation, she spearheaded the development and implementation of the first Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) strategy for one of Canada’s leading science innovation non-profits. Koko’s commitment to community extends beyond her professional role. She serves as the Board Chair of Parents for Diversity, an Ottawa-based non-profit dedicated to advocating for an inclusive education system for all children. Under her leadership, she secured the organization’s initial and largest funding to date and led the development of operations and processes, enabling the organization to scale effectively with newfound resources. Furthermore, Koko is a champion for equitable access to outdoor spaces for Black women and co-leads Black Girls Biking Ottawa. This organization was recently recognized by the City of Ottawa for making a significant difference in outdoor spaces and was honored with the Bruce Timmermans Cycling Award in 2024. Through her diverse roles and initiatives, Koko continues to drive positive change in both professional and community spheres, embodying the principles of equity, inclusion, and innovation in all her endeavors.
Learn more about Koko’s work at Black Girls Biking Ottawa.
Stephanie Watt
Montréal, QC
Co-Founder and Co-Director of Metalude.ca
Highlight: Works with municipalities and organizations to develop child and youth engagement, playable public space, and child and youth inclusive municipal policy.
Former city councillor in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Montréal, Stephanie piloted play and park projects rooted in children's rights, including Île aux Volcans, the first public space for children of its kind in the city. Along with Margaret Fraser, she co-founded Metalude, with a mission to promote children’s and young people’s right to the city. With a keen interest in cities and people, Stephanie has undertaken numerous participatory activities with children and teenagers to explore their mobility and their connection to their neighborhoods. She has also led the Change ta ville workshops , the Dans la vi(ll)e collective, and Oust, an urban outdoor play club. Her commitment to child-friendly cities continues today with Metalude. Stephanie's studies in geography, political science, play, and public participation enrich her work, as does her experience as an architecture educator and writer in the field of urban studies. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Solon and of the Child-Friendly Municipality Recognition Committee (Espace Muni). Stephanie is also a member of the Association for Public Participation Canada.
Learn more about Stephanie’s work at Metalude.ca.
Accessibility, Housing & Right to the City
Jennifer Barrett
Ottawa, ON
Managing Director, Programs, Planning and Policy at Canadian Urban Institute
Highlight: Leads the Applied Solutions Lab at the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), advancing research, partnerships, and practical solutions to strengthen Canadian communities.
Jennifer Barrett is the Managing Director of Programs, Planning, and Policy at the Canadian Urban Institute, where she leads CUI’s technical practice, the Applied Solutions Lab. The Lab undertakes research, engagement, partnerships, and creative problem-solving to shape public policy, implement best practices, and help public and private sector leaders build capacity and identify solutions. Jennifer has dedicated her career to making Canadian communities better places to live for all. For more than 15 years, she has worked across the non-profit, private development, and municipal sectors, leading projects related to downtown revitalization, main streets, housing and affordable housing, homelessness, local economic development, and community infrastructure. Her work has included initiatives such as Case for the Core and Bring Back Main Street, and has involved engagement across cities including Ottawa, London, Halifax, Victoria, Windsor, Edmonton, and Calgary. Prior to joining CUI, Jennifer worked as a Senior Planner for Housing with the City of Regina and as lead planner at McCamant & Durrett Architects. She is a Registered Professional Planner and holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from McGill University. Jennifer has also taught at McGill University, Drexel University, and the University of Delaware, and is known for mentoring early-career planners and fostering collaborative leadership.
Learn more about Jennifer’s work at Canadian Urban Institute.
Meenu Sikand
Toronto, ON
Founder of Accessibility for All
Highlight: Advocates for accessibility and disability inclusion through policy leadership, research, and community engagement.
Meenu Sikand is a disability rights and equity advocate whose work is guided by lived experience and a deep commitment to putting people first. As a disabled, immigrant woman of colour, she leads with the conviction that barriers do not exist within individuals, but within systems that fail to include them. Her work spans public service, healthcare, and community advocacy, advancing intersectional approaches to accessibility and inclusion. Over 14 years at the Region of Peel as an Accessibility Specialist, Meenu helped implement Ontario’s accessibility legislation, develop accessibility plans, ensure compliance across regulated entities, and support Accessibility Advisory Committees. In 2016, she founded Accessibility for All, where she led research on employment barriers and equitable hiring practices for people with disabilities and presented globally, including at the United Nations, on disability inclusion and economic empowerment. Meenu later served as Executive Lead for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, where she established the organization’s first EDI office. In 2022, she was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister in Ontario’s Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility, where she led the development and implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 2025. Through policy leadership, collaboration, and public engagement, she continues to work toward building a barrier-free Ontario.
Learn more about Meenu’s work at Accessibility for All.
Jill Wigle
Ottawa, ON
Urban Geographer & Associate Professor at Carleton University
Highlight: Conducts research on geographies of housing, informality, urban food security, spatial regulation, anti-poverty programs, urban security, and the right to the city.
As an urban geographer, Dr. Jill Wigle is broadly interested in housing, planning, and urban governance issues and their relationship to precarity and equity. In Mexico City, her research has focused on the geographies of “informal” housing and spatial regulation; everyday planning practices, space, and gender; and city-making and the politics of neighbourhood upgrading. Her research explores access to land and housing, the right to the city, and the ways that “formal” planning practices produce “informality” in different territories of the city. More recently, she has started to explore affordable housing and community land trusts as part of Carleton's multidisciplinary research project, A Safe and Affordable Place to Call Home (2023-2033). At Carleton, she is cross-appointed to the Institute of Political Economy (IPE) and participates in the Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) Program. She is also an active community member and research advisor on the Caring Cities project of the City for All Women’s Initiative (CAWI).
Learn more about Jill’s work at Carleton University.
Terri Sleeva
Regina, SK
Accessibility Advocate and Director at Barrier Free Saskatchewan
Highlight: Advocates for barrier-free communities by advancing accessibility policy, raising awareness of disability rights, and supporting practical solutions that remove everyday barriers.
Terri Sleeva devotes her life to the struggle for peace and justice. She dedicates herself to concerns ranging from anti-poverty, anti-racism, disability, and human rights, to the environmental justice and anti-war movements. She is also a constant ally in Indigenous peoples’ struggle for justice. Terri is active in a variety of roles, with experience in policy development, advocacy, community building, communications and services. As a Director with Barrier Free Saskatchewan, Terri works with a grassroots coalition advocating for accessibility legislation and policies that improve the lives of people with disabilities across the province. Through her advocacy, she raises awareness about accessibility barriers in transportation, public services, and community spaces. Terri is also known for her advocacy for accessible transportation. After being denied access to an intercity bus because she uses a wheelchair, she filed a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency, which ruled that the bus company must provide accessible service or alternative transportation for passengers with disabilities. She is also part of the Regina Citizen’s Public Transit Coalition, advocating for accessible and affordable transit for residents. Since 2003, Terri has also worked with the Tetra Society of North America, coordinating the Regina chapter and helping volunteers develop customized assistive devices that help people overcome everyday physical barriers.
Learn more about Terri’s work through Barrier Free Saskatchewan.
Policy, Design & Urban Systems
Zahra Ebrahim
Toronto, ON
Co-Founder of Monumental Projects
Highlight: Leads community-driven design and policy innovation that bridges grassroots knowledge and institutional decision-making to shape more equitable cities.
Zahra Ebrahim is a public interest designer and strategist, and an established bridge builder across grassroots and institutional spaces. Her work has focused on community-led approaches to policy, infrastructure, and service design. Prior to Monumental, she built and led Doblin Canada, Deloitte’s Human-Centred Design practice. She is also a co-author of the book, Messy Cities, which argues for spontaneity and urban workarounds as essential elements for thriving cities. In her early career, Zahra led one of Canada’s first social design studios, working with communities to co-design towards better social outcomes, leading some of Canada’s most ambitious participatory infrastructure and policy programs. Zahra has taught at OCADU, MoMA, and is currently an Urbanist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. She has been recognized as a Next City Vanguard Civic Leader, Ascend Canada’s Mentor of the Year, one of “Tomorrow’s Titans” in Toronto Life magazine, one of WXN’s Top 100 Women in Canadian Business, and most recently recognized as one of the Urban Land Institute’s WLI Champions. Zahra is currently a Board Member of the Toronto Arts Council, the Canadian Urban Institute, and Board Chair for Park People. Her work has been featured across international media, and she regularly delivers speaking engagements to audiences across the country.
Learn more about Zahra’s work at Monumental.
Dominique Boulet
Montréal, QC
Coordinator & Research Lead at Curbcut
Highlight: Advances justice- and inclusivity-focused urban research through accessible digital tools that help communities explore and address complex urban issues.
Dominique is the Research Lead at Curbcut, ensuring all solutions are accessible and user-centred for diverse audiences. The company offers web platforms to help address urban issues, allowing users to explore diverse urban issues across multiple spatial and temporal scales with a justice- and inclusivity-focused approach. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Psychology, a Masters of Arts in Anthropology of Education and Globalisation, and a Master of Urban Planning. Her research work has focused on topics of Private Public Space, the Potential Education of Urban Place, and Walking in Pursuit of a City as Soft as a Body. Dominique Co-Founded the DPU Gender Film Club at Aarhus University, worked as a Program Coordinator at the Canadian Museums Association, and has held numerous research-based roles.
Learn more about Dominique’s work at Curbcut.
Leslie Kern
Cambridge, ON
Author & Speaker on Feminist Cities and Gentrification
Highlight: Wrote groundbreaking books about gender and spatial inequities cities, including Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World and Gentrification Is Inevitable And Other Lies.
Leslie Kern is a writer, speaker, and coach known for her best-selling book Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World. Leslie’s work provokes new modes of thinking about and creating cities that are more just, equitable, and sustainable. Through engaging talks and publications, Leslie aims to inspire diverse audiences of city builders, placemakers, and residents to imagine innovative ways to make our cities work for everyone. Leslie was an associate professor of geography and environment and feminist and gender studies at Mount Allison University from 2009-2024, before leaving to focus on writing, speaking, consulting, and coaching. Her research has earned a Fulbright Visiting Scholar Award, a National Housing Studies Achievement Award, and several national multi-year grants. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages. Leslie’s writing has appeared in Nature, The Guardian, Vox, Bloomberg CityLab, LitHub, and Refinery29, and in her Substack newsletter, Writing, In Practice. She is also a career and writing coach for academics and authors.
Learn more about Leslie’s work on her website.
Mobility, Transportation & Healthy Cities
Jen Malzer
Calgary, AB
Leader of Community Projects at City of Calgary
Highlight: Advances sustainable and active transportation through community-led projects, innovative traffic calming approaches, and leadership in the transportation profession.
Jen Malzer is a Transportation Engineer and proven leader in creative project delivery for better mobility in Calgary and Canada. Jen was drawn to Alberta to live near the mountains and to work in sustainable transportation. For twenty years, she has worked on multi-modal projects, ranging from heavy truck emission modelling to public transit planning, to her current work focused on community-level active modes planning at The City of Calgary. Jen most enjoys contributing ideas and helping build communities of practice, serving as president of CITE (Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers) Canada’s community of transportation professionals from 2015-2017. In addition to her current work, Jen represents Canada on the ITE International Board, is the current co-chair of the Women of ITE subcommittee- a group looking to advance gender equity in transportation, and sits on the Vélo Canada Bikes board. At the City of Calgary, she is pioneering new approaches to traffic calming, like streets labs, and leads a monthly series for cross-corporate public servants at The City of Calgary’s Innovation Lab to ideate collaborative solutions to imagine and deliver better services to and for Calgarians.
Learn more about Jen’s work on her LinkedIn profile.
Meghan Winters
Burnaby, BC
Professor, Lead of CHATR Lab, CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Gender and Sex in Healthy Cities
Highlight: Works on Epidemiology, GIS applications, built environment & health, transportation & city design
Dr. Meghan Winters is an epidemiologist interested in the link between health, transportation, and city design. She is currently leading the REACH-Cities (REsearch and ACtion for Healthy Cities) project, which is a 6-year (2022 -2028) Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded program that seeks to identify and implement practical ways to incrementally embed equity considerations into city planning processes and advance the work of healthy and equitable cities. Dr. Winters is conducting research and knowledge exchange activities collaboratively with local governments and health authorities. Her primary interests are on the built environment and health; non-motorized travel, physical activity and mobility; cycling and pedestrian injuries; age-friendly city design; intervention studies and natural experiments; spatial analyses of health and transportation-related outcomes. She received her Ph.D. in 2011 from the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She completed a brief post-doctoral fellowship at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, studying on older adults' mobility and the built environment.
Learn more about Meghan’s work at Simon Fraser University on the CHATR Lab and REACH-Cities project.
Rebecca Denley
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Founder & Program Director of SHIFT NWT
Highlight: Advocates for cycling programs in car-dependent cities in the Northwest Territories, and encouraging more people to try out bikes beyond “recreation”.
Rebecca Denley is a professional architect, registered with the NWTAA and the RAIC. She holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts and Cultural Studies from York University, followed by a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. For 13 years, she worked with Taylor Architecture Group, and in 2024, joined Housing NWT as a Senior Facility Planner, focusing on designing and researching sustainable housing solutions for Northern communities. In Yellowknife, her work extends beyond architecture. She launched SHIFT NWT, a bike-share program offering free access to bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and e-trikes to encourage active transportation. Additionally, she is involved in the YK Healthy Urban Policy Team, where she helps promote sustainable urban growth and community well-being in her compact northern city.
Learn more about Becca’s work at Shift NWT.
Cassie Smith
Ottawa, ON
Strategic Lead, Transportation at EnviroCentre
Highlight: Leads Kidical Mass in Ottawa and advocates for safer, more sustainable transportation systems for families and communities.
Cassie Smith is a mobility researcher and safe streets advocate who works as the Strategic Lead, Transportation at EnviroCentre, a non-profit focused on transformative, collaborative, equitable, and practical climate action. She is a board member of Bike Ottawa and a volunteer with For Our Kids (a grassroots climate advocacy organization) and School Streets Ottawa. Her experiences caring for young children in a car-centric suburban environment during the climate crisis led her to return to academia, where she completed a Master of Arts in Geography at Carleton University. Her thesis, “What Will It Take to Make Non-Work Trips Sustainable? A Feminist Analysis of Transitions in Transportation Policies and Practice,” examines how transportation systems can better support everyday mobility. Cassie is a self-proclaimed “cargo bike mom” who wants to make it possible for all people to safely and confidently travel by sustainable modes of transportation. She became community champion at the Wheels of Change award at Ontario Bike Summit in 2024. Prior to starting her M.A., Cassie had thirteen years of professional experience managing major events and projects, including the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the Visions for Canada 2042 Conference at Carleton University.
Learn more about Cassie’s work on her LinkedIn profile.
Beyond International Women’s Day
IWD 2026 is a moment to celebrate, but the work does not stop here. The inspiring women and gender-diverse leaders we’ve highlighted continue to drive meaningful change—and their work grows stronger with collective support.
You can play a role in advancing gender equity by investing in the people and organizations leading this movement. You can show your support for them (and us!) by learning more, following their journeys, subscribing/following, becoming a member, and/or making a donation.
Together, we can continue building momentum and ensure even more women, gender-diverse people, and allies help shape our cities for the better—today, tomorrow, and beyond IWD 2026. We look forward to seeing even more people advancing gender equity in their communities between now and IWD 2027!
