Inspire Me!
Going Far, Together at the 2024 Inspiring Leadership Forum presented by TD
The University of Regina’s Inspiring Leadership Forum presented by TD returns on March 27, 2024 for its 15th anniversary year. Tickets are now available for this day-long event that brings together people from Saskatchewan and beyond for a day of thought-provoking presentations by renowned keynote speakers and inspiring panelists, exciting networking opportunities, and meaningful in-person interactions.
These women’s experiences speak to the power of working within and cultivating community.
— Pam Klein, Forum Chair; Chancellor, University of Regina
Over the years, the Forum has welcomed more than 9,740 attendees, and 43 keynote speakers, including such recognizable names as former Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould, singer-songwriter Jann Arden, child safety advocate Elizabeth Smart, international war correspondent Lyse Doucet, former Prime Minister Kim Campbell, and former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robertson, among others. The theme for this year’s Forum is Go Far, Together. Drawn from the U of R’s tagline, it acknowledges that only through a collective spirit do we stand the best chance to succeed, and each of the 2024 Forum’s featured speakers exemplify that collective spirit in different ways:
Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights activist who gained worldwide attention when she removed her hijab and posted a photo on her Facebook page standing proudly with her hair blowing in the wind. “I believe that the time has come that we have to get together and we have to stick together,” Alinejad says. “We’re not just protecting women and men who are fighting various autocracies. We are fighting for democracy across the globe.”
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a humanitarian, advocate, mountaineer, and explorer. In 2014, she launched Courageous Girls, a not-for-profit that helps survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking. In 2016, Vasquez-Lavado climbed Everest, and two years later completed all of the Seven Summits, becoming the first openly gay woman to do so. “Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from mountaineering have been the opportunities to work as part of a team,” says Vasquez-Lavado. “When you’re mountaineering, you're not leading yourself. The goal is not for you to reach your end goal —the goal is for everybody to accompany as far as they can.”
Lisa LaFlamme has been at the forefront of journalism for more than 30 years, traveling the globe, delivering breaking news, and bringing it back home to Canadians. The veteran journalist is the recipient of 12 Canadian Screen Awards, consecutive RTDNA awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award for broadcasting and journalism. In 2023, The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television awarded LaFlamme with the Gordon Sinclair Award in recognition of her exceptional body of work in broadcast journalism. “We're obviously a polarized country right now — in a polarized world:” LaFlamme says. “It really is up to all of us to look at what kind of society do we want to live in.”
“From Masih Alinejad’s advocacy for women’s rights in Iran, to Silvia Vasquez-Lavado’s humanitarian work with survivors of sexual abuse, and Lisa LaFlamme’s career as a boundary-breaking journalist, these women’s experiences speak to the power of working within and cultivating community,” says Pam Klein, Chair, Inspiring Leadership Forum, and Chancellor, University of Regina. “We’re thrilled to be able to present these amazing keynote speakers at the 2024 Forum.
The Forum is also an opportunity to meet future leaders through the presentation of the 2023 Inspiring Leadership Academic Entrance Fellowship. This $30,000 four-year scholarship is awarded annually to a student entering her first year of university from high school, who has demonstrated a potential to lead through volunteerism, community service, and academic success.
This year’s recipient is Telia Lafontaine, a first-year student enrolled in the University of Regina’s Faculty of Nursing. A high-achieving student, Telia has also volunteered her time to several not-for-profit organizations including St. John Ambulance, Canadian Wildlife Federation, and Regina Open Door Society. Following graduation from the U of R, Telia plans to pursue work as a registered nurse in rural Saskatchewan. “Small towns still struggle trying to recruit, maintain and retain health workers because it is not an easy life,” Lafontaine says. “But what I see in rural towns is strength of community, strength of family and strong values. I look forward to learning new things, and being a part of a small community while helping others get through their medical challenges.”
Register now for the 2024 Inspiring Leadership Forum presented by TD.
The 2024 Inspiring Leadership Forum will be held on March 27, 2024 at the Viterra International Trade Centre at the REAL District.