Tanya Rowntree
Global Head of Client Success, TMX Group
Tanya’s mother raised her with the belief that she would be successful at whatever career she chose. With this mindset and the drive to work full-time to support herself through university, Tanya has built a remarkable career in finance and leads networking and educational events to ensure other women have the same opportunities.
Tanya Rowntree
“Seeing the growth and development of young women and changing their lives, that has been the most rewarding thing I’ve been a part of.”
Tara Cochrane
Founder and Creative Director, Wonderkind
Tara had a small-town upbringing, then studied broadcast journalism at Belleville University knowing that she wanted to work in communications and storytelling. After her daughter’s birth, Tara shifted from broadcasting to post-production, then through her daughter’s school met her future business partner Shawna. They founded Wonderkind; a gift catering service that brings together traditional, unique and thoughtful gifts from over 100 women entrepreneurs, makers and artists across Canada. “Be confident in who you are and everything you have worked for. Keep your attitude and heart positive and open to the possibilities, because I believe anything is possible.”
Tara Cochrane
“My passion and interest in supporting women in all the endeavors of their life. When I learned about CAN Fund #150Women it was just a natural fit because I was inspired by the work that was being done to support women and athletes. So it was like there was no question, I just wanted to be a part of it.”
Tasha Kheiriddin
Principal and Navigator Ltd.
Tasha is a writer, speaker, political commentator, and. Throughout her career, Tasha has become an expert communicator across various media. “Always make a personal connection. Do your homework and research and see each story, interview, or speech as an opportunity to learn.
Tasha Kheiriddin
“I joined CAN Fund #150Women to support Canada’s female athletes, but got so much more in return. Inspiring stories, networking opportunities, friendship and support for my own dreams are just some of the benefits. CAN Fund #150Women is a win-win for all Canadian women!”
Tracey Sanderson
Co-Founder and Director of Media & PR at WRLWND Marketing Agency, Shopify Store Owner, Former Marketing and Communications Executive - KPMG
More than anyone, Tracey understands the importance of connection and relationships through being a mother, volunteering with animals, and through her extensive marketing and communications experience. Tracey is now fostering her entrepreneurial spirit with two new ventures and believes it is never too late to follow your dreams and passions.
Tracey Sanderson
“BE EPIC means: Being the best mother I can to my three teenage boys and fur babies. After dealing with breast cancer and losing family members to this disease- live every day like it's your last and lead with purpose. Lead by example and stand up for what is right and advocate for those less fortunate who don’t have a voice. Be kind to yourself and others.”
May Cheng
Senior Partner and Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
May Cheng as a mother of two has confidence in her children carving out their own paths in life, just as May has done in her prolific law career. As a Senior Partner specializing in trademark, copyright, and intellectual property, May wrote the IP statutes and regulations for the Bahamian Government enabling them to be a part of the World Trade Organization and helping them succeed on the world stage. As a woman in law, May champions other women in her firm, her industry, through CAN Fund #150Women, and more!”
May Cheng
“I loved the idea of women helping women. In my career path I saw how important it was to have women as role models and support systems, so to do that directly through CAN Fund #150Women is super special. We talk about doing it all the time but to see it in action is a whole other level.”
Stacey Keller
Founder/CEO of Ponyback Inc.
Admiring her parents, there has always been a part of Stacey Keller that wanted to become an entrepreneur. Stacey graduated from Wilfred Laurier University and went on to become a high school business teacher. As a teacher and a mother of 3 boys, Stacey’s summers were mostly spent outside and she was an advocate for wearing hats to protect from the sun. Stacey liked wearing hats, but typical ponytail hats weren’t a good solution when she wanted to wear her hair down. Stacey bought a stretchy hat, cut the back open, and began creating solutions on how to make a hat that could be worn both ways. Sitting in her kitchen, Stacey eyed the magnets on her fridge. She slid the magnets into each of the sides of the hat’s seams and then the hat just closed. “My initial reaction was "this is it!.” The moment I heard about CAN Fund #150Women, I donated. CAN Fund #150Women is in alignment with my vision for Ponyback hats, encouraging women to become and grow into their best selves. I am doing this by selling hats and CAN Fund #150Women is doing it by supporting female athletes.
Stacey Keller
“I am just so proud that I actually went for it. There were so many reasons why I could have talked myself out of it. I did it and I stuck with it.”
“It’s incredible. Having that team, support and women supporting women, it’s amazing! CAN Fund #150Women is making such a difference for our female Canadian athletes” – Ellie Black – gymnastics, CAN Fund #150Women recipient
CAN Fund Alumni #150Women
Carmelina Moscato
CAN Fund Alumni - Soccer, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist and Canada’s first Olympic Medal in a summer sport since Berlin 1936, Penn State Student Athlete and Former Professional Soccer Player, Commissioner of League1 Ontario
Carmelina is truly the CEO of her life, going from a leader on the field with extremely proficient technical abilities and a passion for the game to now forming genuine connections and fighting for the needs of players, coaches, and investors alike as the League1 Ontario Commissioner. CAN Fund had a huge impact on Carmelina and her teammates’ ability to perform at their best during their career, so Carmelina became a CAN Fund #150Women member to give back to this inspiring and energetic community of women supporting women!
Carmelina Moscato
“An investment is never lost when it is on yourself. Get curious about your capacity and explore in order to maximize your own potential. Know your values and stay true to them.”
Isolda Penney
CAN Fund Alumni- Rowing, Rowing Coach
Former elite sculler and two time CAN Fund recipient, Isolda is a strong Canadian female role model having spent years demonstrating how to have a career as a professional athlete while being an incredible mother of three. With a heart for service and a great love of the pursuit of excellence, Isolda now passes on her expertise as a rowing coach for up and coming athletes.”
Isolda Penney
“People used to always say ‘what a good husband you must have to tolerate you doing this’, And I DO have a great husband, but others used to treat it like I was doing a hobby. That was my job, and females need that to be recognized and respected for that!”
Jayna Hefford
CAN Fund Alumni- Ice Hockey, 5 time Olympian (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014), Speaker on Adaptability, Change, Successful Cultures & Diversity
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame hockey legend, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and mother of three, Jayna is an expert in creating successful team culture. Jayna is an integral part of women’s hockey evolution as the head of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) fighting for increased resources, investment, and opportunity for the players.
Jayna Hefford
“Female athletes are so resilient as they have generally had to fight to get where they are. Especially in hockey and other sports that aren't considered a ‘women's sport’, you break the norms and in doing so you develop a toughness and resilience about you.”
Katy Murdoch
CAN Fund Alumni- Swimming, Associate Investment Counsellor - QV Investors
Katy Murdoch, retired swimmer and CAN Fund recipient, shares her words of wisdom with athletes who are transitioning from sport into their next career.
Katy Murdoch
“Never stop learning. Sell yourself on all of the skills that you have, because even though you may not have conventional work experience, you do have a ton of other experiences that are extremely valuable. Travelling around the world, learning how to win and lose; no one knows how to perfect themselves like athletes do. Enjoy the challenge and be patient! It took years to get to the level you were in your sport, so be kind to yourself as you start in your next career.”
Sami Jo Small
CAN Fund Alumni- Ice Hockey, 3 time Olympian (1998, 2002, 2006), Professional Speaker, Author – The Role I Played, Stanford Graduate- Mechanical Engineering
After an injury thwarted her javelin career, Sami Jo shifted focus to hockey. She goaltended on the national team for 10 years and is a three-time Olympic medalist, winning 2 gold and 1 silver. Now Sami Jo is a professional speaker, sharing her Olympic experiences and encouraging others to create supportive teams. “I try to live every day proud of what I’m doing. I focus on the simple things like homeschooling my daughter Kensi, supporting my husband Billy on his quest to his 6th Paralympics, and having the ability to be unselfish.”
Sami Jo Small
“Make a difference in your life, and in someone else's life. From small gestures to something huge like CAN Fund. Make a difference in small ways everyday.”
Tonya Verbeek
CAN Fund Alumni- Wrestling, 3 time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012), First woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling, Wrestling coach for Canada
Tonya was the first woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling when she took home a silver for Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games. She would later add a bronze medal in 2008 and a second silver at her last Olympics in 2012 in London. After retiring, she found a love for coaching! Tonya sympathizes with how she imagines athletes must feel during this difficult time. She shares her words of wisdom on how to overcome this uncertainty: You have one more year to be better and one more year to do what you love. Ask yourself why you do what you do? What do you stand for? What are you committed to? Re-evaluating and revisiting WHY we do what we do is really important.
Tonya Verbeek
“Trust in the process, stay on track as best as you can and accept where you are currently.”
