Women of Impact interactive map

Kim Campbell, Canada's first woman prime minister, was born in 1947 in Port Alberni.

Advocate Raven Lacerte, co-founder of the Moose Hide Campaign, is based in Victoria. Emily Carr, iconic painter and writer, and Nell Shipman, a pioneer in filmmaking, were both born in Victoria.

Politician Rosemary Brown, scientist Jennifer Gardy, entrepeneur Karina Hayat, writer Joy Kogawa, aircraft designer Elsie MacGill, educator and activistHide Hyodo Shimizu and social activist Nellie Yip Quong have all called Vancouver home.

Cindy Blackstrock, Indigenous children’s rights advocate and member of the Gitxsan First Nation, was born in Burns Lake.

Rose Charlie, a Sts'Ailes chief and Indigenous leader, was born on the Chehalis Reserve.

Rita Johnston, Canada's first woman premier, began her political career in Surrey.

Geomatics engineering expert Elizabeth Cannon was the first woman to lead the University of Calgary as its president.

Muriel Stanlsy Vennehas dedicated more than four decades advocating for equality for Indigenous women and children. She is the first Indigenous woman to have a provincial government building named for her, the Muriel Stanley Venne Provincial Centre in Edmonton.

Journalist, editor and feminist author Doris Anderson was born in Medicine Hat, but spent most of her working life in Toronto.

Nellie Carlson, born on Saddle Lake Cree Nation, is a tireless promoter of Indigenous women's rights.

Legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell was born in Fort MacLeod.

Lila Fahlman, celebrated educator and social justice advocate, was born in Limerick.

Sylvia Fedoruk, Canadian physicist and medical researcher spent her career working in Saskatoon. Physician and international peace advocate Alaa Murabit grew up in Saskatoon.

Mary Greyeyes-Reid, the first Indigenous woman to join the Canadian Army, was born on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie was born on the Piapot Cree First Nation reserve in the Qu'Appelle Valley.

While Jeanne Sauvé's distinguished career is strongly associated with Quebec, the former Governor General was born in Prud'homme.

Politician Sarah Scythes was born and raised in Minnesota, settling near Canora in 1907.

Journalist Cora Hind moved to Winnipeg in 1882, and soon became a correspondent for the Manitoba Free Press.

Novelist Margaret Laurence, author of Canadian classics The Stone Angel and The Diviners, was born in Neepawa.

Explorer and prospector Kate Rice's copper and nickel discoveries led to the creation of the mining hub in Thompson.

Marie-Anne Gaboury, Canada’s first woman voyageur, spent her final years in St. Boniface, which is also the birthplace of French-Canadian writer Gabrielle Roy..

Author Miriam Toews was born in Steinbach, leaving for Winnipeg at age 18.

Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella, researcher Cheryl Arrowsmith, journalist and war correspondent Kit Coleman, physicist and professor Ursula Franklin, Olympian Abby Hoffman, physician and feminist Emily Howard Stowe, and journalist and activist July Rebick have all called Toronto home.

Flora MacDonald served as the Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands from 1972 until 1988.

Margaret Atwood – world-renowned novelist was born in Ottawa. Adrienne Clarkson, the 26th Governor General came to Ottawa in 1942. Humanitarian Lotta Hitschmanova dedicated her life to USC Canada, headquartered in Ottawa. Mona Nemer was a researcher at the University of Ottawa before being appointed Canada’s Chief Science Advisor.

Elizabeth Bagshaw, advocate for women's reproductive health, grew up in Mariposa Township in rural Ontario.

Physician May Cohen co-founded the first-ever Women's Health Office at McMaster University in Hamilton. Politician Ellen Fairclough was born in Hamilton.

Roberta Bondar, space explorer and neurologist grew up in Sault Ste. Marie.

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, Indigenous women's rights advocate, was born into the Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary, abolitionist and publisher opened a racially integrated school in Windsor. Wafa Dabbagh, a pioneer in the Canadian Armed Forces, began her career by mistakenly walking into a Windsor recruiting centre.

Barbara Hanley was the first woman mayor in Canada when she was elected in Webbwood in 1936.

Harriet Brooks, pioneering physicist and student of Sir Ernest Rutherford, was born in Exeter.

Emily Pauline Johnson, writer and entertainer, was born on the Six Nations Reserve southeast of Brantford.

Elsie Knott, pioneering First Nations chief, led the Anishinaabe Curve Lake First Nation until 1960.

Shannen Koostachin began a national movement for Indigenous education rights by advocating for a new school in Attawapiskat.

Cuddles for Cancer founder Faith Dickinson was born and raised in Lakefield.

Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie, nurse, teacher and Army colonel, was born in Port Arthur.

Politician Agnes Macphail was born in Grey County, which is now the village of Dundalk.

Short story writer and Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro was born in Wingham, the setting of many of her stories.

Linda Hasenfratz is the CEO of Linamar, Canada’s second-largest automobile parts manufacturer, based in Guelph. Esther Hill, the first woman to earn an architectural degree in Canada, was born in Guelph.

War of 1812 hero Laura Secord settled with her husband in Queenston.

Trailblazing physician Ann Augusta Stowe-Gullen graduated from Victoria College in Cobourg.

Military trailblazer Louise Fish is Director of Risk Management at Trent University in Peterborough.

Bertha Wilson, lawyer and former Supreme Court Justice settled in Renfrew.

Former senator Cairine Wilson was born in Montréal, settling in Cumberland after she married in 1909.

Novelist Marie-Claire Blais was born in Québec City, in the neighbourhood of Limoilou. Botanist Gisèle Lamoureux graduated from Université Laval with a master’s degree in Forest Ecology. Léa Roback was a union organizer who grew up in the Beauport borough of Québec City.

Thérèse Dallaire-Laplante, women's rights advocate, was born in Saint-Bruno.

Isabelle Hudon, an award-winning businesswoman and Canada’s Ambassador to France, was born in Beauharnois.

Emma Albani, international operatic superstar of the 19th century, was born in Chambly.

Feminist advocate Gabrielle Bouchard, grew up in Abitibi, eventually relocating to Montréal.

Montréal is the birthplace of lawyer Louise Arbour; feminist Nicole Brossard; social reformer Thérèse Casgrain; politician Françoise David; painter Betty Goodwin; journalist Naomi Klein and Indigo Books CEO Heather Reisman.

Jeanne Brault Laurin, Canada's first woman mechanic, spent her childhood in the family-owned garage in Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois.

Scientist and professor Carrie Derick was born in Clarenceville.

McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier was born in St-Timothée.

Alanis Obomsawin, filmmaker and Indigenous rights activist, grew up on the Odanak reserve northeast of Montréal.

Senator and Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc spent her childhood in Saint-Marc-des-Carrières.

Manon Rhéaume, champion goaltender and women's hockey pioneer, was born in Lac-Beauport.

Mary Two-Axe Early was a courageous Indigenous rights activist from Kahnawà:ke.

Sheila Watt-Cloutier, activist, author and political representative, was born in Kuujjuak, where she had a traditional Inuit upbringing.

Molly Lamb Bobak, painter, writer, teacher and printmaker, was a longtime resident of Fredericton.

Acadian singer-songwriter Édith Butler grew up in the remote community of Paquetville.

Gertrude Harding was born on a farm in Welsford, leaving Canada in 1912 to join the militant suffragette movement in London.

World-famous operatic contralto Portia White was born in Truro, later and training at the Halifax Conservatory of Music.

Anna Mae Aquash was a First Nations activist and teacher born into the Mi'kmaq First Nation at Indian Brook.

Civil rights crusaders Viola Desmond and Carrie Best both lived in New Glasgow.

Ann Divine helps empower women to achieve their business goals as CEO of Ashanti Leadership and Professional Development Services in Halifax. Muriel Duckworth, lifelong advocate for peace and women's rights, was a familiar face at Halifax anti-war rallies during her more than 50 years of activism. Pioneering diplomat Margaret Meagher was born in Halifax and began her career as a teacher there.

Rose Fortune, Canada's first woman police officer, came with her family to Annapolis Royal at age 10.

Poet and songwriter Rita Joe, known as the Poet Laureate of the Mi'kmaq people, was born in Whycocomagh.

Angèle Arsenault, acclaimed Acadian singer-songwriter and media personality, was born in Abrams Village.

Catherine Callbeck,former Premier of Prince Edward Island and the first woman elected to this position in Canada, was born in Central Bedeque.

Lucy Maud Montgomery, writer of the iconic Anne of Green Gables series, was born in New London.

Marion Reid, politician and former Lieutenant Governor of PEI, was born in North Rustico.

Armine Nutting Gosling, women's rights advocate, moved to St. John's in 1882 to become principal of the Church of England Girls' School.

Born near Churchill Falls, Innu elder Elizabeth Penashue was relocated to Sheshatshiu with members of her community in the early 1960s.

Grace Patten Sparkes, a teacher and political activist, was born in Grand Bank and spent her career in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Award-winning singer/songwriter Susan Aglukark grew up in Arviat.

Kenojuak Ashevak, pioneering artist, was born at Ikirisaq, and later settled in the burgeoning arts community of Cape Dorset.

Tanya Tagaq, throat singer-songwriter and performer, was born in Iqaluktuutiaq before moving to Yellowknife as a teenager.

Ethel Blondin-Andrew, trailblazing politician and member of the Dene Nation, was born at Fort Norman.

Politician Nellie Cournoyea was born in Aklavik.

Helen Kalvak, prolific artist chronicling the traditional lives of the Copper Inuit was born at Tahiryuak Lake, Victoria Island.

Mary K. Okheena, artist, printmaker and storyteller, was raised in the remote community of Ulukhaktok.

Canadian businesswoman, naturalist and politician Martha Black left high society to join the Klondike Gold Rush, moving to Dawson City in 1898.

Ione Jean Christensen, former Canadian senator, is a fourth generation Yukoner who moved to Whitehorse as a teenager.