About Us
As a national non-profit organization, The Women’s History Project’s ambition is to advance women’s equality by promoting the role, achievements and contributions of women in Canadian history.
Working with partner organizations, we will provide opportunities for discovering women's history through conversations, discussions, storytelling, multimedia productions and art. We aim to generate awareness, educate, advocate and create future change.
Who we are
Get to know our passionate board members who are bringing life to a project they have long envisioned with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers.
Board Members
Debra Davis
President
With over 40-years of experience in strategic communications, engagement and project management, Debra has an extensive background in the private, volunteer and public sectors working at local, national and international levels. She is an active feminist, supporting women candidates in her career as a political organizer, managing a Canada-UK women’s program as Counsellor Public Affairs at the Canadian High Commission in London (1999-2001), serving as a board member of the Arab International Women’s Forum (2001-2010) and the Ottawa Women’s March, (2019-2020). Debra returned to Ottawa in 2016 and rejoined the public service. She has had a long interest in the history of women, the equality movement and social justice.
Deborah Morrison
Vice-President
Prior to joining Experiences Canada as President and CEO in 2014, Deborah served 12 years as President and CEO of Winnipeg-based Canada’s History Society and publisher of Canada’s History magazine and Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at both the Historica Foundation of Canada (Historica Canada) and The CRB Foundation, coordinating the launch of the well-known Heritage Minutes and developing many of their educational and outreach programs.
Catherine Bélanger
Director, Sponsorship and Fundraising
Catherine Bélanger is the President of KatiCorp Inc, a strategic consulting company based in Ottawa. Catherine started her professional career as an executive search consultant before joining the public sector, developing expertise in public policy development, strategic planning and strategic communications. She has worked with the Canadian Coast Guard, the National Capital Commission, the Treasury Board and the Correctional Service of Canada. Catherine is Co-chair of the REACH Auction Gala in Ottawa, supporting legal aid for disabled persons, and is a member of several boards of directors, including the ALS Society of Canada and the Canadiana Foundation supporting Canada’s Official Residences.
Frances Wright, C.M., A.O.E.
Director
Based in Calgary, Frances is an entrepreneur who has launched several businesses specializing in economic development, public engagement and government relations. From 1996 to 2005, Frances served as the Co-Founder and CEO of the Famous 5 Foundation. As of January 2022, Frances is the CEO of the F5F once again in preparation of the 95th Anniversary of the "Persons" Case on Oct. 18, 2024. In February 2019, Frances completed an 18-year-old project when the Senate of Canada finally agreed to restore O Canada to its inclusive nature – True patriot love, in ALL of US command! She has been instrumental in launching charities such as Women’s Justice, Youth Clubs of Calgary and the Canadian Centre for Adult Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (cc4ms).
Dawn Lavell-Harvard
Director
Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard, Ph.D., is a proud member of the Wikwemikong First Nation. The first Aboriginal Trudeau Scholar, Lavell-Harvard has worked to advance the rights of Aboriginal women as the President of the Ontario Native Women’s Association from 2003 to 2021. Dawn has been the Director for First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University since 2016, having left her previous role as President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada in order to return to her roots as an educator.
Jackie Neapole
Director
Jacqueline Neapole is the executive director of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. A committed feminist, she has also worked at the Feminist Alliance for International Action and as an activist in various social justice movements.
Mary Jessop
Chief Financial Officer
As a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 40-years of experience as a Finance manager and Director. Her career has spanned many industries and not-for-profits, including Nortel, the Liberal Party of Canada and currently the Metis Nation of Ontario. An active volunteer in both the political and women’s rights arenas, Mary has put her skills in service to promoting social justice.
Communications and Marketing Team
Catherine Morrison
Communications Advisor
Kelcieya Ratnarajah
Social Media Specialist
Victoria Doherty
Graphic Designer