Redefining Power
The summer is always an exciting time—lazy afternoons spent dockside with friends, longer days, barbecues in the park, and liberation from the down-filled prisons of our winter coats. It’s also a time that we look forward to here at Bay Street Bull when we release our annual assembly of the people and businesses that are shaping Canada.
Now in its sixth year, our Power 50 guide has always been a time capsule of sorts, a snapshot into the current zeitgeist that connects the business, tech, and cultural ecosystems into one. As we started planning this year’s crop of inductees early in 2020, we found ourselves having to scrap our original plans (on multiple occasions) as the world continued to rapidly change. Who could have predicted a pandemic that would stop the world from spinning? Or a social justice movement that would reach a boiling point in response to anti-Black racism and systemic police violence sweeping across North America (and around the world.) In light of all this, it was back to the drawing board if we wanted to truly reflect the goings on in our country.
The fact of the matter is, we’ve always tried to showcase power and influence— and the various ways that it is defined. 2020 has forced us to reevaluate what these mean to us. As COVID-19 spread throughout the world, it was met with resilience, determination, and innovation that collectively inspired us all. Healthcare heroes battled on the frontlines of the pandemic, businesses repositioned themselves as lifelines for the community, and tech startups forced themselves to innovate in order to outpace an agile and cunning disease. Our cover story featuring BlueDot founder Dr. Kamran Khan is the perfect example of power redefined. His company harnesses artificial intelligence as an early warning system to predict the proliferation of infectious diseases. In fact, it was BlueDot—a Canadian company—that detected the smoke signals of COVID-19 and raised the alarm a whole nine days before WHO.
Of course, power is a large part of the conversation when it comes to disenfranchised communities, especially within the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. Not only is their Canadian chapter represented in this year’s assemblage, but you’ll also find various leaders and organizations who have made it their mission to rebuild the boardroom by putting more people of colour—more Black men and women—in key decision-making roles.
Change is happening. We’re entering a new era that has ripped apart the rules that traditionally govern business, culture, and ultimately success. We’ve always been a champion of Canadian talent, and this issue is a microcosm of the visionaries, leaders, and game changers who are reshaping the world. I hope you walk away feeling like you can do the same.
Whether at the end of a long day or while basking on a sun-soaked patio, diving into an ice-cold drink is one of the many joys that come with the onset of summer. While we may associate many of these experiences with one form of alcohol or another, there’s a growing number of people who have embraced the zero-booze movement and prefer to hydrate themselves otherwise. Who says water has to be boring? These up-and-coming Canadian brands are proving otherwise. As you settle into summer, refresh yourself with these enticing non-alcoholic and H20-forward options.
Daydream
These Instagrammable cans will make you feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Daydream is Canada’s first sparkling water that’s infused with hemp extracts and adaptogens. The unique blend of ingredients is said to help with memory, focus, and stress reduction. If you’re not a #wellness fanatic, you can at the very least enjoy a sparkling beverage (with flavours like peach ginger, blackberry chai, and cucumber lime) that will tickle your taste buds and ease you into the summer.
Sapsucker
Everybody knows that you need to water plants, but did you know you can drink water from them? Sapsucker’s organic sparkling plant-water is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, with a subtle bubble and slight sweetness. Powered by 46 naturally occurring minerals and packaged in three vibrant cans, it’s the perfect dockside companion for the summer.
Lark
Upgrade your hydration with Lark’s environmentally-friendly glass bottles. A direct response to the mounting climate crisis and environmental pollution, the closed-loop delivery system keeps plastic out of the ocean in the brand’s bid to be an uncompromising option for those who value sustainability. Lark offers flavoured varieties, which include infusions of natural ingredients like roselle, elderflower, and bluebelle vine, as well as traditional still and sparkling water from Ontario. All you have to do is be home for the delivery.
Whether at the end of a long day or while basking on a sun-soaked patio, diving into an ice-cold drink is one of the many joys that come with the onset of summer. While we may associate many of these experiences with one form of alcohol or another, there’s a growing number of people who have embraced the zero-booze movement and prefer to hydrate themselves otherwise. Who says water has to be boring? These up-and-coming Canadian brands are proving otherwise. As you settle into summer, refresh yourself with these enticing non-alcoholic and H20-forward options.
Daydream
These Instagrammable cans will make you feel like you’re floating on a cloud. Daydream is Canada’s first sparkling water that’s infused with hemp extracts and adaptogens. The unique blend of ingredients is said to help with memory, focus, and stress reduction. If you’re not a #wellness fanatic, you can at the very least enjoy a sparkling beverage (with flavours like peach ginger, blackberry chai, and cucumber lime) that will tickle your taste buds and ease you into the summer.
Sapsucker
Everybody knows that you need to water plants, but did you know you can drink water from them? Sapsucker’s organic sparkling plant-water is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, with a subtle bubble and slight sweetness. Powered by 46 naturally occurring minerals and packaged in three vibrant cans, it’s the perfect dockside companion for the summer.
Lark
Upgrade your hydration with Lark’s environmentally-friendly glass bottles. A direct response to the mounting climate crisis and environmental pollution, the closed-loop delivery system keeps plastic out of the ocean in the brand’s bid to be an uncompromising option for those who value sustainability. Lark offers flavoured varieties, which include infusions of natural ingredients like roselle, elderflower, and bluebelle vine, as well as traditional still and sparkling water from Ontario. All you have to do is be home for the delivery.
As communities across Canada slowly ease their way into reopening, it’s important that we don’t forget the lessons we’ve had to learn the past few months in order to get where we are today. What does that mean? Social distancing, liberal hand washing, and the proper use of face masks.
While the non-medical variety may not protect the wearer from coronavirus itself, it can help reduce the spread of respiratory droplets when worn properly and act as an effective hand-to-mouth barrier. Chances are, you’ll need more than one reusable mask in your rotation this summer. Why not go local? Here are a few options to consider.
Historically, silver has widely been used for its antibacterial properties. In fact, NASA uses the material to protect its crew against microbes, as well as for its anti-moisture and anti-odour properties. With this in mind, outerwear purveyor Kanuk weaves silver thread into the fabric of its masks, which also features malleable wire for ease of wear, comes in seven colours and three different sizes. $30
Utilizing her expertise in design, fashion designer Caitlin Power shifted her business model during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to the production of PPE—or rather, CPPE. Made of a reusable, Italian double-layered neoprene fabric, these non-medical masks are made-to-order and come in neutral tones or, for the more adventurous, acid green tie-dye. $30
Canada’s west coast is responsible for some of our most popular fashion exports: lululemon, Aritzia, Arc’teryx, Herschel, wings + horns, and Reigning Champ. Known for their supply of quality athletic wear, the Vancouver-based brand has crafted handmade non-medical masks made from breathable COOLMAX Pique, a durable and flexible material lined with a soft Pima Jersey interior, and a built-in pocket for filters. Complementary with all orders (for a limited time)
While a face mask’s primary focus is utilitarian and preventative in function, that’s not to say that they can’t look great either. Such is the approach of Montreal-based fashion house UNTTLD and their array of stylish masks. Lined with 100 percent cotton and featuring an adjustable nose wire, the sale of each mask also supports women with ten percent going to The Patricia Mackenzie Pavillion, a facility that provides a safe space for all women to stay. $50
Known for their runway confections and decadent evening wear, NARCES’ masks run the gamut from subdued to dramatic to whimsical. Exhibit A? This white organza embroidered lip style that has no shortage of personality and charm. All masks are washable and include a filter pocket for extra protection. $50
In 2020, Canada turns 153 years old. Comparatively speaking, we’re still a young country if you look at our international counterparts but in a relatively short period of time, we’ve come a long way and made our mark. Here in the Great White North, there are a number of things to be proud of: free healthcare, a diverse and multicultural society, a politically stable landscape (not to be taken for granted these days), and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re also home to some of the world’s greatest brands across the board, committed to top-notch quality and craftsmanship.
We’ve decided to put together a collection featuring some of our favourite Canadian brands in celebration of Canada’s big 1-5-3. From the wardrobe, to the bar, to the living room, here are 10 exceptional companies you can find here in our very own backyard. Head over to our regular site for more Glorious Domestic Products.
For those wanting to refurbish their dwellings, look no further than Ontario’s Coolican & Co. Looking to create a small-batch furniture company that prioritized sustainability and design, Peter Coolican launched his eponymous brand of beautifully minimal and functional wares. Committed to responsible production, they source their wood through Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, which only harvests a fifth of one percent of the province’s forests and replaces every tree that is cut down by planting three more.
Founded by Fran Miller in 2014, F. Miller was created as an answer to the market’s lack of skincare essentials that put quality and nature first. Having since expanded from their original Face Oil to a range of products for the face, body, and hair, the common denominator across the mix remains the same: simple, functional items that are free of the bad (synthetics, parabens, phthalates, GMOs, cruelty, compromises) and full of the good (sustainability, transparency, responsibility).
A grassroots craft brewery based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Collective Arts Brewing marries fine beer-making with art. Known for their eclectic cans, the company works with artists to create limited-edition labels that are as unique as the liquid inside. From their Blood Orange & Hibiscus Sour to the Hazy State IPA, each brew is made with creativity and flavour in mind.
Gin fans, rejoice! Located in Toronto’s historic distillery district, Spirit of York crafts world-class spirits through its rigorous quality standards and grain-to-glass approach. Infused with 15 carefully selected botanicals, theirs is a refreshingly crisp gin that can be consumed on its own or paired well inside of a classic cocktail. The microdistillery was also one of the first to respond during the initial wave of COVID-19 by converting their facilities to the production of hand sanitizer.
As the name suggests, Bather encourages people to get out and dive into bliss, whether that’s manifested dockside on a lake or along the beaches of vacation getaway. Canada certainly isn’t known for its warm weather, which makes this swimwear company stand out amongst others. Designed and manufactured in Toronto, each design has a personality and charm of its own, making it the perfect summer companion.
If it’s one thing that Canada does better than anyone else, it’s outerwear. After all, what better an environment to put design and manufacturing skills to the test than our frigid and ever-changing climate. A perennial favourite of the style elite, Sentaler uses Peruvian alpaca wool (known for its soft, heat-regulating, and hypoallergenic properties) in their designs as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to other products on the market. Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, and Gigi Hadid all count themselves as fans.
It’s not often that you hear of a luxury watchmaker coming out of Canada (at least one that you can take seriously) but Birchall & Taylor is the real deal. Founders Charles Birchall and Brad Taylor combined the watchmaking skills they acquired in Switzerland to create the first timepiece under their namesake brand, Reference:1—a beautifully minimal 38mm watch that merges modern design with classic watchmaking skills.
Founded by Corrine Anestopoulos, BIKO is a jewelry brand that crafts pieces for the woman in search of the unique. Drawing inspiration from global treasures, found curiosities, and vintage items, the Canadian brand offers women a high-quality and accessible option to revamp their wardrobes with modern classics.
Tired of fast fashion, what evolved from the hunt for the perfect weekender bag turned into a modern travel and accessories brand. Founded by four intrepid entrepreneurs, Monte & Coe offers a sartorial solution for those in search of dependable and stylish bags primed for a weekend getaway or overseas expedition. Their bags—which range from totes to briefcases—use sustainable wool sourced from a family-run mill in Italy and incorporate eco-friendly practices, meaning vegetable tanned leather free of chemicals.
Hats are not always the easiest to pull off, but if you’re looking for a sartorial coronation, go for the good stuff. Montreal-based Fumile specializes in millinery that is handcrafted and made-to-order. A quick browse through their online boutique brings up a wide range of chapeaus, each with their own distinct and unique personalities.
he luxury car world is a strange place to attempt to justify a sticker price without a healthy exposure to the luxury segment as a whole. It’s a world of why not over why, and a space where (from an outsider’s perspective) the game is always about one-upping the competition in some form or fashion. That said, there’s so much more to the equation—personalization, quality, craftsmanship, unrivaled performance. Once you start scratching beneath the surface it’s easier to see value in any kind of luxury goods at a tangible level. This is a very low production car, built at an extremely high level of detail. From the quality of the woods, leathers, and metals used in its interior, to the size and strength of the bolts holding down the most basic of components, cars like Bentley’s Continental GT V8 are the last of the properly over-engineered cars on the market. It’s excess at its finest, yes, and there’s no way that anyone could ever mutter the words “but I really need to own a Bentley”, but let me tell you that I make absolutely no qualms about wanting one.
Depending on where you’re at in the arc of performance car enjoyment, there might only be parts of this manifesto that you’ll identify with. I’m the first to admit that not that long ago, one of my favourite cars to drive was the rigid Porsche Cayman R, and I have previously spent time lamenting about how I missed Lambo manual gearboxes as well as how I found the Mclaren 650S too foolproof and rookie friendly. That said, I’ve never had ill will towards cars with a comfort bias; more than anything my gripes are with cars that don’t live up to their intended purpose.
The Continental GT V8 Convertible is precisely that—a 542 horsepower luxury GT car built with intent. Will it outpace a current generation Porsche 911 Turbo (which flies in the same price bracket)? Of course not, that’s not what it’s built to do. It could run closer to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but even in that case the two cars aren’t built with the exact same end user in mind. The trade being made with the Continental GT V8 is less about compromise and more about convenience. It’s a big car, measuring nearly 16 feet long and weighing roughly 6,173 pounds. It has ample room for full-grown adults in both front and rear seats (even with the roof closed), and has 235 litres (8.3 cubic feet) of luggage space. By comparison, the modern Porsche’s ‘frunk’ will pack 127 litres (4.5 cubic feet), whereas the similarly focused BMW 8-series convertible claims 348 litres (12.3 cubic feet) with the roof closed. Mind you, the BMW has a section that is lost when driving with the roof down, which we suspect would bring those specs closer to being on par.
It’s worth noting that its large proportions play a key role in its form as much as its function. The Continental GT walks the line between flowy elegance and brutish posturing, in a way that makes it hard to believe that this is the same team that penned the awkward luxo-tank that is the Bentley Bentayga. If given the choice the lines of the coupe will always beat the soft-top, but overall the Continental GT is one of the more well-executed automotive decapitations available today.
There’s also the statement and exclusivity factor that only the likes of Bentley or Rolls-Royce can bring. To some it’s pomp and circumstance, but to others it’s an appreciation of things that take time and craftsmanship to execute. As it stands, Bentley delivers a little over 10,000 cars to the global market annually, and the GT as a whole (coupe, convertible, V8 and W12) makes up 45 percent of that. Even though they’re on the more affordable end of the Bentley spectrum these are seriously scarce cars when compared to most of what’s on the road, and with that comes the added exclusivity of personalization. Outside of body panel modification, if there’s a color palette, material, pattern, logo, or just about anything else you want in or on your Bentley, you can have it. That’s a level of ‘treat yo self’ that isn’t readily available from your run-of-the-mill GTs.
From behind the wheel, the Continental GT V8 Convertible is a lesson in balance. Those who shop the spec sheet will be quick to balk at the fact that the Convertible’s 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds is a touch slower than that of a similarly priced Aston Martin, Porsche, or Mercedes AMG GT, but there are countless ways in which this statistic is painfully irrelevant. One doesn’t fall in love with a car for its spec sheet, but rather for its experience, its quality, and (to use a BMW tagline) the joy of driving. This is where the Bentley shines, and effectively outshines its competition. Its raspy, burbling 4.0-litre V8 engine might not be loud enough to wake your neighbors (leave that to the Mustangs and Lambos of the world), but as soon as you get your foot down on the throttle you’ll be grinning ear-to-ear. There’s a sharpness to the chassis of this new iteration that was lacking in the previous Continental as well, to the point that while this is still meant to be a grand touring ‘gentleman’s cruiser’, Bentley has clearly answered the call of the more spirited drivers out there.
Back to the point of balance, a key differentiator between the Continental and other supposed price category competitors is the fact that this thing is clearly built to log all the miles regardless of environment. It can be smooth when it needs to be smooth, edgy when it needs to be edgy, and pretty much anything in between. Having spent a couple of days at the wheel departing through Phoenix in rush hour, then up through a litany of winding mountain passes and through state parks, it didn’t matter whether it was rush hour or a hard sprint through the desert—the Continental GT V8 handled it all gracefully. Once you start dipping a toe into more performance-bias cars, you start sacrificing that comfort for the sake of lap times that 90 percent of drivers will never put to use. Owning this convertible means that so long as the weather’s on your side, you’ll seldom find a time where it wouldn’t be the ride of choice. Given our Canadian climate, this would earn a few more points for the fixed roof version, but with COVID-19 doing its thing and thoughts of road trips looming, the convertible would make for a mighty fine companion.
For so long, Canada has been known as the quiet and unassuming nation that shyly whispered its accomplishments from the sidelines. But those days are coming to an end. We have much to be proud of and as we continue to further establish ourselves as leaders in the global landscape, we’ve found our voice—and we’ve got something to say.
We believe in progress. We believe in innovation, growth, and reflection. We believe in cultivating talent and supporting local industries while simultaneously setting forth to conquer the world.
That’s what our POWER 50 guide is about. In our sixth annual iteration, we’ve assembled the pathfinding change-makers and visionary companies who are shaping Canada and doing us proud. Feel free to be inspired.
Be sure to use #BSBPower50 to share your thoughts on social media.
The thing about public health is that if it’s working the way it’s supposed to, you’d never hear about it. But when drinking water’s no longer clean, or diseases start rampaging through the population the value of it becomes painfully obvious. It says something about this particular moment in history that Canadian public health officials have become celebrities. Scientifically minded, composed in the face of dizzying uncertainty, and yet intimately attuned to the suffering of the people they are charged with protecting, these leaders have been our anchors in the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The thing about public health is that if it’s working the way it’s supposed to, you’d never hear about it. But when drinking water’s no longer clean, or diseases start rampaging through the population the value of it becomes painfully obvious. It says something about this particular moment in history that Canadian public health officials have become celebrities. Scientifically minded, composed in the face of dizzying uncertainty, and yet intimately attuned to the suffering of the people they are charged with protecting, these leaders have been our anchors in the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The thing about public health is that if it’s working the way it’s supposed to, you’d never hear about it. But when drinking water’s no longer clean, or diseases start rampaging through the population the value of it becomes painfully obvious. It says something about this particular moment in history that Canadian public health officials have become celebrities. Scientifically minded, composed in the face of dizzying uncertainty, and yet intimately attuned to the suffering of the people they are charged with protecting, these leaders have been our anchors in the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The thing about public health is that if it’s working the way it’s supposed to, you’d never hear about it. But when drinking water’s no longer clean, or diseases start rampaging through the population the value of it becomes painfully obvious. It says something about this particular moment in history that Canadian public health officials have become celebrities. Scientifically minded, composed in the face of dizzying uncertainty, and yet intimately attuned to the suffering of the people they are charged with protecting, these leaders have been our anchors in the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The thing about public health is that if it’s working the way it’s supposed to, you’d never hear about it. But when drinking water’s no longer clean, or diseases start rampaging through the population the value of it becomes painfully obvious. It says something about this particular moment in history that Canadian public health officials have become celebrities. Scientifically minded, composed in the face of dizzying uncertainty, and yet intimately attuned to the suffering of the people they are charged with protecting, these leaders have been our anchors in the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The thing about public health is that if it’s working the way it’s supposed to, you’d never hear about it. But when drinking water’s no longer clean, or diseases start rampaging through the population the value of it becomes painfully obvious. It says something about this particular moment in history that Canadian public health officials have become celebrities. Scientifically minded, composed in the face of dizzying uncertainty, and yet intimately attuned to the suffering of the people they are charged with protecting, these leaders have been our anchors in the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
he first time someone actually "punched in" to work was 1888. Invented by a jeweler named William Bundy, the mechanical time clock enabled factories to monitor—with machine-like precision—how long people worked and how much they were owed.
In many ways, the time clock was the consummate expression of the factory system that grew out of the Industrial Revolution. Workers, largely interchangeable, came to a centralized workplace. They worked standard hours, doing repetitive tasks, overseen by management. In exchange for their time, they got a paycheck.
Even though these practices date back hundreds of years, they probably sound pretty familiar. Fact is, conventions developed during the Industrial Revolution—from "clocking in" to the standard work week—continue to define workplace culture, even in the knowledge era. But COVID-19 is quietly changing that, and it's not a moment too soon.
One of the most profound changes that accompanied the Industrial Revolution was a shift in focus to "inputs." Prior to the factory system, workers were compensated for output, i.e. what they actually made or produced. Under the workshop system (also known as the putting-out system), people—from shoemakers and seamstresses to gunsmiths and carpenters—managed their own time and resources, working out of their own homes or shops. They enjoyed autonomy over their work and their time. What mattered was the final product, not the hours spent making it.
Factory life changed all that. Suddenly, compensation was tied to hours worked. This shift in focus to inputs was part of a broader commoditization of labor during the Industrial Revolution. People were visualized as cogs in a larger machine, an approach that reached its apex in Ford's assembly lines. Rather than taking ownership over a finished product, each person was reduced to doing one repetitive task for a set number of hours each day.
Unsurprisingly, this lack of autonomy proved profoundly disincentivizing. Managers and bosses became critical pieces of the workforce and were needed to monitor and motivate people. Oversight and surveillance replaced autonomy and ownership as pillars of work.
Perhaps these ideas made sense during the Industrial Revolution when you had unskilled populations engaging in manual labour. But what's shocking is how many of these practices have made their way, practically wholesale, into contemporary work culture.
Even in knowledge-based, tech-forward sectors, professionals today are still expected to work a set number of hours each week. They're expected to come into the office, Monday through Friday at predetermined times. They're watched over by bosses who still subscribe to the time-honored butts-in-seats school of management. We've even perpetuated the "cog in a machine" concept, siloing workers in different departments and limiting them to discrete functions.
In short, though many of us are working with lines of code instead of on assembly lines, input culture still prevails. Nearly overnight, the current crisis has challenged that. The idea of clocking in and clocking out suddenly seems quaint. 9-5 has lost meaning for lots of working parents, who work whenever they can find time. For so many of us, work now gets done when it gets done—and lots of companies are fine with that.
Yes, there's employee surveillance software that can monitor online activity, and some companies are even resorting to always-on webcams. But does it really make sense to still track butts in seats when people aren't in your office ... and aren't even in your seats?
Here's the thing: inputs, which were never really the best thing to fixate on, have become unwieldy and impractical. What if we stopped obsessing over how many hours people work and instead focus on what they get done? What if we extended autonomy to employees and let them set their own schedules? What if we just set clear goals, then gave people the tools and ownership to achieve them?
All that might sound pollyannaish, except for the fact that COVID-10 has shown that this approach can indeed work. Granted, it won't work in all industries and isn't failproof. Setting clear output goals is a big part of the equation. Whether we're talking KPIs or OKRs, employees and employers need to come together to set realistic objectives and a timeframe to achieve them in.
Deeper still, output culture requires fully embracing employees as contributors and colleagues, not cogs in a wheel. Values alignment is key, as is equitable treatment and fair compensation. Without pride in one's work and pride in one's employer, the trust this approach is built around falls apart.
Ryan Holmes is the founder and CEO of Hootsuite. He started the company in 2008 and has helped grow it into the world’s most widely used social relationship platform, with 18-million-plus users. A serial entrepreneur who started his first business in high school, Ryan supports youth entrepreneurship through his charity, League of Innovators.
hen DivaCup entered the menstrual market it disrupted the status quo. The reusable, eco-friendly menstrual cup was drastically different from the tampons and pads that were being offered.
Frustrated with the products on the market, and recognizing the need for a more environmentally friendly option, something that seemed radical at the time was a no brainer for co-founder and CEO of Diva International, Carinne Chambers-Saini.
“It was time for a change and we weren't going to wait around for someone else to do it,” she said.
Convincing consumers to try the DivaCup wasn’t easy at first; Chambers-Saini described it as “a product no one wanted to hear about.” But the passion-project that began at a kitchen table with Chambers-Saini and her mother, Francine Chambers, is now sold at 65,000 retail locations in 35 countries around the world.
Nearly 20 years later, Chambers-Saini is pushing for change again.
For some people, getting a period is an inconvenience: you might get cramps, unexpected cravings, or maybe a skin outbreak. For others, a period is an obstacle that prevents them from living their life.
‘Period poverty’ is the issue surrounding the inability to afford or lack of access to menstrual hygiene products.
Without these necessary products, people with periods are subjected to missing work and students can miss school for extended periods of time. Considering that a period is a monthly occurrence, not having access to menstrual hygiene products can equate to less opportunity.
“If girls are missing school they don't have the same chances and the same education that their male classmates have,” said Chambers-Saini. “How are they going to be able to compete on the same level when they get to the workforce?”
The menstrual equity movement aims to change the accessibility, affordability, and conversation of menstrual hygiene. Simply put, a period is not a choice—it is a biological process and it certainly shouldn’t result in inequality.
Chambers-Saini is passionate about the menstrual equity movement, and believes that starting challenging conversations can have a bigger impact than you might think.
“These conversations are going to help to break down the stigma that's around menstruation and around these issues,” she said.
One way that Diva International is pushing the conversation forward is through a feature-length documentary, Pandora’s Box. Produced and directed by a primarily female crew, the documentary explores the cultural and societal experiences of people who menstruate.
“Pandora's box is about exposing all of the discrimination, abuse, and inequities that are happening around the world and how they're affecting so many people,” said Chambers-Saini. “I mean, 50 percent of the population is women and it is something that we are trying to bring to the forefront because these conversations really do need to happen.”
As a certified B Corporation, Diva International is dedicated to using the brand and the business as a force for good in the world. It joins a movement of companies who have committed themselves to look beyond profits and use their influence to enact change in the community.
Through their mission to improve the period experience and provide a better option for women and people who menstruate around the world, Diva International has become a brand that transcends the feminine hygiene aisle.
“We've really become very focused on much more than the product,” said Chambers-Saini. “Our company has become a voice in the menstrual equity movement.”
As Diva International continues to push the conversation about periods forward, they’re not alone. Over the years, they have gained many supporters—Chambers-Saini she’s even heard of people getting DivaCup tattoos.
“It's almost been a cultural phenomenon, which has contributed to our role in the menstrual equity movement, because of all the conversations it’s created,” she said. “Before the DivaCup, no one really talked about their period. We get all this feedback from our consumer saying that our products completely changed their life. It just doesn't get any better than that”
very year, Audi hosts a gathering of industry heavyweights to discuss innovation and leadership. While any regular year would see a jam-packed room of Toronto’s most influential men and women taking in the advice of an industry champion (like mega-designer Tommy Hilfiger or Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph), this year’s iteration of the Audi Innovation Series was different. For the first time, the German luxury automaker hosted its annual thought leader series in an entirely virtual format without a live audience to ensure the health and safety of participants—but that doesn’t mean the takeaways were any less inspiring.
Arguably one of Canada’s most revered business and sports leaders, this year’s guest of honour was Toronto Raptors president, Masai Ujiri. One of the driving forces behind Toronto’s NBA Championship-winning season, Ujiri will forever be cemented in Canada’s canon of iconic sports moments. But the road to success has been paved with many lessons learned—hardly a journey that one would call easy. In a discussion with CBC news anchor Dwight Drummond, Ujiri chatted about innovation in sports, making difficult decisions, his non-profit Giants of Africa, and what success means to him.
At 13 years old, I found basketball and fell in love with an unbelievable game that has given me all of these incredible opportunities and taken me on this lifelong journey. Growing up in Africa, the spirit and the passion for life, playing with your friends, the outdoors, doing everything any young kid would want to do and just being happy—I appreciate it now. I try to give that to my kids; the freedom to be happy.
Yes, there's no question. I think it starts by hiring smart people. I would go further to say, I hire people that are smarter than me. You have to hire outside-the-box thinkers and people that think differently. In our business, I'm not afraid to try and that's one of the things that I look for in others. The way Nick Nurse coaches, he's not afraid to try. He might lose a game here or there, but [he’s always willing to try.] Sometimes we have to be different. There was only one woman [employed by the Raptors organization] when we first started. When I took over, we went from one to 14 women working for the Raptors at all different levels, and that's intentional. That's why now we have to get intentional with Black people and Indigenous people. It's very important that we are intentional and deliberate in [hiring]. That is creativity.
I think it comes from many places. My parents were very giving but I don’t think it’s even about being giving—it's an obligation for me. I've been helped by a lot of people along the way. So for me, I have to [do the same for] other people. Helping others [means] I have to speak up for those that do not have a voice or the opportunity to speak. Basketball has created that platform for me and given me that opportunity. There are young girls in Africa, in places like Baro where there's mutilation and early marriages that, as a parent, you cannot even think about. In that kind of situation, I have to be an activist. I have to speak for them. Lastly I would say [my passion for activism comes from] Nelson Mandela; he inspired a lot of people around the world. Imagine if we had him at this time? We not only miss a father of Africa, but we miss a father of the world.
It's mostly about empowerment. You try to hire people who think outside the box. I said it before, hiring people that are smarter than you is so important. We are the only NBA team that's outside the United States of America so we almost own the rights to be different. We The North is different from anything anybody has ever done, but it's us absorbing what mood the people are in across the country. In Toronto, we are diverse. You look at Jurassic Park and you see diversity, it's unbelievable. Drake helps, he’s such an incredible ambassador to have. We're blessed to have such a strong, incredible fan, and smart person who even in his world continues to climb and be relevant. To have him be part of our brotherhood, be a part of our winning—it's incredible for us. We have to keep finding these moments, these people, and spread it around as much as we can.
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are challenges. But we've had challenges throughout the year, and we had to develop some confidence. We had to believe in ourselves and we had to make tough decisions—Dwane Casey was a tough decision, DeMar DeRozan was a tough decision. You build on those experiences because without DeMar and Casey, we [wouldn’t have had a] championship.
Honestly, my proudest moments are seeing how people are affected by it. The day of the parade was a proud moment for me, just to see how many lives were affected. For me and my family, my wife and two kids, it was just seeing people’s appreciation and their love for our players and our coaches. We delivered on [everyone’s] dream. It's a proud moment for me.
The last one I'll say is, Giants of Africa and what we hope to do. I feel like changing the name to Giants of the World because yes, I'm a son of the continent, but I am also a son of Canada. I have a strong relationship with America and with Europe. How do you affect youth and how do you make change? This is where we're going in life and I'm proud that we've started a movement with Giants of Africa.
Yes, because it's about being different and seeing differently. I hate to talk about what we did, it was a big risk. But it teaches people that you are going to make tough decisions and you should believe in yourself. Sometimes they are going to work, sometimes they might not. At the end of the day you have to live with it. I can honestly say I was ready to live with it either way but I'm happy it went well for all of us.
There have been different phases of it. Kyle Lowry is a big one. He's grown as a human being, as a person, and as a basketball player. Then I look at DeMar DeRozan and Dwane Casey and I have to give them credit. I'm so proud of what the Raptors and the organization does, and how they contribute. Everybody wants to win; you have to figure out those winners. Then bringing in a guy like Kawhi, it is incredible the kind of mindset that he had. Whether he taught our guys how to win or not, they took something out of it. You can tell that the belief everybody had in the team that won last year, people have the same belief in this team and that's how it should be.
I go back to being as basic as you can possibly be. It's how I base my life and approach things. My dad used to say to me, ‘be good to people, be honest, and find trust.’ It all comes back to character. Who are you as a person? People can go to school and know all of these things, but you have to know how to talk to another person—you have to know how to communicate, it's really important. That is how we learn to be leaders in one way or the other.
It's okay to start small. I remember when I used to think, I want to build a big gym in Nigeria, a big arena, and I'm going to try and raise all this money and so on. You start thinking about how you’re going to do that? We started with one jersey and one shoe.
I put a basket and a bin in the middle of our locker room in Denver. Carmelo Anthony threw his shoes in, then Kenyon Martin. My idea was, how do I start a basketball camp and where am I going to get shoes? If I go to Nike, a hundred people are already going to Nike. If I go to Reebok, a million people are already going to Reebok. So I figured I'd ask our team. I asked Carmelo and some of the guys that weren’t even stars and before I knew it, I started getting shoes, and shoes, and shoes, and shoes. Today, Giants of Africa is sponsored by Nike but it started with a bin.
You have to find a way to start that will affect people and encourage youth in some way. Whatever you're doing, I think it has to include youth, it has to include women, and it has to include young girls. [If you do that,] it will take you places that you've never been.
